Document: 486 U.S. 456 108 S.Ct. 1910 100 L.Ed.2d 465 Cherlyn CLARK, Petitionerv.Gene JETER. No. 87-5565. Argued April 19, 1988. Decided June 6, Syllabus Ten years after her illegitimate daughter's birth, petitioner filed a support complaint on the behalf in Pennsylvania state court, naming respondent as father. Although blood test showed 99.3% probability that was father, court entered judgment for basis of statute providing actions to establish paternity an child ordinarily must be commenced within six child's birth. The rejected petitioner's contentions violates Equal Protection and Due Process Clauses Fourteenth Amendment Federal Constitution. While appeal Superior Court pending, State adopted 18-year limitations actions, order comply with requirement federal Child Support Enforcement Amendments 1984 (federal Act). concluded, however, new did not apply retroactively, 6-year period would continue cases like petitioner's. affirmed trial court's conclusion constitutional. Held: 1. Petitioner's contention is invalid because it conflicts asserted retroactivity Act will addressed by this Court, since question pre-emption adequately presented state-law argument, decided court. Pp. 459-460. 2. Clause. Under heightened scrutiny analysis used evaluating equal protection challenges statutes children's suits, obtaining sufficiently long present reasonable opportunity those interest children assert claims their behalf, any time limitation placed substantially related State's avoiding litigation stale or fraudulent claims. Mills v. Habluetzel, 91, 102 1549, 91 770; Pickett Brown, 462 1, 103 2199, 76 372. analysis, questionable whether Pennsylvania's reasonable, mother may birth unwilling claim due relationship natural emotional strain having child, desire avoid community family disapproval; such might realize only belatedly loss income attributable need care child; financial difficulties are likely increase matures incurs additional expenses. Moreover, established number statutes, including limitations, permit litigated more than birth; fact increasingly sophisticated scientific tests facilitate establishing regardless age. 460-465. 358 Pa.Super. 550, 518 A.2d 276, reversed remanded. O'CONNOR, J., delivered opinion unanimous Court. Evalynn Welling, Pittsburgh, Pa., petitioner. Craig A. McClean, respondent. Justice O'CONNOR 1 law, prove before seeking from his suit brought By contrast, legitimate seek parents at time. We granted certiorari consider constitutionality legislative scheme. 2 * On September 22, 1983, Clark Allegheny County Common Pleas minor daughter, Tiffany, who born out wedlock 11, 1973. named Gene Jeter Tiffany's ordered tests, which 3 moved dismiss ground barred actions.* In response, contended unconstitutional under Amendment. alternative, she argued tolled misleading welfare department, threats assaults Jeter. 4 upheld authority Astemborski Susmarski, 499 Pa. 99, 451 1012 (1982), vacated, 1127, 3105, 77 1360 (1983), reinstated remand, 502 409, 466 1018 (1983). Supreme there had considered constitutional similar Clark's. also Clark's argument should tolled, specifically finding fear have subsided complaint. Therefore, 5 appealed Pennsylvania, again raising limitations. Before case, Legislature enacted paternity. Oct. 30, 1985, 66, § subch. C, 1985 Pa.Laws 270, codified 23 Pa.Cons.Stat. 4343(b) (1985). thereby its law into compliance provision requires all States participating program procedures less 18 old. 98 Stat. 1307, 42 U.S.C. 666(a)(5) (1982 ed., Supp. IV). revive cause action event. 276 (1986). It conclusions constitutional, tolling without merit. Thereafter, denied motion reargument. petition allowance appeal. certiorari. 484 1003, 693, 646 (1988). II 6 first 1984, says require adopt retroactive cases. See Because raises issue statutory interpretation, we address reaching Blum Bacon, 457 132, 137, 2355, 2359, 72 728 (1982); see Townsend Swank, 404 282, 285, 291, 92 502, 507-08, 30 448 (1971). Having reviewed record, find lower courts. our practice, when reviewing decisions courts, decide were "pressed passed upon" below. Bankers Life & Casualty Co. Crenshaw, 71, 79-80, 1645, ----, 62 7 October 1985. At time, already brief immediately suggested remand determine statute. But instead itself reasoned that, if legislature clearly manifestly so intends, found insufficient evidence intent. decision relevance continuing validity Pa.Super., 553-555, 278. 