Legal Document

490 U.S. 19 109 S.Ct. 1591 104 L.Ed.2d 18 CITY OF DALLAS, et al., Petitionersv.Charles M. STANGLIN, Individually, and d/b/a Twilight Skating Rink. No. 87-1848. Argued March 1, 1989. Decided April 3, Syllabus For the express purpose of providing a place where teenagers can socialize with each other but not be subject to potentially detrimental influences older adults, Dallas ordinance authorizes licensing "Class E" dance halls, restricting admission thereto persons between ages 14 limiting their hours operation. Respondent, whose roller-skating rink Class E hall share divided floorspace, filed suit in state court enjoin ordinance's age hour restrictions, contending, inter alia, that they violated First Amendment Equal Protection Clause Fourteenth Amendment. The trial upheld ordinance, Texas Court Appeals struck down restriction, holding it associational rights minors. Held: 1. does infringe on right association. Respondent's patrons, who may number as many 1,000 per night, are engaged form "intimate association." Nor do opportunities adults minors one another, which might described "associational" common parlance, involve sort "expressive association" has been held protect. congregate members any organized association, most strangers another. admits all pay fee, there is no suggestion patrons take positions public questions or perform similar activities. Moreover, Constitution recognize generalized "social includes chance encounters halls. Griswold v. Connecticut, 381 479, 483, 85 1678, 1681, 510, distinguished. Pp. 23-25. 2. violate Prot ction because rational relationship restriction for halls city's interest promoting welfare teenagers. claims—that meet objectives still associate another places such his skating other, less intrusive, alternatives achieve objectives—misapprehend nature rational-basis scrutiny, relaxed tolerant judicial scrutiny under Clause. Under this standard, classification some reasonable basis offend imperfect. Here, city could reasonably conclude more susceptible corrupting if permitted frequent dance-hall contacts would make likely illicit undesirable juvenile involvement alcohol, illegal drugs, promiscuous sex. While permits rollerskate together, involves physical contact than dancing, differentiation need striking survive scrutiny. 25-28. 744 S.W.2d 165 (Tex.App.1987), reversed remanded. REHNQUIST, C.J., delivered opinion Court, BRENNAN, WHITE, MARSHALL, O'CONNOR, SCALIA, KENNEDY, JJ., joined. STEVENS, J., an concurring judgment, BLACKMUN, joined, post, p. 28. Craig Lee Hopkins, Dallas, Tex., petitioners. Daniel J. Sheehan, Jr., respondent. Chief Justice REHNQUIST Court. 1 Petitioner adopted certain 18. owner these "teenage" sued contest constitutional validity ordinance. outside group. We now reverse, secures right. 2 In 1985, response requests open only teenagers, authorized halls.1 was provide young adults. provision at issue here, City Code § 14-8.1 (1985), restricts 18.2 This provision, enacted, restricted those 17, subsequently amended include 18-year olds. Parents, guardians, law enforcement, personnel excepted from restriction. also limits operation p.m. midnight daily when school session. 14-5(d)(2). 3 Respondent operates Rink obtained license hall. He floor into two sections moveable plastic cones pylons. On side pylons, dance, while side, skate same music—usually soul "funk" music played by disc jockey. No restrictions applicable rink. serve alcohol premises, security present. have selective admissions policy. It charges $3.50 $5 person $2.50 Most establishment serves customers night. 4 District County enforcement contended substantive due process equal protection United States Constitutions, unconstitutionally infringed 17 (now 18) bracket.3 finding rationally related legitimate ensuring safety children. 5 time (1987). To support fundamental association," said "the legislative body must show compelling interest," regulation "must accomplished least restrictive means." Id., 168. recognized "protect[ing] detrimental, influences," ibid., "City's stated purposes . achieved ways intrusive minors' freedom associate," id., 169. "[a] child's association abridged simply premise he 'might' persuade him bad habits," "neither activity dancing se, nor children aged fourteen through eighteen context renders peculiarly vulnerable evils defendant seeks prevent." Ibid. granted certiorari, 488 815, 51, 102 30 (1988), reverse. 6 dispositive question n case level "scrutiny" applied Unless laws "create suspect classifications impinge upon constitutionally protected rights," San Antonio Independent School Dist. Rodriguez, 411 40, 93 1278, 1300, 36 16 (1973), shown bear "some purpose" 44, S.Ct., 1302. contend "suspect classification," urge interferes guaranteed 7 terms protect "right our cases embraces circumstances. Roberts Jaycees, 468 609, 3244, 82 462 (1984), we noted different sorts "freedom Constitution: 8 "Our decisions referred 'freedom association' distinct senses. line decisions, concluded choices enter maintain intimate human relationships secured against undue intrusion State role safeguarding individual central scheme. respect, receives element personal liberty. set engaging activities Amendment—speech, assembly, petition redress grievances, exercise religion." 