Document: 452 U.S. 412 101 S.Ct. 2434 69 L.Ed.2d 118 Elie JONES, Warden, Stone Mountain Correctional Institution, Appellant,v.Bobby H. HELMS. No. 80-850. Argued April 28, 1981. Decided June 15, Syllabus Under a Georgia statute, parent who willfully and voluntarily abandons his or her dependent child is guilty of misdemeanor, those parents commit that offense within thereafter leave the State are felony. Appellee pleaded in state court to felony abandoning leaving State, thereby formally admitting he had abandoned child, condition, before left State. received prison sentence and, after exhausting remedies, filed petition for habeas corpus Federal District Court. He claimed by providing enhanced punishment their children, violated Equal Protection Clause Fourteenth Amendment Privileges Immunities Art. IV, § 2, Constitution. The Court denied relief, but Appeals reversed. Held: 1. statute does not impermissibly infringe upon constitutionally protected right travel. Appellee's plea was an acknowledgment committed misdemeanor initially Georgia, criminal conduct necessarily qualified freely travel interstate. Although simple penalty impermissible, if departure aggravates consequences otherwise punishable, may treat entire sequence events, from initial as more serious than its separate components. has provided no basis questioning validity legislative judgment legitimate purpose causing support children served making abandonment followed mere Pp. 417-423. 2. Nor violate Clause. portion at issue applies equally all residing appellee shown it been arbitrarily discriminatorily applied. It necessary consider whether available less restrictive means serve purposes furthered provision statute. appellee's fundamental rights, this context need employ least restrictive, even most effective wisest, achieve ends. Similarly, be determined unnecessarily broad on ground require act State—as well abandonment—be motivated wrongful intent. This matter relating wisdom legislation, raises question with respect uniform impartial character State's law. 2442-2443. 5 Cir., 621 F.2d 211, Carol Atha Cosgrove, Atlanta, Ga., appellant. James C. Bonner, Jr., Decatur, appellee. Justice STEVENS delivered opinion 1 In misdemeanor. Those presented appeal statutory classification violates Amendment.1 2 As case comes us, critical facts dispute. 1976, State.2 By plea, admitted daughter, Georgia.3 3-year which began 1978.4 3 After remedies,5 writ United States Middle Georgia. 74-9902, See App. 22-23. see id., 28-29, Fifth Circuit 211 (1980).6 4 held should subjected strict scrutiny because infringed travel.7 Applying strict-scrutiny analysis, concluded interests although legitimate, could adequately drastic means; therefore invalid.8 Appeals, interest extraditing offending parents, requiring remedies Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement Support Act (URESA), version enacted Ga.Code 99-901a et seq. (1978 anl Supp.1980).9 Moreover, understood any proof intent, considered feature further indication statute's unconstitutional overbreadth.10 Warden appealed, we noted probable jurisdiction. 449 1122, 937, 67 108. issued several months prior Appeals' decision, Supreme upheld 74-9902 against almost identical constitutional challenge. Garren v. 245 Ga. 323, 264 S.E.2d 876 (1980). We now resolve conflict between reversing Appeals. 6 * conclusion invalid rests entirely premise impairs every resident another State.11 is, course, settled citizen one take up residence choice textual source subject debate, nature consistently recognized Shapiro Thompson, 394 618, 629-631, 89 1322, 1328-1330, 22 600; Guest, 383 745, 757-759, 86 1170, 1177-1179, 16 239. described privilege national citizenship,12 aspect liberty Due Process Clauses Amendments.13 Whatever source, neither tax nor penalize exercising enter another. 7 Despite right, there nonetheless situations prevent leaving. Most obvious person convicted crime detained returned found Indeed, trial conviction, cause justify arrest subsequent temporary detention. commits leaves conviction extradited following "a summary mandatory executive proceeding."14 Manifestly, laws stopped borders temporarily deprived freedom elsewhere without State.15 8 case, Alabama. Upon imprisonment period year.16 Therefore, until first trip Alabama, own misconduct interstate sought exercise right. aware nothing our cases language Constitution suggests punishable unqualified federal jurisdiction conviction. 