Was The Burger Court Liberal Or Conservative
The Burger Court was a period in the history of the United States Supreme Court that ran from 1969 to 1986. It was named after Chief Justice Warren Burger, who presided over the court during this time. The Burger Court was known for its landmark decisions on civil rights, abortion, and free speech, among other issues.
What Was The Political Ideology Of The Burger Court?
The Burger Court is often described as a conservative court, but this is a simplistic view of its political ideology. The court was comprised of justices appointed by both Republican and Democratic presidents, and their voting patterns were often unpredictable. Some justices, like Harry Blackmun and John Paul Stevens, were appointed as conservatives but became more liberal over time. Others, like William Rehnquist and Lewis Powell, were appointed as moderates but became more conservative over time.
Landmark Decisions Of The Burger Court
The Burger Court is known for its landmark decisions on a variety of issues:
Civil Rights:
The Burger Court was responsible for several important civil rights decisions. In 1971, the court ruled in Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education that busing was an acceptable method of achieving racial integration in schools. In 1978, the court ruled in Regents of the University of California v. Bakke that affirmative action was constitutional, but that quotas were not.
Abortion:
The Burger Court's decision in Roe v. Wade in 1973 remains one of its most controversial. The court ruled that a woman has a constitutional right to choose to have an abortion, with some restrictions. This decision has been the subject of ongoing debate and legal challenges ever since.
Free Speech:
The Burger Court also issued several important decisions regarding free speech. In 1971, the court ruled in New York Times Co. v. United States that the government could not prevent the publication of the Pentagon Papers, a classified study of the Vietnam War. In 1972, the court ruled in Wisconsin v. Yoder that Amish parents had the right to remove their children from public school after eighth grade, even though state law required them to attend until age 16.
Conclusion
The Burger Court was a complex and unpredictable period in the history of the United States Supreme Court. While it is often described as a conservative court, this is an oversimplification of its political ideology. The court was responsible for several landmark decisions on civil rights, abortion, and free speech, and its legacy continues to be felt today.