LOCHNER ERA Meaning and
Definition
-
The Lochner Era refers to a period in U.S. legal history from approximately 1897 to 1937 that was dominated by a series of controversial judicial decisions by the Supreme Court. The term "Lochner Era" is derived from the landmark case Lochner v. New York (1905), which epitomized the Court's willingness to protect individual freedom against government regulation.
During this era, the Supreme Court consistently struck down economic and labor regulations on the grounds that they violated the liberty of contract and infringed upon the Fourteenth Amendment's Due Process Clause. The Court's rulings were based on a conservative interpretation of the Constitution, emphasizing the protection of property rights and the principle of freedom of contract.
The Lochner Era was marked by a deep ideological divide between the Court's majority, often aligned with conservative justices, and its dissenting minority. The majority held that economic regulations interfered with economic liberty and exceeded the proper scope of government power. However, the dissenting minority, often aligned with progressive justices, argued that government regulations were necessary to protect public welfare and ensure fair labor conditions.
Ultimately, the Lochner Era came to an end with the Supreme Court's 1937 decision in West Coast Hotel Co. v. Parrish. This landmark case recognized the state's power to regulate economic activities in the interest of public welfare and marked a shift in the Court's jurisprudence towards a more deferential approach to government regulations, recognizing the need for social and economic reforms to address the inequalities of the time.
Etymology of LOCHNER ERA
The term "Lochner era" refers to a period in United States legal history that took place from the late 19th century to the early 20th century, specifically from 1897 to 1937. It is named after a landmark Supreme Court case, Lochner v. New York, decided in 1905.
The etymology of the word "Lochner" itself comes from the last name of the defendant in the Supreme Court case, Joseph Lochner. He was a baker who was accused of violating a New York state law regulating working hours for bakery employees. The Supreme Court, in a 5-4 decision, ruled that the New York law violated the right to freedom of contract protected under the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
The term "Lochner era" emerged in legal discourse to describe the overall trend of Supreme Court decisions during that time.
