Document: 462 U.S. 1 103 S.Ct. 2199 76 L.Ed.2d 372 Jeffrey Lee PICKETT, etc. et al., Appellantsv.Braxton BROWN al. No. 82-5576. Argued April 27, 1983. Decided June 6, Syllabus Under Tennessee law the father of an illegitimate child is responsible for child's support. Enforcement this obligation depends on establishment paternity. A statute provides that a paternity and support action must be filed within two years birth unless has provided or acknowledged his in writing, is, liable to become, public charge, which case State any person can bring suit at time prior 18th birthday. In May 1978, appellant mother born November 1968 brought Juvenile Court against appellee Brown, who moved dismiss ground it was barred by 2-year limitations period. The court held period violated, inter alia, Equal Protection Clause Fourteenth Amendment, because imposed restriction rights some children not identical legitimate children. Supreme reversed upheld constitutionality Held: question denies certain equal protection guaranteed Amendment. Pp. 7-18. (a) Restrictions suits "will survive scrutiny extent they are substantially related state interest." Mills v. Habluetzel, 456 91, 99, 102 1549, 1554-1555, 71 770. obtaining paternal long enough provide reasonable opportunity those with interest their behalf; limit State's preventing litigation stale fraudulent claims. Id., 99-100, S.Ct., 1554-1555. 99-100. (b) Here, does covered one exceptions adequate obtain mother's financial difficulties caused birth, loss income attributable need care child, continuing affection father, desire avoid family community disapproval, emotional strain confusion often attends all may inhibit from filing after birth. 12-13. (c) Nor It amounts effectively extinguishing cannot justified problems proof surrounding actions. argument different treatment accorded sustantially above seriously undermined exception are, likely charges, since claims behalf these when more than old would just as vulnerable fraud charges same age. Moreover, fact tolls most actions during minority, considered combination factors, leads whether burden placed designed advance permissible interests. And advances blood testing render attenuated relationship between 13-18. 638 S.W.2d 369 (Tenn.1982), remanded. Harold W. Horne, Memphis, Tenn., appellants. Susan Short, Nashville, appellees. Justice BRENNAN delivered opinion Court. This requires us decide provision statute1 imposes two-year 2 * both fathers mothers minor See Tenn.Code Ann. § 34-101 (1977); Rose Funeral Home, Inc. Julian, 176 Tenn. 534, 539, 144 755, 757 (1940); Brooks Brooks, 166 255, 257, 61 654 (1933). duty enforceable throughout minority. Blackburn Blackburn, 526 463, 466 (Tenn.1975); Whitt Whitt, 490 159, 160 (Tenn.1973). also §§ 36-820, 36-828 (1977). makes out wedlock "the necessary education child." 36-223. Brown Thomas, 221 319, 323, 426 496, 498 (1968). Code 36-224(1) (1977)2 petition lead enforcement father's With few exceptions, however, 36-224(2); n. 1, supra. 3 Frances Annette Pickett pursuant seeking establish Braxton her son, Pickett, 1968. App. 3. sought order requiring contribute maintenance child. Ibid. denied he 13. uncontested had never own contributed 5-6, 13-14; Brief Appellant 5. established 36-224(2). responded motion challenging 5-7, 13.3 4 violated Amendment Federal Constitution provisions Constitution. 14. based its conclusion governing Without articulating clear standard review, rejected "stale spurious" 15. court's view, possibilities fraud, perjury, [are] no inherent [for] receiving assistance [in] charge." Ibid.4 5 On appeal,5 judgment (Tenn.1982). addressing Pickett's due process challenges statute, first reviewed our decision 770 (1982), several decisions other courts. Based stated inquiry respect "essentially same: state's policy reflected affords fair rational way best served bringing suit." S.W.2d, 376. concluded "[t]he Legislature could rationally determine women have recovered physically emotionally, able assess children's situations logically realistically." 379. 