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US CASES

Mr. Justice BRANDEIS (dissenting).

56

 The defendants were cn!icted f cns"iring t !i#ate the Natina#$rhi%itin Act (&' SA). Befre an* f the "ersns nw charged had %een

arrested r indicted+ the te#e"hnes %* ,eans f which the* ha%itua##*c,,unicated with ne anther and with thers had %een ta""ed %* federa#-cers. T this end+ a #ine,an f #ng e"erience in wire ta""ing wase,"#*ed+ n %eha#f f the g!ern,ent and at its e"ense. /e ta""ed eightte#e"hnes+ s,e in the h,es f the "ersns charged+ s,e in their -ces.Acting n %eha#f f the g!ern,ent and in their -cia# ca"acit*+ at #east sither "rhi%itin agents #istened !er the ta""ed wires and re"rted the,essages ta0en. Their "eratins etended !er a "erid f near#* 1!e,nths. The t*"ewritten recrd f the ntes f cn!ersatins !erheardccu"ies ''5 t*"ewritten "ages. B* %2ectins seasna%#* ,ade and"ersistent#* renewed+ the defendants %2ected t the ad,issin f the

e!idence %tained %* wire ta""ing+ n the grund that the g!ern,ent3swire ta""ing cnstituted an unreasna%#e search and sei4ure+ in !i#atin fthe urth A,end,ent+ and that the use as e!idence f the cn!ersatins!erheard c,"e##ed the defendants t %e witnesses against the,se#!es+ in!i#atin f the ifth A,end,ent.

5'

 The g!ern,ent ,a0es n atte,"t t defend the ,ethds e,"#*ed %* its-cers. Indeed+ it cncedes that+ if wire ta""ing can %e dee,ed a searchand sei4ure within the urth A,end,ent+ such wire ta""ing as was

"racticed in the case at %ar was an unreasna%#e search and sei4ure+ andthat the e!idence thus %tained was inad,issi%#e. But it re#ies n the#anguage f the a,end,ent+ and it c#ai,s that the "rtectin gi!en there%*cannt "r"er#* %e he#d t inc#ude a te#e"hne cn!ersatin.

5

37e ,ust ne!er frget+3 said Mr. hief Justice Marsha## in Mcu##ch !.Mar*#and+ 8 7heat. 9:6+ 8;' 8 Nrthern $aci1c R*.. !. Nrth Da0ta+ &5; . S. :95+ 9= S. t. 5;&+ 69

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which ga!e it %irth. This is "ecu#iar#* true f nstitutins. The* are nte"he,era# enact,ents+ designed t ,eet "assing ccasins. The* are+ tuse the wrds f hief Justice Marsha##+ 3designed t a""rach i,,rta#it* asnear#* as hu,an institutins can a""rach it.3 The future is their care and"r!isin fr e!ents f gd and %ad tendencies f which n "r"hec* can %e,ade. In the a""#icatin f a nstitutin+ therefre+ ur cnte,"#atincannt %e n#* f what has %een %ut f what ,a* %e. nder an* ther ru#e anstitutin wu#d indeed %e as eas* f a""#icatin as it wu#d %e de1cient

in e-cac* and "wer. Its genera# "rinci"#es wu#d ha!e #itt#e !a#ue and %ecn!erted %* "recedent int i,"tent and #ife#ess fr,u#as. Rights dec#aredin wrds ,ight %e #st in rea#it*.3

6;

7hen the urth and ifth A,end,ents were ad"ted+ 3the fr, that e!i#had theretfre ta0en3 had %een necessari#* si,"#e. rce and !i#ence werethen the n#* ,eans 0nwn t ,an %* which a g!ern,ent cu#d direct#*eCect se#fincri,inatin. It cu#d c,"e# the indi!idua# t testif*ac,"u#sin eCected+ if need %e+ %* trture. It cu#d secure "ssessin f his

"a"ers and ther artic#es incident t his "ri!ate #ifea sei4ure eCected+ ifneed %e+ %* %rea0ing and entr*. $rtectin against such in!asin f 3thesanctities f a ,an3s h,e and the "ri!acies f #ife3 was "r!ided in theurth and ifth A,end,ents %* s"eci1c #anguage. B*d !. nited States+::6 . S. 6:6+ 69;+ 6 S. t. 5&8+ &=

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are circu,stances f aggra!atin> %ut an* frci%#e and c,"u#sr* etrtinf a ,an3s wn testi,n* r f his "ri!ate "a"ers t %e used as e!idence fa cri,e r t frfeit his gds+ is within the cnde,natin f that 2udg,ent.In this regard the urth and ifth A,end,ents run a#,st int each ther.3968

In E "arte Jac0sn+ =6 . S. '&'+ &8 the ne is tangi%#e+ the therintangi%#e> the ne is sea#ed+ and the ther unsea#ed> %ut these aredistinctins withut a diCerence.3

66

 The e!i# incident t in!asin f the "ri!ac* f the te#e"hne is far greaterthan that in!#!ed in ta,"ering with the ,ai#s. 7hene!er a te#e"hne #ine ista""ed+ the "ri!ac* f the "ersns at %th ends f the #ine is in!aded+ and a##cn!ersatins %etween the, u"n an* su%2ect+ and a#thugh "r"er+cn1dentia#+ and "ri!i#eged+ ,a* %e !erheard. Mre!er+ the ta""ing f ne,an3s te#e"hne #ine in!#!es the ta""ing f the te#e"hne f e!er* ther"ersn wh, he ,a* ca##+ r wh ,a* ca## hi,. As a ,eans f es"inage+writs f assistance and genera# warrants are %ut "un* instru,ents f t*rann*and ""ressin when c,"ared with wire ta""ing.

6'

 Ti,e and again this curt+ in gi!ing eCect t the "rinci"#e under#*ing theurth A,end,ent+ has refused t "#ace an undu#* #itera# cnstructin u"nit. This was nta%#* i##ustrated in the B*d ase itse#f. Ta0ing #anguage in itsrdinar* ,eaning+ there is n 3search3 r 3sei4ure3 when a defendant isreGuired t "rduce a dcu,ent in the rder#* "rcess f a curt3s"rcedure. 3The right f the "e"#e f %e secure in their "ersns+ huses+"a"ers+ and eCects+ against unreasna%#e searches and sei4ures+3 wu#d nt%e !i#ated+ under an* rdinar* cnstructin f #anguage+ %* c,"e##ing%edience t a su%"ena. But this curt h#ds the e!idence inad,issi%#e

si,"#* %ecause the infr,atin #eading t the issue f the su%"ena has%een un#awfu##* secured. Si#!erthrne

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3It a""#ies a#i0e t ci!i# and cri,ina# "rceedings+ where!er the answer,ight tend t su%2ect t cri,ina# res"nsi%i#it* hi, wh gi!es it. The"ri!i#ege "rtects a ,ere witness as fu##* as it des ne wh is a#s a "art*defendant.3 Mcarth* !. Arndstein+ &66 . S. 98+ 8;+ 85 S. t. :6+ :' (6= 8 whether the "a"er when ta0en %* the

federa# -cers was in the h,e+5 in an -ce+6 r e#sewhere>' whether theta0ing was eCected %* frce+ %* fraud+= r in the rder#* "rcess f acurt3s "rcedure.:; r, these decisins+ it f##ws necessari#* that thea,end,ent is !i#ated %* the -cer3s reading the "a"er withut a "h*sica#sei4ure+ withut his e!en tuching it+ and that use+ in an* cri,ina#"rceeding+ f the cntents f the "a"er s ea,inedas where the* aretesti1ed t %* a federa# -cer wh thus saw the dcu,ent r where+ thrugh0nw#edge s %tained+ a c"* has %een "rcured e#sewhere::an* such usecnstitutes a !i#atin f the ifth A,end,ent.'9

 The "rtectin guaranteed %* the a,end,ents is ,uch %rader in sc"e. The ,a0ers f ur nstitutin undert0 t secure cnditins fa!ra%#e tthe "ursuit f ha""iness. The* recgni4ed the signi1cance f ,an3s s"iritua#nature+ f his fee#ings and f his inte##ect. The* 0new that n#* a "art f the"ain+ "#easure and satisfactins f #ife are t %e fund in ,ateria# things. The* sught t "rtect A,ericans in their %e#iefs+ their thughts+ theire,tins and their sensatins. The* cnferred+ as against the g!ern,ent+the right t %e #et a#nethe ,st c,"rehensi!e f rights and the right ,st!a#ued %* ci!i#i4ed ,en. T "rtect+ that right+ e!er* un2usti1a%#e intrusin %*the g!ern,ent u"n the "ri!ac* f the indi!idua#+ whate!er the ,eanse,"#*ed+ ,ust %e dee,ed a !i#atin f the urth A,end,ent. And theuse+ as e!idence in a cri,ina# "rceeding+ f facts ascertained %* suchintrusin ,ust %e dee,ed a !i#atin f the ifth.

'8A""#*ing t the urth and ifth A,end,ents the esta%#ished ru#e f

cnstructin+ the defendants3 %2ectins t the e!idence %tained %* wireta""ing ,ust+ in ,* "inin+ %e sustained. It is+ f curse+ i,,ateria# wherethe "h*sica# cnnectin with the te#e"hne wires #eading int thedefendants3 "re,ises was ,ade. And it is a#s i,,ateria# that the intrusinwas in aid f #aw enfrce,ent. E"erience shu#d teach us t %e ,st n urguard t "rtect #i%ert* when the g!ern,ent3s "ur"ses are %ene1cent.Men %rn t freed, are natura##* a#ert t re"e# in!asin f their #i%ert* %*e!i#,inded ru#ers. The greatest dangers t #i%ert* #ur0 in insidiusencrach,ent %* ,en f 4ea#+ we##,eaning %ut withut understanding.:&'5

Inde"endent#* f the cnstitutina# Guestin+ I a, f "inin that the 2udg,ent shu#d %e re!ersed. B* the #aws f 7ashingtn+ wire ta""ing is acri,e.:9 $ierce3s de :=&:+ F ='6(:). T "r!e its case+ the g!ern,entwas %#iged t #a* %are the cri,es c,,itted %* its -cers n its %eha#f. Afedera# curt shu#d nt "er,it such a "rsecutin t cntinue. ,"are/ar0in !. Brundage (N. ::') &'6 . S. 96+ 8 S. t. &6+ '&

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 The situatin in the case at %ar diCers wide#* fr, that "resented inBurdeau !. McDwe##+ &56 . S. 865+ 8: S. t. 5'8+ 65 fr n federa# -cia# is authri4ed t c,,it a cri,e n its %eha#f. 7hen theg!ern,ent+ ha!ing fu## 0nw#edge+ sught+ thrugh the De"art,ent f Justice+ t a!ai# itse#f f the fruits f these acts in rder t acc,"#ish its wnends+ it assu,ed ,ra# res"nsi%i#it* fr the -cers3 cri,es. ,"are the$aGuete /a%ana+ := . S. 859+ 865+ &9 S. t. 5=9+ 8' 3Rei##* dea,ara !. Br0e+ &;= . S. 85+ 5&+ & S. t. 89=+ 5&

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 The dr f a curt is nt %arred %ecause the "#aintiC has c,,itted acri,e. The cn1r,ed cri,ina# is as ,uch entit#ed t redress as his ,st!irtuus fe##w citi4en> n recrd f cri,e+ hwe!er #ng+ ,a0es ne anut#aw. The curt3s aid is denied n#* when he wh see0s it has !i#ated the#aw in cnnectin with the !er* transactin as t which he see0s #ega#redress.:= Then aid is denied des"ite the defendant3s wrng. It is denied inrder t ,aintain res"ect fr #aw> in rder t "r,te cn1dence in thead,inistratin f 2ustice> in rder t "reser!e the 2udicia# "rcess fr,

cnta,inatin. The ru#e is ne+ nt f actin+ %ut f inactin. It is s,eti,ess"0en f as a ru#e f su%stanti!e #aw. But it etends t ,atters f "rcedureas we##.&; A defense ,a* %e wai!ed. It is wai!ed when nt "#eaded. But the%2ectin that the "#aintiC c,es with unc#ean hands wi## %e ta0en %* thecurt itse#f.&: It wi## %e ta0en des"ite the wish t the cntrar* f a## the"arties t the #itigatin. The curt "rtects itse#f.9

Decenc*+ securit*+ and #i%ert* a#i0e de,and that g!ern,ent -cia#s sha##%e su%2ected t the sa,e ru#es f cnduct that are c,,ands t the citi4en.In a g!ern,ent f #aws+ eistence f the g!ern,ent wi## %e i,"eri#ed if it

fai#s t %ser!e the #aw scru"u#us#*. ur g!ern,ent is the "tent+ the,ni"resent teacher. r gd r fr i##+ it teaches the wh#e "e"#e %* itsea,"#e. ri,e is cntagius. If the g!ern,ent %ec,es a #aw%rea0er+ it%reeds cnte,"t fr #aw> it in!ites e!er* ,an t %ec,e a #aw unt hi,se#f>it in!ites anarch*. T dec#are that in the ad,inistratin f the cri,ina# #aw theend 2usti1es the ,eanst dec#are that the g!ern,ent ,a* c,,it cri,esin rder t secure the cn!ictin f a "ri!ate cri,ina#wu#d %ring terri%#eretri%utin. Against that "ernicius dctrine this curt shu#d res#ute#* setits face.

