Lochner v. New York

Legal Reasoning of the Majority

- Law was not a valid exercise of State Police Power - Interferes w/ Liberty to enter into contracts w/ employees - Not a valid labor law - Not a valid health & welfare measure -Opposed to "meddlesome interferences w/ individuals rights" -regulatory legislation should be presumed to be unconstitutional & the state must demonstrate reasonableness -Peckham ignores inequality of bargaining power of workers

Doctrine/Policy

-Substantive Due Process -Regulator legislation should be presumed to be unconstitutional & the state must demonstrate reasonableness

Provision of the Constitution at Issue

14th Amendment- liberty to enter into contracts w/ employees, Due Process violation

Majority Opinion

5-4, the Court strikes down the New York statute & agrees w/ Lochner

Facts

A New York statute limited the hours of employment for bakers (10 hrs/day, 60 hrs/week) Lochner, bakery owner, violated the provision & was convicted by the New York Courts

Alternative Outcome

N.Y. Statute upheld, move away from substantive due process, regulatory legislation presumed to be constitutional & corporations must demonstrate unreasonableness

Statute or Government Action at Issue

New York Statute