Loving v. Virginia
388 U.S. 1 (1967)
📄 Read the Actual Opinion
U.S. Reports opinion (PDF) →📋 Summary of the Opinion
Richard and Mildred Loving, an interracial couple, were convicted under Virginia law banning interracial marriage. The Supreme Court unanimously struck down the law, ruling that it violated the Equal Protection Clause and the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment.
⚖️ Why It Mattered
This case ended all race-based legal restrictions on marriage in the United States. It became a cornerstone of civil rights jurisprudence and later informed cases about marriage equality.
✅ What It Provided or Took Away
✅ Provided:
A fundamental constitutional right to marry regardless of race.
❌ Took Away:
States’ ability to enforce anti-miscegenation laws.
🤔 Overreach or Proper Role?
The Court acted squarely within its role by enforcing constitutional guarantees of equality and liberty against discriminatory state laws.
💡 Plain-English Impact Today
Because of Loving, marriage across racial lines is fully protected. The case also paved the way for arguments recognizing marriage equality in later decades.