Document: 335 U.S. 464 69 S.Ct. 198 93 L.Ed. 163 GOESAERT et al.v.CLEARY al. No. 49. Argued Nov. 19, 1948. Decided Dec. 20, Appeal from the United States District Court for Eastern of Michigan. Anne R. Davidow, Detroit, Mich., appellant. Mr. Edmund E. Shepherd, Lansing, appellees. Justice FRANKFURTER delivered opinion Court. 1 As part Michigan system controlling sale liquor, bartenders are required to be licensed in all cities having a population 50,000, or more, but no female may so unless she 'the wife daughter male owner' liquor establishment. Section 19a Act 133 Public Acts 1945, Mich.Stat.Ann. § 18,990(1), Cum.Supp.1947. The case is here on direct appeal an order three judges, convened under 266 old Judicial Code, now 28 U.S.C. 2284, U.S.C.A. denying injunction restrain enforcement law. claim, denied below, one judge dissenting, 74 F.Supp. 735, and renewed here, that cannot forbid females generally being barmaids at same time make exception favor wives daughters owners establishments. Beguiling as subject is, it need not detain us long. To ask whether Equal Protection Laws Clause Fourteenth Amendment barred making classification State has made between places non-owners, those rare instances where state question effect answer it. 2 We are, sure, dealing with historic calling. meet alewife, sprightly ribald, Shakespeare, centuries before him played role social life England. See, e.g., Jusserand, English Wayfaring Life, 133, 134, 136-37 (1889). did tear history up by roots, regulation traffic oldest most untrammeled legislative powers. could, beyond question, women working behind bar. This despite vast changes legal position women. fact have achieved virtues men long claimed their prerogatives indulge vices practiced, does preclude drawing sharp line sexes, certainly, such matters traffic. See Twenty-First Carter v. Virginia, 321 131, 64 464, 88 605. Constitution require legislatures reflect sociological insight, shifting standards, any more than requires them keep abreast latest scientific standards. 3 While deny opportunities bartending, play favorities among without rhyme reasons. enjoining equal protection laws upon precludes irrational discrimination persons groups incidence But requ re situations 'which different treated law though they were same.' Tigner Texas, 310 141, 147, 60 879, 882, 84 1124, 130 A.L.R. 1321. Since bartending may, allowable judgment, give rise moral problems against which devise preventive measures, legislature go full length prohibition if believes defined group other factors operating either eliminate reduce otherwise calling prohibition. evidently oversight assured through ownership bar barmaid's husband father minimizes hazards confront barmaid protecting oversight. certainly gainsay belief legislature. If entertainable, we think violated its duty afford laws. cross-examine actually argumentatively mind legislators nor motives. drawn basis reason, ear suggestion real impulse this legislation was unchivalrous desire try monopolize 4 It would idle parade familiar learning review multitudinous cases constitutional assurance been applied. generalties thi dispute; application turns peculiarly particular circumstances case. Thus, sterile inquiry consider nearer nepotic pilotage Louisiana, sustained Kotch River Port Pilot Commissioners, 330 U.S 552, 67 910, 91 1093, Oklahoma sterilization law, fell Skinner ex rel. Williamson, 316 535, 62 1110, 86 1655. Suffice say 'A statute invalid because might gone farther did, succeed bringing about result tends produce.' Roschen Ward, 279 337, 339, 49 336, 73 722. 5 Nor unconstitutional withdraw occupation allows serve waitresses dispensed. sufficiently indicated reasons influenced allowing establishment over man's provides control. Nothing added what said below grounds assailed. 6 Judgment affirmed. 7 RUTLEDGE, whom DOUGLAS MURPHY join, dissenting. 8 clause achieve 'abstract symmetry'1 classify 'mathematical nicety,'2 lawmarkers refrain invidious distinctions sort challenged case.3 9 arbitrarily discriminates A owner, although he himself always absent his bar, employ barmaids. owner neither work hereself her position, even man present order. inevitable belies assumption motivated solicitude physicial well-being who, employed there could conceivable justification establishments, should held denial protection. Patsone Commonwealth Pennsylvania, 232 138, 144, 34 281, 282, 58 539. Lindsley Natural Carbonic Gas Co., 220 59, 61, 78 82, 31 340—342, 55 369, Ann.Cas.1912C, 160; see also 1321; Bain Peanut Co. Pinson, 282 499, 501, 51 228, 229, 75 482; People New York Buyant Zimmerman, 278 63, 73—77, 65—67, 184, AL.R. 785; Miller Wilson, 236 373, 384, 35 342, 344, 345, 59 628, L.R.A.1915F, 829. Cf. 1655; Missouri Gaines Canada, 305 232, 83 208; McCabe Atchis n, T. & S.F.R. 235 151, 69, 169; Yick Wo Hopkins, 118 356, 1064, 30 220. And dissenting 564, 916, 1093.

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