Legal Definitions - dissent

A dissent is when one or more people disagree with the majority opinion. This can happen in court cases, where a judge or justice writes a dissenting opinion that goes against the decision made by the majority. Dissenting opinions are not binding law, but they help to preserve minority viewpoints and contribute to public debate on legal issues.

• In the Supreme Court case of Roe v. Wade, there were several dissenting opinions from justices who disagreed with the majority's decision to legalize abortion. These opinions helped to keep the debate over abortion rights alive and continue to influence discussions on the topic today.
• In the case of Brown v. Board of Education, there was a famous dissenting opinion from Justice John Marshall Harlan. He argued that segregation in public schools was unconstitutional, even though the majority of the Court disagreed at the time. His dissenting opinion helped pave the way for the eventual desegregation of schools in the United States.

These examples illustrate how dissenting opinions can have a lasting impact on legal and social issues. Even though they may not be binding law, they can influence future court decisions and public policy debates.