Con Law II Flashcards
Test for voting rights restrictions
Crawford balancing test (really an ends-means test)(Sliding scale of scrutiny)
Neutral voting restriction: burden on voting vs other reasons.
The more of a burden on voting, the tougher the court will be.
Test for Divorce restrictions (Access to Courts)
Boddie v Connecticut
Filing fees for divorce are not constitutional
Marriage is a fundamental right. State has monopoly
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT and STATE MONOPOLY
Test for Bankruptcy and Welfare proceedings (Access to Courts)
US v Kras
Bankruptcy. Not a fundamental right, no state monopoly.
NO FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT and NO STATE MONOPOLY
Test for Libraries in Prisons
Bounds v Smith
Prisoners must be insured adequate, effective, and meaningful ways to access education in a way to act as a lawyer for themselves.
BUT
Lewis v Casey
Better law library for AZ prisoners
Bounds was too rigid. No fundamental right. No strict scrutiny. Only rational basis.
No Fundamental right to a GREATER QUALITY of resources
RATIONAL BASIS
Test for Fundamental Rights infringement
- Is it fundamental?
- Was the right infringed?
- Did the government have a Sufficient End in infringing?
- Did the Means sufficiently fit the End?
Right to Interstate Travel
Not explicit but implicit fundamental right
Right to visit another state temporarily
Priv and immunities
Substantial reason test
(i) there is a substantial reason for the difference in treatment; and
(ii) the discrimination practiced against nonresidents bears a substantial relationship to the State’s objective.
Right to move and become a new state resident
14th Am Priv and Immunities
Saenz v Roe
STRICT SCRUTINY
Equal protection of right to travel (ie waiting period or durational residency requirement)
Implicit and privilege and immunities
Shapiro v Thompson
STRICT SCRUTINY
International right to travel
RATIONAL BASIS
Procedural DP generally
(i) Notice,
(ii) opportunity to be heard,
(iii) meaningful time and manner
Mathews v. Eldridge Procedural DP test
- the private interest that will be affected by the government action;
- the risk of an erroneous deprivation of the private interest based on procedures used by government, and the probable value, if any, of additional or substitute procedural safeguards;
- the government’s interest, including the function involved and the fiscal and administrative burdens that additional or substitute procedural requirements would entail
Procedural DP Examples
pre-termination hearing required prior to ending welfare benefits in Goldberg v. Kelly
but only post-termination hearing required for disability benefits in Mathews v. Eldridge
Procedural DP Analysis Three Levels
First, whether government has “deprived” life, liberty, or property?
Second, whether deprivation is of “life, liberty, or property”?
Third, what process is due (and when)? (Mathew v Eldridge)
Procedural DP: Has government “deprived” life, liberty, or property? test
- Must be intentional or at least reckless government action (negligence is not enough)
- In emergency circumstances: whether government’s conduct “shocks the conscience”
- Otherwise (non-emergency): whether government’s conduct shows “deliberate indifference”
BUT, Government has no duty to protect us from private harm (e.g. child abuse, domestic violence)
Procedural Due Process Property Interests:
Taking away your real property but tricky question is government benefits
Test:
- ”legitimate claim of entitlement” and/or
- “reasonable expectation to continued receipt” based on
- “existing rules or understandings that stem from an independent source such as state law.”
Examples: no property interest in year-to-year employment of teacher (Board of Regents v. Roth)
but property interest found where expectation of tenure was established (Perry v. Sinderman)
Procedural Due Process Liberty Interests
Test:
Court has considered importance of liberty interest (e.g., reputation)
and expectations created by law (e.g., right to attend school)
Mostly reputation
Examples: Goss v. Lopez found liberty interest in not having reputation harmed by being suspended from school without due process,
but Paul v. Davis found insufficient interest in not having shoplifting suspect’s mug shot circulated to merchants prior to trial and conviction
Procedural Right to Employment
Board of Regents of State Colleges v Roth
None!
Procedural Due process for school suspension
Goss v Lopez
Required
Procedural DP for flyers of criminal activity
Paul v Davis
The publication of records of official acts, such as arrests, did not fall under the rubric of privacy rights.
