constitutional rights & liberties - Faculty & Staff, Georgia Perimeter ...

Substantive Due Process
BUCK v. BELL,
274 U.S. 200 (1927)
CAN A STATE TO FORCE THE
FEEBLE-MINDED TO BE STERILIZED
Carrie & her mother, Emma
BASED ON THE EVIDENCE IN THE CASE, JUSTICE
OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES BELIEVED:
• CARRIE, HER MOTHER, AND CARRIE’S CHILD
WERE SAID TO BE FEEBLE-MINDED,
• HOLMES WROTE, “THREE GENERATIONS OF
IMBECILES WAS ENOUGH.”
• HE SAID VIRGINIA’S LAW WAS A REASONABLE
SACRIFICE FOR SOCIETY’S GOOD.
• FROM 1924 TO 1979, 60,000 PEOPLE WERE
STERILIZED IN 30 STATES.