Brief Fact Summary. The cn!ersatins f !arius indi!idua#s in!#!ed ini##ega# #iGur sa#es were ta""ed.

Synopsis of Rule of Law. KA standard which wu#d fr%id the rece"tin fe!idence+ if %tained %* ther than nice ethica# cnduct %* g!ern,ent

-cia#s+ wu#d ,a0e sciet* suCer and gi!e cri,ina#s greater i,,unit* than

has %een 0nwn heretfre. In the a%sence f cntr##ing #egis#atin %*

ngress+ thse wh rea#i4e the di-cu#ties in %ringing Cenders t 2ustice

,a* we## dee, it wise that the ec#usin f e!idence shu#d %e cn1ned t

cases where rights under the nstitutin wu#d %e !i#ated %* ad,itting it.L

Facts. ?arius indi!idua#s were cn!icted f #iGur re#ated cri,es+ inc#udingcns"irac*. The "eratin grssed a su%stantia# a,unt f ,ne*. The

#eading cns"iratr and the genera# ,anager f the %usiness was ne f the

$etitiners+ #,stead (the K$etitinerL). The ,ain -ce f the %usiness was

in Seatt#e and there were three te#e"hnes in the -ce+ each n a diCerent

#ine. There were a#s te#e"hnes in an -ce the $etitiner had in his wn

h,e+ at the h,e f his assciates and !arius ther "#aces in Seatt#e. A #t

f c,,unicatin ccurred %etween Seatt#e and ?ancu!er+ British

#u,%ia.KThe infr,atin which #ed t the disc!er* f the cns"irac* and its nature

and etent was #arge#* %tained %* interce"ting ,essages n the te#e"hnes

f the cns"iratrs %* fur federa# "rhi%itin -cers. S,a## wires were

inserted a#ng the rdinar* te#e"hne wires fr, the residences f fur f

the sus"ects and thse #eading fr, the chief -ce. The insertins were

,ade withut tres"ass u"n an* "r"ert* f the defendants. The* were

,ade in the %ase,ent f the #arge -ce %ui#ding. The ta"s fr, huse #ines

were ,ade in the streets near the huses.L

?arius cn!ersatins were ta"ed and testi1ed t %* g!ern,ent witnesses.

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Issue. K7hether the use f e!idence f "ri!ate te#e"hne cn!ersatins%etween the defendants and thers+ interce"ted %* ,eans f wire ta""ing+

a,unted t a !i#atin f the urth and ifth A,end,entsL

Held. KThe urth a,end,ent des nt fr%id what was dne here. Therewas n searching. There was n sei4ure. The e!idence was secured %* the

use f the sense f hearing and that n#*. There was n entr* f the huses

r -ces f the defendants. B* the in!entin f the te#e"hne 5; *ears ag+and its a""#icatin fr the "ur"se f etending c,,unicatins+ ne can

ta#0 with anther at a far distant "#ace. The #anguage f the a,end,ent

cannt %e etended and e"anded t inc#ude te#e"hne wires+ reaching t

the wh#e wr#d fr, the defendantOs huse r -ce. The inter!ening wires

are nt "art f his huse r -ce+ an* ,re than are the highwa*s a#ng

which the* are stretched.L

Kngress ,a*+ f curse+ "rtect the secrec* f te#e"hne ,essages %*

,a0ing the,+ when interce"ted+ inad,issi%#e in e!idence in federa# cri,ina#

tria#s+ %* direct #egis#atin+ and thus de"art fr, the c,,n #aw f

e!idence. But the curts ,a* nt ad"t such a "#ic* %* attri%uting an

en#arged and unusua# ,eaning t the urth A,end,ent. The reasna%#e

!iew is that ne wh insta##s in his huse a te#e"hne instru,ent with

cnnecting wires intends t "r2ect his !ice t thse Guite utside+ and that

the wires %e*nd his huse+ and ,essages whi#e "assing !er the,+ are nt

within the "rtectin f the urth A,end,ent. /ere thse wh interce"ted

the "r2ected !ices were nt in the huse f either "art* t the

cn!ersatin.L

KNeither the cases we ha!e cited nr an* f the ,an* federa# decisins

%rught t ur attentin h#d the urth A,end,ent t ha!e %een !i#atedas against a defendant+ un#ess there has %een an -cia# search and sei4ure

f his "ersn r such a sei4ure f his "a"ers r his tangi%#e ,ateria# eCects

r an actua# "h*sica# in!asin f his huse Pr curti#ageO fr the "ur"se f

,a0ing a sei4ure. The curt thught+ therefre+ that the wire ta""ing here

disc#sed did nt a,unt t a search r sei4ure within the ,eaning f the

urth A,end,ent.L

Additina##*+ Kthe c,,n#aw ru#e is that the ad,issi%i#it* f e!idence is

nt aCected %* the i##ega#it* f the ,eans %* which it was %tained.L

KA standard which wu#d fr%id the rece"tin f e!idence+ if %tained %*

ther than nice ethica# cnduct %* g!ern,ent -cia#s+ wu#d ,a0e sciet*

suCer and gi!e cri,ina#s greater i,,unit* than has %een 0nwn heretfre.

In the a%sence f cntr##ing #egis#atin %* ngress+ thse wh rea#i4e the

di-cu#ties in %ringing Cenders t 2ustice ,a* we## dee, it wise that the

ec#usin f e!idence shu#d %e cn1ned t cases where rights under the

nstitutin wu#d %e !i#ated %* ad,itting it.L

issent. Justice /#,es 1#ed a dissenting "inin and argued Kthat a"artfr, the nstitutin the g!ern,ent ught nt t use e!idence %tained

and n#* %taina%#e %* a cri,ina# act. There is n %d* f "recedents %*which we are %und+ and which cn1nes us t #gica# deductin fr,

esta%#ished ru#es. Therefre the urt ,ust cnsider the tw %2ects f

desire %th f which the urt cannt ha!e and ,a0e u" ur ,inds which

t chse. It is desira%#e that cri,ina#s shu#d %e detected+ and t that end

that a## a!ai#a%#e e!idence shu#d %e used. It a#s is desira%#e that the

g!ern,ent shu#d nt itse#f fster and "a* fr ther cri,es+ when the* are

the ,eans %* which the e!idence is t %e %tained. If it "a*s its -cers fr

ha!ing gt e!idence %* cri,e I d nt see wh* it ,a* nt as we## "a* the,

fr getting it in the sa,e wa*+ and I can attach n i,"rtance t

"rtestatins f disa""r!a# if it 0nwing#* acce"ts and "a*s and annunces

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that in future it wi## "a* fr the fruits

. The urt has t chse+ and fr ,* "art I thin0 it a #ess e!i# that s,e

cri,ina#s shu#d esca"e than that the g!ern,ent shu#d "#a* an ign%#e

"art.L

issent. Justice Brandeis 1#ed a dissenting "inin and argued Ka""#*ingt the urth and ifth A,end,ents the esta%#ished ru#e f cnstructin+ the

defendantsO %2ectins t the e!idence %tained %* wire ta""ing ,ust+ in ,*"inin+ %e sustained. It is+ f curse+ i,,ateria# where the "h*sica#

cnnectin with the te#e"hne wires #eading int the defendantsO "re,ises

was ,ade. And it is a#s i,,ateria# that the intrusin was in aid f #aw

enfrce,ent. E"erience shu#d teach us t %e ,st n ur guard t "rtect

#i%ert* when the g!ern,entOs "ur"ses are %ene1cent. Men %rn t

freed, are natura##* a#ert t re"e# in!asin f their #i%ert* %* e!i#,inded

ru#ers. The greatest dangers t #i%ert* #ur0 in insidius encrach,ent %* ,en

f 4ea#+ we##,eaning %ut withut understanding.L

K7hen the g!ern,ent+ ha!ing fu## 0nw#edge+ sught+ thrugh theDe"art,ent f Justice+ t a!ai# itse#f f the fruits f these acts in rder t

acc,"#ish its wn ends+ it assu,ed ,ra# res"nsi%i#it* fr the -cersO

cri,es and if this curt shu#d "er,it the g!ern,ent+ %* ,eans f its

-cersO cri,es+ t eCect its "ur"se f "unishing the defendants+ there

wu#d see, t %e "resent a## the e#e,ents f a rati1catin. If s+ the

g!ern,ent itse#f wu#d %ec,e a #aw%rea0er.L

iscussion. This is an interesting case+ de,nstrating hw the Su"re,eurt thin0s in certain situatins a %right #ine ru#e wi## nt c!er e!er*

situatin.

9:6 .S. 595

6& S.t. :::;

6

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the enfrce,ent f its #aw against "etitiner+ !erru#ing his c#ai, that it

!i#ated the urteenth A,end,ent. Because that decisin raised gra!e

and su%stantia# cnstitutina# Guestins+ we granted the "etitin fr

certirari.

&

 The statute in!#!ed is 0#ah,a3s /a%itua# ri,ina# Steri#i4atin Act.

0#.St.Ann. Tit. 5'+ F :':+ et seG.>

7i##ia,s !. S,ith+ :=; Ind. 5&6+ :9: N.E. &. It is a#s suggested that the

Act is "ena# in character and that the steri#i4atin "r!ided fr is crue# and

unusua# "unish,ent and !i#ati!e f the urteenth A,end,ent. See

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Da!is !. Berr*+ su"ra. f. State !. ei#en+ '; 7ash. 65+ :&6 $. '5+ 8:

Mic0#e !. /enrichs+ D..+ &6& . 6'.

7e "ass thse "ints withut inti,ating an "inin n the,+ fr there is a

feature f the Act which c#ear#* cnde,ns it. That is its fai#ure t ,eet the

reGuire,ents f the eGua# "rtectin c#ause f the urteenth

A,end,ent.

5

7e d nt st" t "int ut a## f the ineGua#ities in this Act. A fewea,"#es wi## su-ce. In 0#ah,a grand #arcen* is a fe#n*. 0#.St.Ann.

 Tit. &:+ F :';5 (F 5). and he ,a* %e steri#i4ed if he is

thrice cn!icted. If+ hwe!er+ he is a %ai#ee f the "r"ert* and

fraudu#ent#* a""r"riates it+ he is an e,%e44#er. Id. F :855. /ence n

,atter hw ha%itua# his "rc#i!ities fr e,%e44#e,ent are and n ,atter

hw ften his cn!ictin+ he ,a* nt %e steri#i4ed. Thus the nature f the

tw cri,es is intrinsica##* the sa,e and the* are "unisha%#e in the sa,e

,anner. urther,re+ the #ine %etween the, f##ws c#se distinctins

distinctins c,"ara%#e t thse high#* technica# nes which sha"ed thec,,n #aw as t 3tres"ass3 r 3ta0ing3. Bish"+ ri,ina# Ri#e* !. State+ 68

0#.r. :9+ ' $.&d ':&.

6

It was stated in Buc0 !. Be##+ su"ra+ that the c#ai, that state #egis#atin

!i#ates the eGua# "rtectin c#ause f the urteenth A,end,ent is 3the

usua# #ast resrt f cnstitutina# argu,ents.3 &'8 .S. "age &;+ 8' S.t.

"age 55+ ':

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nt "re!ent the #egis#ture fr, recgni4ing 3degrees f e!i#3 (Trua !.

Raich+ 25 U.S. 22+ 89+ 96 S.t. '+ ::+ 6; $atsne !. $enns*#!ania+su"ra. r a State is nt cnstrained in the eercise f its "#ice "wer t

ignre e"erience which ,ar0s a c#ass f Cenders r a fa,i#* f Censes

fr s"ecia# treat,ent. Nr is it "re!ented %* the eGua# "rtectin c#ause

fr, cn1ning 3its restrictins t thse c#asses f cases where the need is

dee,ed t %e c#earest3. Mi##er !. 7i#sn+ 24 U.S. 2/2+ 98+ 95 S.t. 98&+988+ 5=

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Censes. In ter,s f 1nes and i,"risn,ent the cri,es f #arcen* and

e,%e44#e,ent rate the sa,e under the 0#ah,a cde. n#* when it

c,es t steri#i4atin are the "ains and "ena#ties f the #aw diCerent. The

eGua# "rtectin c#ause wu#d indeed %e a fr,u#a f e,"t* wrds if such

cns"icuus#* arti1cia# #ines cu#d %e drawn. See S,ith !. 7a*ne $r%ate

 Judge+ &9: Mich. 8;=+ 8&;+ 8&:+ &;8 N.7. :8;+ 8; A.

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Held. N. Su"re,e urt f 0#ah,a ru#ing re!ersed. Justice 7i##ia, Dug#as (J. Dug#as) ntes that steri#i4atin f ha%itua#

Cenders in n wa* guarantees that new Cenders wi## nt %e %rn.

urther,re+ there is n guarantee that ha%itua# Cenders wu#d s"awn

Cenders the,se#!es.

