American Cases in the Philosophy of Law
American Cases in the Philosophy of Law
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  • Publication Date: February 28, 2026
  • ISBN: 9781554816798 / 1554816793
  • 300 pages; 6" x 9"

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American Cases in the Philosophy of Law

  • Publication Date: February 28, 2026
  • ISBN: 9781554816798 / 1554816793
  • 300 pages; 6" x 9"

This book brings together 64 of the most important, influential, and interesting cases in American law. These cases have been selected due to not only their legal and cultural significance, but also their anticipated philosophical import. A wide range of themes and topics are represented, from free speech to race relations to criminal punishment. Each case has been carefully excerpted so as to focus attention on the features that illustrate the central principles and forms of judicial reasoning. Important contextualizing information is also provided to clarify the cases’ historical setting as well as any relevant philosophical arguments and questions.

  • Additional Thematic Groupings
  • Preface
  • Introduction
  • A Note to Instructors

Part 1: The US Constitution

    • The Legislative Branch (Article I)
      • Wickard v. Filburn, 317 US 111 (1942)
      • Printz v. United States, 521 US 898 (1997)
      • United States v. Morrison, 529 US 598 (2000)
      • United States v. Comstock, 560 US 126 (2010)
      • Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association, 584 US 453 (2018)
    • The Executive Branch (Article II)
      • Humphrey’s Executor v. United States, 295 US 602 (1935)
      • United States v. Nixon, 418 US 683 (1974)
      • Clinton v. Jones, 520 US 681 (1997)
      • Trump v. Vance, 591 US 786 (2020)
      • Trump v. United States, 603 US 593 (2024)
      • Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, 603 US 369 (2024)
    • The Judicial Branch (Article III)
      • Marbury v. Madison, 5 US 137 (1803)
      • Ex parte McCardle, 74 US 506 (1869)
      • Lujan v. Defenders of Wildlife, 504 US 555 (1992)
      • DeShaney v. Winnebago County Department of Social Services, 489 US 189 (1989)

Part 2: Reproductive and Familial Rights

    • Reproductive Rights
      • Griswold v. Connecticut, 381 US 479 (1965)
      • Roe v. Wade, 410 US 113 (1973)
      • Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pa. v. Casey, 505 US 833 (1992)
      • Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt, 579 US 582 (2016)
      • Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, 597 US 215 (2022)
    • Familial Rights
      • Loving v. Virginia, 388 US 1 (1967)
      • Washington v. Glucksberg, 521 US 702 (1997)
      • Troxel v. Granville, 530 US 57 (2000)
      • Lawrence v. Texas, 539 US 558 (2003)
      • Obergefell v. Hodges, 576 US 644 (2015)

Part 3: The Right to Free Speech

    • Roth v. United States, 354 US 476 (1957)
    • New York Times v. Sullivan, 376 US 254 (1964)
    • Miller v. California, 413 US 15 (1973)
    • Hustler Magazine v. Falwell, 485 US 46 (1988)
    • Mahanoy Area School District v. B. L., 594 US 180 (2021)
    • 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis, 600 US 570 (2023)

Part 4: The Right to Keep and Bear Arms

    • District of Columbia v. Heller, 554 US 570 (2008)
    • McDonald v. City of Chicago, 561 US 742 (2010)
    • Caetano v. Massachusetts, 577 US 411 (2016)
    • New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen, 597 US 1 (2022)
    • Garland v. Cargil, 602 US 406 (2024)
    • United States v. Rahimi, 602 US 680 (2024)

Part 5: The Right to Equality (Discrimination and Race Relations)

    • Discrimination
      • Plessy v. Ferguson, 163 US 537 (1896)
      • Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, 347 US 483 (1954)
      • Batson v. Kentucky, 476 US 79 (1986)
      • Foster v. Chatman, 578 US 488 (2016)
      • Bostock v. Clayton County, 590 US 644 (2020)
    • Race Relations
      • Regents of the University of California v. Bakke, 438 US 265 (1978)
      • Grutter v. Bollinger, 539 US 306 (2003)
      • Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College, 600 US 181 (2023)

Part 6: War and International Affairs

    • Korematsu v. United States, 323 US 214 (1944)
    • Boumediene v. Bush, 553 US 723 (2008)
    • Zivotofsky v. Kerry, 576 US 1 (2015)
    • Puerto Rico v. Sanchez-Valle, 579 US 59 (2016)
    • Trump v. Hawai’i, 585 US 667 (2018)
    • W. W. M. v. Trump, 605 US ___ (2025)

Part 7: Native American Tribes

    • United States v. Bryant, 579 US 140 (2016)
    • United States v. Colley, 593 US 345 (2021)
    • Oklahoma v. Castro-Huerta, 597 US 692 (2022)
    • Haaland v. Brackeen, 599 US 255 (2023)

Part 8: Crime and Punishment

    • Criminal Law
      • Burrage v. United States, 571 US 204 (2014)
      • Rodriguez v. United States, 575 US 348 (2015)
      • Carpenter v. United States, 585 US 296 (2018)
      • Mitchell v. Wisconsin, 588 US 840 (2019)
      • Counterman v. Colorado, 600 US 66 (2023)
    • Punishment
      • Glossip v. Gross, 576 US 863 (2015)
      • Hurst v. Florida, 577 US 92 (2016)
      • Madison v. Alabama, 586 US 265 (2019)
      • United States v. Tsarnaev, 595 US 302 (2022)

Samuel Zinaich, Jr., is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Purdue University Northwest. He is author of Analytical Legal Naturalism (Lexington Books, 2020).

  • • 64 US Supreme Court rulings are included.
  • • Each case has been carefully excerpted to offer a concise presentation of only the features most significant to judicial interpretation and philosophy.
  • • Cases are grouped under several important themes, including: the US constitution; reproductive and familial rights; free speech; the right to bear arms; discrimination; race relations; international affairs; issues bearing on Native Americans; crime; and punishment.
  • • Includes an alternative thematic grouping of cases, covering topics such as gender, the environment, and technology.
  • • Begins with a general introduction to the function and interpretation of legal cases.
  • • Preceding each case is a brief contextualizing introduction and a description of the case’s philosophical implications.

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