United States v. McGowan, 311 U.S. 342 (1960)
U.S. v.
Does a state law mandating racial segregation violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment if it does not serve a legitimate governmental purpose?
A state law is unconstitutional under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment if it enforces racial segregation on the basis of race without serving a legitimate governmental interest.
The Supreme Court held that racial segregation laws were unconstitutional as they did not serve a legitimate purpose, thereby violating the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
U.S. v. McGowan is of paramount importance for law students as it early exemplifies the application of strict scrutiny in racial classification cases under the Equal Protection Clause. It laid the groundwork for future landmark decisions addressing racial discrimination, such as Brown v. Board of Education. Understanding this case aids in grasping the constitutional framework used to evaluate laws allegedly grounded in racial inequity and stands as a testimonial to the judiciary's role in dismantling institutionalized racism.