 J. Dug#as cannt 2ustif* the distinctin %etween #arcen* (in!#!ing ,ra#

tur"itude) and e,%e44#e,ent (nt in!#!ing ,ra# tur"itude) in the e*es f

the statute. This is c#ear discri,inatin in J. Dug#asOs !iew. In ter,s f 1nesand i,"risn,ent the cri,es are identica# t the State. n#* when it c,es

t steri#i4atin d the cri,es diCer. As such+ eGua# "rtectin is !i#ated.

ncurrence. hief Justice /ar#an Stne (J. Stne) cncurs in the 2udg,ent+

%ut rests his decisin n due "rcess grunds+ arguing that the in!asin f

"ersna# #i%ert* is t great.

iscussion. S0inner re"resents the Su"re,e urt f the nited StatesOgrwing awareness f the right t re"rducti!e autn,*. n#i0e #ater cases

that fcus n due "rcess and a right t "ri!ac*+ the ,a2rit* in S0inner

h#ds that steri#i4atin in the "resent situatin !i#ates eGua# "rtectin

"rinci"#es.

9: .S. 8'=

5 S.t. :6'

:8

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 The statutes whse cnstitutina#it* is in!#!ed in this a""ea# are FF 59

9& and 58:=6 f the Henera# Statutes f nnecticut (:=5 re!.). The

fr,er "r!ides@

8

3An* "ersn wh uses an* drug+ ,edicina# artic#e r instru,ent fr the

"ur"se f "re!enting cnce"tin sha## %e 1ned nt #ess than 1ft* d##ars

r i,"risned nt #ess than sit* da*s nr ,re than ne *ear r %e %th1ned and i,"risned.3

Sectin 58:=6 "r!ides@

5

3An* "ersn wh assists+ a%ets+ cunse#s+ causes+ hires r c,,ands

anther t c,,it an* Cense ,a* %e "rsecuted and "unished as if he

were the "rinci"a# Cender.3

6 The a""e##ants were fund gui#t* as accessries and 1ned :;; each+

against the c#ai, that the accessr* statute as s a""#ied !i#ated the

urteenth A,end,ent. The A""e##ate Di!isin f the ircuit urt

a-r,ed. The Su"re,e urt f Errrs a-r,ed that 2udg,ent. :5: nn.

588+ &;; A.&d 8'=. 7e nted "r%a%#e 2urisdictin. 9'= .S. =&6+ 5 S.t.

9&+ :9 t $ierce !. Sciet* f Sisters+43 U.S. 6-1+ 85 S.t. 5':+ 6= NAA$ !. State f A#a%a,a+ 26/U.S. 005+ ' S.t. ::69+ & NAA$ !. Buttn+ 2/- U.S. 0-6+9 S.t. 9&+ =

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,ing t the ,erits+ we are ,et with a wide range f Guestins that

i,"#icate the Due $rcess #ause f the urteenth A,end,ent.

!ertnes f s,e argu,ents suggest that

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and was nt actin f a 0ind "r!ing %ad ,ra# character. Id.+ at &85&86+

'' S.t. at '5='6;.

:9

 Thse cases in!#!ed ,re than the 3right f asse,%#*3a right that

etends t a## irres"ecti!e f their race r idea#g*. De Jnge !. State f

regn+ 55 U.S. 262+ 5' S.t. &55+ : it inc#udes the right t e"ress ne3s attitudes r "hi#s"hies

%* ,e,%ershi" in a gru" r %* a-#iatin with it r %* ther #awfu# ,eans.

Assciatin in that cntet is a fr, f e"ressin f "inin> and whi#e it

is nt e"ress#* inc#uded in the irst A,end,ent its eistence is necessar*

in ,a0ing the e"ress guarantees fu##* ,eaningfu#.

:8

 The freging cases suggest that s"eci1c guarantees in the Bi## f Rights

ha!e "enu,%ras+ fr,ed %* e,anatins fr, thse guarantees that he#"

gi!e the, #ife and su%stance. See $e !. ##,an+ 24/ U.S. 05/+ 5:65&&+: S.t. :'5&+ 6

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cannt stand in #ight f the fa,i#iar "rinci"#e+ s ften a""#ied %* this

urt+ that a 3g!ern,enta# "ur"se t cntr# r "re!ent acti!ities

cnstitutina##* su%2ect t state regu#atin ,a* nt %e achie!ed %* ,eans

which swee" unnecessari#* %rad#* and there%* in!ade the area f

"rtected freed,s.3 NAA$ !. A#a%a,a+ 2// U.S. 33+ 9;'+ 8 S.t.:9;&+ :9:8+ :& a %i#atera# #*a#t*+ nt

c,,ercia# r scia# "r2ects. et it is an assciatin fr as n%#e a

"ur"se as an* in!#!ed in ur "rir decisins.

:=

Re!ersed.

Brief Fact Summary. A""e##ants were charged with !i#ating a statute"re!enting the distri%utin f ad!ice t ,arried cu"#es regarding the

"re!entin f cnce"tin. A""e##ants c#ai,ed that the statute !i#ated the

:8th A,end,ent t the nited States nstitutin.

Synopsis of Rule of Law. The right f a ,arried cu"#e t "ri!ac* is"rtected %* the nstitutin.

Facts. A""e##ant Hrisw#d+ Eecuti!e Directr f the $#anned $arenthd

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a,end,ents is t gi!e the =th A,end,ent n eCect.

 Justice /ar#an. The re#e!ant statute !i#ates the Due $rcess #ause f the

:8th A,end,ent %ecause if !i#ates the %asic !a#ues i,"#icit in the cnce"t

f rdered #i%ert*.

iscussion. The right t "ri!ac* in ,arriage is nt s"eci1ca##* "rtected ineither the Bi## f Rights r the nstitutin. Nnethe#ess+ it is a right s 1r,#*

rted in traditin that its "rtectin is ,andated %* !arius nstitutina#A,end,ents+ inc#uding the :st+ =th and :8th A,end,ents.

8;5 .S. 89

=& S.t. :;&=

9: Barrws !.

 Jac0sn+ 986 .S. &8=+ '9 S.t. :;9:+ ='

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(a) The deterrence f frnicatin+ a =;da* ,isde,eanr under

Massachusetts #aw+ cannt reasna%#* %e regarded as the "ur"se f the

statute+ since the statute is ridd#ed with ece"tins ,a0ing cntrace"ti!es

free#* a!ai#a%#e fr use in "re,arita# seua# re#atins and its sc"e and

"ena#t* structure are incnsistent with that "ur"se. $". 88'85;.

(%) Si,i#ar#*+ the "rtectin f "u%#ic hea#th thrugh the regu#atin f the

distri%utin f "tentia##* har,fu# artic#es cannt reasna%#* %e regarded asthe f the #aw+ since+ if hea#th were the ratina#e+ the statute wu#d %e %th

discri,inatr* and !er%rad+ and federa# and state #aws a#read* regu#ate

the distri%utin f drugs unsafe fr use ece"t under the su"er!isin f a

#icensed "h*sician. $". 85;85&.

(c) Nr can the statute %e sustained si,"#* as a "rhi%itin n cntrace"tin

"er se+ fr whate!er the rights f the indi!idua# t access t cntrace"ti!es

,a* %e+ the rights ,ust %e the sa,e fr the un,arried and the ,arried

a#i0e. If under Hrisw#d+ su"ra+ the distri%utin n cntrace"ti!es t ,arried

"ersns cannt %e "rhi%ited+ a %an n distri%utin t un,arried "ersnswu#d %e eGua##* i,"er,issi%#e+ since the cnstitutina##* "rtected right f

"ri!ac* inheres in the indi!idua#+ nt the ,arita# cu"#e. If+ n the ther

hand+ Hrisw#d is n %ar t a "rhi%itin n the distri%utin f cntrace"ti!es+

a "rhi%itin #i,ited t un,arried "ersns wu#d %e underinc#usi!e and

in!idius#* discri,inatr*. $". 85&855.

8&= .&d :9=+ a-r,ed.

 Jse"h R. N#an+ Bstn+ Mass.+ fr a""e##ant.

 Jse"h D. T*dings+ Ba#ti,re+ Md.+ fr a""e##ee.

Mr. Justice BRENNAN de#i!ered the "inin f the urt.

:

A""e##ee 7i##ia, Baird was cn!icted at a %ench tria# in the Massachusetts

Su"erir urt under Massachusetts Henera#

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"regnanc* r cnce"tin. (And a) registered "har,acist actua##* engaged

in the %usiness f "har,ac* ,a* furnish such drugs r artic#es t an*

,arried "ersn "resenting a "rescri"tin fr, a registered "h*sician.3 As

inter"reted %* the State Su"re,e Judicia# urt+ these "r!isins ,a0e it a

fe#n* fr an*ne+ ther than a registered "h*sician r "har,acist acting

in accrdance with the ter,s f F &:A+ t dis"ense an* artic#e with the

intentin that it %e used fr the "re!entin f cnce"tin. The statutr*

sche,e distinguishes a,ng three distinct c#asses f distri%utees1rst+,arried "ersns ,a* %tain cntrace"ti!es t "re!ent "regnanc*+ %ut

n#* fr, dctrs r druggists n "rescri"tin> secnd+ sing#e "ersns ,a*

nt %tain cntrace"ti!es fr, an*ne t "re!ent "regnanc*> and+ third+

,arried r sing#e "ersns ,a* %tain cntrace"ti!es fr, an*ne t

"re!ent+ nt "regnanc*+ %ut the s"read f disease. This cnstructin f

state #aw is+ f curse+ %inding n us. E.g.+ Hr""i !. 7iscnsin+ 011 U.S.616+ 5;'+ =: S.t. 8=;+ 8=:+ &'

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a #itigant ,a* n#* assert his wn cnstitutina# rights r i,,unities+3 id.+

at &&+ ; S.t.+ at 5&9. /ere+ a""e##ant cntends that Baird3s cn!ictin

rests n the restrictin in &:A n "er,issi%#e distri%utrs and that that

restrictin ser!es a !a#id hea#th interest inde"endent f the #i,itatin n

authri4ed distri%utees. A""e##ant urges+ therefre+ that Baird3s actin in

gi!ing awa* the fa, fe## sGuare#* within the cnduct that the #egis#ature

,eant and had "wer t "rhi%it and that Baird shu#d nt %e a##wed t

attac0 the statute in its a""#icatin t "tentia# reci"ients. In an* e!ent+a""e##ant cnc#udes+ since Baird was nt hi,se#f a sing#e "ersn denied

access t cntrace"ti!es+ he shu#d nt %e heard t assert their rights. 7e

cannt agree.

6

 The urt f A""ea#s he#d that the statute under which Baird was

cn!icted is nt a hea#th ,easure. If that !iew is crrect+ we d nt see

hw Baird ,a* %e "re!ented+ %ecause he was neither a dctr nr a

druggist+ fr, attac0ing the statute in its a##eged discri,inatr*

a""#icatin t "tentia# distri%utees. 7e thin0+ t+ that ur se#1,"sed

ru#e against the assertin f third"art* rights ,ust %e re#aed in this case 2ust as in Hrisw#d !. nnecticut+ su"ra. There the Eecuti!e Directr f

the $#anned $arenthd

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Massachusetts+ un#i0e the users f cntrace"ti!es in nnecticut+ are nt

the,se#!es su%2ect t "rsecutin and+ t that etent+ are denied a fru,

in which t assert their wn rights. f. NAA$ !. A#a%a,a+ 26/ U.S. 005+' S.t. ::69+ & Burrws !. Jac0sn+ su"ra.4 The

Massachusetts statute+ un#i0e the nnecticut #aw cnsidered in Hrisw#d+

"rhi%its+ nt use+ %ut distri%utin.

r the freging reasns we h#d that Baird+ wh is nw in a "sitin+ and"#ain#* has an adeGuate incenti!e+ t assert the rights f un,arried

"ersns denied access t cntrace"ti!es+ has standing t d s. 7e turn t

the ,erits.

II

=

 The %asic "rinci"#es g!erning a""#icatin f the EGua# $rtectin #ause

f the urteenth A,end,ent are fa,i#iar. As The hief Justice n#*

recent#* e"#ained in Reed !. Reed+ 010 U.S. /-+ '5'6+ =& S.t. &5:+&59+ 9;

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diCerent di,ensins and "r"rtins+ reGuiring diCerent re,edies+3

7i##ia,sn !.

