| Line 1: |
Line 1: |
| | 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.) | | 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.) |
| | + | |
| | + | At least 4 out of these 25 worst decisions were urged by the [[ACLU]], as noted below. |
| | | | |
| | #[[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> |
| Line 5: |
Line 7: |
| | #[[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> | | #[[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. This was an [[ACLU]] case.</ref> |
| | #[[Buck v. Bell]] (1927) (approved of forced sterilization of low-IQ women)<ref>The case was based on a fraudulent claim that the woman was mentally retarded.</ref> | | #[[Buck v. Bell]] (1927) (approved of forced sterilization of low-IQ women)<ref>The case was based on a fraudulent claim that the woman was mentally retarded.</ref> |
| | #[[Plyler v. Doe]] (1982) (mandated that all illegal immigrants be given free education in [[public school]]s) | | #[[Plyler v. Doe]] (1982) (mandated that all illegal immigrants be given free education in [[public school]]s) |
| Line 14: |
Line 16: |
| | #[[Romer v. Evans]] (2002) | | #[[Romer v. Evans]] (2002) |
| | #[[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> | | #[[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. This was an [[ACLU]] case.</ref> |
| − | #[[Epperson v. Arkansas]] (1968) (prohibited limitations on [[evolution]] indoctrination in public schools)<ref>Justice [[Abe Fortas]] wrote this opinion only weeks after he was rejected by the [[Senate]] for improprieties in his nomination to become Chief Justice,[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A45149-2005Mar17.html] and as a new scandal was lurking that led to Chief Justice [[Earl Warren]] telling him to resign. This opinion was released a mere 27 days after oral argument, which is much quicker than usual.</ref> | + | #[[Epperson v. Arkansas]] (1968) (prohibited limitations on [[evolution]] indoctrination in public schools)<ref>Justice [[Abe Fortas]] wrote this opinion only weeks after he was rejected by the [[Senate]] for improprieties in his nomination to become Chief Justice,[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A45149-2005Mar17.html] and as a new scandal was lurking that led to Chief Justice [[Earl Warren]] telling him to resign. This opinion was released a mere 27 days after oral argument, which is much quicker than usual. This was an [[ACLU]] case.</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]])<ref>This was an [[ACLU]] case.</ref> |
| | #[[Baker v. Carr]] (1962) (one man one vote) | | #[[Baker v. Carr]] (1962) (one man one vote) |
| | #[[Cooper v. Aaron]] (1958) (judicial supremacy) | | #[[Cooper v. Aaron]] (1958) (judicial supremacy) |