See Baer and Goldstein, pp. 69-72.
Syllabus w/headnotes
Appellee, a naval officer with more than nine years of active service, who failed for a second time to be selected for promotion and thus under 10 U.S.C. § 6382(a) was subject to mandatory discharge, brought this action claiming that application of that statute to him, when compared to 10 U.S.C. § 6401 (under which, had he been a woman officer, he would have been entitled to 13 years of commissioned service before a mandatory discharge for want of promotion), was an unconstitutional discrimination based on sex in violation of the Fifth Amendment’s Due Process Clause. A three-judge District Court, relying on Frontiero v. Richardson, 411 U. S. 677, concluded that the challenged mandatory discharge provisions are supported solely by considerations of fiscal and administrative policy, and upheld appellee’s claim.
Held: The challenged legislative classification is completely rational, and does not violate the Due Process Clause. Pp. 419 U. S. 505-510.
(a) The different treatment of men and women naval officers under §§ 6382 and 6401 results not from mere administrative or fiscal convenience, but from the fact that female line officers, because of restrictions on their participating in combat and most sea duty, do not have opportunities for professional service equal to those of male line officers, and Congress could rationally conclude that a longer period of tenure for women officers comported with the goal of providing women officers with “fair and equitable career advancement programs.” Frontiero v. Richardson, supra; Reed v. Reed, 404 U. S. 71, distinguished. Pp. 419 U. S. 505-508.
(b) In naval corps where male and female officers are similarly situated Congress, made no tenure distinctions, thus underscoring the rationality of the legislative classification. P. 419 U. S. 509.
(c) The challenged statutes further a flow of promotions commensurate with the Navy’s current needs, and serve to motivate qualified commissioned officers so to conduct themselves that they may realistically anticipate higher command levels. P. 419 U. S. 510. 360 F.Supp. 643, reversed.
STEWART, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which BURGER, C.J., and BLACKMUN, POWELL, and REHNQUIST, JJ., joined. BRENNAN, J., filed a dissenting opinion, in which DOUGLAS and MARSHALL, JJ., joined, post, p. 419 U. S. 511. WHITE, J., filed a dissenting statement, post, p. 419 U. S. 521.
Schlesinger v. Ballard (1975)
Summary: Under Navy policy, men were discharged after failing to be promoted within nine years of service. The requirement for women service members was 13 years before facing discharge. Lieutenant Robert Ballard was passed over twice for promotion within nine years and was honorably discharged. Ballard filed a lawsuit and argued that the Navy policy was in violation of the Due Process of the Fifth Amendment.
Question: Is the Navy policy requiring men to be promoted within nine years, but for women within 13 years, in violation of the Due Process of the Fifth Amendment?
Holding: No, the Navy policy requiring men to be promoted within nine years, but for women within 13 years, was not in violation of the Due Process of the Fifth Amendment.
Reasoning: The Court reasoned that since women were given less opportunities within the Navy, such as being prohibited from combat roles, the Navy policy was allowing women more time to achieve promotions.
Schlesinger v. Ballard
419 U.S. 498 (1975)
Facts: A federal law regarding promotions in the U.S. Navy required male officers to be discharged after 9 years if they failed to be promoted. On the other hand, female officers were given 13 years to receive a promotion before being discharged. Robert C. Ballard, a Navy officer, was subsequently discharged after not being promoted. He sued, arguing that this law violated the Equal Protection Clause under the Fifth Amendment’s Due Process Clause, citing sex discrimination.
Question: Is the federal law granting more time for female officers to receive a promotion a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fifth Amendment?
Decision: 5-4
Reasoning: The Court held that the law was constitutional as its purpose of giving more time to women was to compensate for previous disparities for women within the military. The intention of this law was not to discriminate against men but to instead provide women an equal opportunity to reach a promotion, as career options for women are limited compared to men. Thus, the extra four years were deemed appropriate for this reason.
Robert Ballard, a lieutenant of the Navy, has been in the army for less than nine years and files a second time for a promotion. He was subject to mandatory discharge. He claims sex discrimination because he would have been eligible for 13 years of service before discharge if he was a woman.