6 found valid 380. longer illegitimates countervailing doing justice reducing number people welfare allowing sue." suggested 'carefully tuned' hardship predictable groups cases, contains men writing supporting them, been . regular substantial payments required constitute 'support.' " Finally, uniqueness being tolled plaintiff's minority did "alone requir[e] holding unconstitutionality period, opposed end minority." 380.6 7 We noted probable jurisdiction. --- ----, 486, 74 630 (1982). reverse. II 8 occasions past 15 constitutional validity statutory classifications illegitimacy. See, e.g., supra; United States Clark, 445 23, 100 895, 63 171 (1980); Lalli Lalli, 439 259, 99 518, 58 503 (1978); Trimble Gordon, 430 762, 97 1459, 52 31 Mathews Lucas, 427 495, 96 2755, 49 651 (1976); Jiminez Weinberger, 417 628, 94 2496, 41 363 (1974); New Jersey Welfare Rights Org. Cahill, 411 619, 93 1700, 36 543 (1973); Gomez Perez, 409 535, 872, 35 56 Weber Aetna Casualty & Surety Co., 406 164, 92 1400, 768 (1972); Glona American Guarantee 391 73, 88 1512, 20 436 (1968); Levy Louisiana, 68, 1509, we invalid. Our consideration cases animated special concern discrimination As Weber: 9 "The status illegitimacy expressed through ages society's condemnation irresponsible liaisons beyond bonds marriage. But visiting head infant illogical unjust. imposing disabilities contrary basic concept system legal burdens should bear individual responsibility wrongdoing. Obviously, penalizing ineffectual—as well unjust—way deterring parent. Courts powerless prevent social opprobrium suffered hapless children, but enable strike down discriminatory laws relating where—as case—the classification interest, compelling otherwise." U.S., 175-176, 1406-1407 (footnotes omitted). 10 view history treating less favorably ones, subjected heightened level scrutiny. Although "suspect," subject "our exacting scrutiny," 767, 1463; 506, 2762-2763, applied them "is toothless one. ." 510, 2764. supra, "a unconstitutional bears 'an evident relation particular interests [the] serve.' 899. 265, 523 (plurality opinion) ("classifications invalid under if interests"). similar review last Term restrictions 1554. 11 particularly relevant determination issue case. "whether Texas constitutionally grant judicially right natural deny children." 873. invidiously discriminate denying benefits generally," id., 538, 875, "once posits needed there sufficient justification such essential simply married mother." "lurking paternity," "be lightly brushed aside." used form "an impenetrable barrier works shield otherwise invidious discrimination." 12 sufficiency Texas' response Gomez. particular, one-year identify 92, 1551. analysis focused requirements: and, 13 failed satisfy either requirement. 100, 1555. cited variety factors make unreasonable require year Ibid.7 addition, "substantially prosecution claims." 101, do "justify limitation so restricts [support rights] extinguish them." "conceive evidence invariably will lost only year, nor passage months appreciably increase likelihood (footnote omitted).8 14 concurring opinion, O'CONNOR, joined four Members Court,9 periods might unconstitutional. 106, 1558.10 O'CONNOR pointed strength "undercut ensuring genuine satisfied." 103, 1556. "stems see 'justice done,' reduce individuals forced enter rolls." about alleviated recent scientific developments dramatically possibility defendant falsely accused father." 104, 2, 1557. significant "one causes plaintiff." 1557 She stated: "Of difficult arise civil generally, paternity, unique singled treatment. When observation coupled Legislature's efforts prove thus support, interests." 104-105, 1557-1558. 16 "practical obstacles easily exist 105, "nothing following birth" compelled 1558. 17 Against background, turn assessment here. III 18 Much what said opinions here, principles discussed invalidate grounds.11 19 grants 36-223, mechanism enforcing right, 36-224(1), imposition brought, 36-224(2), restricted. respect, treated differently from, than, Mills, sufficiently behalf. regard, noteworthy 36-224(2) addresses practical short were described Mills. 1555; 105-106, 1557-1558 (O'CONNOR, J., concurring). creates writing. allows eighteenth birthday charge. O'CONNOR's point strong increases rolls. 