Muller v. Oregon

Muller v. Oregon, 208 U.S. 412 (1908) was a landmark decision in United States Supreme Court history, as it relates to both sex discrimination and labor laws. The case upheld Oregon state restrictions on the working hours of women as justified by the special state interest in protecting women's health.

Related Topics:
1908 - United States Supreme Court

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Curt Muller, the owner of a laundry, was convicted of violating Oregon labor laws by requiring a female employee to work in excess of ten hours in a day, for which he was fined $10. Muller appealed to the Oregon Supreme Court and then to the U.S. Supreme Court, both of which upheld the constitutionality of the labor law and affirmed his conviction.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The case was decided a mere three years after Lochner v. New York, 198 U.S. 45 (1905), in which a New York law restricting the weekly working hours of bakers was invalidated. The Court had found that the regulation was not a reasonable regulation of the Due Process freedom of contract because the law was unnecessary to protect the health or safety of bakers.

Related Topics:
Lochner v. New York - 1905 - New York - Freedom of contract

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~