Bell v. Maryland
United States Supreme Court
378 U.S. 226 (1964)
- Written by Salina Kennedy, JD
Facts
Bell (defendant), a Black student, participated in a sit-in protest at a corporate-owned restaurant that served only White customers. When Bell and the other protestors were asked to leave the restaurant, they refused and instead demanded to be served. The police were called, and Bell and the other protestors were arrested and convicted of criminal trespass. At trial, the president of the corporation that owned the restaurant testified that the corporation continued its policy of segregation out of fear that serving Black customers would drive away White customers. The Maryland Court of Appeals affirmed the convictions. After the convictions were affirmed, the state made a significant change to the criminal-trespass law under which Bell and the other protestors had been convicted. The United States Supreme Court granted certiorari.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Brennan, J.)
Concurrence (Goldberg, J.)
Concurrence (Douglas, J.)
Dissent (Black, J.)
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