Note sull'episodio
Runyon v. McCrary, 427 U.S. 160 (1976)
Full notes and cites: https://opinion-of-the-court.pages.dev/ep/036-runyon-v-mccrary
Official text (U.S. Reports, Library of Congress): https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/ll/usrep/usrep427/usrep427160/usrep427160.pdf
Full text of the opinions, AI-narrated (Kokoro-82M, voice af_heart). Original introduction; opinion text is public domain. Not legal advice.
Michael McCrary and Colin Gonzales, two Black children in Virginia, were turned away by private schools, Bobbe's School and Fairfax-Brewster School, which did not admit Black students. Their parents sued under Section 1981, a Reconstruction-era statute originally enacted in the Civil Rights Act of 1866, which guarantees all persons the same right to make and enforce contracts as is enjoyed by white citizens.
Justice Stewart, for a seven-to-two majority, held that Section 1981 reaches private acts of racial discrimination in making contracts, including a private school's refusal to admit students because of race. The schools' arguments based on freedom of association and parental rights did not save them.
Justices Powell and Stevens concurred while expressing doubts about the earlier precedent they felt bound to follow. Justice White, joined by Justice Rehnquist, dissented, arguing the 1866 Congress meant only to give Black citizens the legal capacity to contract, not to forbid private refusals.
Citations: reporter citations were shortened or left out of the audio; every citation is listed on the website.
Cases named aloud
- Jones, supra, at 441-443, n. 78 at 441-443, n. 78 [as printed: Jones, supra, at 441-443, n. 78; Opinion of the Court (Mr. Justice Stewart)] (episode link pending)
- Tillman v. Wheaton-Haven Recreation Assn., 410 U.S. 431 at 439-440 [as printed: Tillman v. Wheaton-Haven Recreation Assn., 410 U. S. 431, 439-440 (1973); Dissent (Mr. Justice White)] (episode link pending)
- Johnson v. Railway Express Agency, 421 U.S. 454 [as printed: Johnson v. Railway Express Agency, 421 U. S. 454 (1975); Dissent (Mr. Justice White)] (episode link pending)
- NAACP v. Alabama, 357 U.S. 449 [as printed: NAACP v. Alabama, 357 U. S. 449; Opinion of the Court (Mr. Justice Stewart)] episode
- Norwood v. Harrison, 413 U.S. 455 at 469 [as printed: Norwood v. Harrison, 413 U. S. 455, 469; Opinion of the Court (Mr. Justice Stewart)] (episode link pending)
- Meyer v. Nebraska, 262 U.S. 390 [as printed: Meyer v. Nebraska, 262 U. S. 390; Opinion of the Court (Mr. Justice Stewart)] (episode link pending)
- Pierce v. Society of Sisters, 268 U.S. 510 [as printed: Pierce v. Society of Sisters, 268 U. S. 510; Opinion of the Court (Mr. Justice Stewart)] (episode link pending)
- 534-535. In Wisconsin v. Yoder, 406 U.S. 205 [as printed: 534-535. In Wisconsin v. Yoder, 406 U. S. 205; Opinion of the Court (Mr. Justice Stewart)] episode
- Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 [as printed: Roe v. Wade, supra; Opinion of the Court (Mr. Justice Stewart)] episode
- Holmberg v. Armbrecht, 327 U.S. 392 [as printed: Holmberg, supra; Opinion of the Court (Mr. Justice Stewart)] (episode link pending)
(+18 more named aloud; see the website)
Full list of 142 citations not read aloud: https://opinion-of-the-court.pages.dev/ep/036-runyon-v-mccrary