617-618, 3249. 9 clear beyond cavil given relationships" Roberts. Appeals, however, thought were expressive disagree. 10 attendance thus ability attend, opportunity These hundreds night particular association; business establishment. willing fee. There "take questions" Board Directors Rotary International Club Duarte, 481 537, 548, 107 1940, 1947, 95 474 11 cited speech" means talk write. possible find kernel expression almost every undertakes—for example, walking street meeting one's friends shopping mall—but sufficient bring within think patrons—coming together engage recreational dancing—is Thus qualifies neither 12 Unlike recognizes relied, mistakenly think, statement 510 (1965), "[t]he freely limited 'political' assemblies, 'pertain social, legal, economic benefit' citizens." S.W.2d, 168, quoting supra, U.S., 1681. But quoted language nothing extends groups speech pertain directly politics. 13 therefore, implicates class impinges remaining whether survives "rational-basis" chosen impose rule separates 14- 18-year-olds what Ray Couch, urban planner Department Planning Development, testified: " '[O]lder kids [whom prohibits entering halls] access drugs mature sexual attitudes, liberal attitudes general. And we're concerned about mixing up [older] individuals youngsters [sic] fully matured.' n. 3. 15 A police officer, Wesley Michael, testified intended discourage crime. claims "has real connection City's interests objectives." Brief 13. Except saloons teenage respondent argues, including area 14. states, did below, its increased supervision, education, prosecution corrupt 15. respondent's arguments misapprehend Dandridge Williams, 397 471, 90 1153, 25 491 (1970), rejecting claim Maryland legislation Clause, said: "[A] merely made If 'reasonable basis,' 'is mathematical nicety practice results inequality.' Lindsley Natural Carbonic Gas Co., 220 61, 78 [31 337, 340, 55 L.Ed. 369 (1911) ]. 'The problems government practical ones justify, require, rough accommodations illogical, be, unscientific.' Metropolis Theatre Co. Chicago, 228 69-70 [33 441, 443, 57 730 (1913) 20 ". [The standard] true principle gives federal courts power views constitutes wise social policy." 485-486, 1162 (footnote omitted). 21 considerations here. As New Orleans Dukes, 427 297, 303-304, 96 2513, 2517, 49 511 (1976): "[I]n local sphere, invidious discrimination, wholly arbitrary act, cannot stand consistently Amendment." See als Railroad Retirement Fritz, 449 166, 177, 101 453, 461, 66 368 (1980). conclude, Couch stated, permitted, unaccompanied parents, persons. E. McQuillin, Law Municipal Corporations 24.210 (3d ed. 1981) ("Public regarded being category businesses vocations having potential evil consequences"). properly juveniles sex.4 allows roller-skate dancing. differences striking, order 22 hold exists judgment therefore reversed, cause remanded further proceedings inconsistent opinion. 23 so ordered. 24 whom BLACKMUN joins, judgment. my enjoy company people—in elsewhere—is aspect liberty reason, I believe critical rather Nonetheless, agree adequately justified modest impairment Indeed, actually greater invalidated.* join Court's licenses A, B, C differ days week permitted; D instruction. Persons accompanied parent §§ 14-1, 14-8 (1985-1986). needed following locations: private residence general excluded; owned federal, state, government; elementary school, secondary college, university; religious organization; club. Section provides: "(a) years over "(b commits offense and: "(1) enters hall; "(2) gaining admittance hall, falsely represents himself be: "(A) years; "(B) licensee employee "(C) guardian inside "(D) governmental performance duties. "(c) knowingly remain premises is: years. "(d) defense Subsections (b)(1) (c)(2) "(3) duties." had standing assert 165, 168 That raised before us. considered factors Prince Massachusetts, 321 158, 64 438, 88 645 (1944), upheld, infringement protection, statute prohibiting selling newspapers street. After noting invalid "The state's authority children's broader like actions matters employment. Among appropriate action crippling effects child employment, especially places, harms arising diverse too late doubt appropriately designed reach power." 168-169, 443 (footnotes Bellotti Baird, 622, 635, 99 3035, 3044, 61 797 (1979) (plurality opinion), McKeiver Pennsylvania, 403 528, 550, 91 1976, 1989, 29 647 (1971) opinion) ("State entitled adjust legal system account vulnerability 'concern, sympathy, paternal attention' "); Ginsberg York, 390 629, 1274, 195 (1968) (upholding prohibit sale "girlie" magazines minors). * assessment Although received nominal attention court, see Pet. Cert. C-1 C-7, reviewed briefed (1987); 3; Petitioners 4.

Classification Label: 2