Plessy vs fersgeson - Assignment Example

"Let the Decision Stand" The principle of (Stare Decisis) "Let the decision stand" is very much applicable in US law. It has been used by courts to help in providing guidance on important rulings. Although reference has been made on earlier rulings, the judges have been free to choose to adhere to good rulings and reject the bad one that can not be relied upon to provide precedence on future laws. This was evidenced in the Brown v. Board of Education (1954) in which Chief Justice Earl Warren rejected the infamous Plessy v.

Ferguson (1896) on the basis of unconstitutionality.In Plessy v. Ferguson, the Committee of Citizens sought a legal redress in the Louisiana Court to challenge the unconstitutionality of ‘separate but equal’ doctrine that allowed racial segregation in public facilities in Louisiana. This followed the arrest of Plessy Homer who despite being a black used a white designated car. In his ruling, Judge John Howard held that Louisiana Stage was justified to enforce such discriminatory laws. The ruling was upheld by the Supreme Court of Louisiana and Supreme Court of US.

By arguing in favor of ‘separate but equal,’ this ruling endorsed racial segregation in USA. On the other hand, Brown v. Board of Education was filed by Brown Oliver et al to advocate for the revocation of the laws that had been propagating the segregation of students in public schools. The plaintiffs argued that such laws violated the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Amendments that support equality. The court ruled that segregation laws in public schools are unconstitutional and should be repealed.

By overturning the Plessy v. Ferguson, this ruling paved way for the eradication of segregation in public schools and racial integration in the country. It was indeed, a great victory to the Civil Right Movements that had been piling pressure on the government to end racism.