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On June 28, 1971, the Supreme Court unanimously overturned Ali's conviction for refusing his call to military service due to his religious beliefs. But it didn't start out that way.
After Thurgood Marshall recused himself, the justices came to an initial vote of 5-3 to affirm Ali’s conviction. While writing the majority opinion, Justice Harlan began - at the urging of his law clerk - to read further into the beliefs of the Nation of Islam. He decided to change his vote, creating a 4-4 split.
Then, another justice, Potter Stewart, discovered a procedural error by the Kentucky Appeals Board that he believed the court could use to overturn Ali’s conviction without setting a precedent: the appeals court had never stated the reason for denying Ali’s conscientious objector status.
By the end, the Supreme Court voted unanimously to reverse Ali’s conviction.
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Muhammad Ali brings to life one of the most indelible figures of the 20th century, a three-time heavyweight boxing champion who captivated millions of fans across the world with his mesmerizing combination of speed, grace, and power in the ring, and charm and playful boasting outside of it. Ali insisted on being himself unconditionally and became a global icon and inspiration to people everywhere.