The Virginia eugenic sterilization law was challenged in the Supreme Court on the grounds that it violated the principle of equal protection since it applied only to institutionalized persons. Oliver Wendell Holmes spoke directly to this concern in Buck v. Bell. Holmes pointed out that the Virginia compulsory sterilization law sought to sterilize all persons with hereditary defects, not just those institutionalized. It did not violate the equal protection clause because "the law does all that is needed when it does all that it can." The law, he said, clearly sought to bring all "similarly situated so far and so fast as its means allow" under its jurisdiction.(15) The Commonwealth of Virginia aimed to sterilize only those who could "be safely discharged or paroled and become self-supporting with benefit to themselves and to society." Carrie Buck was institutionalized only after she became pregnant. She was released immediately after she was sterilized. Her sister, Doris Buck, was brought to the state colony specifically to be sterilized and was released immediately after her sterilization. It was clear that the provision in the law to sterilize institutionalized persons was not meant to restrict the population, of those to be sterilized.(16) American Support for Eugenics Does this have any Effect on our Genealogy, WELL COUSINS I know for a fact there are 26 Descendants from a man that missed Sterilization, By a Bit Of Concern By the Family Dr. There are 26 Descendants from that Man; There were 3 Mother's 9 Children, 10 Grand Children, 1 Father, 2 Sons, & 2 Grand Son's THIS Happened in 1940 & UP until now. This Has A Great deal to do with the Genealogy of This Family & will for years to come. NOW please; JUST who of My many Cousins, is it that knows that there has never been, no such thing to happen in any of the rest of our PAST Families? This is up to now 26 Relitives______ That would have never existed________IF THAT unnecessary Sterilization had Taken place, SO you see Cousins, When the Blank can be filled in, the unknown Past <DOES LOOK SO MUCH DIFFERENT> Hey I am not shouting, Life just looks so much different without wonder??? Please Comment. A T <[email protected]>