布朗诉托皮卡教育委员会案判决

The Verdict of Brown v.Board of Education of Topeka,347 U.S.483,1954

1954年至1955年,美国最高法院分两次就布朗诉托皮卡教育委员会案作出判决,这是美国宪法史上最为重大的事件之一。布朗案的判决沉重打击了种族隔离制度,促使民权运动渐入佳境,深刻改变了美国社会。判决开启了最高法院新的司法能动时代,重塑了法院在社会变革中的角色,更重新定义了司法与其他分支、联邦与地方、国家与公民之间的关系。判决还引发了学界的广泛讨论,为现代美国宪法学设定了议程和范式,更为后世学人提供了源源不断的灵感。国内已有布朗案判决的多个译本,但均存在较多简化。此次根据美国最高法院官方记录译出全本,以期呈现判决的全貌。

The U.S.Supreme Court ruled on the case of Brown v.Board of Education twice in 1954 and 1955 respectively.The case is a milestone in the history of American constitution.It catalyzed the Civil Rights Movement which finally destroyed the racial segregation system.The case also marks the beginning of a new era of judicial activism.It reshaped the role played by the Court in social change,and redefined the relationship between the judiciary and other branches,the federal government and the states,and the state and the citizens.The case also generated a comprehensive academic discussion which set the agenda and the pattern of modern American constitutional scholarship.