Buck v. Bell 1927

Could Virginia compel sterilization of people it deemed “feeble-minded”?

274 U.S. 200 (1927)Liberty and privacy

The question: Could Virginia compel sterilization of people it deemed “feeble-minded”?
What the Court held: Yes. The Court upheld the law; it has not been formally overruled.
The vote: 8–1
Era: The interwar years and the New Deal
Read the opinion: 274 U.S. 200 (1927), full text

This page summarizes the Court’s judgment in neutral terms. The opinion, concurrences and dissents are the authority; read them for the reasoning.