Many changes in human rights law in the United States have occurred only because somebody broke the law, was convicted, and then appealed her case.

Rosa Parks, an African-American who died in 2006, was famous for refusing to surrender her seat on a bus to a white person as required at the time. This is partly a result of the fact that a court usually must have a true controversy before it to decide.

Is it fair to force individuals to risk imprisonment and fines to vindicate their civil rights? Does this make it morally acceptable to break the law when you believe the law is wrong?

Consider the effect, however, if anybody could require a court to review a law for constitution-ality whenever they chose.