9 differs significant involving enactments were said decision squarely recognize travel, Crandall Nevada, Wall. 35, 18 L.Ed. 744, impose residents desire nonresidents merely passing through. Edwards California, 314 160, 62 164, 119, make bring nonresident indigent into recent decisions, examined statutes imposing durational requirements new rights benefits old residents, determine such penalized citizens travel.17 cases, imposed burden whose way. contrast, claim different footing claims Crandall, Edwards, requirement cases.18 10 These precedents inapposite reason well. can disparate treatment nonresidents,19 residents.20 Rather, enhance offender committing offense. Presumably commission would permanent restriction offender's But rationally related itself—either procedure ascertaining guilt innocence, imposition proper remedy—must power. Thus, plainly impermissible,21 11 74-9902's enhancement serves "legislative since General Assembly have parental obligation difficult enforce charged state." 325, S.E.2d, 878. There about legitimacy children.22 And us unwilling accept suggestion impermissible infringement Accordingly, reject holding rests. II 12 Having rejected infringes find That "announces principle: must govern impartially. rules apply evenhandedly persons unquestionably comply principle." New York City Transit Authority Beazer, 440 568, 587, 99 1355, 1366, 59 587. 13 provides challenging classifications group inferior superior others,23 contending general being applied arbitrary discriminatory way.24 Georgia; argument record enforced differently anyone else engaged same conduct. terms, "one caste code applicable another," n. 23,supra, face application appellee, detect violation administration evenhanded. Authority, supra. 14 characterization "overbroad" affect conclusion. contends, found, 74-9902. particular, attention directed URESA, protect fiscal integrity, minor extradition parents.25 appellant argues length URESA provide adequate enforcing obligations abandon appellant's persuasive,26 deciding it. deemed under program order ends achieving ends.27 However, reasoning inapplicable. 15 agree disagree severe intent.28 Because feature, broad. matter, however, relates legislation. implicate principle embodied Amendment. conclude did deny equal protection laws, 17 So ordered. WHITE, concurring. 19 600 (1969), restricting welfare resided year so, discrimination newly arrived justified compelling avoid violating Such found. seemed me time, seems now, result obtained implicating all, given Court's view relationship justifying interests. STEWART concurrence, "offered law so clearly impinges reflect governmental interest." Id., 643-644, S.Ct., 1336-1337. reaching conclusion, proffered deterrent effect Had sufficient warrant residency requirement, also force insisting rational disappeared. 20 I understand it, essentially approach today: finds whatever challenged provision, restriction. then substance classification. 21 join judgment. BLACKMUN, concurring 23 No disputes designate willful instead chosen confined boundaries, once accompanied effect, requires nonsupporting remain she wishes penalties. intent when crossing line. 24 Given scheme, 74-9902(a) penalizes my view, special enforcement context. concerned primarily restitution rather punishment, core conduct, continuing nonsupport, markedly redress A reasonably discourages tailored precise remedial objective Significantly, advanced here goal improving justice. perhaps distinction mind concludes, ante, 422, where "aggravates punishable," merit punishment. doubt greater penalties crimes simply accused To hold ignores availability transfer procedures Extradition Clause, chills unacceptably presumptively innocent citizen. 25 For me, noteworthy gives anything become today decide constitutionality ordinary intelligence knowledge, know, convert him misdemeanant felon. Cf. Lambert 355 225, 78 240, 228 (1957). 26 concur provides, part: "No shall . laws." charge (Supp.1980), case. Section "If father mother wilfully either illegitimate, she, be, misdemeanor: Provided, ." previously separated wife ordered pay $150 month daughter. stipulated payments, "who lost property moved back native Alabama." 16. went Alabama pursue certain vocational training opportunities payments while remained February 1976 when, visiting daughter arrested continuous failure support. 16-17. Shortly thereafter, grand jury Joint 3-4. Initially, suspended conditioned paying $200 per during minority. 8. again Florida. 1977, estranged murdered, gained custody Florida brief time. Ultimately, rearrested 17-19. hearing, entered three years. 10. took direct November 1978, revoked, De Kalb Superior sentenced both authorized based solely reside outside evidentiary relief remanded custody. 11-15. certificate appeal. 20. During pendency order, released noted, F.2d, 212, release moot claim. Carafas LaVallee, 391 234, 237-240, 88 1556, 1559-1561, 554. analyzed classification, follows: "The thus creates two classes crimes, second presence exposed risk only actions. system." 