Cooper v. Aaron

Definition

Cooper v. Aaron is a landmark Supreme Court case from 1958 that reaffirmed the principle of judicial review and established the supremacy of federal court decisions over state actions regarding desegregation. This case emerged in the context of the Little Rock Nine, where the Arkansas governor defied a federal court order to integrate public schools, highlighting the tensions between state laws and federal mandates.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Cooper v. Aaron arose when Arkansas officials attempted to resist the federal mandate for school desegregation following the Brown decision.
2. The Supreme Court ruled unanimously that states are bound by the Supreme Court's decisions and cannot choose to ignore them.
3. This case emphasized that the Constitution is the supreme law of the land and that federal law takes precedence over state law.
4. Governor Orval Faubus's defiance in protecting segregationist policies led to a national crisis regarding civil rights and federal authority.
5. The ruling reinforced the idea that compliance with desegregation was not optional for states, marking a critical moment in the civil rights movement.

Review Questions

• How did Cooper v. Aaron reinforce the principle of federal supremacy in relation to state actions?
  • Cooper v. Aaron reinforced federal supremacy by asserting that states are not free to disregard Supreme Court rulings. The Court declared that its decisions are binding on state officials, emphasizing that the Constitution requires adherence to federal laws, particularly concerning civil rights and desegregation. This ruling made it clear that the judiciary has authority over state actions when they conflict with constitutional mandates.
• In what ways did Cooper v. Aaron relate to the earlier decision in Brown v. Board of Education?
  • Cooper v. Aaron directly related to Brown v. Board of Education as it built upon the precedent established by this landmark case, which ruled that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. The resistance faced by the Little Rock Nine highlighted the challenges in enforcing this decision at the state level, prompting Cooper v. Aaron to address these conflicts by reinforcing that federal court orders must be obeyed, regardless of state opposition.
• Evaluate the impact of Cooper v. Aaron on the civil rights movement and its significance for future legal battles over desegregation.
  • Cooper v. Aaron had a profound impact on the civil rights movement by establishing a clear legal precedent for enforcing desegregation across the United States. The ruling empowered civil rights advocates by affirming that federal courts would uphold constitutional mandates against state resistance, fostering greater momentum for desegregation efforts nationwide. Its significance lies in setting a judicial standard that future cases could rely on, reinforcing the idea that equality under the law must be upheld against any form of defiance from state governments.

Related terms

Brown v. Board of Education: The 1954 Supreme Court case that declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional, setting the stage for Cooper v. Aaron.

Judicial Review: The power of courts to assess whether a law or government action is in compliance with the Constitution.

Little Rock Nine: A group of nine African American students who enrolled at Little Rock Central High School in 1957, facing significant opposition and violence as they sought to integrate.