Nixon v. Herndon

Tue, 04 Jan 1927 13:00:00 +0000

Case Basics

Docket No.

117

Petitioner

Nixon

Petitioner Type

Petitioner

Respondent

Herndon

Respondent Type

Respondent

Heard By

Taft Court (1925-1930)

Decided By

Taft Court (1925-1930)

Opinion

273 U.S. 536 (1927)

Argued

Tuesday, January 4, 1927

Decided

Monday, March 7, 1927

Facts of the Case

None

Question

None

Conclusion

None

Buck v. Bell

Fri, 22 Apr 1927 13:00:00 +0000

Location

Virginia General Assembly

9th and Grace Street Richmond VA 23219

Richmond, VA 23219

United States

37° 32' 23.8416" N, 77° 26' 4.758" W

See map: Google Maps

Case Basics

Docket No.

292

Petitioner

Buck

Petitioner Type

Petitioner

Respondent

Bell

Respondent Type

Respondent

Heard By

Taft Court (1925-1930)

Decided By

Taft Court (1925-1930)

Opinion

274 U.S. 200 (1927)

Argued

Friday, April 22, 1927

Decided

Monday, May 2, 1927

Facts of the Case

Carrie Buck was a feeble minded woman who was committed to a state mental institution. Her condition had been present in her family for the last three generations. A Virginia law allowed for the sexual sterilization of inmates of institutions to promote the "health of the patient and the welfare of society." Before the procedure could be performed, however, a hearing was required to determine whether or not the operation was a wise thing to do.

Question

Did the Virginia statute which authorized sterilization deny Buck the right to due process of the law and the equal protection of the laws as protected by the Fourteenth Amendment?

Conclusion

The Court found that the statute did not violate the Constitution. Justice Holmes made clear that Buck's challenge was not upon the medical procedure involved but on the process of the substantive law. Since sterilization could not occur until a proper hearing had occurred (at which the patient and a guardian could be present) and after the Circuit Court of the County and the Supreme Court of Appeals had reviewed the case, if so requested by the patient. Only after "months of observation" could the operation take place. That was enough to satisfy the Court that there was no Constitutional violation. Citing the best interests of the state, Justice Holmes affirmed the value of a law like Virginia's in order to prevent the nation from "being swamped with incompetence . . . Three generations of imbeciles are enough."

Cases - 1926 term

Nixon v. Herndon

Buck v. Bell

Location