Issue: Under the US military statute, did the difference between women and men violate the 5th due process?
The Supreme Court used mere rationality. (6-4) They deduced that the different treatment between men and women did not violate the 5th Amendment. At the time, women had more restrictions in the military than men. They could not grow professionally in combat like men. So, the regulation allowed women to prove themselves in other areas for promotion.
This jurisdiction came from the bias that women were the weaker sex.
I. Schlesinger v Ballard
II. 419 US 498 (1975)
III. Facts: Navy policy says men have 9 years to be promoted or be honorably discharged. Women get 13 years. Ballard was a lieutenant who had been honorably discharged after not receiving promotion. He challenged the Navy policy as unconstitutional, claiming the promotion policy was discriminatory solely based on sex, violating the Due Process Clause of the 5th Amendment. Ballard won in the lower courts, but Schlesinger, the then Secretary of Defense, appealed to the Supreme Court.
IV. Question: Does the promotion policy of the U.S. Navy violate the 5th Amendment?
V. Holding: No, it does not.
VI. Reasoning: The Navy has a reasonable goal in their promotion policy. Unlike other cases, the discrimination is not based on out-of-date stereotypes, but on the relative abilities of men and women. Women are not allowed in combat positions, which would allow them to be promoted, so they are given extra time to prove themselves and be promoted.
Schlesinger v. Ballard 1975
419 US 498 (1975)
Facts:
In this case, there was a male U.S. Navy officer whose name was Robert C. Ballard had to get promoted by a certain time, and if they didn’t, they would get kicked out of the military for not meeting the time frame. Ballard failed to be promoted twice so he was discharged and he argued that the Navy statute (10 U.S.C. 6401) gave women officers more time in order to get promoted before they faced mandatory discharge for not being promoted. Men had nine years in order to achieve promotion or else they would face military discharge. On the other hand, women had thirteen years to achieve promotion in order to not get a mandatory discharge. Ballard argued that the difference in treatment based on sex was discrimination under the 5th Amendment the Due Process Clause in the Equal Protection “section”.
Issue:
Was the difference in treatment in the military in violation of the 5th Amendments Due Process/Equal Protections Clause?
Decision/Action:
No
Reasoning:
The court stated that the difference in treatment was constitutional because it was a way to compensate women for not having the opportunities in the military in the past, as well as giving the power to Congress to decide on issues that have to do with the military.
Concurring Arguments:
None
Dissenting Arguments (opinion):
Justices Brennan, Douglas, and Marshall
Voting Coalitions:
5-4
Title: Schlesinger v. Ballard
Legal Citation: 419 US 498 (1975)
Facts: A naval officer with over nine years of service faced mandatory discharge after failing to be promoted for the second time, as outlined in 10 U.S.C. § 6382(a). He argued that this statute, in contrast to 10 U.S.C. § 6401, which would have allowed a female officer 13 years of service before mandatory discharge, resulted in unconstitutional sex discrimination under the Fifth Amendment’s Due Process Clause.
Issues: Did this law violate the Fifth Amendment’s Due Process Clause?
Holding: No, in a 5-4 ruling.
Reasoning: The court determined that the unequal treatment of male and female naval officers under certain statutes is due to women’s limited opportunities for combat and sea duty. This led Congress to conclude that longer tenure for women officers was necessary for fair career advancement.
Case Brief: Schlesinger v. Ballard (1975)
Facts:
A federal law governing promotions in the U.S. Navy required that male officers be discharged after nine years if they were not promoted. However, female officers were allowed thirteen years before facing discharge if they were not promoted. Ballard, a male Navy officer, was discharged under this rule and challenged the law, arguing that it violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fifth Amendment by treating men and women differently.
Legal Question:
Does a federal law that grants female Navy officers more time to earn a promotion than male officers violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Fifth Amendment?
Holding (Decision):
No. In a 5-4 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the law, ruling that it did not constitute unlawful discrimination based on sex.
Reasoning:
The Court found that the law was constitutional because it was based on real differences in career opportunities between male and female officers. At the time, women in the Navy were barred from serving in combat roles, which significantly limited their chances for promotion compared to men. The extra four years provided to women helped compensate for this disadvantage. The Court ruled that the government had a legitimate interest in ensuring that female officers had a fair chance at promotion, given the structural barriers they faced in the military.
