Family Law Resources
Supreme Court Cases
Professor Ann Laquer Estin

This page includes links to more than 50 of the United States Supreme Court's decisions in the family law area. These cases are listed here in chronological order. For some of these cases, you may listen to the oral arguments by clicking on the "oral argument" link. Please note: in order to hear the arguments, you need to have a sound card and (free) Real Audio software.

Meyer v. Nebraska, 262 U.S. 390 (1923)
      Alternative site Instructions: Click on Meyer link.

Skinner v. Oklahoma, 316 U.S. 535 (1942)
      Alternative site Instructions: Click on Skinner link.    

Williams v. North Carolina, 317 U.S. 287 (1942)      

Prince v. Massachusetts, 321 U.S. 158 (1944)     

Williams v. North Carolina, 325 U.S. 226 (1945)      

Estin v. Estin, 334 U.S. 541 (1948)      

May v. Anderson, 345 U.S. 528 (1953)      

Vanderbilt v. Vanderbilt, 354 U.S. 416 (1957)      

Griswold v. Connecticut, 381 U.S. 479 (1965)
      Alternative site Instructions: Click on Griswold link.
     *** Oral Argument ***
Instructions: Click on oral arguments link (must have Real Audio software ).

In re Gault, 387 U.S. 1 (1967)
      Alternative site Instructions: Click on Gault link.      

Loving v. Virginia, 388 U.S. 1 (1967)
      Alternative site Instructions: Click on Loving link.     

Levy v. Louisiana, 391 U.S. 68 (1968)      

Glona v. American Guarantee Co., 391 U.S. 73 (1968)      

Boddie v. Connecticut, 401 U.S. 371 (1971)      

Eisenstadt v. Baird, 405 U.S. 438 (1972)      
*** Oral Argument***
Instructions: Click on oral arguments link (must have Real Audio software ).

Stanley v. Illinois, 405 U.S. 645 (1972)      

Wisconsin v. Yoder, 406 U.S. 205 (1972)      
*** Oral Argument***
Instructions: Click on oral arguments link (must have Real Audio software ).

Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973)
      Alternative site Instructions: Click on Roe link      
*** Oral Argument***
Instructions: Click on oral arguments link (must have Real Audio software ).

Planned Parenthood of Central Mo. v. Danforth, 428 U.S. 52 (1976)

Trimble v. Gordon, 430 U.S. 762 (1977)

Moore v. City of East Cleveland, 431 U.S. 494 (1977)

Carey v. Population Services International, 431 U.S. 678 (1977)

Smith v. Org. of Foster Families, 431 U.S. 816 (1974)

Quilloin v. Walcott, 434 U.S. 246 (1978)

Zablocki v. Redhail, 434 U.S. 374 (1978)

Kulko v. Superior Court of California, 436 U.S. 84 (1978)

Lalli v. Lalli, 439 U.S. 259 (1978)

Parham v. Hughes, 441 U.S. 347 (1979)

Caban v. Mohammed, 441 U.S. 380 (1979)

Parham v. J.R., 442 U.S. 584 (1979)

Belotti v. Baird, 443 U.S. 622 (1979)

Santoskey v. Kramer, 455 U.S. 745 (1982)

Lehr v. Robertson, 463 U.S. 248 (1983)

Palmore v. Sidoti, 466 U.S. 429 (1984)

Bowers v. Hardwick, 478 U.S. 186 (1986)
      Alternative site Instructions: Click on Bowers link.
*** Oral Argument ***
Instructions: Click on oral arguments link (must have Real Audio software --to hear)

Thompson v. Thompson, 484 U.S. 174 (1988)

DeShaney v. Winnebago County, 489 U.S. 189 (1989)
*** Oral Argument ***
Instructions: Click on oral arguments link (must have Real Audio software to hear)

Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians v. Holyfield, 490 U.S. 30 (1989)

Michael H. v. Gerard D., 491 U.S. 110 (1989)

Burnham v. Superior Court, 495 U.S. 604 (1990)

Cruzan v. Director, Missouri Dept. of Health, 497 U.S. 261 (1990)
      Alternative site
***Oral Argument***
Instructions: Click on oral arguments link (must have Real Audio softwareto hear).

Hodgson v. Minnesota, 497 U.S. 417 (1990)
      Alternative site

Idaho v. Wright, 497 U.S. 805 (1990)
      Alternative site

Maryland v. Craig, 497 U.S. 836 (1990)
      Alternative site

Farrey v. Sanderfoot, 500 U.S. 291 (1991)
      Alternative site

Estelle v. McGuire, 502 U.S. 62 (1991)

Planned Parenthood v. Casey, 505 U.S. 833 (1992)
      Alternative site
*** Oral Argument ***
Instructions: Click on oral arguments link (must have Real Audio software ).

Ankenbrandt v. Richards, 504 U.S. 689 (1992)
      Alternative site

M.L.B. v. S.L.J., 117 S. Ct. 555 (1996)

Blessing v. Freestone, 520 U.S. .329 (1997) 

Troxel v. Granville, 530 U.S. 57 (2000)

Stenberg v. Carhart, 530 U.S. 914 (2000)
http://supct.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/99-830.ZD2.html

United States v. Morrison, 529 U.S. 598 (2000)
http://supct.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/99-5.ZD.html

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