Today in Supreme Court History: May 2, 1927
On May 2, 1927, the U.S. Supreme Court decided Buck v. Bell, a case that upheld the constitutionality of forced sterilization under state law. The ruling allowed the sterilization of individuals deemed unfit to reproduce, particularly those in state institutions. The decision has been widely criticized in later years for its ethical implications and role in eugenics movements.
- ▪Buck v. Bell was decided by the U.S. Supreme Court on May 2, 1927.
- ▪The Court upheld a Virginia law permitting the forced sterilization of individuals in state institutions.
- ▪Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. wrote the majority opinion, which included the phrase 'three generations of imbeciles are enough.'
- ▪The ruling has never been explicitly overturned but has been discredited over time.
- ▪The case involved Carrie Buck, who was ordered to be sterilized after being deemed mentally unfit.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
The Volokh Conspiracy Mostly law professors | Sometimes contrarian | Often libertarian | Always independent About The Volokh Conspiracy Editorial Independence Who we are Books Volokh Daily Email Archives Search DMCA RSS Politics Today in Supreme Court History: May 2, 1927 Josh Blackman | 5.2.2026 7:00 AM 5/2/1927: Buck v. Bell decided. #gform_wrapper_17[data-form-index="0"].gform-theme,[data-parent-form="17_0"]{--gf-color-primary: #204ce5;--gf-color-primary-rgb: 32, 76, 229;--gf-color-primary-contrast: #fff;--gf-color-primary-contrast-rgb: 255, 255, 255;--gf-color-primary-darker: #001AB3;--gf-color-primary-lighter: #527EFF;--gf-color-secondary: #fff;--gf-color-secondary-rgb: 255, 255, 255;--gf-color-secondary-contrast: #112337;--gf-color-secondary-contrast-rgb: 17, 35,…
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