Pierce v. Society of Sisters

Pierce v. Society of Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary 268 U.S. 510 1925 is an important early 20th century U.S. Supreme Court case recognizing a right to privacy. The case has been cited as a precedent in over 100 Supreme Court cases, including Roe v. Wade.

Table of contents

1 Background
2 The Decision
3 See also

Background

Under the influence of the Ku Klux Klan, the voters of Oregon passed a ballot measure in November 1922 which required all children between the ages of 8 and 16 to attend public schools.

The Decision

In a 9-0 decision, the Court declared the law violated the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution:

we think it entirely plain that the Act of 1922 unreasonably interferes with the liberty of parents and guardians to direct the upbringing and education of children under their control.