Reed v. Reed

Reed v. Reed was a landmark United States Supreme Court case that challenged the Idaho statute that preferred men over women in the administration of estates. The case was brought by Sally Reed, the mother of a deceased son, who was denied the right to administer his estate in favor of the father, Cecil Reed. This case was a significant milestone in the feminist movement, with Ruth Bader Ginsburg and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) playing crucial roles. The case was also influenced by the Equal Rights Amendment and the National Organization for Women (NOW).

Background

The Idaho statute in question was enacted in 1865 and was based on the common law principle that men were preferred over women in the administration of estates. This statute was challenged by Sally Reed, who argued that it was unconstitutional and discriminatory. The case was supported by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the National Organization for Women (NOW), with Ruth Bader Ginsburg serving as the co-counsel. The case was also influenced by the women's suffrage movement and the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) also played a role in shaping the legal strategy. The case was heard by the Supreme Court of Idaho, which upheld the statute, before being appealed to the United States Supreme Court.

Case

The case was argued before the United States Supreme Court on October 19, 1971, with Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Melvin Wulf representing the appellant, Sally Reed. The case was opposed by the Idaho Attorney General, Robert M. Robson, who argued that the statute was constitutional and did not discriminate against women. The case was influenced by the Fourteenth Amendment and the Equal Protection Clause, which prohibits states from denying anyone equal protection under the law. The Supreme Court of the United States also considered the Nineteenth Amendment, which guarantees women's right to vote, and the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex. The case was also shaped by the Brown v. Board of Education decision, which declared segregation in public schools unconstitutional, and the Loving v. Virginia decision, which struck down laws prohibiting interracial marriage.

Decision

The United States Supreme Court delivered its decision on November 22, 1971, with a unanimous opinion written by Chief Justice Warren Burger. The court held that the Idaho statute was unconstitutional and discriminatory, as it preferred men over women in the administration of estates without a rational basis. The court ruled that the Fourteenth Amendment's Equal Protection Clause prohibits states from discriminating on the basis of sex, unless there is a compelling state interest. The decision was influenced by the Roe v. Wade decision, which recognized a woman's right to choose, and the Dred Scott v. Sandford decision, which declared that slaves were not citizens. The decision was also shaped by the Marbury v. Madison decision, which established the principle of judicial review, and the McCulloch v. Maryland decision, which established the principle of federal supremacy.

Impact

The decision in Sally Reed's case had a significant impact on the women's rights movement and the feminist movement. The decision established that the Fourteenth Amendment's Equal Protection Clause applies to sex discrimination, paving the way for future challenges to discriminatory laws. The decision was also influential in the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment, which was introduced in Congress in 1971. The decision was praised by Gloria Steinem, Betty Friedan, and other leading figures in the feminist movement. The decision was also recognized by the United Nations and the European Court of Human Rights as a significant milestone in the advancement of women's rights. The case was also cited in the Planned Parenthood v. Casey decision, which recognized a woman's right to choose, and the United States v. Virginia decision, which struck down the Virginia Military Institute's male-only admission policy.

Aftermath

The decision in Sally Reed's case led to a significant increase in challenges to discriminatory laws and practices. The case was followed by a series of landmark decisions, including Frontiero v. Richardson, which struck down a law that discriminated against women in the military, and Craig v. Boren, which struck down a law that discriminated against women in the sale of beer. The case also led to the passage of the Pregnancy Discrimination Act and the Family and Medical Leave Act, which provide protections for women in the workplace. The case was also recognized by the American Bar Association and the National Association of Women Judges as a significant milestone in the advancement of women's rights. The case continues to be cited in Supreme Court of the United States decisions, including the Obergefell v. Hodges decision, which recognized the right to same-sex marriage, and the Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt decision, which struck down a law that restricted access to abortion. Category:United States Supreme Court cases