103-104, 1556-1557 (concurring opinion). For whose claim severely 7, 1555, persist second well. experience "continuing disapproval community, attend child," experienced "may continue born." 4, 1558, opinion).12 These considerations compel support." 21 avoiding case, test. 22 First, small improvement degree over It, too, "[w]e conceive only[two years], [24] 1555 23 Second, undermine noted, 2202, establishes charges. Paternity argues distinction protecting revenue. Appellee 26-30. Putting aside justify radically children,13 address difference allegedly demonstrates, perceives prohibitive problem litigating There apparent reason why stale, therefore, undermines compels interest. 24 Third, 28-1-106 (1980).14 Parlato Howe, 470 F.Supp. 996 (ED Tenn.1979), disability represents long-standing protect potential minors 998-999. policy, medical malpractice "was intended interfere operation statute." 998. Accord, Braden Yoder, 592 896 (Tenn.App.1979). Jones Black, 539 123 (Tenn.1976) (one-year wrongful death applies "regardless beneficiary action"). Many fraught proof, chosen overlook instances favor minors. instead focus impose inapplicability tolling "alone" invalidation 380, factor, others already discussed, "to 1558 (POWELL, judgment).15 25 become "dramatically reduc[ed] 1557, 10-11. Little Streater, 452 6-8, 12, 14, 101 2205-2206, 2208, 2209, 68 627 (1981). permits introduction test results "where definite exclusion [of paternity] established," 36-228 24-7-112 (1980), tests currently achieve "mean probability [of] least 90 percent. Miale, Jennings, Rettberg, Sell Krause, Joint AMA-ABA Guidelines: Present Status Serologic Testing Problems Disputed Parentage, Family L.Q. 247, 256 (1976).16 negated 98, 1554, 4. inconsistent suggest appropriate determining IV 26 therefore Accordingly, remanded proceedings opinion. 27 ordered. (1977) reads follows: "(2) Proceedings furnish instituted pregnancy shall lapse (2) furnishing Provided, department human services empowered age eighteen (18) "(1) change name desired, accordance chapter mother, personal representative, or, charge person. Said county where resides putative found. outside bar father. After acting guardian next friend." challenged grounds Constitutions. 6-7. alleged amounted cruel unusual punishment claim. later she press before court. 369, 371 permission amend complaint 6. Attorney General notified intervened defend statute. 13; 371. discriminated "children assistance." 15-16. fulfillment relieve 16. granted "allowed interlocutory appeal certifying [Tenn.Code Ann.] sole determinative proceedings." challenge 376, committed harmless error, appeal, add friend, "does permit except "[f]inancial childbirth expenses birth-related income, encumber birth." "[e]ven seeks assigns State, improbable elapse without claim." "[s]everal pass finds seek assistance, takes steps it, willing join reach 97, 1553. THE CHIEF JUSTICE, BRENNAN, BLACKMUN 102, POWELL Part I Court's judgment). wrote separately feared misinterpreted approving 4-year now Texas." 1556 light, stemming well-being assessing Tennessee's representative stated, involved permitted 'any child'. Tr. Oral Arg. 31-33. unquestionably seeing done' "ensuring establishing satisfied merely providing keep off persists even circumstances. event, resolve tension discuss infra, revenue fraud. (1980) "If entitled commence cause accrued, years, unsound mind, person, representatives privies, be, action, removal disability, exceed three (3) disability." 36-224. Compare 18; 10, 13-14, 30-31, 37-38. Even assuming important 15, statutes generally certainly critical file given mother. stake. owed 36-223 reality dead disabled. Cf. S.Rep. 93-1356, p. (1974) U.S.Code Cong. Admin.News 1974, 8133 ("[T]he primarily stake [a] [is] child"). Restrictive limitation, necessarily affect assessed light. Stroud, Bundrant, Galindo, Testing: Current Approach, Trial 46 (Sept.1980) ("Recent technology properly equipped laboratory routinely attorneys clients 95-98 percent excluding man paternity"); Terasaki, Resolution By HLA 1000 Cases Not Excluded ABO Testing, J. L. (1978). Ellman Kaye, Probabilities Proof: Can Blood Group Prove Paternity?, 54 N.Y.U.L.Rev. 1131 (1979).

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