Opinion ID: 2545099
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 13

Heading: Suspect Class or Fundamental Right

Text: The United States Constitution provides, No state shall ... deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. U.S. Const. amend XIV. Article I, section 2 of the Missouri Constitution provides in pertinent part, [A]ll persons are created equal and are entitled to equal rights and opportunity under the law. Missouri's equal protection clause provides the same protections as the United States Constitution. In re Care and Treatment of Coffman, 225 S.W.3d 439, 445 (Mo. banc 2007). In deciding whether a statute violates equal protection, this Court engages in a two-part analysis. Etling v. Westport Heating & Cooling Services, Inc., 92 S.W.3d 771, 774 (Mo. banc 2003). First, the Court determines whether a classification of certain persons under the law operates to the disadvantage of some suspect class or impinges upon a fundamental right explicitly or implicitly protected by the Constitution. Id. (quoting Marriage of Kohring, 999 S.W.2d 228, 231-32 (Mo. banc 1999)) (citations omitted). If so, the classification is subject to strict scrutiny, and this Court must determine whether the classification is necessary to accomplish a compelling state interest. Id. Suspect classes are classes such as race, national origin, or illegitimacy that command extraordinary protection from the majoritarian political process for historical reasons. Id. (quoting Riche v. Dir. of Revenue, 987 S.W.2d 331, 336 (Mo. banc 1999)) (citations omitted). The plain language of section 115.350 does not create a classification in that it applies to all persons who have been convicted of, found guilty of, or pleaded guilty to a felony under Missouri law. Young believes the classification arises when Missouri felons are treated differently from those convicted of felonies in other jurisdictions, but he does not argue felons are a suspect class. Young's argument focuses on how this classification impinges on a fundamental right. Fundamental rights include the rights to free speech, to vote, to freedom of interstate travel, and other basic liberties. Etling, 92 S.W.3d at 774. A candidate's access to the ballot or the right to run for office is not a fundamental right. Clements v. Fashing, 457 U.S. 957, 963, 102 S.Ct. 2836, 73 L.Ed.2d 508 (1982); Asher v. Lombardi, 877 S.W.2d 628, 630 (Mo. banc 1994).