“Shocks the conscience” standard
Rocha v CA
Forcibly pumped stomachs of suspects (good example)
Test for when government acts in EMERGENCY circumstances
“Time for reflection?”
Procedural DP for protecting individuals?
DeShaney v Winnebago County Department of Social Services
No protection. The Due Process Clause does not impose a special duty on the State to provide services to the public for protection against private actors if the State did not create those harms.
No gov duty when action is inflicted by private actor, even if gov already has interfered previously
Economic Substantive Due Process for practicing a trade
None, Slaughterhouse Cases
Santa Clara vs Southern Pacific Railroad
Tiny case saying companies are people (assume without deciding that corps are people)
Cit united says spending is freedom of speech
Lochner case
Bakers case, 10 hour days 6 hour weeks
Limit on government regulation or slippery slope effect
Communism is coming for you
Burden of justification on the government (basically used higher scrutiny), switched to Laissez-faire overall
Stands for:
1. Freedom of contract is liberty
Muller v Oregon
Women working case
The Court distinguished Lochner v. New York, which invalidated a similar law restricting the hours of bakers, on the basis of the “difference between the sexes.”
West Coast Hotel Co. v Parish
Switch in time that saved time. Minimum wage law is constitutional.
United States v Carolene Products Co (and test for state police power)
Milk and oil
Government regulation based on police power is only subject to mere rational basis review. presumption of good reasoning
All burden will be on challenger to overcome presumption
Essentially established incorporation doctrine (implied)
Williamson v Lee Optical
Optamologists measuring glasses only. Might conceivably be rational
Rational basis is extreme
Grossly excessive punitive damages rule
Depends on how reprehensible the conduct or pattern of conduct is
No bright line ratio between corp and person BUT:
In practice, few awards exceeding a single digit ratio (1:1 - 9:1) between punitive and compensatory damages would be acceptable.
When compensatory damages are substantial, a lesser ration (perhaps equal) would be fair
Contracts Clause generally
No state shall pass any Law impairing the obligation of contracts.
(not used much and could see a revival)
basically RATIONAL BASIS (except Allied Steel higher scrutiny for non-emergencies)
Homebuilding and Loan Association v Blaisdell
Massive farm foreclosures happening. State came in and prevented foreclosures temporarily.
Court said it was okay due to emergency circumstances
1. Emergency? (not really a part of the test due to energy reserve)
2. Legitimate end?
3. Means reasonable and appropriate to end?
4. Conditions reasonable
5. Temporary relief, not permanent
Allied Structural Steel Co. v Spannaus
“other way” from Blaisdell.
No emergency.
State is a party to a contract and tries to change existing contract via law (contracts clause)
Higher scrutiny essentially, no deference to gov
not pure rational basis anymore. (even in emergency)
now need to be necessary means
alternative means of achieving end signals higher scrutiny
Contracts Clause big picture
If a state or local government is substantially impairing the obligations of existing private contracts:
Much deference from the courts and a minimal rational basis test .
But if a state or local government is substantially impairing its own contracts it’s negotiated or agreed to:
A version of higher scrutiny, with no deference and the government has to prove that its means are not just reasonable, but they're necessary to achieving its goals.
Energy Reserve contracts clause test
EMERGENCY IS NOT A FACTOR! Police power over special interests.
- Has a state or local government impaired with existing contracts?
- Is the impairment for a legitimate government purpose?
- Are the means reasonable and appropriate for furthering the ends?
Takings clause rule
- Is there a taking of property?
- Is it being taken for a public use?
- And if so, is just compensation being paid?
Loretto v Teleprompter Manhattan (takings rule)
Minor but still a taking:
Looking at the character of the government action
Looking at the extent/degree of the government action
Placement of physical structure or occupation is almost per se taking, extent will show compensation
Horne v Department of Agriculture (takings)
Gov coming to take their raisins
Government has a duty to pay you when it takes your car or your home
Three factors of significance for “takings” (regulatory mostly)
- Economic impact of the regulation
- The extent to which to regulation has interfered with investment-backed expectations
- Character of the governmental action
a. Physical or Regulatory
Taking element (physical)
TAKING OF PROPERTY?