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Secnd. Sectin &:A was added t the Massachusetts Henera#

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:

 Third. If the Massachusetts statute cannt %e u"he#d as a deterrent t

frnicatin r as a hea#th ,easure+ ,a* it+ ne!erthe#ess+ %e sustained

si,"#* as a "rhi%itin n cntrace"tin The urt f A""ea#s ana#*sis

3#ed ine!ita%#* t the cnc#usin that+ s far as ,ra#s are cncerned+ it is

cntrace"ti!es "er se that are cnsidered i,,ra#t the etent that

Hrisw#d wi## "er,it such a dec#aratin.3 8&= .&d+ at :8;: :8;&. The urt

f A""ea#s went n t h#d+ id.+ at :8;&@

:=

3T sa* that cntrace"ti!es are i,,ra# as such+ and are t %e fr%idden

t un,arried "ersns wh wi## ne!erthe#ess "ersist in ha!ing intercurse+

,eans that such "ersns ,ust ris0 fr the,se#!es an unwanted

"regnanc*+ fr the chi#d+ i##egiti,ac*+ and fr sciet*+ a "ssi%#e %#igatin

f su""rt. Such a !iew f ,ra#it* is nt n#* the !er* ,irrr i,age f

sensi%#e #egis#atin> we cnsider that it cnWicts with funda,enta# hu,an

rights. In the a%sence f de,nstrated har,+ we h#d it is %e*nd the

c,"etenc* f the state.3

&;

7e need nt and d nt+ hwe!er+ decide that i,"rtant Guestin in this

case %ecause+ whate!er the rights f the indi!idua# t access t

cntrace"ti!es ,a* %e+ the rights ,ust %e the sa,e fr the un,arried

and the ,arried a#i0e.

&:

If under Hrisw#d the distri%utin f cntrace"ti!es t ,arried "ersnscannt %e "rhi%ited+ a %an n distri%utin t un,arried "ersns wu#d %e

eGua##* i,"er,issi%#e. It is true that in Hrisw#d the right f "ri!ac* in

Guestin inhered in the ,arita# re#atinshi". et the ,arita# cu"#e is nt

an inde"endent entit* with a ,ind and heart f its wn+ %ut an assciatin

f tw indi!idua#s each with a se"arate inte##ectua# and e,tina# ,a0eu".

If the right f "ri!ac* ,eans an*thing+ it is the right f the indi!idua#+

,arried r sing#e+ t %e free fr, unwarranted g!ern,enta# intrusin int

,atters s funda,enta##* aCecting a "ersn as the decisin whether t

%ear r %eget a chi#d. See Stan#e* !. Hergia+ 250 U.S. 66/+ = S.t.

:&89+ &&

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,easure t assure that #aws wi## %e 2ust than t reGuire that #aws %e eGua#

in "eratin.3

&8

A#thugh Mr. Justice Jac0sn3s c,,ents had reference t ad,inistrati!e

regu#atins+ the "rinci"#e he a-r,ed has eGua# a""#icatin t the

#egis#atin here. 7e h#d that %* "r!iding dissi,i#ar treat,ent fr ,arried

and un,arried "ersns wh are si,i#ar#* situated+ Massachusetts Henera#

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9aul 9%E et al.) Appellants)#.

A:ra,am ULL&A") State;s Attorney.

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$#aintiCs+ hwe!er+ ha!e %een una%#e t %tain this infr,atin fr the

s#e reasn that its de#i!er* and use ,a* r wi## %e c#ai,ed %* the

defendant State3s At rne* (a""e##ee in this urt) t cnstitute Censes

against nnecticut #aw. The State3s Attrne* intends t "rsecute

Censes against the State3s #aws+ and c#ai,s that the gi!ing f

cntrace"ti!e ad!ice and the use f cntrace"ti!e de!ices wu#d %e

Censes fr%idden %* nn.Hen.Stat.Re!.:=5+ FF 599& and 58

:=6.A##eging irre"ara%#e in2ur* and a su%stantia# uncertaint* f #ega#re#atins (a #ca# "rcedura# reGuisite fr a dec#aratin)+ "#aintiCs as0 a

dec#aratr* 2udg,ent that FF 599& and 58:=6 are uncnstitutina#+ in

that the* de"ri!e the "#aintiCs f #ife and #i%ert* withut due "rcess f

#aw.

9

 The secnd actin in N. 6; is %rught %* Jane De+ a twent*1!e*ear#d

husewife. Mrs. De+ it is a##eged+ #i!es with her hus%and+ the* ha!e n

chi#dren> Mrs. De recent#* underwent a "regnanc* which induced in her a

critica# "h*sica# i##nesstw wee0s3 uncnsciusness and a tta# f nine

wee0s3 acute sic0ness which #eft her with "artia# "ara#*sis+ ,ar0edi,"air,ent f s"eech+ and e,tina# insta%i#it*. Anther "regnanc* wu#d

%e eceeding#* "eri#us t her #ife. She+ t+ has cnsu#ted Dr. Butn+ wh

%e#ie!es that the %est and safest treat,ent fr her is cntrace"ti!e

ad!ice. The re,aining a##egatins f Mrs. De3s c,"#aint+ and the re#ief

sught+ are si,i#ar t thse in the case f Mr. and Mrs. $e.

8

In N. 6:+ a#s a dec#aratr* 2udg,ent actin+ Dr. Butn is the "#aintiC.

Setting frth facts identica# t thse a##eged %* Jane De+ he as0s that thennecticut statutes "rhi%iting his gi!ing f cntrace"ti!e ad!ice t Mrs.

De %e ad2udged uncnstitutina#+ as de"ri!ing hi, f #i%ert* and "r"ert*

withut due "rcess.

5

In a## three actins+ de,urrers were ad!anced+ inter a#ia+ n the grund

that the statutes attac0ed had %een "re!ius#* cnstrued and sustained

%* the Su"re,e urt f Errrs f nnecticut+ and thus there did nt

eist the uncertaint* f #ega# re#atins reGuisite t ,aintain suits fr

dec#aratr* 2udg,ent. 7hi#e the nnecticut Su"re,e urt f Errrs insustaining the de,urrers referred t this #ca# "rcedura# grund+ re#*ing

n State !. Ne#sn+ :&6 nn. 8:&+ :: A.&d 56+ and Ti#estn !. ##,an+

:&= nn. 8+ &6 A.&d 5&+ a""ea# dis,issed 2-3 U.S. 00+ 69 S.t. 8=9+'

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than the urt is %und %* sti"u#atin f the "arties. Swift U . !. /c0ing

?a##e* R. .+ 02 U.S. 3-+ &=+ 9' S.t. &'+ &=+ 6:

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res"nsi%i#it*f the federa# curts+ and "articu#ar#* this urt+ within that

structure. See the Nte t /a*%urn3s ase+ & Da##. 8;=+ :

,,nwea#th f Massachusetts !. Me##n+ 4 U.S. 00/+ 88=+ 89S.t. 5='+ 6;:+ 6'

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3 The ther* u"n which+ a""arent#*+ this suit was %rught is that

"arties ha!e an a""ea# fr, the #egis#ature t the curts> and that the

#atter are gi!en an i,,ediate and genera# su"er!isin f the

cnstitutina#it* f the acts f the fr,er. Such is nt true. 7hene!er+ in

"ursuance f an hnest and actua# antagnistic assertin f rights %* ne

indi!idua# against anther+ there is "resented a Guestin in!#!ing the

!a#idit* f an* act f an* #egis#ature+ State r edera#+ and the decisin

necessari#* rests n the c,"etenc* f the #egis#ature t s enact+ thecurt ,ust+ in the eercise f its s#e,n duties+ deter,ine whether the act

%e cnstitutina# r nt> %ut such an eercise f "wer is the u#ti,ate and

su"re,e functin f curts. It is #egiti,ate n#* in the #ast resrt+ and as a

necessit* in the deter,inatin f rea#+ earnest and !ita# cntr!ers*

%etween indi!idua#s. It ne!er was the thught that+ %* ,eans f a friend#*

suit+ a "art* %eaten in the #egis#ature cu#d transfer t thec urts an

inGuir* as t the cnstitutina#it* f the #egis#ati!e act.3

:&

7hat was said in the (ellman case fund read* a""#icatin in"rceedings %rught under ,dern dec#aratr* 2udg,ent "rcedures. r

 2ust as the dec#aratr* 2udg,ent de!ice des nt 3"ur"rt t a#ter the

character f the cntr!ersies which are the su%2ect f the 2udicia# "wer

under the nstitutin+3 nited States !. State f 7est ?irginia+ 56 U.S.042+ 8'5+ 55 S.t. '=+ '=9+ '=

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federa# curt3s ad2udicatin f its cnstitutina#it* in "rceedings %rught

against the State3s "rsecuting -cia#s if rea# threat f enfrce,ent is

wanting. See E "arte

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%irth+ a cu"#e whse wife had e"erienced a se!ere#* trau,atic "regnanc*

and their "h*sician+ wh %e#ie!es the safest curse f treat,ent fr the

cu"#es inc#udes using cntrace"ti!e de!ices.

Issue. Is the "etitinersO c#ai, ri"e fr 2udicia# re!iew

Held. N. Judg,ent a-r,ed. nnecticut has ne!er atte,"ted t fu##*

"rsecute an* case under the statute. Because f this+ nt n#* ha!e theA""e##ants nt suCered in2ur* in fact fr, the statute+ %ut there is n

e!idence that the* wu#d %e "rsecuted fr acting in !i#atin f the statute.

issent. Justice 7i##ia, Dug#as (J. Dug#as) argues that the ,ere threat f"rsecutin is in2ur* in fact+ that it is Knt the chice wrth* f a ci!i#i4ed

sciet*L t reGuire indi!idua#s t ris0 "ena#t* fr their %eha!ir t ha!e their

cnstitutina# rights deter,ined.

iscussion. A#thugh ri"eness is the centra# issue in $e+ the Su"re,e

urt f the nited States (Su"re,e urt) des nt articu#ate an* c#earguide#ines t e!a#uate ri"eness. Nnethe#ess+ the Su"re,e urt see,s t

articu#ate that a "ena# statute that has nt %een enfrced is nt ri"e fr

 2udicia# re!iew.

0-1 U.S. --2

Roe #. (ade >"o. /1?-3@

Arued ecem:er -2) -5/-

ecided

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Held:

:. 7hi#e & .S.. F :&59 authri4es n direct a""ea# t this urt fr, the

grant r denia# f dec#aratr* re#ief a#ne+ re!iew is nt frec#sed when the

case is "r"er#* %efre the urt n a""ea# fr, s"eci1c denia# f in2uncti!e

re#ief and the argu,ents as t %th in2uncti!e and dec#aratr* re#ief are

necessari#* identica#. $. :&9.

&. Re has standing t sue> the Des and /a##frd d nt. $". :&9:&=.

(a) ntrar* t a""e##ee3s cntentin+ the natura# ter,inatin f Re3s

"regnanc* did nt ,t her suit.

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 J.+ post,". :6'+ 1#ed cncurring "inins. 7/ITE+ J.+ 1#ed a dissenting "inin+

in which RE/NQIST+ J.+ 2ined+ post, ". &&:. RE/NQIST+ J.+ 1#ed a dissenting

"inin+ post, ". :':. Dp--4

Brief Fact Summary. A""e##ant Jane Re+ a "regnant ,ther wh wished t%tain an a%rtin+ sued n %eha#f f a## w,an si,i#ar#* situated in an eCrt

t "re!ent the enfrce,ent f Teas statutes cri,ina#i4ing a## a%rtins

ece"t thse "erfr,ed t sa!e the #ife f the ,ther.

Synopsis of Rule of Law. Statutes that ,a0e cri,ina# a## a%rtins ece"twhen ,edica##* ad!ised fr the "ur"se f sa!ing the #ife f the ,ther are

an uncnstitutina# in!asin f "ri!ac*.

Facts. 

 Teas statutes ,ade it a cri,e t "rcure r atte,"t an a%rtin

ece"t when ,edica##* ad!ised fr the "ur"se f sa!ing the #ife f the

,ther. A""e##ant Jane Re sught a dec#aratr* 2udg,ent that the statutes

were uncnstitutina# n their face and an in2unctin t "re!ent defendant

Da##as unt* District Attrne* fr, enfrcing the statutes. A""e##ant a##eged

that she was un,arried and "regnant+ and that she was una%#e t recei!e a

#ega# a%rtin %* a #icensed "h*sician %ecause her #ife was nt threatened %*

the cntinuatin f her "regnanc* and that she was una%#e t aCrd t tra!e#

t anther 2urisdictin t %tain a #ega# a%rtin. A""e##ant sued n %eha#f f

herse#f and a## ther w,en si,i#ar#* situated+ c#ai,ing that the statutes

were uncnstitutina##* !ague and a%ridged her right f "ersna# "ri!ac*+

"rtected %* the irst+ urth+ ifth+ Ninth+ and urteenth A,end,ents.

Issue. 

D the Teas statutes i,"r"er#* in!ade a right "ssessed %* the

a""e##ant t ter,inate her "regnanc* e,%died in the cnce"t f "ersna#

#i%ert* cntained in the urteenth A,end,entOs Due $rcess #ause+ in the

"ersna# ,arita#+ fa,i#ia#+ and seua# "ri!ac* "rtected %* the Bi## f Rights

r its "enu,%ras+ r a,ng the rights reser!ed t the "e"#e %* the Ninth

A,end,ent

Held. The right t "ersna# "ri!ac* inc#udes the a%rtin decisin+ %ut theright is nt unGua#i1ed and ,ust %e cnsidered against i,"rtant state

interests in regu#atin.

