West Virginia v. B. P. J. · ¶181
In stark contrast, Caban, Virginia, and other cases like them show that classifications can violate the Equal Protection Clause if they take the “extrem[e]” approach “of complete exclusion” even if allowing exceptions for “significant categories” (i.e., subclasses) within a given classification would not “jeopardiz[e]” the State’s interests. Cf. Trimble v. Gordon, 430 U. S. 762, 771 (1977). In Nguyen, the law allowed for such exceptions and so passed muster. In Trim ble, to the contrary, the Court found an equal protection violation as to a law restricting inheritances by “illegitimate children” from their fathers’ estates because the State “unnecessarily” refused to grant exceptions for “categories” of such children as to whom “inheritance rights” could be recognized without undermining the State’s interests. 430 U. S., at 771. What is more, in Sessions v. Morales-San tana, 582 U. S.…Read in context ›
slip opinion
Source edition
Passage preview. Read in context for the complete text, notes and references.