212 (footnote omitted). interest: "We sufficiently permits distinguishing protection. Further, here, 'purpose cannot pursued broadly stifle personal liberties end narrowly achieved.' " 213 According designed further: "Georgia (1) ease felonies misdemeanors (2) integrity resulting required arguments unpersuasive place, through adoption Ann. 99-9A, seq., alternative obligations. Fiscal nonpaying Act." 212-213 (footnotes read secured showing acted intent: element overbreadth. fully intending unable do series noncriminal acts subjecting conviction." understanding correct insofar comments mental time appears overlooked "wilfully voluntarily" child. points out, desertion—i. e., forsaking desertion duties parenthood—and dependency—i. necessaries—are elements Waites 138 Ga.App. 513, 514, 226 621, 622 (1976). establish willful, erred suggesting "[a] statute." involves parent's purports define some significance, emphasizes express re King, Cal.3d 226, 90 Cal.Rptr. 474 P.2d 983 (1970). Commerce invalidation restrict migration. Douglas, joined Black Murphy, agreed judgment, preferred rely travel: move incident citizenship privileges immunities clause interference. Mr. Moody Twining Jersey, 78, 97 [29 14, 18, 53 97], stated, 'Privileges arise out essential National Government, specifically granted States.' 'the pass State.' 19]." 178, 169 (Douglas, J., concurring) (emphasis ellipsis original). Jackson view. 182-184, 171-172 (concurring opinion). earlier beginning Corfield Coryell, F.Cas. 3,230, p. 546 (No. 3,230) (CCED Pa. 1825) (Washington, Justice), suggested immunity IV. 764-767, 1181-1183, 239 (opinion Harlan, J.). fact, relied IV petitions. 5, supra, 2438. At century, Chief Fuller, dictum, identified "Undoubtedly locomotion, remove place according inclination, attribute liberty, ordinarily, free transit territory other provisions Constitution." Williams Fears, 179 270, 274, 128, 129, 45 186. dissenting 671, 1351, 600, Harlan "the 'fundamental' which, present purposes, regarded having Amendment." U.S., 1177-1179; 769-770, 1184-1185 Michigan Doran, 439 282, 288, 530, 535, 58 521. explained limitation migrate citizenship, not, unlimited one. addition limitations government, control governments. fugitive justice, unmolested, endanger others carrying contagion about. causes, occur public authority stopping man arresting progress across line quite much 184, 172. 27-2506 (1978). Dunn Blumstein, 405 330, 334, 92 995, 999, 31 problem requirements: "Durational traveled qualifying period. divide classes, discriminate latter. invalidated operated deprive vote, Dunn, medical care benefits. supra; Memorial Hospital Maricopa County, 415 250, 94 1076, 39 306. though impinge extent they automatically invalid. Hospital, 256, 1081. See, e. g., Sosna Iowa, 419 393, 95 553, 42 532; cf. Vlandis Kline, 441, 452-453, 93 2230, 2236-2237, 37 63. sustaining distinction: "There difference, hand, attempt 'receiving state' preclude discourage inward migration 'sending states' 'undesirables,' 'non-contributors' 'economically burdensome persons,' efforts, state.' Persons, including indigents migrants, On commerce asserted bar prosecution offense." 324-325, 876, 877-878 (1980) (citations California upholding tolled offenses defendant State: "[T]here who, like defendant, crime, tolling absence, government benefit exercises state. former circumstance, assuring locally possibility detection burdens proceedings, charged, whereabouts known, refuses return voluntarily." Scherling Santa Clara 493, 501, 149 597, 585 219, 223-224 11, latter variety L.Ed 744; 119. acknowledged purposes. 213; Brief 13-15. An expression point made Senate debate preceding Senator Howard stated: "This abolishes class legislation away injustice establishes equality law, humblest, poorest, despised race powerful, wealthy, haughty. That, sir republican praise just Government." Cong.Globe, 39th Cong., 1st Sess., 2766 (1866). frequently, denial members easily defined characteristic race, sex, alienage, illegitimacy, religion. Yick Wo Hopkins, 356, 1064, 30 220. 9, abandonments Georgia's "less restrictive" fashion true change discriminatory, clear restrictive. number commentators weaknesses mechanism established cites Note, Interstate Obligations Through Long Arm Statutes J.Fam.Law 537, 541 (1980); Comment, Obligations: Solution Continuing Problems, 61 Ky.L.J. 322, 328-329 (1972). Chambers, Men Who Know They Are Watched: Some Benefits Costs Jailing Nonpayment Support, 75 Mich.L.Rev. 900 (1977). 27 Shelton Tucker, 364 479, 81 247, 231, proposition: "[E]ven substantial, achieved. breadth abridgment viewed light basic purpose." 488, 252 28 defect. 416,

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