 The a%rtin #aws in eCect in the ,a2rit* f the States are f re#ati!e#*

recent !intage+ deri!ing fr, statutr* changes genera##* enacted in the

#atter ha#f f the :=th centur*. At c,,n #aw a%rtin "erfr,ed %efreGuic0ening (the 1rst recgni4a%#e ,!e,ent f the fetus in uter) was nt an

indicta%#e Cense+ and it is du%tfu# that a%rtin was e!er a 1r,#*

esta%#ished c,,n #aw cri,e e!en when it destr*ed a Guic0 fetus.

 Three reasns ha!e %een ad!anced fr the histrica# enact,ent f cri,ina#

a%rtin #aws. The 1rst is that the #aws are the "rduct f a ?ictrian scia#

cncern t discurage i##icit seua# cnduct+ %ut this argu,ent has %een

ta0en serius#* %* neither curts nr c,,entatrs. The secnd reasn is

that the a%rtin "rcedure is ha4ardus+ therefre the StateOs cncern is t

"rtect "regnant w,en. /we!er+ ,dern ,edica# techniGues ha!e a#tered

the situatin+ with a%rtins %eing re#ati!e#* safe "articu#ar#* in the 1rsttri,ester. The third reasn is the StateOs interest is in "rtecting the "renata#

#ife. /we!er+ this is s,ewhat negated %* the fact that the "regnant w,an

cannt %e "rsecuted fr the act f a%rtin.

r the stage "rir t the a""ri,ate end f the 1rst tri,ester+ the a%rtin

decisin ,ust %e #eft t the ,edica# 2udg,ent f the "regnant w,anOs

attending "h*sician+ and ,a* nt %e cri,ina#i4ed %* statute.

r the stage su%seGuent t the a""ri,ate end f the 1rst tri,ester+ the

State ,a* regu#ate a%rtin in wa*s reasna%#* re#ated t ,aterna# hea#th

%ased u"n the StateOs interest in "r,ting the hea#th f the ,ther.

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r the stage su%seGuent t !ia%i#it*+ the State ,a* regu#ate and e!en

"rscri%e a%rtin+ ece"t where necessar* fr the "reser!atin f the

,therOs #ife+ %ased u"n the StateOs interest in the "tentia# f the "tentia#

#ife f the un%rn chi#d.issent. Justice RehnGuist. The right t an a%rtin is nt uni!ersa##*acce"ted+ and the right t "ri!ac* is thus nt inherent#* in!#!ed in this case.

iscussion. The urt 1nds that an a%rtin statute that fr%ids a##a%rtins ece"t in the case f a #ife sa!ing "rcedure n %eha#f f the

,ther is uncnstitutina# %ased u"n the right t "ri!ac*. /we!er+ it des

a##w fr regu#atin and "rscri"tin f a%rtin when the statute is narrw#*

tai#red t u"h#d a c,"e##ing state interest+ such as the hea#th f the

,ther r the !ia%#e fetus. The curt dec#ined t address the Guestin f

when #ife %egins.

8' .S. :6

:;6 S.t. &8:

=&

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(c) There shu#d %e great resistance t e"and the reach f the Due $rcess

#auses t c!er new funda,enta# rights. therwise+ the Judiciar*

necessari#* wu#d ta0e u"n itse#f further authrit* t g!ern the cuntr*

withut cnstitutina# authrit*. The c#ai,ed right in this case fa##s far shrt

f !erc,ing this resistance. $". :=8:=5.

(d) The fact that h,seua# cnduct ccurs in the "ri!ac* f the h,e des

nt aCect the resu#t. Stanley v. Georgia, 9=8 .S. 55'+ = S.t. :&89+ &&

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regu#atin %* reasn f the Ninth A,end,ent and the Due $rcess #ause

f the urteenth A,end,ent. The case was re,anded fr tria#+ at which+

t "re!ai#+ the State wu#d ha!e t "r!e that the statute is su""rted %*

a c,"e##ing interest and is the ,st narrw#* drawn ,eans f achie!ing

that end.

8

Because ther urts f A""ea#s ha!e arri!ed at 2udg,ents cntrar* t

that f the E#e!enth ircuit in this case+2 we granted the Attrne*Henera#3s "etitin fr certirari Guestining the h#ding that the sd,*

statute !i#ates the funda,enta# rights f h,seua#s. 7e agree with

"etitiner that the urt f A""ea#s erred+ and hence re!erse its

 2udg,ent.0

5

 This case des nt reGuire a 2udg,ent n whether #aws against sd,*

%etween cnsenting adu#ts in genera#+ r %etween h,seua#s in

"articu#ar+ are wise r desira%#e. It raises n Guestin a%ut the right r

"r"riet* f state #egis#ati!e decisins t re"ea# their #aws that cri,ina#i4e

h,seua# sd,*+ r f statecurt decisins in!a#idating thse #aws nstate cnstitutina# grunds. The issue "resented is whether the edera#

nstitutin cnfers a funda,enta# right u"n h,seua#s t engage in

sd,* and hence in!a#idates the #aws f the ,an* States that sti## ,a0e

such cnduct i##ega# and ha!e dne s fr a !er* #ng ti,e. The case a#s

ca##s fr s,e 2udg,ent a%ut the #i,its f the urt3s r#e in carr*ing ut

its cnstitutina# ,andate.

6

7e 1rst register ur disagree,ent with the urt f A""ea#s and withres"ndent that the urt3s "rir cases ha!e cnstrued the nstitutin t

cnfer a right f "ri!ac* that etends t h,seua# sd,* and fr a##

intents and "ur"ses ha!e decided this case. The reach f this #ine f

cases was s0etched in Carey v. 'opulation Services (nternational, 02-U.S. 4/3+ 65+ =' S.t. &;:;+ &;:6+ 5& Skinner v. *klahoma e+ rel. &illiamson, 2-4 U.S.626+ 6& S.t. :::;+ 6 and #oe v. &ade, 0-1 U.S. --2+ =9 S.t. ';5+95

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asserted that the "ri!ac* right+ which the Griswold #ine f cases fund t

%e ne f the "rtectins "r!ided %* the Due $rcess #ause+ did nt

reach s far. 89: .S.+ at 6+ n. 5+ 6=8+ n. :'+ =' S.t.+ at &;:+ n. 5+

&;&:+ n. :'.

$recedent aside+ hwe!er+ res"ndent wu#d ha!e us annunce+ as the

urt f A""ea#s did+ a funda,enta# right t engage in h,seua#

sd,*. This we are Guite unwi##ing t d. It is true that des"ite the#anguage f the Due $rcess #auses f the ifth and urteenth

A,end,ents+ which a""ears t fcus n#* n the "rcesses %* which #ife+

#i%ert*+ r "r"ert* is ta0en+ the cases are #egin in which thse #auses

ha!e %een inter"reted t ha!e su%stanti!e cntent+ su%su,ing rights that

t a great etent are i,,une fr, federa# r state regu#atin r

"rscri"tin. A,ng such cases are thse recgni4ing rights that ha!e

#itt#e r n tetua# su""rt in the cnstitutina# #anguage. Meyer,

'rince, and 'ierce fa## in this categr*+ as d the "ri!ac* cases

fr, Griswold t Carey.

=Stri!ing t assure itse#f and the "u%#ic that annuncing rights nt readi#*

identi1a%#e in the nstitutin3s tet in!#!es ,uch ,re than the

i,"sitin f the Justices3 wn chice f !a#ues n the States and the

edera# H!ern,ent+ the urt has sught t identif* the nature f the

rights Gua#if*ing fr heightened 2udicia# "rtectin. In 'alko v.

Connecticut, 21 U.S. 2-5+ 9&5+ 9&6+ 5 S.t. :8=+ :5:+ :5&+ &

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that the urt had "#aced n the Due $rcess #auses f the ifth and

urteenth A,end,ents. There shu#d %e+ therefre+ great resistance t

e"and the su%stanti!e reach f thse #auses+ "articu#ar#* if it reGuires

rede1ning the categr* f rights dee,ed t %e funda,enta#. therwise+

the Judiciar* necessari#* ta0es t itse#f further authrit* t g!ern the

cuntr* withut e"ress cnstitutina# authrit*. The c#ai,ed right "ressed

n us tda* fa##s far shrt f !erc,ing this resistance.

:&

Res"ndent+ hwe!er+ asserts that the resu#t shu#d %e diCerent where the

h,seua# cnduct ccurs in the "ri!ac* f the h,e. /e re#ies

n Stanley v. Georgia, 250 U.S. 66/+ = S.t. :&89+ &&

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Synopsis of Rule of Law. There is n cnstitutina# right t engage incnsensua# h,seua# sd,*.

Facts. The Res"ndent+ /ardwic0 (Res"ndent)+ %rught suit in a federa#

district curt cha##enging the cnstitutina#it* f a Hergia statute insfar as

it cri,ina#i4ed cnsensua# sd,*. The Res"ndent asserted that he was a

"racticing h,seua#+ that the Hergia statute "#aced hi, in i,,inent

danger f arrest and that the statute !i#ated his cnstitutina# rights. The

District urt granted a ,tin t dis,iss the case fr fai#ure t state a

c#ai,. The E#e!enth ircuit re!ersed the decisin ru#ing that the statute

!i#ated the Res"ndentOs Kfunda,enta# rights %ecause his h,seua#

acti!it* was a "ri!ate and inti,ate assciatin . . . .L The E#e!enth ircuit

re,anded the decisin fr tria# ru#ing that the Hergia statute ,ust "ass

strict scrutin* %efre it can %e u"he#d.

Issue. 

7hether the act f cnsensua# h,seua# sd,* is "rtected

under the funda,enta# right t "ri!ac*.

Held. Justice B*rn 7hite (J. 7hite). N. The act f cnsensua# sd,* is nt"rtected under the funda,enta# right t "ri!ac* r an* right "rtected

under the nited States nstitutin (nstitutin). There is n "recedent t

su""rt the Res"ndentOs c#ai,ed cnstitutina# right t c,,it sd,*.

unda,enta# #i%ert* interests recgni4ed %* the Su"re,e urt f the nited

States (Su"re,e urt) thrughut histr* and thrugh its traditins ha!e in

n wa* set an* fundatin t inc#ude a case such as this under the

nstitutina# u,%re##a f "rtectin. KThe urt is ,st !u#nera%#e and

c,es nearest t i##egiti,ac* when it dea#s with 2udge,ade cnstitutina##aw ha!ing #itt#e r n cgni4a%#e rts in the #anguage r design f the

nstitutin. . . . There shu#d %e+ therefre+ great resistance t e"and the

su%stanti!e reach f thse #auses+ "articu#ar#* if it reGuires rede1ning the

categr* f rights dee,ed t %e funda,enta#.L The 2udg,ent f the E#e!enth

ircuit is re!ersed.

issent. The dissenting "inins are as f##ws@ Justice /arr* B#ac0,un (J. B#ac0,un). KThe right f an indi!idua# t cnduct

inti,ate re#atinshi"s in the inti,ac* f his r her wn h,e as seen in this

case see,s . . . t %e the heart f the nstitutinOs "rtectin f "ri!ac*.L Justice Jhn $au# Ste!ens (J. Ste!ens). KThe urt rders the dis,issa# f

res"ndentOs c,"#aint e!en thugh the StateOs statute "rhi%its a## sd,*>

e!en thugh that "rhi%itin is cnceded#* uncnstitutina# with res"ect t

heterseua#s> and e!en thugh the StateOs "st hc e"#anatins fr

se#ecti!e a""#icatin are %e#ied %* the StateOs wn actins. At the !er*

#east+ . . . it is c#ear at this ear#* stage f the #itigatin that res"ndent has

a##eged a cnstitutina# c#ai, su-cient t withstand a ,tin t dis,iss.L

ncurrence. The cncurring "inins are as f##ws@

hief Justice 7arren Burger (J. Burger). KI 1nd nthing in the nstitutin

de"ri!ing a State f the "wer t enact the statute cha##enged here.L Justice

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#aw and was fr%idden %* the #aws f the rigina# thirteen States when the*

rati1ed the Bi## f Rights.L A#s+ the Su"re,e urt states that sd,* is nt

i,,une fr, %eing cri,ina#i4ed %ecause it ,a* ccur in the h,e. The

Su"re,e urt has he#d ther acts that ,a* ta0e "#ace within the h,e+

such as i##ega# "ssessin andYr use f drugs+ as cri,ina#.

59= .S. 55

LA(RE"CE et al.v.

$E=ASN. ;&:;&.

Supreme Court of United States.

Argued March &6+ &;;9.

Decided June &6+ &;;9.

