Shameful or Ignored Supreme Court Cases

Resource 6 . 8

19 minutes

Griffin v. Breckenridge

Seth J. Chandler

1. Why isn't this opinion short and sweet, saying that the 13th amendment clearly justifies laws that protect people from being treated like escaping slaves?

2. How far can Congress go under the 13th amendment in regulating private conduct? Could it, for example, criminalize a refusal to sell wedding cakes for gay marriages?

Supreme Court of the United States

403 U.S. 88, 29 L. Ed. 2d 338, 91 S. Ct. 1790, 1971 U.S. LEXIS 3774, SCDB 1970-123

No. 144

1971-06-07

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