Buck v. Bell

Buck v. Bell was a landmark U.S. Supreme Court case from 1927 that upheld a Virginia law permitting the forced sterilization of individuals deemed "unfit" to reproduce, including those with mental disabilities. The case involved Carrie Buck, who was sterilized against her will. The Court, in an 8-1 decision led by Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., ruled that the state's interest in eugenics justified such actions. Holmes famously stated, "Three generations of imbeciles are enough," reflecting the eugenics movement of the time. This decision has been widely criticized for its ethical implications and role in violating human rights.