Res"nding t a re"rted wea"ns distur%ance in a "ri!ate residence+

/ustn "#ice entered "etitiner

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Mre!er+ ear#* sd,* #aws see, nt t ha!e %een enfrced against

cnsenting adu#ts acting in "ri!ate. Instead+ sd,* "rsecutins ften

in!#!ed "redatr* acts against thse wh cu#d nt r did nt cnsent@

re#atins %etween ,en and ,inr gir#s r %*s+ %etween adu#ts in!#!ing

frce+ %etween adu#ts i,"#icating dis"arit* in status+ r %etween ,en and

ani,a#s. The #ngstanding cri,ina# "rhi%itin f h,seua# sd,* u"n

which %owers "#aced such re#iance is as cnsistent with a genera#

cnde,natin f nn"rcreati!e se as it is with an esta%#ished traditin f"rsecuting acts %ecause f their h,seua# character. ar fr, "ssessing

Xancient rts+X ibid., A,erican #aws targeting sa,ese cu"#es did nt

de!e#" unti# the #ast third f the &;th centur*. E!en nw+ n#* nine States

ha!e sing#ed ut sa,ese re#atins fr cri,ina# "rsecutin. Thus+ the

histrica# grunds re#ied u"n in%owers are ,re c,"#e than the ,a2rit*

"inin and the cncurring "inin %* hief Justice Burger there indicated.

 The* are nt withut du%t and+ at the !er* #east+ are !erstated.

 The %owers urt was+ f curse+ ,a0ing the %rader "int that fr centuries

there ha!e %een "werfu# !ices t cnde,n h,seua# cnduct as

i,,ra#+ %ut this urt3s %#igatin is t de1ne the #i%ert* f a##+ nt t,andate its wn ,ra# cde+ 'lanned 'arenthood o" Southeastern

'a. !. Casey, 5;5 . S. 99+ 5;. The Natin3s #aws and traditins in the "ast

ha#f centur* are ,st re#e!ant here. The* shw an e,erging awareness that

#i%ert* gi!es su%stantia# "rtectin t adu#t "ersns in deciding hw t

cnduct their "ri!ate #i!es in ,atters "ertaining t se. See County o"

Sacramento !. ewis,5&9 . S. 99+ 5'. $". 56'5'9.

(c) %owers de1ciencies %eca,e e!en ,re a""arent in the *ears f##wing

its annunce,ent. The &5 States with #aws "rhi%iting the cnduct

referenced in%owers

 are reduced nw t :9+ f which 8 enfrce their #awsn#* against h,seua# cnduct. In thse States+ inc#uding Teas+ that sti##

"rscri%e sd,* (whether fr sa,ese r heterseua# cnduct)+ there is a

"attern f nnenfrce,ent with res"ect t cnsenting adu#ts acting in

"ri!ate. Casey, supra, at 5:which cn1r,ed that the Due $rcess #ause

"rtects "ersna# decisins re#ating t ,arriage+ "rcreatin+ cntrace"tin+

fa,i#* re#atinshi"s+ chi#d rearing+ and educatinand #omer  !. $vans, 5:'

. S. 6&;+ 6&8which struc0 dwn c#ass%ased #egis#atin directed at

h,seua#scast %owers h#ding int e!en ,re du%t. The stig,a the

 Teas cri,ina# statute i,"ses+ ,re!er+ is nt tri!ia#. A#thugh the Cense

is %ut a ,inr ,isde,eanr+ it re,ains a cri,ina# Cense with a## thati,"rts fr the dignit* f the "ersns charged+ inc#uding ntatin f

cn!ictins n their recrds and n 2% a""#icatin fr,s+ and registratin as

se Cenders under state #aw. 7here a case3s fundatins ha!e sustained

serius ersin+ criticis, fr, ther surces is f greater signi1cance. In the

nited States+ criticis, f %owers has %een su%stantia# and cntinuing+

disa""r!ing f its reasning in a## res"ects+ nt 2ust as t its histrica#

assu,"tins. And+ t the etent %owers re#ied n !a#ues shared with a wider

ci!i#i4atin+ the case3s reasning and h#ding ha!e %een re2ected %* the

Eur"ean urt f /u,an Rights+ and that ther natins ha!e ta0en actin

cnsistent with an a-r,atin f the "rtected right f h,seua# adu#ts tengage in inti,ate+ cnsensua# cnduct. There has %een n shwing that in

this cuntr* the g!ern,enta# interest in circu,scri%ing "ersna# chice is

s,ehw ,re #egiti,ate r urgent. Stare decisis is nt an inera%#e

c,,and. 'ayne !.ennessee, 5;: . S. ;+ &. %owers3 h#ding has nt

induced detri,enta# re#iance f the srt that cu#d cunse# against

!erturning it nce there are c,"e##ing reasns t d s.Casey, supra, at

5556. %owers causes uncertaint*+ fr the "recedents %efre and after it

cntradict its centra# h#ding. $". 5'95''.

(d) %owers ratina#e des nt withstand carefu# ana#*sis. In his dissenting

"inin in %owers Justice Ste!ens cnc#uded that (:) the fact that a State3s

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g!erning ,a2rit* has traditina##* !iewed a "articu#ar "ractice as i,,ra#

is nt a su-cient reasn fr u"h#ding a #aw "rhi%iting the "ractice+ and (&)

indi!idua# decisins cncerning the inti,acies f "h*sica# re#atinshi"s+ e!en

when nt intended t "rduce Cs"ring+ are a fr, f X#i%ert*X "rtected %*

due "rcess. That ana#*sis shu#d ha!e cntr##ed %owers, and it cntr#s

here. %owers was nt crrect when it was decided+ is nt crrect tda*+ and

is here%* !erru#ed. This case des nt in!#!e ,inrs+ "ersns wh ,ight

%e in2ured r cerced+ thse wh ,ight nt easi#* refuse cnsent+ r "u%#iccnduct r "rstitutin. It des in!#!e tw adu#ts wh+ with fu## and ,utua#

cnsent+ engaged in seua# "ractices c,,n t a h,seua# #ifest*#e.

$etitiners3 right t #i%ert* under the Due $rcess #ause gi!es the, the fu##

right t engage in "ri!ate cnduct withut g!ern,ent inter!entin. Casey,

supra, at 8'. The Teas statute furthers n #egiti,ate state interest which

can 2ustif* its intrusin int the indi!idua#3s "ersna# and "ri!ate #ife. $". 5''

5'=.

8: S. 7. 9d 98=+ re!ersed and re,anded.

VENNED+ J.+ de#i!ered the "inin f the urt+ in which STE?ENS+ STER+HINSBRH+ and BREER+ JJ.+ 2ined. 3NNR+ J.+ 1#ed an "inin cncurring

in the 2udg,ent+ post, ". 5'=. SA

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 The c,"#aints descri%ed their cri,e as Xde!iate seua# intercurse+

na,e#* ana# se+ with a ,e,%er f the sa,e se (,an).X A"". t $et. fr

ert. :&'a+ :9=a. The a""#ica%#e state #aw is Te. $ena# de Ann. F

&:.;6(a) (&;;9). It "r!ides@ XA "ersn c,,its an Cense if he engages

in de!iate seua# intercurse with anther indi!idua# f the sa,e se.X The

statute de1nes Xde!iate seua# intercurseX as f##ws@

5X(A) an* cntact %etween an* "art f the genita#s f ne "ersn and the

,uth r anus f anther "ersn> r

6

X(B) the "enetratin f the genita#s r the anus f anther "ersn with an

%2ect.X F &:.;:(:).

'

 The "etitiners eercised their right t a tria# de novo in /arris unt*

ri,ina# urt. The* cha##enged the statute as a !i#atin f the EGua#$rtectin #ause f the urteenth A,end,ent and f a #i0e "r!isin f

the Teas nstitutin. Te. nst.+ Art. :+ F 9a. Thse cntentins were

re2ected. The "etitiners+ ha!ing entered a "#ea f nolo contendere,were

each 1ned &;; and assessed curt csts f :8:.&5. A"". t $et. fr ert.

:;'a::;a.

 The urt f A""ea#s fr the Teas urteenth District cnsidered the

"etitiners3 federa# cnstitutina# argu,ents under %th the EGua#

$rtectin and Due $rcess #auses f the urteenth A,end,ent. Afterhearing the case en %anc the curt+ in a di!ided "inin+ re2ected the

cnstitutina# argu,ents and a-r,ed the cn!ictins. 8: S. 7. 9d 98=

(&;;:). The ,a2rit* "inin indicates that the urt f A""ea#s

cnsidered ur decisin in %owers!. Hardwick, 0/3 U. S. -34 (:=6)+ t%e cntr##ing n the federa# due "rcess as"ect f the case. %owers then

%eing authritati!e+ this was "r"er.

=

7e granted certirari+ 59' . S. :;88 (&;;&)+ t cnsider three Guestins@

:;:. 7hether "etitiners3 cri,ina# cn!ictins under the Teas X/,seua#

nductX #awwhich cri,ina#i4es seua# inti,ac* %* sa,ese cu"#es+

%ut nt identica# %eha!ir %* diCerentse cu"#es!i#ate the urteenth

A,end,ent guarantee f eGua# "rtectin f the #aws.

::

&. 7hether "etitiners3 cri,ina# cn!ictins fr adu#t cnsensua# seua#

inti,ac* in the h,e !i#ate their !ita# interests in #i%ert* and "ri!ac*

"rtected %* the Due $rcess #ause f the urteenth A,end,ent.

:&

9. 7hether %owers !. Hardwick, supra, shu#d %e !erru#ed See $et. fr

ert. i.

:9

 The "etitiners were adu#ts at the ti,e f the a##eged Cense. Their

cnduct was in "ri!ate and cnsensua#.

II

:8

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7e cnc#ude the case shu#d %e res#!ed %* deter,ining whether the

"etitiners were free as adu#ts t engage in the "ri!ate cnduct in the

eercise f their #i%ert* under the Due $rcess #ause f the urteenth

A,end,ent t the nstitutin. r this inGuir* we dee, it necessar* t

recnsider the urt3s h#ding in %owers.

:5

 There are %rad state,ents f the su%stanti!e reach f #i%ert* under the

Due $rcess #ause in ear#ier cases+ inc#uding 'ierce !. Society o"Sisters, 43 U. S. 6-1 (:=&5)+ andMeyer  !. )ebraska, 4 U. S.251 (:=&9)> %ut the ,st "ertinent %eginning "int is ur decisinin Griswold !. Connecticut, 23- U. S. 0/5 (:=65).

:6

In Griswold the urt in!a#idated a state #aw "rhi%iting the use f drugs

r de!ices f cntrace"tin and cunse#ing r aiding and a%etting the use

f cntrace"ti!es. The urt descri%ed the "rtected interest as a right t

"ri!ac* and "#aced e,"hasis n the ,arriage re#atin and the "rtected

s"ace f the ,arita# %edr,. (d., at 85.

:'After Griswold it was esta%#ished that the right t ,a0e certain decisins

regarding seua# cnduct etends %e*nd the ,arita# re#atinshi".

In $isenstadt  !. %aird, 016 U. S. 023(:='&)+ the urt in!a#idated a #aw"rhi%iting the distri%utin f cntrace"ti!es t un,arried "ersns. The

case was decided under the EGua# $rtectin #ause+ id., at 858> %ut with

res"ect t un,arried "ersns+ the urt went n t state the funda,enta#

"r"sitin that the #aw i,"aired the eercise f their "ersna#

rights+ ibid. It Guted fr, the state,ent f the urt f A""ea#s 1nding

the #aw t %e in cnWict with funda,enta# hu,an rights+ and it f##wedwith this state,ent f its wn@

:

XIt is true that in Griswold the right f "ri!ac* in Guestin inhered in the

,arita# re#atinshi". . . . If the right f "ri!ac* ,eans an*thing+ it is the

right f the individual, ,arried r sing#e+ t %e free fr, unwarranted

g!ern,enta# intrusin int ,atters s funda,enta##* aCecting a "ersn

as the decisin whether t %ear r %eget a chi#d.X (d., at 859.

:=

 The "inins in Griswold and $isenstadt  were "art f the %ac0grund fr

the decisin in #oe!. &ade, 0-1 U. S. --2 (:='9). As is we## 0nwn+ thecase in!#!ed a cha##enge t the Teas #aw "rhi%iting a%rtins+ %ut the#aws f ther States were aCected as we##. A#thugh the urt he#d the

w,an3s rights were nt a%s#ute+ her right t e#ect an a%rtin did ha!e

rea# and su%stantia# "rtectin as an eercise f her #i%ert* under the Due

$rcess #ause. The urt cited cases that "rtect s"atia# freed, and

cases that g we## %e*nd it. #oerecgni4ed the right f a w,an t ,a0e

certain funda,enta# decisins aCecting her destin* and cn1r,ed nce

,re that the "rtectin f #i%ert* under the Due $rcess #ause has a

su%stanti!e di,ensin f funda,enta# signi1cance in de1ning the rights f 

the "ersn.&;

In Carey  !. 'opulation Services (ntl, 02- U. S. 4/3 (:='')+ the urtcnfrnted a New r0 #aw fr%idding sa#e r distri%utin f cntrace"ti!e

de!ices t "ersns under :6 *ears f age. A#thugh there was n sing#e

"inin fr the urt+ the #aw was in!a#idated.

Bth $isenstadt and Carey, as we## as the h#ding and ratina#e

in #oe, cn1r,ed that the reasning f Griswold cu#d nt %e cn1ned t

the "rtectin f rights f ,arried adu#ts. This was the state f the #aw

with res"ect t s,e f the ,st re#e!ant cases when the urt

cnsidered%owers !. Hardwick.

