Fletcher v. Peck

Fletcher v. Peck (1810) was a landmark Supreme Court case that established the principle that the government cannot pass laws that violate the Constitution or invalidate contracts. The case involved a land scandal in Georgia, where lawmakers had illegally sold land grants. When the legality of these sales was questioned, the Court ruled that a state law invalidating previous land grants was unconstitutional, affirming the sanctity of contracts. This decision was significant because it affirmed the judiciary's power to review and strike down state laws that conflict with the Constitution, strengthening the role of the judiciary in protecting individual rights and property.