equal protection of the law

equal protection of the law
equal protection of the law: equal protection

Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary of Law. . 1996.

equal protection of the law
The guarantee in the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that all persons be treated equally by the law.

Short Dictionary of (mostly American) Legal Terms and Abbreviations.

equal protection of the law
n.
   the right of all persons to have the same access to the law and courts and to be treated equally by the law and courts, both in procedures and in the substance of the law. It is akin to the right to due process of law, but in particular applies to equal treatment as an element of fundamental fairness. The most famous case on the subject is Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954) in which Chief Justice Earl Warren, for a unanimous Supreme Court, ruled that "separate but equal" educational facilities for blacks were inherently unequal and unconstitutional since the segregated school system did not give all students equal rights under the law. It will also apply to other inequalities such as differentials in pay for the same work or unequal taxation. The principle is stated in the 14th Amendment to the Constitution: "No State shall:deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."
   See also: due process of law

Law dictionary. . 2013.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • equal protection of the law — The constitutional guarantee of equal protection of the laws means that no person or class of persons shall be denied the same protection of the laws which is enjoyed by other persons or other classes in like circumstances in their lives, liberty …   Black's law dictionary

  • equal protection of the law — The constitutional guarantee of equal protection of the laws means that no person or class of persons shall be denied the same protection of the laws which is enjoyed by other persons or other classes in like circumstances in their lives, liberty …   Black's law dictionary

  • All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. — All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. Article 7, International Declaration of Human Rights Nolo’s Plain English Law Dictionary. Gerald N. Hill, Kathleen Thompson Hill. 2009 …   Law dictionary

  • equal protection (of the laws) — n. The principal that every person is entitled to the same treatment under the law as other people in similar conditions. The Essential Law Dictionary. Sphinx Publishing, An imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc. Amy Hackney Blackwell. 2008 …   Law dictionary

  • equal protection — equal pro·tec·tion n: 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… …   Law dictionary

  • equal protection of the laws — A phrase not susceptible of exact definition; generally, a guaranty under the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution that no person or class of persons shall be denied the same protection of the law which is enjoyed by the other… …   Ballentine's law dictionary

  • equal protection clause — n often cap E&P&C: the clause in the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that prohibits any state from denying to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam Webster.… …   Law dictionary

  • Equal Protection Clause — The Equal Protection Clause, part of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, provides that no state shall… deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. [… …   Wikipedia

  • equal protection — UK US noun [U] US LAW ► the idea that those responsible for making sure laws are obeyed should deal with every person or organization in the same way: »Both state run and private schools should have equal protection under the law …   Financial and business terms

  • equal protection clause — That provision in 14th Amendment to U.S. Constitution which prohibits a State from denying to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. This clause requires that persons under like circumstances be given equal… …   Black's law dictionary

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