The United States Supreme Court has fundamentally shaped American society for centuries. From slavery to women’s rights, court rulings often have the final verdict in whether discriminatory institutions will persist or be eradicated for good. There exist several court cases that mark momentous eras in American history and have allowed oppressed communities to finally obtain justice. Here are three of the most transformative cases—cases that have undeniable relevance in our world today.
- Brown v. Board of Education (1954)
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Brown v. Board overturned the infamous Plessy v. Ferguson case of 1896 that upheld the “Separate but Equal” doctrine for decades.
Under this malicious doctrine, public facilities such as schools, buses, and restaurants could be separate people on the basis of their skin color. This racial segregation is also commonly referred to as the Jim Crow laws.
This changed in 1951 when a young Black girl named Linda Brown was refused entry in a “whites-only” school system in Topeka, Kansas. Linda’s father then filed a lawsuit against the Board of Education in Topeka and the case moved onto the Supreme Court. In 1954, Chief Justice Earl Warren ruled that the “Separate but Equal” doctrine must be removed from education because it contradicts the 14th Amendment’s equal protection under the law. After this court ruling, American schools finally began the process of widespread racial integration. Although it took decades for all states to fully comply and implement integration within their schools, Brown v. Board of Education served as the long-due first step that paved the way for students of color to finally begin receiving equal access to education.
- Roe v. Wade (1973)
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This court case came about when a woman by the pen name of Jane Roe filed a lawsuit against the district attorney of Texas, Henry Wade, to fight against a new state law that criminalized abortion unless it was a doctor’s medical order. This case moved up to the Supreme Court, where it ruled that access to safe abortions is, in fact, a constitutional right. Chief justice Warren Burger used the “Due Process” clause of the 14th Amendment, which ensures the right to privacy, to justify the court’s ruling. This revolutionary case stands as a milestone in women’s rights and in the historic feminist movement that gained a lot of momentum especially during the civil rights era of the 1960s. Today, Roe v. Wade continues to face controversy and backlash; however, it continues to stand as a beacon of empowerment for women’s right to privacy and proper healthcare.
- Massachusetts v. EPA (2007)
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Needless to say, climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our generation. From deadly wildfires across California to the rising sea levels right here in Boston, awareness about environmental issues proves itself necessary in this current day. In the early 2000s, Massachusetts with the support of several other states demanded that the Environmental Protection Agency regulate greenhouse gas emissions. When the EPA refused, stating that it does not have the power of regulating, the case moved up to the Supreme Court. The court ruled in favor of Massachusetts, arguing that EPA can, in fact, regulate carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act. This case depicts one of the first modern court rulings that showcases the urgent need to address climate change through the law.
Although these court cases helped change the course of our society for the better, we are far from done. There is much left to do to ensure racial justice, gender equality, and a clean environment. To build a better future, we must keep a record of those who fought for change before us and fight for change ourselves. It is our responsibility to strive for justice until it has been reached.
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