8 application reargument overlooked applied well indications required equivalent. III); 50 Fed.Reg. 19608, 19631 expressly pre-empted law. interpret intended conditions spending program, arguably retroactive. This how ultimately matter below adequate raise claim. Accordingly, do here proceed 9 considering legislation Clause Amendment, Const., Amdt. 14, different levels types classifications. minimum, classification rationally governmental purpose. San Antonio Independent School Dist. Rodriguez, 411 17, 93 1278, 1288, 36 16 (1973); Cf. Lyng Automobile Workers, 485 360, 370, 1184, 99 380 Classifications based race national origin, e.g., Loving Virginia, 388 87 1817, 1823, 1010 (1967), classifications affecting fundamental rights, Harper Virginia Bd. Elections, 383 663, 672, 86 1079, 1084-85, 169 (1966), given most exacting scrutiny. Between these extremes rational review strict lies level intermediate scrutiny, generally has been discriminatory sex illegitimacy. See, Mississippi University Women Hogan, 458 718, 723-724, n. 9, 3331, 3336, 73 1090 1554-55, 71 770 Boren, 429 190, 197, 97 451, 456-57, 397 (1976); Mathews Lucas, 427 495, 505-506, 96 2755, 2762-2763, 49 651 (1976). 10 To withstand important objective. Consequently invalidated burden sake punishing illicit relations parents, "visiting condemnation head infant illogical unjust." Weber Aetna Surety Co., 406 164, 175, 1400, 1406, 31 768 (1972). Yet, seminal case concerning right support, acknowledged appropriate treat differently context "lurking problems respect proof paternity." Gomez Perez, 409 535, 538, 872, 875, 35 56 (1973). 11 developed particular framework suits paternity, limit ability obtain support. 12 "First, . duration behalf. Second, claims." U.S., 99-100, S.Ct., 1554. 13 Mills, held Texas' 1-year failed both steps analysis. explained typically mother, act swiftly amidst complications year. And, unlikely lapse mere months result appreciably likelihood Id., 100-101, 1555-56. A concurring why longer one year unconstitutional. 102-106, 1556-58 (O'CONNOR, joined Burger, C.J., BRENNAN BLACKMUN, JJ., Part I Powell, concurring). First, countervailing ensuring genuine satisfied. Texas other causes during minority become overwhelming period. Finally, practical obstacles filing life. 14 372 unanimously struck down Tennessee's 2-year certain children. Adhering two afforded bring suits. Tennessee relatively generous against father writing furnishing support; nor public charge. Nevertheless, concluded too short light persisting afflict mother. Proceeding second step preventing could incremental difference create greater fraud problems. Furthermore, minority, even permitted up age advances testing alleviated some actions. For reasons, survive 15 authority, conclude Even does necessarily provide child. "The unwillingness file stem disapproval, born. problem exacerbated if, often happens, herself minor." supra, 105, 4, 1558, 4. Not abate years. "a child," Pickett, 12, 2206. expenses clothing, school, medical care. Moore McNamara, 40 Conn.Supp. 478 634, 637 (1984) (invalidating 3-year limitations). Thus acts reasonably rest ground, entirely evident unreasonable involving are, confident circumstances, permits payment made And places no limits litigated. example, intestacy statute, 20 Cons. 2107(3) "there clear convincing man child." Likewise, applies father's re Mengel, 287 186, 1162 (1981). Recently, tolls civil minority. 5533(b) (Supp.1987). cast doubt purported 15-16, 2207-08; 104-105, 1557-58 concurring); id., 106, 1558 (Powell, judgment). same implications here. 17 recent indication insurmountable enactment sure spontaneously, but rather threat losing funds. tacit concession overwhelming. history explains Congress thought reasonable. adverted claims, recognized genetic markers exclusion over 99% accused H.R.Rep. 98-527, p. 38 available throughout reason substantial limiting brought. therefore unnecessary reach process reversed, remanded further proceedings inconsistent opinion. 19 ordered. Jeter's referred 6704(e), section altered slightly relabeled 6704(b) Dec. 20, 1982, 326, Art. II, 201, 1982 Laws 1409. As amended, provided: "All except where reputed shall voluntarily contributed proceeding contribution acknowledgement father." (1982) (repealed 1985).

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