Telegram Announcing the Verdict in Loving v. Virginia
6/12/1967
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In June 1958, Richard Loving, a white man, and Mildred Jeter, a black woman, quietly married in Washington, DC. They returned home to Virginia and woke up one morning with policemen in their bedroom. The Lovings were arrested for violating the Racial Integrity Act of 1924.
Richard and Mildred were found guilty and sentenced to one year in jail, or they could accept a plea bargain and leave Virginia. So they left. But by 1963, tired of visiting family and friends separately, they sought legal help. Attorneys Bernard S. Cohen and Philip J. Hirschkopf took their case to the Virginia Court of Appeals, where Judge Leon Bazile upheld the lower court’s ruling, explaining his believe that God created separate races and placed them on separate contintents so that they would not mix.
The case was appealed to the United States Supreme Court. The Supreme Court justices voted unanimously in favor of the Lovings. They ruled Virginia’s law violated the equal protection clause in the 14th amendment.
This telegram was sent to the Lovings' attorney, Bernard Cohen, announcing that the judgement against them was reversed. The Lovings returned to Virginia following the ruling.
Richard and Mildred were found guilty and sentenced to one year in jail, or they could accept a plea bargain and leave Virginia. So they left. But by 1963, tired of visiting family and friends separately, they sought legal help. Attorneys Bernard S. Cohen and Philip J. Hirschkopf took their case to the Virginia Court of Appeals, where Judge Leon Bazile upheld the lower court’s ruling, explaining his believe that God created separate races and placed them on separate contintents so that they would not mix.
The case was appealed to the United States Supreme Court. The Supreme Court justices voted unanimously in favor of the Lovings. They ruled Virginia’s law violated the equal protection clause in the 14th amendment.
This telegram was sent to the Lovings' attorney, Bernard Cohen, announcing that the judgement against them was reversed. The Lovings returned to Virginia following the ruling.
Transcript
[Standard Telegram template]WESTERN UNION
TELEGRAM
W.P. MARSHALL, PRESIDENT
Bernard S. Cohen
110 North Royal Street
Alexandria, Virginia
June 12, 1967
JUDGMENT LOVING against VIRGINIA REVERSED today. Opinion mailed.
Advise associates.
COLLECT
MRJr:ht
#395 Appellants
JOHN F. DAVIS, CLERK
[Terms and Conditions of Western Union Telegraph Messages]
This primary source comes from the Records of the Supreme Court of the United States.
National Archives Identifier: 7873521
Full Citation: Telegram to Bernard Cohen Announcing the Verdict of Loving v. Virginia; 6/12/1967; 395 OT 1966; Appellate Jurisdiction Case Files, 1792 - 2014; Records of the Supreme Court of the United States, Record Group 267; National Archives Building, Washington, DC. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/telegram-verdict-loving-v-virginia, March 28, 2025]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.
