Plessy v. Ferguson
163 U.S. 537 (1896)
Holding
The Court upheld state-enforced racial segregation under the 'separate but equal' doctrine, a rule later rejected by Brown.
What Happened
Homer Plessy challenged a Louisiana law requiring separate railroad accommodations for white and Black passengers.
What the Court Decided
The Supreme Court upheld the law and endorsed the “separate but equal” framework.
That decision became one of the most infamous precedents in American law because it gave constitutional cover to state-enforced segregation.
What It Means in Practice
Plessy matters here mostly as a reminder that even deeply entrenched Supreme Court doctrine can be wrong and can later be repudiated.
It was eventually rejected by Brown v. Board of Education.
How You Can Use It
Use Plessy when you need a stark example that the age of a precedent does not prove its legitimacy.
How It Can Be Used Against You
Defendants may say Plessy is such an extreme example that it does not tell you much about modern civil-rights procedure.
That is fair. Its value is not doctrinal detail. Its value is showing how badly the Court can get the law wrong and how long a bad rule can survive.