Which case is associated with the ruling that segregation in public schools is unconstitutional?

• A. Mapp v. Ohio
• B. Miranda v. Arizona
• C. Gideon v. Wainwright
• D. Brown v. Board

Answer: (D)

The main idea here is that racial segregation in public schools violates equal protection under the 14th Amendment. The Supreme Court ruled that separate educational facilities are inherently unequal, so state laws that uphold segregation in schools cannot provide equal protection. This overturned the long-standing “separate but equal” standard from earlier precedent and held that segregation itself imposes an inferior status on African American students, undermining their educational opportunities.

Brown v. Board of Education (1954) is the landmark decision that first asserted this, stressing that education is a fundamental right and that separating students by race creates a stigma and inequality that cannot be reconciled with equal protection. This case began the process of desegregation, though it led to further rulings (like Brown II) about how quickly schools should desegregate.

The other cases involve different constitutional protections—not the desegregation of public schools—such as the protections against unreasonable searches and seizures, or the rights to counsel and to be informed of rights during police interrogation.