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| − | (All decisions are by the [[U.S. Supreme Court]] except where noted; rulings overturned by the court system are not included.) | + | The vast majority of the "25 Worst Court Decisions" involved some [[deceit|deception]], impropriety or inadequate scholarship, as discussed in the footnotes. (All decisions are by the [[U.S. Supreme Court]] except where noted; rulings overturned by the court system are not included.) |
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| | #[[Roe v. Wade]] (and [[Doe v. Bolton]]) (1973) (legalized [[abortion]])<ref>Neither woman in these cases actually wanted an [[abortion]], and both have since attempted unsuccessfully to have these decisions overturned.</ref> | | #[[Roe v. Wade]] (and [[Doe v. Bolton]]) (1973) (legalized [[abortion]])<ref>Neither woman in these cases actually wanted an [[abortion]], and both have since attempted unsuccessfully to have these decisions overturned.</ref> |
| − | #[[Dred Scott v. Sanford]] (1857) (authorized slavery & denied citizenship to blacks)<ref>The Court far exceeded the controversy before it in its ruling.</ref> | + | #[[Dred Scott v. Sanford]] (1857) (authorized slavery & denied citizenship to blacks)<ref>The Court far exceeded the controversy before it in its ruling. President [[James Buchanan]] reportedly had sought this decision privately with the Court, and the decision was rendered two days after his inauguration.</ref> |
| | #[[Goodridge v. Department of Public Health]] (Mass. Sup. Ct. 2003) (mandated same-sex [[marriage]])<ref>The lead plaintiffs separated about two years after getting married.[http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/07/21/after_2_years_same_sex_marriage_icons_split_up/]</ref> | | #[[Goodridge v. Department of Public Health]] (Mass. Sup. Ct. 2003) (mandated same-sex [[marriage]])<ref>The lead plaintiffs separated about two years after getting married.[http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/07/21/after_2_years_same_sex_marriage_icons_split_up/]</ref> |
| | #[[Engel v. Vitale]] (1962) (banned prayer in [[public school]])<ref>The Court cited no precedential holding in its entire opinion.</ref> | | #[[Engel v. Vitale]] (1962) (banned prayer in [[public school]])<ref>The Court cited no precedential holding in its entire opinion.</ref> |
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| | #[[Lemon v. Kurtzman]] (1971) (used to justify eliminating religion from public life) | | #[[Lemon v. Kurtzman]] (1971) (used to justify eliminating religion from public life) |
| | #[[Romer v. Evans]] (2002) | | #[[Romer v. Evans]] (2002) |
| − | #[[Lawrence v. Texas]] (2003) (struck down sodomy laws, allowing immoral conduct) | + | #[[Lawrence v. Texas]] (2003) (struck down sodomy laws, allowing immoral conduct)<ref>This case was a set-up whereby a false claim of a [[felony]] was reported to the police in order to compel an arrest in someone's apartment.</ref> |
| | #[[Stone v. Graham]] (1980) (banned the [[Ten Commandments]] from display in [[public school]])<ref>The Court issued a 5-4 unsigned ([[per curiam]]) decision without hearing argument on the merits of the case.</ref> | | #[[Stone v. Graham]] (1980) (banned the [[Ten Commandments]] from display in [[public school]])<ref>The Court issued a 5-4 unsigned ([[per curiam]]) decision without hearing argument on the merits of the case.</ref> |
| − | #[[Epperson v. Arkansas]] (1968) (imposed [[evolution]] indoctrination in public schools) | + | #[[Epperson v. Arkansas]] (1968) (imposed [[evolution]] indoctrination in public schools)<ref>Justice [[Abe Fortas]] wrote this opinion only weeks after he was rejected by the [[Senate]] in his nomination to become Chief Justice,[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A45149-2005Mar17.html] and only few months before a scandal erupted that led to Chief Justice [[Earl Warren]] telling him to resign.</ref> |
| | #[[Edwards v. Aguillard]] (1987) (banned scientific evidence of creation from [[public schools]]) | | #[[Edwards v. Aguillard]] (1987) (banned scientific evidence of creation from [[public schools]]) |
| | #[[Wickard v. Filburn]] (1942) (granted Congress power to prohibit growing wheat on your own land) | | #[[Wickard v. Filburn]] (1942) (granted Congress power to prohibit growing wheat on your own land) |