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