What is the most controversial Supreme Court case ever decided?

Asked by: Laurel Howe MD  |  Last update: May 14, 2026
Score: 4.4/5 (72 votes)

The most controversial Supreme Court case is widely considered to be Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857), which denied citizenship to Black people, declared slaves property, and invalidated the Missouri Compromise, significantly worsening tensions leading to the Civil War. Other highly controversial cases include Roe v. Wade (abortion rights), Plessy v. Ferguson (segregation), Bush v. Gore (2000 election), and Citizens United v. FEC (campaign finance).

Which Supreme Court decision was most controversial?

Roe v.

Two years after Reed, the Supreme Court handed down one of its most consequential and controversial decisions affecting women's rights. In the 1973 case of Roe v. Wade, the justices were asked to decide if a near-total abortion ban in Texas was constitutional.

What is the most ridiculous court case?

20 of the Most Ridiculous Court Cases Ever (But They Really Happened!)

  • Crocs Shrinking Lawsuit (2023) ...
  • Subway Tuna Allegation (2023) ...
  • Red Bull Failed to Give Wings (2016) ...
  • McDonald's 30-Cent Cheese Lawsuit. ...
  • Leonard v PepsiCo (1999) ...
  • Carlill v Carbolic Smoke Ball Co. ...
  • Pringles and VAT (UK)

What was the worst court case in history?

There's no single "worst" case, but Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857) is often cited as the worst US Supreme Court decision for denying citizenship to Black people and nationalizing slavery, fueling the Civil War. Other contenders for "worst" include Plessy v. Ferguson (separate but equal), Buck v. Bell (forced sterilization), Korematsu v. U.S. (Japanese internment), and Citizens United v. FEC (corporate political spending). 

What is the most impactful Supreme Court case?

Importance: The Brown decision is heralded as a landmark decision in Supreme Court history, overturning Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) which had created the "separate but equal" doctrine.

Top 10 Most Controversial U.S. Supreme Court Decisions

38 related questions found

Who is the greatest Supreme Court justice of all time?

Supreme Court of the United States. John Marshall is one of the most influential justices to have served on the Supreme Court of the United States, if not the most influential.

Can a president overturn a Supreme Court ruling?

No, the President cannot directly overturn a Supreme Court decision; only the Court itself, through a new ruling, or a Constitutional amendment can nullify a decision, though a President can use executive actions, appointments, or influence legislation to challenge or work around rulings over time, with the courts ultimately checking executive power. The President's role is to enforce laws, not interpret them, and they are bound by judicial rulings, even if they disagree. 

What celebrity sued for $1?

Nah, Gwyneth Paltrow 's motivation to go to trial to fight a lawsuit accusing her of sending a fellow skier “absolutely flying” at a posh Utah ski resort in 2016 was about vindication. She got it when a jury found her not at fault in the collision, granting her exactly the $1 she sought in her countersuit.

What is the funniest Supreme Court case?

Surprising and Strange Cases in the Supreme Court

  • Miller v. Jackson (1977)
  • Leonard v PepsiCo (1999)
  • Procter & Gamble v HM Revenue & Customs (2008)
  • Re A (conjoined twins) (2000)
  • R v Dudley and Stephens (1884)
  • Hollywood Silver Fox Farm v Emmett (1936)
  • R v Thabo-Meli.

What is the dumbest thing someone has been sued for?

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.

What is the most famous court case ever?

There isn't one single "most famous" case, but landmark U.S. Supreme Court cases like Marbury v. Madison (judicial review), Brown v. Board of Education (ending school segregation), Miranda v. Arizona (rights of the accused), and Roe v. Wade (abortion rights) are consistently ranked among the most influential, while high-profile public trials like the O.J. Simpson trial (media spectacle) and historical events like the Nuremberg Trials (international justice) are also incredibly famous.
 

Who is the most sued person in history?

Jonathan Lee Riches is a convicted fraudster known for the many lawsuits he has filed in various United States district courts. Riches was incarcerated at Federal Medical Center, Lexington, Kentucky, for wire fraud under the terms of a plea bargain.