Significance:
This case reinforced the idea that gender-based distinctions in the military can be constitutional if they are based on real differences in opportunities rather than outdated stereotypes. The ruling recognized that women faced unique barriers in career advancement due to combat restrictions, and the government could take steps to offset those disadvantages without violating the Constitution. However, as military policies evolved—especially with women gaining access to combat roles—this case became less relevant over time.
Case: Schlesinger v. Ballard 419 U.S. 498 (1975)
Facts: Richard Ballard (male) was a Navy officer discharged after failing to be promoted within 9 years of service. Women officers, on the other hand, have up to 13 years before facing discharge. Ballard believed this violated the Fifth Amendment’s equal protection clause and challenged this statute.
Statement of issues: Is giving differing gendered officers differing time constraints for promotion or discharge a direct violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fifth Amendment?
Decision: The distinction is justified since women had very different career opportunities in the military at the time.
Reasoning: Majority: The rule differentiating the amount of time before being discharged was a rule Congress made to compensate for women being barred from combat roles.
Dissent: The law is based on outdated gender stereotypes and not true equity.
Summary: Congress upheld the gender-based distinction.
Schlesinger v. Ballard
(1975)
Facts: Navy gave women longer service time before discharge
Issue: is this a violation of equal protection?
decision: No, policy was kept Significance: gender-based military service
Case: Schlesinger v. Ballard
Citation: 419 US 498 (1975)
Facts: United States Naval regulations stipulated that a male service member would be honorably discharged upon being passed over for promotion twice. There was no regulation for female service members regarding being passed up for promotion. Instead, they were given thirteen years before they may be honorably discharged for lack of advancement. Lieutenant Robert Ballard was passed over for promotion twice in nine years and was honorably discharged. Ballard filed a lawsuit, claiming that his right to due process, granted by the Constitution’s Fifth Amendment, was violated.
Issue: Did the US Naval regulation stipulating different requirements for the honorable discharge of male and female service members violate the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment?
Holding: No
Reasoning: The Supreme Court held that the regulation was constitutional because women are given less opportunity for promotion than men because they are prohibited from combat roles, so they should be allowed more time to achieve promotions.
Schlesinger v. Ballard (1975)
Citation: 419 U.S. 498
Facts: 10 U.S.C. §6382(a) provides that lower ranking Marine and Navy officers shall be honorably discharged if they fail to be selected for a promotion twice.
10 U.S.C. §6401 provides that female lower ranking Marine and Navy officers shall be honorably discharged if they have served 13 years and not been selected for a promotion.
A male lower ranking naval officer, who had served 9 years was set to be horribly discharged in compliance with §6382(a) when he filed suit claiming that the application of §6382(a) in comparison with the subsequent §6401 violated the Due Process Clause of the 5th Amendment by providing different treatment to individuals on the sole basis of sex.
A District Court ruled in his favor. Relying on Frontiero they decided that the discharge provisions relied only on the consideration of fiscal and administrative convenience.
Issue(s): Does the different provisions set forth in 10 U.S.C. §6382(a) and §6401 for mandated honorable discharge of male and female service members violate the Due Process Clause of the 5th Amendment?
Holding: No
Reasoning: The challenged legislative classification is completely rational. The goal of the differing provisions are derivative of the fact that women’s opportunities for promotion in the armed services are not equal to that of men’s and thus, attempt to provide female officers fair and equitable career advancement programs. §6382(a) is meant to motivate qualified commissioned officers to conduct themselves so that he may rationally anticipate higher command levels. The respective goals of each section show that the challenged legislative classification is valid, serving more than administrative or fiscal convenience.
Schlesinger v. Ballard
419 U.S. 498 (1975)
Facts: By statute 10 U.S.C. § 6382(a), applicable to male naval officers, Lieutenant Robert C. Ballard was discharged from naval service after not being promoted twice with nine years of active service. In a different statute, 10 U.S.C. § 6401, applicable to female officers, women were entitled to 13 years of commissioned service before a mandatory discharge for want of promotion. Ballard argued that this was an unconstitutional discrimination based on sex in violation of the Fifth Amendment’s Due Process Clause.
