Fletcher v. Peck

Fletcher v. Peck, 1810 Supreme Court case that established the supremacy of the U.S. Constitution over state laws. After members of the Georgia legislature had taken bribes in 1795 to grant land to several companies, the next legislature revoked the grants, even though some of the land had already been sold by the companies. The new landowners sued, arguing that the state had interfered with a legal contract. The Supreme Court agreed, ruling that the violation of a contract by a state is prohibited by the Constitution.