Bolling v. Lersner was a United States Supreme Court case that addressed the issue of racial segregation in public schools. The case was brought by a group of African American parents in Washington, D.C. who argued that the segregation of their children in public schools violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The Supreme Court held that the segregation of public schools was unconstitutional, and that the Equal Protection Clause applied to the District of Columbia. The Court reasoned that the Fourteenth Amendment was intended to protect all citizens, regardless of race, and that the segregation of public schools was a violation of this principle. The Court also noted that the segregation of public schools was not only a violation of the Equal Protection Clause, but also of the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment. The Court concluded that the segregation of public schools was unconstitutional and that the District of Columbia must desegregate its public schools. The decision in Bolling v. Lersner was a landmark ruling that established the principle of racial equality in public schools. The ruling was a major victory for civil rights activists and helped to pave the way for the desegregation of public schools across the United States. The decision also set a precedent for future cases involving racial discrimination in public schools.

Justice Harlan delivered a dissenting opinion in the case of Bolling v. Lersner, arguing that Congress had no authority to pass legislation which would interfere with the rights of citizens under state law. He argued that while it was true that some states may have passed laws which were oppressive or unjust, this did not give Congress the right to step in and override those laws without any constitutional basis for doing so. Furthermore, he argued that if such an action was allowed then it could lead to further encroachments on individual liberty by allowing federal government interference into matters traditionally left up to state governments. In conclusion, Justice Harlan believed there should be limits placed on Congressional power when it came to interfering with state law and protecting individual liberties from governmental overreach.