Opinion ID: 526550
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Slavery

Text: 26 The plaintiffs also assert a Sec. 1983 claim that the minors' performance of menial tasks for the school officials violated the thirteenth amendment prohibition against slavery and involuntary servitude. Section 1 of the thirteenth amendment provides that [n]either slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime ... shall exist within the United States.... Section 2 gives Congress the power to enforce this [amendment] by appropriate legislation. The amendment prohibits conduct which constitutes a badge or incident of slavery. 27 The scope of the thirteenth amendment was broadened dramatically when the Supreme Court expanded the definition of what conduct could constitute badges and incidents of slavery. Jones v. Alfred H. Mayer, Co., 392 U.S. 409, 88 S.Ct. 2186, 20 L.Ed.2d 1189 (1968). The Court found that the thirteenth amendment could be interpreted broadly enough to prohibit private racial discrimination in real estate transactions. 12 Further, when enacting legislation to enforce the amendment, Congress has the power rationally to determine what are the badges and incidents of slavery. Id. at 440, 88 S.Ct. at 2203. While the thirteenth amendment has been broadened to prohibit a wider range of conduct, it clearly does not encompass a situation where an individual is paid for services willingly performed. The complaint merely alleges that the minors performed tasks for the counselors to earn money to afford an abortion. There are no allegations that the minors performed the tasks unwillingly or involuntarily. Thus, the trial court properly dismissed this claim where the complaint alleged nothing to indicate involuntary servitude was even remotely involved. 28