In a 63 decision, the Court ruled that Executive Order 9066 was valid and within the rule of law. Justice Hugo Black wrote the majority opinion and argued that there was no racial prejudice in the order or its implementation. He argued that the order was strategically imperative given national security risks, noting the West Coast’s proximity to Japan. Justice Black pointed out that while racial classifications are otherwise suspect, in the case of military necessity during a national emergency, they are not. The decision relied in part on Hirabayashi v. United States (1943), which came to a similar conclusion. The decision also noted that since Congress has, in part, endorsed the measure, it should be respected. Justice Felix Frankfurter wrote a concurrence arguing that concerns about “espionage and sabotage” gave reason for President Roosevelt to enact the Executive Order.

**Find a transcript, lesson plans, worksheets, and more at: https://academy4sc.org/video/koremats...

**Think Further Questions
1. Are racial classifications ever warranted during a time of war?
2. Do you agree with Justice Murphy that the Korematsu decision was a “legalization of racism”?
3. The idea of reparations for other groups that have been hurt by the United States government, like the AfricanAmerican community, has been proposed in recent years. Do you agree with their use for JapaneseAmericans in 1988? Should reparations be used in the future?

**Contents
00:00 Case
01:11 Decision
01:57 Dissent
02:24 Impact

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