Ranking the Worst Supreme Court Decisions of All Time
The article discusses the ranking of the worst Supreme Court decisions in history, highlighting the infamous Plessy v. Ferguson case. This decision upheld racial segregation laws and established the 'separate but equal' doctrine, which persisted until it was overturned in 1954. The author reflects on the implications of such rulings and their lasting impact on civil rights.
- ▪Plessy v. Ferguson upheld a Louisiana law forbidding first-class tickets for black passengers.
- ▪The case enshrined the 'separate but equal' doctrine, legitimizing racial segregation.
- ▪The doctrine remained until it was overturned by Brown v. Board of Education in 1954.
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Supreme Court Ranking the Worst Supreme Court Decisions of All Time What cases belong on the list? Damon Root | 5.19.2026 7:00 AM Share on FacebookShare on XShare on RedditShare by emailPrint friendly versionCopy page URL Add Reason to Google Media Contact & Reprint Requests <img src="https://d2eehagpk5cl65.cloudfront.net/img/c800x450-w800-q80/uploads/2026/05/05.18.26-v1-800x450.jpg" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto" width="1200" height="675" title="An illustration of a train" alt="An illustration of a train | Illustration: Midjourney" /> (Illustration: Midjourney) When Reason magazine celebrated its 50th anniversary back in 2018, I helped mark the occasion with a column about "the 5 worst Supreme Court rulings of the past 50 years," a list that featured destructive and far-reaching…
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