What is the stupidest Court case?

We all know the most famous frivolous lawsuit story. Stella Liebeck sued McDonald's back in 1992 when she spilled hot coffee on herself. "But coffee is meant to be hot" we all cry. Dig a little deeper into the case however and it starts to look less frivolous.

Has any president ignored a Supreme Court ruling?

Yes, presidents have ignored or defied Supreme Court rulings, most famously Andrew Jackson with the Cherokee Nation (Trail of Tears) and Abraham Lincoln by suspending habeas corpus, but this is rare and often leads to constitutional crises, with recent instances involving defiance in deportation cases under the Trump administration. Other examples include governors defying rulings on segregation (Faubus, Barnett) and FDR's stance on military tribunals, highlighting ongoing tensions between executive power and judicial authority. 

Who has the biggest lawsuit in history?

The most expensive lawsuit settlements in history

  • 1998 – The Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement – $206 Billion. ...
  • 2010 – Deepwater Horizon BP Oil Spill – $20 Billion. ...
  • 2012 – Smartphone Wars – $40 Billion. ...
  • 1999 – Rupert Murdoch vs Anna Torv – $1.7 Billion. ...
  • 2010 – Tiger Woods vs Elin Nordegren – $750 Million.

What is the hardest lawsuit to win?

The hardest cases to win in court often involve high emotional stakes, complex evidence, or specific defenses like insanity, with sexual assault, crimes against children, and white-collar crimes frequently cited as challenging due to juror bias, weak physical evidence, or technical complexity. The insanity defense is notoriously difficult because it shifts the burden of proof and faces public skepticism. 

Did Taylor Swift sue someone for a dollar?

He initially sued her stating that she had caused his dismissal. She countersued because she wanted the trial to serve as an “example to other women.” Swift only sought a single dollar in damages, which the jury awarded her.

Who can remove the judge from the Supreme Court?

Only the U.S. Congress, through the impeachment process, can remove a U.S. Supreme Court Justice, requiring the House of Representatives to impeach (majority vote) and the Senate to convict (two-thirds vote) for "Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors," granting them lifetime appointments ("good behavior"). 

Can a US president fire a Supreme Court judge?

No, a U.S. President cannot fire a Supreme Court Justice; justices have lifetime appointments and can only be removed through the impeachment and conviction process by Congress (House impeaches, Senate convicts) for "high crimes and misdemeanors," a process designed to ensure judicial independence. 

Who has power over the U.S. Supreme Court?

Although the Constitution establishes the Supreme Court, it permits Congress to decide how to organize it. Congress first exercised this power in the Judiciary Act of 1789.

Who appointed more judges, Trump or Obama?

President Obama appointed more federal judges overall (around 320-330) compared to Trump (around 220-240) during their respective presidencies, but Trump appointed more to the influential Circuit Courts and notably appointed three Supreme Court justices in one term, compared to Obama's two, making Trump's impact on the courts arguably deeper despite fewer total numbers. 

Who is the greatest judge of all time?

The Greatest Judges of All Time: the Titans who defied history

  • RUTH BADER GINSBURG (UNITED STATES, 1933-2020)
  • THURGOOD MARSHALL (UNITED STATES, 1908-1993)
  • LOUIS BRANDEIS (UNITED STATES, 1856-1941)
  • JEAN-JACQUES CAMBACÉRÈS (FRANCE, 1753-1824)
  • SALADIN (MIDDLE EAST, 1137-1193)
  • THE ENDURING LEGACY: WHEN COURAGE CONQUERS FEAR.

What was the worst U.S. Supreme Court decision?

While "worst" is subjective, Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857) is widely considered the Supreme Court's worst decision for denying Black citizenship, nationalizing slavery, and escalating tensions toward the Civil War, with other major contenders often cited as Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) (legalizing segregation) and Korematsu v. U.S. (1944) (upholding Japanese internment).