- Brown v. Board of Education (decided May 17, 1954 by the U.S. Supreme Court). Racial segregation in public schools declared unconstitutional.
- Pitchess v. Superior Court (decided May 23, 1974 by the California Supreme Court). Defendants in criminal cases may access a police officer’s personnel file to support allegations of excessive force or lying about circumstances surrounding the arrest.
- Yount v. City of Sacramento (decided May 19, 2008 by the California Supreme Court). Expanded the rights of those who are arrested and convicted of crimes, but are subjected to excessive force by the police.