Question: Does the gender-based classification violate the 5th Amendment’s due process clause?
Holding: No
Reasoning: The Court asserted that the different treatment of men and women naval officers under §§ 6382 and 6401 demonstrate that male and female line officers in the Navy are not similarly situated regarding professional service opportunities. In competing for promotion, female lieutenants will not generally have compiled records of seagoing service comparable to male officers. The Court recognized that Congress, in giving a more extended period of tenure for women officers, would be consistent with the goal of providing fair and equitable career advancement programs.
NAME & LEGAL CITATION
Schlesinger v. Ballard
419 US 498 (1975)
FACTS
Ballard, a male officer from the navy, was discharged from the navy under a statute which mandated an automatic discharge of male officers after 9 years, in the event that they had no promotion within those 9 years of service. However, female officers from the navy were allowed 13 years before automatic discharge. Ballard argued this violated the Equal Protection Clause under the Fifth Amendment’s Due Process Clause.
QUESTION
Did the statute giving female officers of the navy 4 more years than male officers before mandatory discharge violate the Equal Protection Clause under the Fifth Amendment’s Due Process Clause?
HOLDING
In a 5-4 ruling, the Court upheld the statute that allows female officers of the navy 4 more years than male officers before mandatory discharge.
REASONING
Justice Stewart delivered the opinion. The Court reasoned that women had fewer opportunities for promotion than men because they were excluded and restricted from other aspects of the military. The Court stated that the statute was meant to rectify disadvantages faced by women in the military.
Schlesinger v. Ballard (1975)
Facts: A federal law required U.S. Navy officers to be discharged if they were not promoted within a set period. For male officers, the limit was 9 years, while female officers were allowed 13 years before mandatory discharge. Ballard, a male Navy officer, was discharged under the 9-year rule and challenged the law, arguing that the longer promotion window for women violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fifth Amendment.
Issue: Does a law allowing female Navy officers more time for promotion than male officers violate the Equal Protection Clause?
Holding: No, the Supreme Court upheld the law, ruling that the gender-based distinction was constitutional.
Reasoning: The Court recognized that, at the time, women in the Navy had fewer opportunities for promotion than men because they were excluded from combat roles and certain career paths. The law compensated for these disadvantages, ensuring female officers had a fairer chance at advancement. The Court did not apply strict scrutiny but instead reasoned that the difference was based on actual policy barriers, not gender stereotypes.
Schlesinger v. Ballard 1975
Facts: After nine years of active service, a naval officer was denied a promotion and was therefore set to be honorably discharged. The statute which required this, allowed women to hold a position for 13 years before being discharged. The officer argued that this differentiation was merely an administrative convenience like in Frontiero v. Richardson.
Question: did this law violate the due process clause of the fifth amendment?
Decision: No, the court stated that this was beyond administrative convenience. Rather, the women officers had more restrictions on combat roles, so their restriction of opportunities granted them more time to achieve promotions. When the genders are more equally situated, then the law will change, but for now the law went towards creating more equal career opportunities for women.
Schlesinger v. Ballard
419 U.S. 498 (1975)
Facts: 10 U.S.C 6382(a) required that after 9 years for men and 13 years needed to be prompted or would be terminated. Robert C. Ballard was a lieutenant in the United States Navy. After completing more than nine years of service, he failed to be selected for a promotion to lieutenant commander. Ballard was then subjected to be fired. Ballard filed suit, arguing that this sex based classification violated the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment.
Issues: Was it constitutional under the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment for the Navy to implement sex-based classifications and mandatory discharge for service?
Holding: Yes, 5-4.
Reasoning: Per Stewart, the Court ruled that there is rational reasoning because the provisions are not strictly for fiscal or administrative purposes but instead because women do not have equal opportunities for professional service to those of male line officers. This means that a longer period of tenure for women officers is fair to ensure equal career opportunities.
