Fletcher v. Peck (1810)

1) Link to the Actual Opinion
Read the U.S. Reports opinion (PDF)

2) Summary of the Opinion
Georgia attempted to rescind land grants that were issued through corruption. The Supreme Court ruled that voiding those grants impaired contracts, which the Constitution forbids states from doing.

3) Why It Mattered
This was the first time the Supreme Court struck down a state law as unconstitutional. It established the Court’s authority to check state legislation against the federal Constitution.