Legal Document

440 U.S. 194 99 Supreme Court Reporter 1062 59 United States Reports Lawyer’s Edition 2d Series KF101.8 U54 248 HARRAH INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT et al.v.Mary Jane MARTIN. Number 78-443. Feb. 26, 1979. [Sylllabus from pages 194-195 intentionally omitted] PER CURIAM. 1 Respondent Martin was employed as a teacher by petitioner School District under contract that incorporated reference the Board's rules and regulations. Because respondent tenured, Oklahoma law required Board to renew her annually unless she guilty of, among other things, "wilful neglect of duty." Okl.Stat., Tit. 70, § 6-122 (Supp.1976) (repealed 1977). The same statute provided for hearing appeal procedures in event nonrenewal. One regulations into respondent's teachers holding only bachelor's degree earn five semester hours college credit every three years. Under terms regulation, noncompliance with continuing-education requirement sanctioned withholding salary increases. 2 Respondent, hired 1969, persistently refused comply consequently forfeited increases which would have otherwise been entitled during 1972-1974 school After had renewed 1973-1974 term, however, Legislature enacted mandating certain raises regardless compliance policy. Board, thus deprived sanction it previously enforce provision, notified not be 1974-1975 year completed April 10, 1974. nonetheless declined even enroll necessary courses and, appearing before January 1974, indicated no intention complying contract. Finding persistent duty," voted at its 1974 meeting following year. unsuccessfully pursuing administrative judicial relief state courts, brought this action Western Oklahoma. She claimed denied liberty property without due process equal protection laws, guaranteed Fourteenth Amendment Constitution. 3 dismissed complaint; assert "pendent jurisdiction" over state-law claim refusal provision did constitute duty" within meaning tenure statute, concluded upon stipulated evidence violated refusing Appeals Tenth Circuit reversed. 579 Federal Reporter, 2nd 1192 (1978). Following own precedent Weathers versus West Yuma County Dist. R-J-1, 530 1335 (1976), determined protected "liberty" interest Amendment, but held an amalgam guarantees constitutional right retain employment teacher. "arbitrary capricious" action, Appeals, "violated notions fairness embodied Due Process Clause generally Equal Protection particularly." 1192, 1200 4 While our decisions construing Clauses do form checkerboard bright lines between black squares red squares, neither they leave parties litigating federal claims them, quite much sea apparently thought case. It is true, court observed, accords procedural safeguards interests, likewise protects substantive aspects against impermissible governmental restrictions. Kelley Johnson, 425 238, 244, 96 1440, 1444, 47 708 (1976). But cases supply analytical framework determining whether rights person position violated. Employing here, we conclude Appeals' judgment should 5 has conceded all times "tenured" law, therefore could specified reasons. accorded usual elements process. Shortly after meeting, advised decision Board. At request, both attorney appeared contested determination constituted Thus, recognized, colorable denial See Arnett Kennedy, 416 134, 94 1633, 40 15 (1974); Perry Sindermann, 408 593, 599-603, 92 2694, 2700, 33 570 (1972). If succeed must on basis either "substantive" or protection. 6 Relying Amendment's "substantive aspects" "life, liberty, property," held, apparently, substitute nonrenewal routine pay so "arbitrary" offended "notions fairness" Clause. Here, there matter anything resembling "the individual's freedom choice respect basic matters procreation, marriage, family life." supra, U.S., S.Ct., 1444; see Roe Wade, 410 113, 93 705, 35 147 (1973); Eisenstadt Baird, 405 438, 1029, 31 349 (1972); Stanley Illinois, 645, 1208, 551 Griswold Connecticut, 381 479, 85 1678, 14 510 (1965); Meyer Nebraska, 262 390, 43 625, 67 L.Ed. 1042 (1923). Rather, simply she, tenured teacher, cannot discharged purely prospective rule establishing violations 7 endowed presumption legislative validity, burden show rational connection providing students competent, well-trained teachers. 247, 1445; Day-Brite Lighting, Incorporated Missouri, 342 421, 423, 72 405, 407, 469 (1952); Prince Massachusetts, 321 158, 168-170, 64 443-444, 88 645 (1944); CSC Letter Carriers, 413 548, 2881, 37 796 (1973). Respondent's acted arbitrarily imposing new penalty continuingeducation does square facts. By making mandatory, legislature earlier used teachers' contractual obligation credits. turned nonrenewal, applied prospectively those who might relied past practice opportunity bring themselves contracts. Indeed, four violation when mandated increases, persisted courses. Such course conduct part board responsible public education jurisdiction, employing perform principal portion task, can scarcely described arbitrary. these circumstances wholly untenable. 8 reliance guarantee mistaken. Since asserted nor established existence any suspect classification deprivation fundamental right, San Antonio Independent Rodriquez, 411 1, 40, 1278, 1300, 36 16 (1973), inquiry State's "rationally related objective." Massachusetts Retirement Murgia, 427 307, 315, 2562, 2568, 49 520 most cursory examination agreed facts demonstrates met test. 9 District's concern educational qualifications reasoned analysis impermissible, contend bears relationship legitimate concern. contests permissibility [she] were achieve [by 1974] number continuing credits given years achieve." Brief Opposition 7. 10 objective sanctioning was, obviously, encourage future requirement. Admittedly, imposition placed "class" different complied their obligations past. designed valid rule, whatever source, falls break rule. immediately affected because broken obligation. There suggestion here enforces selectively; refuses contracts refuse 11 That forced penalize differently than way alters claim. Like District, Unlike colleagues, requirement, forfeiting raises. Had presumably penalized continued denying increase yet another having merely substituted place another, albeit more onerous, sanction. created sanctions, acquired allotted time not. 12 bottom, willing forgo raises, give up job. imposed tested willingness governed accept consequences noncompliance. rationally enforcing not, therefore, laws. 13 petition certiorari granted, Reversed. Mr. Justice MARSHALL concurs result.

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