Physical or possessory = taking
Even if minimal (e.g., installation of cable tv box)
Even if only temporary interference with use
But NOT if emergency (e.g., tree disease)
Taking element (physical)
Physical or possessory = taking
Even if minimal (e.g., installation of cable tv box)
Even if only temporary interference with use
But NOT if emergency (e.g., tree disease)
Cedar tree case
Lists the economic impact factors but also “inaction is still taking an action in this case”
Taking element (regulatory) (all use denied)
All economic use denied = taking unless prior law would have limited use (e.g., Lucas) (meaning that owner acquires subject to existing legal restrictions)
Taking element (regulatory) (delay in development)
Delay of property development (while land use planning occurs) is not a taking so long as gov’t action is reasonable (e.g., Tahoe)
Taking element (regulatory) (reduction in property value)
Reduction in property value = taking ONLY if goes “too far” meaning no reasonable economically viable use considering:
- Economic impact of the regulation
- The extent to which to regulation has interfered with investment-backed expectations
- Character of the governmental action
a. Physical or Regulatory
Taking element (regulatory) (restricting proposed development)
Conditions restricting owner’s proposed development must be related in nature (“nexus”) to legitimate gov’t interest and must satisfy “rough proportionality” in degree (Nollan/Dolan) (basically, whether burden on owner excessive relative to gov’t benefit?)
Penn Central Transportation Co. v New York City
Huge loss in potential development possibilities thus Diminution of property value alone does not create a taking
but also historic landmark
Expectations were getting money from transport, so primary expectation not interfered with
Takings generally
All value lost (even development possibility)? Taking UNLESS also NO EXPECTATION OF THIS USE at time of purchase (ie law would have prohibited that use)
Some value lost? Use the factors
- Economic impact of the regulation
- The extent to which to regulation has interfered with investment-backed expectations
- Character of the governmental action
a. Physical or Regulatory
For Public use (takings element)
Must be rationally related to legitimate government interest (usually general police power) (reasonably benefits the public)
e.g., Kelo held taking of property via eminent domain to spur development in economically depressed city was public use
JUST COMPENSATION (takings element)
Based on Fair Market Value of owner’s loss at time of taking, NOT based on most valuable use of property or the value of the government’s gain
IOLTA case (“interest on lawyer trust accounts”) (Brown): no compensation due because no loss because client funds too small and too temporary to earn interest
Conditions (takings) test
“You can do X to your property if you give us Y”
Must be a NEXUS between the interest and the regulation proposed (Nolan, bigger house for beach path not related)
ROUGH PROPORTIONALITY is the test (Dolan, required land dedications are necessary to offset the impact of development)
Nolan (takings case)
Must be a nexus of connection (visual view of the beach and lateral access between beaches are unrelated)
Dolan (takings case)
Rough proportionality is the test (slightly higher than RB, individualized determination is related in nature and in extent to impact of development)(burden on government)
Taking of Property Flow
Physical/Possessory = Per Se
Regulatory
All Reasonable Economic use
Some Decrease Economic value → Penn Central Factors
Conditions - Nexus + Rough Proportionality
Substantive Due Process overview
- Adequate justification for infringement?
- Two main categories under sdp:
a. Economic liberty? Not fundamental → RB
b. Privacy? → DEPENDS
Framework for analyzing fundamental rights
- Is there a fundamental right?
- -> If not fundamental, rational basis.
- -> Defer to legislature unless it affects a “discrete and insular” minority or infringement of a fundamental right - Is the constitutional right infringed?
- -> Direct and Substantial - Is there sufficient justification for the government infringement of a right?
- ->“Vital interest” which has included winning a war and ensuring children receive adequate care
- ->“Compelling” - Is the means sufficiently related to the purpose?
