i. Procedural Due Process refers to
the procedures that government
must follow when it takes away a
person’s life, liberty or property
ii. It is about what kind of notice a person
must get before their life, liberty or property
are taken away by the government
iii. If someone wants better procedures, more
notice or better hearing, then you use
Procedural Due Process
b. Substantive Due Process
i. Asks whether the government has
an adequate reason for taking away a
person’s life, liberty or property
iii. Define the issue
ii. Is there a sufficient
substantive justification for
the government’s action
iv. Determine the law’s
purpose and how well the
law fits the end sought
v. Is this a fundamental right
based on history and
tradition?
2. If it is not a fundamental right based on history
and tradition or if there has not been a significant
infringement of the fundamental right, then it is a
Garden Variety Liberty Interest, and apply rational
basis
a. Is there a legitimate state interest?
b. Is the law rationally related?
1. If yes, is there a significant
infringement of the fundamental
right?
a. If yes to both
questions, then apply
strict scrutiny
i. Is there a
compelling state
interest?
ii. Is the law
narrowly tailored?
vi. If someone wants a law struck down or
a government action struck down because it
violates their rights without enough
justification then you use Substantive Due
Process
c. Equal Protection
i. Focuses on whether the government’s
differences in the treatment of people are justified
by an adequate purpose
ii. If someone is being unjustly
discriminated against relative to others
similarly situated then you use Equal
Protection
d. i.e. The Supreme Court has said
that parents have a fundamental right
to custody of their children
i. Procedural Due Process
requires that there be
adequate procedures
(notice and a hearing)
ii. Substantive Due Process
requires that there be a
compelling justification (i.e.
parental abuse or neglect)
iii. Equal Protection
requires that all parents
similarly situated be
treated the same