Income and
wealth inequality between America’s upper-income families and its middle and
lower-income families is greater than it has been for decades. Because the
Supreme Court has never recognized the poor as a suspect class, they do not
receive special protection under the Constitution, yet their experience in
myriad areas—including education, housing, reproductive justice, and
interactions with the civil and criminal justice systems—is fundamentally
different from that of those of even modest financial means. Against this backdrop, this joint program will address the ways in which the
Constitution might be brought to bear on these discrepancies through its
treatment of laws, regulations, policies, and practices that disproportionately
impact people who live in poverty. Panelists will explore the legal strategies
that have been successful, revisit questions about the poor constituting a
suspect or quasi-suspect class, and discuss how we might utilize constitutional
law doctrine to address the causes and consequences of poverty.
Business meeting at program conclusion for Section on Constitutional Law.
Business meeting at program conclusion for Section on Poverty Law.