Schlesinger v. Ballard
419 US 498 (1975)
Facts: Schlesinger was a naval officer with more than nine years of service, who was discharged after failing to be selected for a promotion for a second time. The Navy, under section 6382, requires male lieutenants to be discharged when they are passed on promotion to lieutenant commander twice, whereas women lieutenants (Section 6401) are given 13 years in the role before being discharged.
Issue: Did the gender distinction in the mandatory discharge provisions violate the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment?
Holding: No, the different treatment of men and women is due to restrictions on female officers participating in combat and other opportunities males had. According to the court, congress could rationally decide a longer tenure period grants women a more equitable opportunity for career advancement.
I. Schlesinger v. Ballard
II. 419 US 498 (1975)
III. Facts: Ballard, a naval officer of 9 years, failed a second time to be promoted and under 10 U.S.C § 6382(a), was subject to mandatory discharge. He brought this action claiming that the statute was a violation of Due Process as, when compared to 10 U.S.C. § 6401 (wherein a female officer was entitled 13 years compared to 10). A 3-judge District court through Frontiero v. Richardson upheld the appellee’s claim.
IV. Issues: Did 10 U.S.C § 6382(a) registration provisions violate the Fifth’s Due Process Clause?
V. Decision and Action: No (5-4), in favor of Schlesinger.
VI. Reasoning, per Stewart: The different treatment between the sexes for naval officers was from the fact that female line officers, due to restrictions on participating in combat and sea duty, do not have opportunities for professional service equal to male line officers and was thus rational. Moreover, without tenure distinctions, the statutes further a flow of promotions commensurate to the Navy’s needs.
IX. Summary: The 10 U.S.C § 6382(a) was constitutional.
I. Title of Case:
Schlesinger v. Ballard
II. Legal Citation:
419 U.S. 498 (1975)
III. Statement of Facts:
Lieutenant Robert C. Ballard, a male Naval officer, was discharged after failing twice to be promoted within nine years of commissioned service, as required under 10 U.S.C. § 6382(a). Female Naval officers, under 10 U.S.C. § 6401, were allowed 13 years of commissioned service before facing mandatory discharge for lack of promotion. Ballard argued that this discrepancy constituted unconstitutional gender discrimination under the Fifth Amendment’s Due Process Clause.
IV. Statement of Issues:
Did the statutory difference in the length of commissioned service before mandatory discharge for male and female Naval officers violate the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment?
V. Decision and Action:
The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Schlesinger, upholding the statute as constitutional.
VI. Reasoning of the Court:
The Court applied intermediate scrutiny and found that the differential treatment was justified because women were excluded from combat roles, which limited their opportunities for promotion compared to men. The statute was deemed a reasonable effort to compensate for these disadvantages and ensure equitable career advancement opportunities for female officers without relying on arbitrary or outdated gender stereotypes.
VII. Concurring Opinions:
None explicitly noted in this case.
VIII. Dissenting Opinions:
Justice Brennan dissented, arguing that the statute perpetuated gender-based discrimination and failed to meet constitutional standards for equal protection under the Fifth Amendment.
IX. Voting Coalition:
The decision was 5-4 in favor of Schlesinger (upholding the statute).
X. Summary:
Schlesinger v. Ballard upheld a federal statute granting female Naval officers more time before mandatory discharge than male officers, reasoning that the policy addressed actual differences in opportunities due to women’s exclusion from combat roles and met intermediate scrutiny standards for gender-based classifications.
Schlesinger v. Ballard 1975
Facts: Naval officers with more than 9 years of service who failed to be selected for promotion under 10 USC 6382 were subject to mandatory discharge. Under this same law, women officers are entitled to 13 years of commissioned service before a charge. Schlesinger argues that this violated the 5th Amendment due process clause.
Issues: Does 10 USC 6382 gender-based classification violate the 5th Amendment’s due process clause?
Decision: No
Reasoning Peer Stewart
What the court notes is that between women and men navy officers there are clear distinctions WOmen can’t enter combat, women can not be assigned aircrafts and such FOr this reason their records are not as compiled nor as strong and take longer to develop. For these key differences in opportunity within service, the court finds that due process is not violated because women have a different process from men to be promoted, which is why they are granted a longer.
