It took around 10 years. The first attempt of Scott in Missouri court after trying to buy his freedom with the help of abolitionist groups and being unsuccessful, was in 1846. After many failed attempts, the case finally reached US Supreme Court in 1856 and decided in 1857, not in favor of Scott and his pursue of obtaining the rightful american citizenship. The judge decided that no individual of African descent, whether slave or free, had the right to appeal to Supreme Court.
