Olmstead v. L.C.

law case [1999]

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July 1, 2026

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In Olmstead v. L.C. (1999), the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that individuals with developmental disabilities who were being held in a large psychiatric institution should be allowed to move to smaller group homes. The Court determined that preventing them from doing so constituted segregation and discrimination, violating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA, signed into law in 1990, provides civil rights protections for individuals with disabilities, ensuring equal opportunities in various aspects of life, including public accommodations and state services. This landmark case affirmed the right of individuals with disabilities to live in the most integrated setting appropriate to their needs, rather than being unnecessarily institutionalized.12

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Americans with Disabilities Act
In Olmstead v. L.C. (1999), the court ruled that two developmentally disabled women being held in a large psychiatric institution run by the state of Georgia should be allowed to relocate to smaller group homes and that prohibiting them from doing so constituted segregation and discrimination.…
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In Olmstead v. L.C. (1999), the court ruled that two developmentally disabled women being held in a large psychiatric institution run by the state of Georgia should be allowed to relocate to smaller group homes and that prohibiting them from doing so constituted segregation and discrimination.…
Read More

Bowers v. Hardwick
Dissenting opinions
…the Supreme Court’s decision in Olmstead v. United States [1928]), “this case is about ‘the most comprehensive of rights and the right most valued by civilized men,’ namely, ‘the right to be let alone.’” Accordingly, the majority’s decision did not merely “refuse to recognize a fundamental right to engage in…
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…the Supreme Court’s decision in Olmstead v. United States [1928]), “this case is about ‘the most comprehensive of rights and the right most valued by civilized men,’ namely, ‘the right to be let alone.’” Accordingly, the majority’s decision did not merely “refuse to recognize a fundamental right to engage in…
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electronic eavesdropping
…the Supreme Court case of Olmstead v. United States (1928). Federal investigative authorities continue to engage in wiretapping, although in 1934 Congress enacted restraints that severely limited the use of intercepted material as admissible evidence in judicial proceedings. In the 1960s and ’70s the Supreme Court sought to protect individuals…
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…the Supreme Court case of Olmstead v. United States (1928). Federal investigative authorities continue to engage in wiretapping, although in 1934 Congress enacted restraints that severely limited the use of intercepted material as admissible evidence in judicial proceedings. In the 1960s and ’70s the Supreme Court sought to protect individuals…
Read More