Question

The Warren Court's ruling in Brown v. Board of Education (1954) illustrates which of the following aspects of Supreme Court decisions?

A) The Supreme Court has employed a colorblind interpretation of the Constitution to shape judicial precedent over time.
B) Precedents established by the Supreme Court decades ago are typically not revisited after a certain period.
C) Ideological changes in the composition of the Supreme Court can result in the rejection of an existing precedent.
D) Precedents established by the Supreme Court are regularly overturned by lower courts.

Answer 1

The Warren Court's decision in Brown v. Board of Education represents how ideological shifts in the Supreme Court can lead to the overturning of an existing precedent, in this case, overruling of Plessy v. Ferguson's 'separate but equal' doctrine.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Warren Court's ruling in Brown v. Board of Education (1954) illustrates the aspect of Supreme Court decisions that Ideological changes in the composition of the Supreme Court can result in the rejection of an existing precedent. This case overturned the precedent set by Plessy v. Ferguson in 1896, which upheld the constitutionality of 'separate but equal' facilities and thus segregation. Instead, the Court unanimously concluded that separate educational facilities are inherently unequal, thus violating the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The decision marked a significant turn in the judicial approach to civil rights and set a new precedent against racial segregation in public schools.

Answer 2

The Warren Court's Brown v. Board of Education ruling demonstrates how ideological shifts in the Supreme Court can overturn established precedents, exemplified by the rejection of the 'separate but equal' doctrine in favor of integrated public schools under the Fourteenth Amendment.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Warren Court's ruling in Brown v. Board of Education (1954) illustrates that ideological changes in the composition of the Supreme Court can result in the rejection of an existing precedent. Previously, in Plessy v. Ferguson (1896), the doctrine of "separate but equal" was established, but the Brown decision overturned this precedent, declaring that segregation in public schools violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and that "separate educational facilities are inherently unequal." This historic decision showed the Supreme Court's ability to evolve and overturn past decisions, reflecting the changing attitudes and values of the society. It also set a precedent for future rulings that aimed to dismantle racial segregation and discrimination.