The outcome of landmark Supreme Court cases during the civil rights era, such as Brown v. Board of Education (1954), transformed U.S. society by challenging the legal basis of racial segregation. The Court's decision declared that state-sponsored segregation in public schools was unconstitutional, overturning the precedent set by Plessy v. Ferguson. This ruling catalyzed the modern civil rights movement, energizing grassroots activism and leading to subsequent legislation aimed at dismantling institutional racism. Other significant cases, like Loving v. Virginia, further advanced the cause of equality and civil rights, highlighting the judiciary's role in promoting social change.