- ->“Necessary”
Constitutional Protection for Family Autonomy
Right to Marriage protected in Loving v Virginia (race) and Zablocki (unpaid child support)
However, right not violated unless there is substantial and direct interference. (Califano and Bowen)
Direct and substantial (fundamental rights)
For marriage, denial of welfare benefits was not direct and substantial enough (
Non-Exhaustive List of Fundamental Rights
Examples of fundamental rights not specifically listed in the Constitution include:
marriage privacy contraception interstate travel. procreation custody of one's child(ren) voting
Even when the Supreme Court finds that something is a fundamental right, the Court may later revoke its standing as a fundamental right. The Court did this with the right to contract in Parrish
Windsor case
Struck down federal ban on same sex marriage
Obergefell case analysis
Importance, Evolution of marriage, intimate choices, Not limited by history
- Autonomy, 2. Two person union, 3. Safeguards children, 4. Keystone of our social order (marriage benefits)
Michael H v Gerald D
Daughter of another man, couple gets back together
BIological, non-marital, actual relationship usually good. But HERE there is a marital husband and MARRIAGE is the ultimate point. FAMILY UNIT (?)
Responsible Procreation Justification (SDP)
Dissent idea which makes marriage important due to procreation and not history (to avoid race problems)
Marriage is an incentive for responsible procreation
How to determine if something is a Fundamental Right or Liberty interest?
Right deeply rooted in history? Or
Right implicates basic values that are implicit in the concept of ordered liberty.
Now AND due to Glucksburg
Strict or Heightened Scrutiny for Fund. Right; rational basis for basic liberty
Stanley v Illinois
actively involved, unwed, biological Father. Can’t take his kids.
Strict scrutiny for parental rights
Moore v City of East Cleveland
Rule: The right of related family members to live together is fundamental and protected by the Due Process Clause, and necessarily encompasses a broader definition of “family” than just members of the nuclear family. (Strict-ish scrutiny)
Only RATIONAL BASIS for UNRELATED people (Bel terre)
Meyer v Nebraska
The right to teach German in schools to children at the request of their parents relates to the fundamental right recognized for parents to control and educate their children.
Ends are understandable, but Means sweep too broadly
Child labor laws vs parental rights (Prince v Massachusetts)
Example where state beats parental rights
Parham v JR
Court assumes parents act in the best interest of child
Parental right to commit child without evidentiary hearing
Pierce v Society of the Sisters
Rule: Requiring children to be educated only by public instruction violates the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution.
No proof that private education is somehow worse than public
Means too broad
“Child is not the mere creature of the state” Parental rights
Troxel v Granville
Grandparents visitation rights
Rule: Under the Due Process Clause, a state court may not grant visitation rights to a person, even when doing so would be in a child’s best interest, if those visitation rights are opposed by the child’s parent because doing so interferes with the parent’s fundamental liberty interest in rearing his or her child.
Third party rights can place a substantial burden on the traditional parent-child relationship
No deference was being given to the parents, but how much deference is due?
Skinner v Oklahoma
IMPLICITLY Overturns Buck v Bell. Sterilization requires strict scrutiny now. (first use of Strict Scrutiny)
(Technically EP analysis)
Griswold v Connecticut
Right not to procreate, contraception
The protected activities in each of these Amendments are “penumbras” that are not specifically enumerated in the Constitution, but instead represent various “zones of privacy” into which the government cannot intrude.
“Penumbra” and “zones of privacy”
Comes from concept of 9A: Fundamental principles of liberty and justice and nature of the constitution.
Mostly from 14th Amendment Substantive Due Process
Eisenstadt v Baird
Rule: Under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, a state may not outlaw distribution of contraception to unmarried persons.
Contraception generally (SDP)
Contraception rights given to:
Married couples (Griswold)
Unmarried (Eisenstadt)
Minors (Carey)
Need STRICT SCRUTINY to block access to contraceptives
Undue burden test
Purpose or effect of placing a substantial obstacle in the path of a woman seeking an abortion of a non-viable fetus (Casey)
LESS than strict scrutiny
Examples of Undue Burdens (SDP, abortion)
Spousal Consent
Admitting privileges at nearby hospitals
Surgical Center Requirements
Examples of Not an Undue Burden (abortion)
Informed consent (and persuasion) Waiting period Parental or judicial consent for minors Licensed physicians Ban on late-term method - “partial birth ban” Ban on public funding
Overruling Precedent (from Casey)
Workable? (whether the precedent’s rules or standards are too difficult for lower federal courts or other interpreters to apply)
Reliance on it?
Changes in facts?
Changes in law?