Cleburne v. Cleburne, 473 U.S. 432 (1985) p.728

SUBJECT

equal protection: suspect classifications

FACTS

A corporation which proposed to lease a building for the operation of a group home for the mentally retarded filed suit in a Federal District Court, alleging that a city zoning ordinance requiring a special use permit for the operation of a group home for the mentally retarded was invalid on its face and as applied because it discriminated against the mentally retarded in violation of the equal protection clause. The District Court held the ordinance and its application constitutional.

PROCEDURE

The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit reversed, holding that mental retardation is a quasi-suspect classification, that under the applicable "heightened scrutiny" standard of review, the ordinance was invalid on its face because it did not substantially further any important governmental interests, and that the ordinance was also invalid as applied.

HOLDING

We conclude that the Court of Appeals erred in holding mental retardation a quasi-suspect classification.

RATIONAL

Appropriate level of review is rational basis. Applied "with a bite." In a way that is non-deferential that looks at ends and means with mroe rigor.

it was held (1) that the Court of Appeals erred in holding mental retardation a quasi-suspect classification calling for a more exacting standard of judicial review than is normally accorded economic and social legislation, and (2) that because the record did not reveal any rational basis for believing that the home for the mentally retarded would pose any special threat to the city's legitimate interests, the ordinance was invalid as applied.

Created on: Wednesday, February 02, 2000 at 12:41:52 (PST)