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&:

 The facts in %owers had s,e si,i#arities t the instant case. A "#ice

-cer+ whse right t enter see,s nt t ha!e %een in Guestin+ %ser!ed

/ardwic0+ in his wn %edr,+ engaging in inti,ate seua# cnduct with

anther adu#t ,a#e. The cnduct was in !i#atin f a Hergia statute

,a0ing it a cri,ina# Cense t engage in sd,*. ne diCerence %etween

the tw cases is that the Hergia statute "rhi%ited the cnduct whether

r nt the "artici"ants were f the sa,e se+ whi#e the Teas statute+ aswe ha!e seen+ a""#ies n#* t "artici"ants f the sa,e se. /ardwic0 was

nt "rsecuted+ %ut he %rught an actin in federa# curt t dec#are the

state statute in!a#id. /e a##eged he was a "racticing h,seua# and that

the cri,ina# "rhi%itin !i#ated rights guaranteed t hi, %* the

nstitutin. The urt+ in an "inin %* Justice 7hite+ sustained the

Hergia #aw. hief Justice Burger and Justice $we## 2ined the "inin f

the urt and 1#ed se"arate+ cncurring "inins. ur Justices dissented.

8' . S.+ at :== ("inin f B#ac0,un+ J.+ 2ined %* Brennan+ Marsha##+

and Ste!ens+ JJ.)> id., at &:8 ("inin f Ste!ens+ J.+2ined %* Brennan and

Marsha##+ JJ.).&&

 The urt %egan its su%stanti!e discussin in %owers as f##ws@ XThe

issue "resented is whether the edera# nstitutin cnfers a funda,enta#

right u"n h,seua#s t engage in sd,* and hence in!a#idates the

#aws f the ,an* States that sti## ,a0e such cnduct i##ega# and ha!e dne

s fr a !er* #ng ti,e.X (d., at :=;. That state,ent+ we nw cnc#ude+

disc#ses the urt3s wn fai#ure t a""reciate the etent f the #i%ert* at

sta0e. T sa* that the issue in %owers was si,"#* the right t engage in

certain seua# cnduct de,eans the c#ai, the indi!idua# "ut frward+ 2ustas it wu#d de,ean a ,arried cu"#e were it t %e said ,arriage is si,"#*

a%ut the right t ha!e seua# intercurse. The #aws in!#!ed

in %owersand here are+ t %e sure+ statutes that "ur"rt t d n ,re

than "rhi%it a "articu#ar seua# act. Their "ena#ties and "ur"ses+ thugh+

ha!e ,re farreaching cnseGuences+ tuching u"n the ,st "ri!ate

hu,an cnduct+ seua# %eha!ir+ and in the ,st "ri!ate f "#aces+ the

h,e. The statutes d see0 t cntr# a "ersna# re#atinshi" that+

whether r nt entit#ed t fr,a# recgnitin in the #aw+ is within the

#i%ert* f "ersns t chse withut %eing "unished as cri,ina#s.

&9 This+ as a genera# ru#e+ shu#d cunse# against atte,"ts %* the State+ r a

curt+ t de1ne the ,eaning f the re#atinshi" r t set its %undaries

a%sent in2ur* t a "ersn r a%use f an institutin the #aw "rtects. It

su-ces fr us t ac0nw#edge that adu#ts ,a* chse t enter u"n this

re#atinshi" in the cn1nes f their h,es and their wn "ri!ate #i!es and

sti## retain their dignit* as free "ersns. 7hen seua#it* 1nds !ert

e"ressin in inti,ate cnduct with anther "ersn+ the cnduct can %e

%ut ne e#e,ent in a "ersna# %nd that is ,re enduring. The #i%ert*

"rtected %* the nstitutin a##ws h,seua# "ersns the right t

,a0e this chice.

&8

/a!ing ,isa""rehended the c#ai, f #i%ert* there "resented t it+ and thus

stating the c#ai, t %e whether there is a funda,enta# right t engage in

cnsensua# sd,*+ the %owersurt said@ X$rscri"tins against that

cnduct ha!e ancient rts.X (d., at :=&. In acade,ic writings+ and in

,an* f the sch#ar#* amicus %riefs 1#ed t assist the urt in this case+

there are funda,enta# criticis,s f the histrica# "re,ises re#ied u"n %*

the ,a2rit* and cncurring "inins in %owers. Brief fr at Institute

as !micus Curiae :6:'> Brief fr A,erican i!i#

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as !mici Curiae :5&:> Brief fr $rfessrs f /istr* et a#. as !mici

Curiae 9:;. 7e need nt enter this de%ate in the atte,"t t reach a

de1niti!e histrica# 2udg,ent+ %ut the f##wing cnsideratins cunse#

against ad"ting the de1niti!e cnc#usins u"n which %owers "#aced

such re#iance.

&5

At the utset it shu#d %e nted that there is n #ngstanding histr* in

this cuntr* f #aws directed at h,seua# cnduct as a distinct ,atter.Beginning in c#nia# ti,es there were "rhi%itins f sd,* deri!ed

fr, the Eng#ish cri,ina# #aws "assed in the 1rst instance %* the

Refr,atin $ar#ia,ent f :599. The Eng#ish "rhi%itin was understd t

inc#ude re#atins %etween ,en and w,en as we## as re#atins %etween

,en and ,en. See+ e. g., /ing !. &iseman, =& Eng. Re". ''8+ ''5 (V. B.

:':) (inter"reting X,an0indX in Act f :599 as inc#uding w,en and

gir#s). Nineteenthcentur* c,,entatrs si,i#ar#* read A,erican sd,*+

%ugger*+ and cri,eagainstnature statutes as cri,ina#i4ing certain

re#atins %etween ,en and w,en and %etween ,en and ,en. See+ e.

g., & J. Bish"+ ri,ina# & J. hitt*+ ri,ina# R. Dest*+ A ,"endiu, f A,erican ri,ina# J. Ma*+ The

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if he r she had nt cnsented t the act r was a ,inr+ and therefre

inca"a%#e f cnsent. See+ e. g., . 7hartn+ ri,ina# : . 7hartn+ ri,ina# :='8 V*. Acts ". 8'>

:='' M. :='' Ne!. Stats. ". :69&>

:== Tenn. $u%. Acts ch. 5=:> :='9 Te. Hen. see

a#s 'ost  !. State, ':5 $. &d ::;5 (0#a. ri,. A"". :=6) (sd,* #aw

in!a#idated as a""#ied t diCerentse cu"#es). $st%owers e!en s,e f

these States did nt adhere t the "#ic* f su""ressing h,seua#

cnduct. !er the curse f the #ast decades+ States with sa,ese

"rhi%itins ha!e ,!ed tward a%#ishing the,. See+ e. g.,

 0egley  !. 'icado, 98= Ar0. 6;;+ ; S. 7. 9d 99&(&;;&)> Gryc1an !. State, &9 Mnt. 899+ =8& $. &d ::&

(:==')> Campbell !. Sund2uist, =&6 S. 7. &d &5; (Tenn. A"".

:==6)>Commonwealth !. &asson, 8& S. 7. &d 8' (V*. :==&)> see a#s

:==9 Ne!. Stats. ". 5: (re"ea#ing Ne!. Re!. Stat. F &;:.:=9).

9;

In su,,ar*+ the histrica# grunds re#ied u"n in %owers are ,re

c,"#e than the ,a2rit* "inin and the cncurring "inin %* hief

 Justice Burger indicate. Their histrica# "re,ises are nt withut du%t

and+ at the !er* #east+ are !erstated.

9:It ,ust %e ac0nw#edged+ f curse+ that the urt in %owers was ,a0ing

the %rader "int that fr centuries there ha!e %een "werfu# !ices t

cnde,n h,seua# cnduct as i,,ra#. The cnde,natin has %een

sha"ed %* re#igius %e#iefs+ cnce"tins f right and acce"ta%#e %eha!ir+

and res"ect fr the traditina# fa,i#*. r ,an* "ersns these are nt

tri!ia# cncerns %ut "rfund and dee" cn!ictins acce"ted as ethica#

and ,ra# "rinci"#es t which the* as"ire and which thus deter,ine the

curse f their #i!es. These cnsideratins d nt answer the Guestin

%efre us+ hwe!er. The issue is whether the ,a2rit* ,a* use the "wer

f the State t enfrce these !iews n the wh#e sciet* thrugh "eratin

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f the cri,ina# #aw. Xur %#igatin is t de1ne the #i%ert* f a##+ nt t

,andate ur wn ,ra# cde.X 'lanned 'arenthood o" Southeastern

'a. !. Casey, 616 U. S. 322+ 5; (:==&).9&

hief Justice Burger 2ined the "inin fr the urt in %owers and further

e"#ained his !iews as f##ws@ XDecisins f indi!idua#s re#ating t

h,seua# cnduct ha!e %een su%2ect t state inter!entin thrughut

the histr* f 7estern ci!i#i4atin. nde,natin f thse "ractices is1r,#* rted in Judeahristian ,ra# and ethica# standards.X 8' . S.+

at :=6. As with Justice 7hite3s assu,"tins a%ut histr*+ sch#arshi"

casts s,e du%t n the swee"ing nature f the state,ent %* hief

 Justice Burger as it "ertains t "ri!ate h,seua# cnduct %etween

cnsenting adu#ts. See+ e. g., Es0ridge+ /ardwic0 and /istrigra"h*+ :===

. I##.

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a##eged he was a "racticing h,seua# wh desired t engage in

cnsensua# h,seua# cnduct. The #aws f Nrthern Ire#and fr%ade hi,

that right. /e a##eged that he had %een Guestined+ his h,e had %een

searched+ and he feared cri,ina# "rsecutin. The curt he#d that the #aws

"rscri%ing the cnduct were in!a#id under the Eur"ean n!entin n

/u,an Rights. Dudgeon !. 3nited /ingdom, 85 Eur. t. /. R. (:=:) [ 5&.

Authritati!e in a## cuntries that are ,e,%ers f the unci# f Eur"e

(&: natins then+ 85 natins nw)+ the decisin is at dds with the "re,isein %owers that the c#ai, "ut frward was insu%stantia# in ur 7estern

ci!i#i4atin.

9'

In ur wn cnstitutina# s*ste, the de1ciencies in %owers %eca,e e!en

,re a""arent in the *ears f##wing its annunce,ent. The &5 States

with #aws "rhi%iting the re#e!ant cnduct referenced in

the %owers decisin are reduced nw t :9+ f which 8 enfrce their #aws

n#* against h,seua# cnduct. In thse States where sd,* is sti##

"rscri%ed+ whether fr sa,ese r heterseua# cnduct+ there is a

"attern f nnenfrce,ent with res"ect t cnsenting adu#ts acting in"ri!ate. The State f Teas ad,itted in :==8 that as f that date it had nt

"rsecuted an*ne under thse circu,stances. State !. Morales, 6= S. 7.

&d =8:+ =89.

9

 Tw "rinci"a# cases decided after %owers cast its h#ding int e!en ,re

du%t. In 'lanned 'arenthood o" Southeastern 'a. !. Casey, 616 U. S.322 (:==&)+ the urt rea-r,ed the su%stanti!e frce f the #i%ert*"rtected %* the Due $rcess #ause. The Casey  decisin again cn1r,ed

that ur #aws and traditin aCrd cnstitutina# "rtectin t "ersna#decisins re#ating t ,arriage+ "rcreatin+ cntrace"tin+ fa,i#*

re#atinshi"s+ chi#d rearing+ and educatin. (d., at 5:. In e"#aining the

res"ect the nstitutin de,ands fr the autn,* f the "ersn in

,a0ing these chices+ we stated as f##ws@

9=

XThese ,atters+ in!#!ing the ,st inti,ate and "ersna# chices a

"ersn ,a* ,a0e in a #ifeti,e+ chices centra# t "ersna# dignit* and

autn,*+ are centra# t the #i%ert* "rtected %* the urteenth

A,end,ent. At the heart f #i%ert* is the right t de1ne ne3s wn

cnce"t f eistence+ f ,eaning+ f the uni!erse+ and f the ,*ster* fhu,an #ife. Be#iefs a%ut these ,atters cu#d nt de1ne the attri%utes f

"ersnhd were the* fr,ed under c,"u#sin f the State.X (bid.

8;

$ersns in a h,seua# re#atinshi" ,a* see0 autn,* fr these

"ur"ses+ 2ust as heterseua# "ersns d. The decisin in %owers wu#d

den* the, this right.

8:

 The secnd "st%owers case f "rinci"a# re#e!ance

is #omer  !. $vans, 6-/ U. S. 41(:==6). There the urt struc0 dwn

c#ass%ased #egis#atin directed at h,seua#s as a !i#atin f the EGua#$rtectin #ause. #omer  in!a#idated an a,end,ent t #rad3s

nstitutin which na,ed as a s#itar* c#ass "ersns wh were

h,seua#s+ #es%ians+ r %iseua# either %* Xrientatin+ cnduct+

"ractices r re#atinshi"s+X id., at 6&8 (interna# Gutatin ,ar0s ,itted)+

and de"ri!ed the, f "rtectin under state antidiscri,inatin #aws. 7e

cnc#uded that the "r!isin was X%rn f ani,sit* tward the c#ass f

"ersns aCectedX and further that it had n ratina# re#atin t a

#egiti,ate g!ern,enta# "ur"se. (d.,at 698.

