Landmark cases (e.g., Shelley v. Kraemer)

Landmark cases are significant legal decisions that set important precedents in law. For example, *Shelley v. Kraemer* (1948) involved a black family whose purchase of a home was challenged by neighbors due to a racially restrictive covenant. The Supreme Court ruled that while private parties could create such covenants, the enforcement of them by the state was unconstitutional, violating the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause. This case was crucial in advancing civil rights, as it underscored that the government cannot support racial discrimination in housing, shaping future laws and policies related to equality and civil rights.