Loving v. Virginia (1967)

1) Link to the Actual Opinion
Read the U.S. Reports opinion (PDF)

2) Summary of the Opinion
Richard and Mildred Loving, an interracial couple, were convicted under Virginia law banning interracial marriage. The Supreme Court unanimously struck down the law, ruling that it violated the Equal Protection Clause and the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment.

3) Why It Mattered
This case ended all race-based legal restrictions on marriage in the United States. It became a cornerstone of civil rights jurisprudence and later informed cases about marriage equality.