8&

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As an a#ternati!e argu,ent in this case+ cunse# fr the "etitiners and

s,e amici cntend that #omer  "r!ides the %asis fr dec#aring the Teas

statute in!a#id under the EGua# $rtectin #ause. That is a tena%#e

argu,ent+ %ut we cnc#ude the instant case reGuires us t address

whether %owers itse#f has cntinuing !a#idit*. 7ere we t h#d the statute

in!a#id under the EGua# $rtectin #ause s,e ,ight Guestin whether a

"rhi%itin wu#d %e !a#id if drawn diCerent#*+ sa*+ t "rhi%it the cnduct

%th %etween sa,ese and diCerentse "artici"ants.89

EGua#it* f treat,ent and the due "rcess right t de,and res"ect fr

cnduct "rtected %* the su%stanti!e guarantee f #i%ert* are #in0ed in

i,"rtant res"ects+ and a decisin n the #atter "int ad!ances %th

interests. If "rtected cnduct is ,ade cri,ina# and the #aw which des s

re,ains unea,ined fr its su%stanti!e !a#idit*+ its stig,a ,ight re,ain

e!en if it were nt enfrcea%#e as drawn fr eGua# "rtectin reasns.

7hen h,seua# cnduct is ,ade cri,ina# %* the #aw f the State+ that

dec#aratin in and f itse#f is an in!itatin t su%2ect h,seua# "ersns

t discri,inatin %th in the "u%#ic and in the "ri!ate s"heres. The centra#h#ding f %owers has %een %rught in Guestin %* this case+ and it shu#d

%e addressed. Its cntinuance as "recedent de,eans the #i!es f

h,seua# "ersns.

88

 The stig,a this cri,ina# statute i,"ses+ ,re!er+ is nt tri!ia#. The

Cense+ t %e sure+ is %ut a c#ass ,isde,eanr+ a ,inr Cense in the

 Teas #ega# s*ste,. Sti##+ it re,ains a cri,ina# Cense with a## that i,"rts

fr the dignit* f the "ersns charged. The "etitiners wi## %ear n their

recrd the histr* f their cri,ina# cn!ictins. Just this Ter, we re2ected!arius cha##enges t state #aws reGuiring the registratin f se

Cenders. Smith !. Doe,623 U. S. 30 (&;;9)> Connecticut Dept. o" 'ublicSa"ety  !. Doe, 59 . S. : (&;;9). 7e are ad!ised that if Teas cn!icted

an adu#t fr "ri!ate+ cnsensua# h,seua# cnduct under the statute

here in Guestin the cn!icted "ersn wu#d c,e within the registratin

#aws f at #east fur States were he r she t %e su%2ect t their

 2urisdictin. $et. fr ert. :9+ and n. :& (citing Idah de FF :9;: t

:9&6 (u,. Su"". &;;&)> Miss. de Ann. FF 8599&: t 85995' ( S. .

de Ann. FF &998;; t &998=; (7est &;;&)). This underscres thecnseGuentia# nature f the "unish,ent and the states"nsred

cnde,natin attendant t the cri,ina# "rhi%itin. urther,re+ the

 Teas cri,ina# cn!ictin carries with it the ther c##atera# cnseGuences

a#wa*s f##wing a cn!ictin+ such as ntatins n 2% a""#icatin fr,s+

t ,entin %ut ne ea,"#e.

85

 The fundatins f %owers ha!e sustained serius ersin fr, ur recent

decisins inCasey  and #omer. 7hen ur "recedent has %een thus

wea0ened+ criticis, fr, ther surces is f greater signi1cance. In the

nited States criticis, f %owers has %een su%stantia# and cntinuing+disa""r!ing f its reasning in a## res"ects+ nt 2ust as t its histrica#

assu,"tins. See+ e. g., . ried+ rder and R. $sner+ Se and Reasn

98:95; (:==&). The curts f 1!e diCerent States ha!e dec#ined t f##w

it in inter"reting "r!isins in their wn state cnstitutins "ara##e# t the

Due $rcess #ause f the urteenth A,end,ent+

see 0egley !. 'icado, 98= Ar0. 6;;+ ; S. 7. 9d 99&

(&;;&)> 'owell !. State, &'; Ha. 9&'+ 5:; S. E. &d :+ &8

(:==)> Gryc1an !. State, &9 Mnt. 899+ =8& $. &d ::&

Mataida0un5& |NSTITTINA<

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(:==')> Campbell !.Sund2uist, =&6 S. 7. &d &5; (Tenn. A"".

:==6)> Commonwealth !. &asson, 8& S. 7. &d 8' (V*. :==&).

86

 T the etent %owers re#ied n !a#ues we share with a wider ci!i#i4atin+ it

shu#d %e nted that the reasning and h#ding in %owers ha!e %een

re2ected e#sewhere. The Eur"ean urt f /u,an Rights has f##wed

nt %owers %ut its wn decisin in Dudgeon !. 3nited /ingdom. See '. G.

4 0. H. !. 3nited /ingdom, A"". N. ;;;88''Y=+ [ 56 (Eur. t. /. R.+ Se"t.&5+ &;;:)> Modinos !. Cyprus, &5= Eur. t. /. R.

(:==9)> )orris !. (reland, :8& Eur. t. /. R. (:=). ther natins+ t+ ha!e

ta0en actin cnsistent with an a-r,atin f the "rtected right f

h,seua# adu#ts t engage in inti,ate+ cnsensua# cnduct. See Brief

fr Mar* R%insn et a#. as !mici Curiae :::&. The right the "etitiners

see0 in this case has %een acce"ted as an integra# "art f hu,an freed,

in ,an* ther cuntries. There has %een n shwing that in this cuntr*

the g!ern,enta# interest in circu,scri%ing "ersna# chice is s,ehw

,re #egiti,ate r urgent.

8' The dctrine f stare decisis is essentia# t the res"ect accrded t the

 2udg,ents f the urt and t the sta%i#it* f the #aw. It is nt+ hwe!er+

an inera%#e c,,and. 'ayne !.ennessee, 61- U. S. 313+ & (:==:)(XStare decisis is nt an inera%#e c,,and> rather+ it \is a "rinci"#e f

"#ic* and nt a ,echanica# fr,u#a f adherence t the #atest decisin3 X

(Guting Helvering !. Hallock, 215 U. S. -14+ ::= (:=8;))). In Casey  wented that when a curt is as0ed t !erru#e a "recedent recgni4ing a

cnstitutina# #i%ert* interest+ indi!idua# r scieta# re#iance n the

eistence f that #i%ert* cautins with "articu#ar strength against re!ersingcurse. 5;5 . S.+ at 5556> see a#s id., at 88 (X

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%owers was nt crrect when it was decided+ and it is nt crrect tda*. It

ught nt t re,ain %inding "recedent. %owers !. Hardwick  shu#d %e and

nw is !erru#ed.

5&

 The "resent case des nt in!#!e ,inrs. It des nt in!#!e "ersns wh

,ight %e in2ured r cerced r wh are situated in re#atinshi"s where

cnsent ,ight nt easi#* %e refused. It des nt in!#!e "u%#ic cnduct r

"rstitutin. It des nt in!#!e whether the g!ern,ent ,ust gi!e fr,a#recgnitin t an* re#atinshi" that h,seua# "ersns see0 t enter. The

case des in!#!e tw adu#ts wh+ with fu## and ,utua# cnsent fr, each

ther+ engaged in seua# "ractices c,,n t a h,seua# #ifest*#e. The

"etitiners are entit#ed t res"ect fr their "ri!ate #i!es. The State cannt

de,ean their eistence r cntr# their destin* %* ,a0ing their "ri!ate

seua# cnduct a cri,e. Their right t #i%ert* under the Due $rcess #ause

gi!es the, the fu## right t engage in their cnduct withut inter!entin f 

the g!ern,ent. XIt is a "r,ise f the nstitutin that there is a rea#, f 

"ersna# #i%ert* which the g!ern,ent ,a* nt enter.X Casey, supra, at

8'. The Teas statute furthers n #egiti,ate state interest which can 2ustif* its intrusin int the "ersna# and "ri!ate #ife f the indi!idua#.

59

/ad thse wh drew and rati1ed the Due $rcess #auses f the ifth

A,end,ent r the urteenth A,end,ent 0nwn the c,"nents f

#i%ert* in its ,anif#d "ssi%i#ities+ the* ,ight ha!e %een ,re s"eci1c.

 The* did nt "resu,e t ha!e this insight. The* 0new ti,es can %#ind us

t certain truths and #ater generatins can see that #aws nce thught

necessar* and "r"er in fact ser!e n#* t ""ress. As the nstitutin

endures+ "ersns in e!er* generatin can in!0e its "rinci"#es in their wnsearch fr greater freed,.

58

 The 2udg,ent f the urt f A""ea#s fr the Teas urteenth District is

re!ersed+ and the case is re,anded fr further "rceedings nt

incnsistent with this "inin.

55

(t is so ordered.

Brief Fact Summary.  $#ice fund tw ,en engaged in seua# cnduct+ intheir h,e+ and the* were arrested under a Teas statute that "rhi%ited

such cnduct %etween tw ,en.

 

Synopsis of Rule of Law. 7hi#e h,seua# cnduct is nt a funda,enta#

right+ inti,ate seua# re#atinshi"s %etween cnsenting adu#ts are "rtected%* the urteenth A,end,ent.

 

Facts. In /ustn+ Teas+ /arris unt* $#ice -cers were dis"atched t a"ri!ate h,e in res"nse t a re"rted wea"ns distur%ance. The* entered

(the right t enter des see, t ha!e %een Guestined) the h,e where Jhn

Heddes resided+ and %ser!ed

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with !i#ating a Teas statute ,a0ing it a cri,e fr tw "ersns f the sa,e

se t engage in certain inti,ate seua# cnduct. S"eci1ca##* the statute

"r!ided KA "ersn c,,its and Cense if he engaged in de!iate seua#

intercurse with anther indi!idua# f the sa,e seL and ges n t de1ne

de!iate seua# intercurse as f##ws@ K an* cntact %etween an* "art f the

genita#s f ne "ersn and the ,uth r anus f anther "ersn r the

"enetratin f the genita#s r the anus f anther "ersn with an %2ectL.

 The tw ,en were then cn!icted %efre a Justice f the $ease.

 

Issue. The issue is whether a statute "rhi%iting s"eci1c se acts !i#ates#i%ert* under the Due $rcess #ause f the urteenth A,end,ent.

 

Held. es+ inti,ate seua# cnduct+ %etween cnsenting adu#ts+ is a #i%ert*"rtected under the Due $rcess #ause f the urteenth A,end,ent.

 

issent. 

 Justice Sca#ia@ /e %e#ie!es that since the curt des nt 1nd

h,seua# sd,* t %e a funda,enta# right+ and ,ere#* descri%es it as an

Keercise in #i%ert*L+ a ratina# %asis scrutin* shu#d %e a""#ied+ and in dings+ the #aw wu#d %e u"he#d. In additin+ the curts wi##ingness t !erturn

Bwers rather than use stare decicis+ is incnsistent with ther case #aw such

as $#anned $arenthd+ and thus+ fee#s the curt shu#d %e cnsistent and

sta%#e rather than %eing K,ani"u#ati!e in in!0ing the dctrineL. Since a##

#aws+ %* de1nitin (as ea,"#e+ "rstitutin+ using herin+ etc) aCect #i%ert*+

the* wu#d a## %e uncnstitutina# under this curtOs ru#ing.

Concurrence. 

 Justice Onnr@ She des nt 2in the curt in !erturning Bwers+ %ut

rather+ reaches her cnc#usin %ased n eGua# "rtectin+ rather than an*

due "rcess c#ause. She states that e!en using a ratina# %asis re!iew Kwe

ha!e cnsistent#* he#d that s,e %2ecti!es+ such as a %are desire t har, a

"#itica##* un""u#ar gru"+ are nt #egiti,ate state interestsL. She c,es

t this cnc#usin %ased n the fact that sd,* is nt "rhi%ited %etween

""site se "artners+ thus unfair#* targets sa,e se "artners and ,a0es

the, uneGua# in the e*es f the #aw. Since this #aw %rands h,seua#s as

cri,ina#s+ it ,a0es it ,re di-cu#t fr the, t %e treated #i0e e!er*ne e#se+thus !i#ating eGua# "rtectin and #ega##* sanctining discri,inatin.

iscussion. (7ritten %* Justice Venned*) The curt des nt fcus n"rtecting sd,* s"eci1ca##*+ %ut rather+ "ersna# re#atinshi"s. It e"#ains

that des"ite the fact that the statutes in Guestins "ur"rt t n#* "rhi%it

se+ KTheir "ena#ties and "ur"ses+ thugh+