Bolling v. Sharpe
Docket: 8
Court: Supreme Court of the United States; May 17, 1954; Federal Supreme Court; Federal Appellate Court
The case of Bolling v. Sharpe addresses the constitutionality of racial segregation in public schools in the District of Columbia, where the petitioners, African American minors, claim that such segregation violates their due process rights under the Fifth Amendment. They were denied admission to a school attended by white children solely based on their race and sought judicial intervention after their complaint was dismissed by the District Court. The Supreme Court, referencing its prior decision in Brown v. Board of Education, establishes that while the Fifth Amendment lacks an equal protection clause, the principles of due process and equal protection are fundamentally linked and both embody fairness. Racial classifications merit heightened scrutiny as they contradict American traditions of equality and justice. The Court cites historical precedents affirming that discrimination based on race is impermissible under the Constitution. The opinion argues that the concept of liberty extends beyond mere physical freedom and encompasses the right to pursue education without arbitrary restrictions. Racial segregation in education is deemed unrelated to any legitimate governmental interest, thus constituting an unjust deprivation of liberty. Ultimately, the Court concludes that racial segregation in D.C. public schools violates the due process clause of the Fifth Amendment, asserting that the federal government has an obligation to uphold the same standards against segregation as imposed on state governments. The case is ordered to be restored to the docket for further argument regarding the appropriate remedy.