A) Korematsu v. United States (1944) INCORRECT This case upheld the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, ruling that the need to protect against espionage outweighed individual rights. It is a controversial decision that has been widely criticized and is not related to overturning Plessy v. Ferguson. The case dealt with executive order 9066 and the limits of civil liberties during wartime, not with racial segregation in public facilities.
B) Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954) CORRECT This landmark decision overturned the 'separate but equal' doctrine established in Plessy v. Ferguson. The Supreme Court unanimously ruled that racial segregation in public schools violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. This case was a major victory for the Civil Rights Movement and laid the foundation for desegregation in all public facilities. It demonstrated the Court's willingness to correct past constitutional errors and adapt to evolving societal norms.
C) Gideon v. Wainwright (1963) INCORRECT This case established the right to counsel for criminal defendants who cannot afford an attorney, under the Sixth Amendment. It is a significant case regarding criminal procedure and due process, but it does not address racial segregation or overturn Plessy. The decision expanded the rights of the accused and reinforced the principle of fair trial, but it is unrelated to civil rights in the context of segregation.
D) Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010) INCORRECT This case dealt with campaign finance, ruling that corporate funding of independent political broadcasts cannot be limited under the First Amendment. It is a modern case about free speech and political spending, not about racial segregation or civil rights. The decision has been highly controversial but has no bearing on the Plessy precedent.
