LAD #14 Dred Scott Decision

The first time the court met they ruled in favor of Sanford, however the issue of black rights under the Missouri Compromise was ignored. The justice for the case was Nelson and his opinion on the case was no one elses opinion, therfore the court made the justice of the case Chief Justice Roger B. Taney. Taney's decision included stuff that was previously left out of the case such as black rights under the Missouri Compromise. Buchanan knew what the outcome of the case would be and he made sure to mention it and the court in his inauguration speech. He said that the issue of territories deciding if they want to be slave or not is the Supreme Court's decision. The decision was finally given March 6, 1857, two days after Buchanan's inauguration. Taney said that you had to be a citizen to sue in a United States Court. Scott, who was black was not a citizen, therefore he legally could not be suing. Taney then questioned the constitutionality of the Missouri Compromise. Taney said that the Missouri Compromise "deprived slave holding citizens of their property" so he deemed the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional. Taney dismissed the case for "lack of jurisdiction."