Voting Coalition:5-4
Summary: Differences in women and men when it comes to getting promotions and differences in service can lead to differences in treatment without violating due process.
Schlesinger v. Ballard
Facts A federal statue required U s marshall or Passed over twice for promotion would Dishonorably discharged But for women this would not happen and they were in Entitled for thirteen years time before they would be Subject. to the same order Plaintive argued that Violated Due process of fifth amendment.
Question does this violate the Fifth amendment.
Decision No this does not violate because women are Automatically excluded from Combat This creates more opportunities for women To advance and get promotions In the military.
Schlesinger v. Ballard 1975
Citation: 419 U.S. 498 (1975)
Court: Supreme Court of the United States
Date Decided: January 15, 1975
Facts: Lieutenant Richard Ballard, a male officer in the U.S. Navy, was subject to discharge under a statute and Navy regulations that required male officers to be discharged if not promoted within a certain timeframe. Specifically, male officers who had been passed over for promotion twice were subject to mandatory discharge after nine years of service. However, female officers were given a longer period, thirteen years, to achieve the same promotion before facing mandatory discharge. Ballard challenged this gender-based difference, arguing that it violated the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment.
Issue: Does the statute that provides female Navy officers with a longer period than male officers to achieve promotion before mandatory discharge violate the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment?
Holding: The Supreme Court upheld the statute, ruling that it did not violate the Due Process Clause.
Reasoning: The majority opinion, delivered by Justice Stewart, reasoned that the different treatment of male and female officers was justified by the different career opportunities available to them within the Navy. At the time, female officers had fewer opportunities for advancement due to restrictions on their participation in combat roles and other assignments. The Court recognized that the statute aimed to compensate for these disadvantages by allowing women more time to achieve promotion. The Court applied a rational basis review, concluding that the gender-based distinction was reasonably related to the legitimate governmental interest of maintaining an equitable promotion system within the constraints imposed by military policy at the time.
Significance: Schlesinger v. Ballard is significant for its recognition of the need to account for institutional disparities when evaluating gender-based distinctions. It reflects the Court’s approach to balancing equal protection principles with practical considerations of fairness in contexts with inherent inequalities, such as military service.
Schlesinger v. Ballard
419 U.S. 498 (1975)
Facts: A group of male naval officers was discharged before completing ten years of commissioned service due to promotion requirements. These men received lower separation pay than female officers, who had longer service periods and greater promotion opportunities. Even female officers who were not promoted received significantly higher separation pay. Ballard, one of the discharged male officers, argued that if he had been a female officer in the same situation, he would have received over $200,000 instead of the $15,000 he was given.
Issue: Does the difference in separation pay between male and female naval officers violate the Fifth Amendment’s Due Process Clause?
Decision: No, the Court upheld the law, applying intermediate scrutiny under equal protection analysis.
Reasoning: The Court determined that the statute was constitutional because it sought to address historical barriers that had limited women’s career advancement in the military. Since female officers faced fewer opportunities for promotion, the law provided them with additional time and benefits to compensate for those disadvantages. The Court ruled that this distinction was justified and did not violate the Constitution.
Schlesinger v. Ballard (1975)
Facts:
A male Navy officer, Ballard, challenged a law that allowed female officers more time to be promoted before mandatory discharge compared to male officers. He argued this gender-based difference violated the Equal Protection Clause.
Issue:
Did the law granting female officers more time for promotion violate the Equal Protection Clause?
Holding:
No, the Supreme Court upheld the law.
Reasoning:
The Court found that the difference was justified because women had fewer opportunities for promotion in the Navy due to restrictions on their roles at the time.
Since the law aimed to compensate for structural disadvantages faced by women, it was considered a legitimate policy choice.
Significance:
This case recognized that gender-based distinctions can sometimes be upheld when they address existing inequalities rather than reinforce stereotypes. It was an early acknowledgment of affirmative action-like policies to promote gender equity in professional fields.
