What is the longest court case in the US?

Asked by: Deontae Kassulke  |  Last update: April 17, 2025
Score: 4.1/5 (36 votes)

Introduction. Myra Clark Gaines' 19th century fight over an enormous inheritance is still the longest-running civil lawsuit in American history, taking over 60 years to finally find some kind of resolution. The United States Supreme Court called her case "the most remarkable in the records."

What is the longest court case in U.S. history?

Lasting for more than fifty years, the Myra Clark Gaines litigation is known as the longest case in US history, beginning around 1834 and culminating in a ruling in her favor and against the City of New Orleans in 1889.

What is the world's longest court case?

The longest jury trial in history was the McMartin Preschool Trial, a criminal case brought against members of a family that operated a preschool in Manhattan Beach, California.

What was the biggest court case ever?

Marbury v. Madison, arguably the most important case in Supreme Court history, was the first U.S. Supreme Court case to apply the principle of "judicial review" -- the power of federal courts to void acts of Congress in conflict with the Constitution.

What is the longest pending case in court history?

Nine-judge bench | Pending for 30 years 11 months and 8 days

This case is one of the connected matters in the main matter of Property Owners' Association v State of Maharashtra. Property Owners' is one of the nine-judge bench cases listed to be heard by the Supreme Court in 2024.

Young Thug: The Longest Trial In History

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Who has been on the US court the longest?

The longest serving Justice was William O. Douglas who served for 36 years, 7 months, and 8 days from 1939 to 1975.

What was the stupidest court case?

McDonald's Hot Coffee

One of the most famously ridiculous lawsuits happened in 1994, when a woman sued McDonald's for spilling hot coffee on her lap. McDonald's attempted to argue that everyone knows coffee is hot, and it was her own fault for spilling coffee all over herself.

How many court cases has Donald Trump have?

From 1973 until he was elected president in 2016, Donald Trump and his businesses were involved in over 4,000 legal cases in United States federal and state courts, including battles with casino patrons, million-dollar real estate lawsuits, personal defamation lawsuits, and over 100 business tax disputes.

What was the biggest case in America?

Here are 7 of the most famous criminal law cases in U.S. history.
  1. O.J. Simpson. ...
  2. Martha Stewart. Unlike many criminal cases, Martha Stuart's wasn't based on heinous acts, but was related to insider trading. ...
  3. Jeffrey Dahmer. ...
  4. Charles Manson. ...
  5. Watergate Scandal. ...
  6. Richard Hauptmann. ...
  7. The McMartin Preschool Abuse Trial.

What is the longest Court sentence ever?

One of the most striking examples of an incredibly long sentence is the case of Chamoy Thipyaso, a Thai woman who, in 1989, was sentenced to an astounding 141,078 years for corporate fraud related to a pyramid scheme.

What is the largest legal case?

1998 – The Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement – $206 Billion. The Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement was entered in November 1998 and is still the largest lawsuit settlement in history.

Has a case ever gone directly to the Supreme Court?

Marbury filed suit directly in the Supreme Court, invoking the Court's original jurisdiction. In 1803, the Court ruled that Marbury's lawsuit was not a matter for original jurisdiction and that if the Judiciary Act of 1789 expanded the Court's authority, it was an unconstitutional exercise of congressional power.

When was the first U.S. court case?

The first cases reached the Supreme Court during its second year, and the Justices handed down their first opinion on August 3, 1791 in the case of West v. Barnes.

What is the biggest civil case?

The Largest Civil Lawsuit Settlement Amounts and Verdicts in U.S. History and Why They Matter
  • The Biggest Lawsuit Ever: The Tobacco Settlement — $206 Billion. ...
  • British Petroleum (BP) Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill — $20 Billion. ...
  • Volkswagen Emissions Scandal — $14.7 Billion. ...
  • General Motors Auto Defect Case — $4.9 Billion.

How many cases never go to court?

By some estimates, only 2% to 3% of criminal cases go to trial. It's no secret that the overwhelming majority of criminal cases never reach trial. The prosecution may dismiss charges, perhaps because of a lack of evidence.

What president went to jail?

While of questionable historicity, the third is the best-known; if it did occur, this would make Grant the only U.S. president to have been arrested while in office.

How much is Trump worth?

The net worth of 45th and 47th president Donald Trump is not publicly known. For decades, Forbes has assessed his wealth, currently estimating it at $6.8 billion as of mid-January 2025. Meanwhile, Bloomberg estimates his wealth at $7.08 billion as of the same date, although Trump himself claims a much higher net worth.

How many people did Trump put on the Supreme Court?

As of January 20, 2025, the United States Senate has confirmed 234 Article III judges nominated by Trump: three associate justices of the Supreme Court of the United States, 54 judges for the United States courts of appeals, 174 judges for the United States district courts, and three judges for the United States Court ...

Has anyone ever sued a judge and won?

Generally, NO. There is a doctrine called judicial immunity that prevents most lawsuits against judges when they are acting in their judicial capacity. Judges have absolute immunity for actions they take in their judicial capacity.

What is the longest court case ever?

Introduction. Myra Clark Gaines' 19th century fight over an enormous inheritance is still the longest-running civil lawsuit in American history, taking over 60 years to finally find some kind of resolution. The United States Supreme Court called her case "the most remarkable in the records."

What happens if you sue yourself?

Takeaway 1: It is generally not possible to sue yourself in a court of law as this would be considered a conflict of interest. Takeaway 2: The legal system typically does not allow for individuals to be both the defendant and plaintiff in the same case.

What is the most powerful court in the USA?

The U.S. Supreme Court is the highest court in the United States. Article III of the U.S. Constitution created the Supreme Court and authorized Congress to pass laws establishing a system of lower courts.

Why do the Justices wear black robes?

The simple black robe has quite a tradition as the "uniform" of justice in the United States and California. That black robe links judges together as we interpret and apply the law in hundreds of courtrooms throughout the state.