In Compton v. State of Alabama, 1908, the U.S Supreme Court dealt with a case concerning the legality of an Alabama statute that allowed for racial segregation in public transportation. The plaintiff, Mr. Compton, was a white man who had been convicted and fined by an Alabama court for sitting in a section of a streetcar designated "for colored people." He appealed his conviction to the Supreme Court on grounds that it violated his Fourteenth Amendment rights to equal protection under law. However, the Supreme Court upheld his conviction and affirmed the constitutionality of segregated public facilities as long as they were "separate but equal". This decision further entrenched racial segregation laws (Jim Crow Laws) across Southern states until such time these laws were overturned later in 20th century.

The dissenting opinion in the case of Compton v. State of Alabama argued that the majority's decision was inconsistent with previous rulings and violated fundamental principles of justice. The dissenters believed that a person should not be deprived of their property without due process, which they felt had occurred in this case. They also contended that the state did not have unlimited power to regulate private property for public use without providing just compensation, as required by constitutional law. Furthermore, they disagreed with the majority's interpretation of what constituted 'public use,' arguing it was too broad and could lead to potential abuses by government authorities. In essence, these justices held firm on upholding individual rights against perceived overreach from state powers.