Bell v. Maryland

Bell v. Maryland
Argued October 14 – October 15, 1963
Decided June 22, 1964
Full case nameRobert Mack Bell et at., v. Maryland
Citations378 U.S. 226 (more)
84 S. Ct. 1814; 12 L. Ed. 2d 822
Case history
Prior227 Md. 302, 176 A.2d 771 (1962) (upholding conviction)
Subsequent236 Md. 356, 204 A.2d 54 (1964) (upholding conviction); 236 Md. 356, rehearing granted and conviction reversed (April 9, 1965).
Holding
The Supreme Court vacated the judgment and remanded to the Court of Appeals of Maryland to allow consideration whether a change in state law should result in dismissal of the convictions.
Court membership
Chief Justice
Earl Warren
Associate Justices
Hugo Black · William O. Douglas
Tom C. Clark · John M. Harlan II
William J. Brennan Jr. · Potter Stewart
Byron White · Arthur Goldberg
Case opinions
MajorityBrennan, joined by Warren, Clark, Stewart, Goldberg
ConcurrenceDouglas
ConcurrenceGoldberg, joined by Warren, Douglas
DissentBlack, joined by Harlan, White

Bell v. Maryland, 378 U.S. 226 (1964), provided an opportunity for the Supreme Court of the United States to determine whether racial discrimination in the provision of public accommodations by a privately owned restaurant violated the Equal Protection and Due Process Clauses of the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution. However, due to a supervening change in the state law, the Court vacated the judgment of the Maryland Court of Appeals and remanded the case to allow that court to determine whether the convictions for criminal trespass of twelve African American students should be dismissed.[1]

  1. ^ Bell v. Maryland, 378 U.S. 226 (1964).