Bolling v. Sharpe

Citation. 347 U.S. 497, 74 S.Ct. 693, 98 L.Ed. 884 (1954).

Brief Fact Summary.

Plaintiffs brought suit after being denied admission to public schools because of their skin color.

Synopsis of Rule of Law.

Racial segregation in public schools violates the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment.

Facts.

Plaintiffs were denied admission to public schools attended by white children. They brought suit to challenge D.C.’s racial segregation law, arguing the student had been deprived of due process of law under the Fifth Amendment.

Issue.

Whether segregation of public schools in Washington, D.C. violates the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment.

Held.

Yes. Segregation of public schools in Washington, D.C. violates the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment.

Discussion.

Segregation in public education is not reasonably related to any proper governmental objective, and thus it imposes a burden that constitutes an arbitrary deprivation of liberty in violation of the Due Process Clause.

The Constitution prohibits the states from maintaining racially segregated public schools. It would be unthinkable that the same Constitution would impose a lesser duty on the federal government.