equal protection
noun
: a guarantee under the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that a state must treat an individual or class of individuals the same as it treats other individuals or classes in like circumstances
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web The lawsuit argues the ban infringes on the rights to privacy and equal protection under the Indiana Constitution. 
Anders Hagstrom, Fox News, 31 Aug. 2022 The law was temporarily blocked by the South Carolina Supreme Court while justices review a lawsuit filed by Planned Parenthood in July that alleges the ban is an invasion of privacy and violation of equal protection under the state constitution. ABC News, 31 Aug. 2022 The lawsuit argued the law violates the state constitution’s rights to privacy and equal protection. From Usa Today Network And Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 27 July 2022 Planned Parenthood South Atlantic and other plaintiffs had asked the judge for an injunction while courts determine whether the law violates the state constitution’s rights to privacy and equal protection. Tom Davies And Arleigh Rodgers, Chicago Tribune, 26 July 2022 The groups argue that the six-week ban violates state constitutional protections for privacy and equal protection. Laura Kusisto, WSJ, 29 June 2022 The amendment would explicitly say that Californians can have abortions and use birth control under their constitutional rights to privacy and equal protection under the law. Sophia Bollag, San Francisco Chronicle, 27 June 2022 Peck said the 2005 law denied his client the constitutional right of due process of the law, equal protection under the law, trial by jury and other rights guaranteed by the Ohio Constitution. cleveland, 30 Mar. 2022 But treating like cases alike is crucial to the equal protection of the laws. Alan M. Dershowitz, WSJ, 14 Aug. 2022 See More
Anders Hagstrom, Fox News, 31 Aug. 2022 The law was temporarily blocked by the South Carolina Supreme Court while justices review a lawsuit filed by Planned Parenthood in July that alleges the ban is an invasion of privacy and violation of equal protection under the state constitution. ABC News, 31 Aug. 2022 The lawsuit argued the law violates the state constitution’s rights to privacy and equal protection. From Usa Today Network And Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 27 July 2022 Planned Parenthood South Atlantic and other plaintiffs had asked the judge for an injunction while courts determine whether the law violates the state constitution’s rights to privacy and equal protection. Tom Davies And Arleigh Rodgers, Chicago Tribune, 26 July 2022 The groups argue that the six-week ban violates state constitutional protections for privacy and equal protection. Laura Kusisto, WSJ, 29 June 2022 The amendment would explicitly say that Californians can have abortions and use birth control under their constitutional rights to privacy and equal protection under the law. Sophia Bollag, San Francisco Chronicle, 27 June 2022 Peck said the 2005 law denied his client the constitutional right of due process of the law, equal protection under the law, trial by jury and other rights guaranteed by the Ohio Constitution. cleveland, 30 Mar. 2022 But treating like cases alike is crucial to the equal protection of the laws. Alan M. Dershowitz, WSJ, 14 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
1868, in the meaning defined above
Legal Definition
equal protection
noun
: a guarantee under the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that a state must treat an individual or class of individuals the same as it treats other individuals or classes in like circumstances
called also equal protection of the law
see also rational basis test, strict scrutiny, suspect classificationNote: The equal protection requirement of the Constitution protects against legislation that affects individuals differently without a rational basis for doing so. In reviewing claims of denial of equal protection, a court will uphold legislation that has a rational basis unless the legislation affects a fundamental right or involves a suspect classification, such as race. In such a case, the court will use a strict scrutiny standard of review and will strike down legislation that does not show a compelling need for discriminating.