Davis v. Gaines was a United States Supreme Court case that addressed the issue of racial discrimination in higher education. The case was brought by Lloyd Gaines, an African American man who had been denied admission to the University of Missouri Law School due to its policy of racial segregation. Gaines argued that the policy violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The Supreme Court agreed, ruling that the state of Missouri had to either admit Gaines to the law school or provide him with an equivalent education elsewhere. The Court held that the state could not deny Gaines the opportunity to pursue a legal education simply because of his race. The decision in Davis v. Gaines was a landmark ruling in the fight for racial equality in the United States. It established that states could not deny individuals the opportunity to pursue higher education based on their race. The ruling was a major victory for civil rights activists and helped pave the way for the desegregation of public schools and other institutions. The decision also set a precedent for future cases involving racial discrimination in higher education.

Justice Field delivered the dissenting opinion in Davis v. Gaines, arguing that the majority's ruling was a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. He argued that while it is true that states have broad powers to regulate their own elections and voting procedures, they cannot do so in a way which discriminates against certain classes or groups of people based on race or color. In this case, he noted that African-Americans were being denied access to run for office due to an educational requirement not imposed upon white candidates; thus creating an unequal playing field between races when it comes to running for public office. Justice Field concluded by stating his belief that such discrimination violated both state and federal laws as well as constitutional principles and should be struck down accordingly.