Schlesinger v. Ballard
419 US 498 (1975)
Facts: A separation statute, 10 U.S.C. Section 6401, mandated female Naval officers 13 years of commissioned service before mandatory discharge while 10 U.S.C. Section 6382(a) only granted male Naval officers 9 years. Lieutenant Robert C. Ballard, a naval officer with more than nine years of active service, failed for a second time to be selected for a promotion to the rank of lieutenant commander. Ballard argued that 10 U.S.C. Section 6382(a), when compared with 10 U.S.C. Section 6401, constituted unconstitutional discrimination based on sex in violation of the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment. Congress reasoned that women had fewer opportunities for promotion due to restrictions from combat roles and thus could rationally be afforded a longer tenure before mandatory discharge to ensure fair and equitable career advancement.
Legal Question: Did the differential treatment of men and women naval officers under 10 U.S.C. Sections 6382 and 6401 violate the Due Process Clause?
Decision: No
Reasoning of Court: per Stewart. The Court held that the differential treatment of men and women naval officers under 10 U.S.C. Sections 6382 and 6401 were constitutional. The Court found that the statutes did not constitute unjustifiable discrimination in violation of the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment. This was due to the practical differences in service opportunities between male and female naval officers. Since women officers were restricted from combat roles and most sea duty, which limited their comparable professional experiences with male officers, the Court accepted Congress’s rationale that women had fewer opportunities for a promotion. This differentiation was not based on overbroad or archaic generalizations about the abilities of men versus women but on the actual conditions of service and promotion within the Navy. The Court distinguished this case from previous decisions where sex-based classifications were struck down, such as Frontiero v. Richardson (1973), which involved an unjustifiable reliance on administrative convenience or overbroad generalizations. Here, the differentiation was seen as directly related to the unique structure of the Navy and its promotion system, which was deemed necessary to maintain an effective and ready force. The Court concluded that Congress, in legislating the differential treatment, acted within its broad constitutional authority to raise and support armies and navies, and did not violate the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment.
Voting Coalitions: (5 to 4). For the majority, Burger, Stewart, Blackmun, Powell, Rehnquist. Dissenting, Douglas, Brennan, White, Marshall.
Even in 1975, in other branches of the United States military, women were serving in combat positions. Thousands of women fought and died in the Vietnam War, which had just been settled that year. If in the Navy, women were excluded from active duty positions, and this made their service four years longer, then the solution would have been to integrate women into combat roles and increase or decrease the service limit from there. This was an excuse to not do that.
Schlesinger v. Ballard (1975)
A Naval officer with more than 9 years of service failed for the second time, so under the 10 U.S.C. 6382 (a) he was subject to a mandatory discharge. The rule for women in similar situations was after 13 years they would be subject to mandatory discharge (10 U.S.C. 6401).The Supreme Court found that, because women were excluded from combat service and thus had fewer opportunities for advancement than men, the law did not discriminate against males but rather remedied the disadvantages faced by women.
–>The case established that laws which treat men and women differently will be upheld if they compensate for actual differences in opportunities, particularly in the military context
Title: Schlesinger v. Ballard, 1975
Facts:
Schlesinger sought a declaration that the United States Navy’s policy of excluding women from duty aboard ships was unconstitutional. Schlesinger argued that this policy violated the equal protection component of the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution.
Question:
Was the United States Navy’s policy of excluding women from serving aboard ships constituted unconstitutional discrimination in violation of the Fifth Amendment’s equal protection component?
Holding:
The Court held that the Navy’s policy of excluding women from serving aboard ships did not violate the equal protection component of the Fifth Amendment’s Due Process Clause. The court reasoned that the policy was justified by the inherent differences between men and women in terms of physical strength and the potential for pregnancy, which could disrupt shipboard operations.
I. Title and Citation: Schlesinger v Ballard 419 US 498 (1975)
II. Facts: A group of male naval officers were discharged before completing their ten year commissioned service due to certain promotion requirements. Compared to the female naval officers, they receive lower pay.
III. Legal Question(s): Do the gender-based classifications violate the due process clause of the 5th amendment?
IV. Holding: No
V. Reasoning: Court finds it fair since women are excluded for combat service, therefore, working at jobs that are non-combat longer is fair
VI. Opinions:
Concurring Opinion: None
Dissenting Opinion: Justice Brennan, Justice Douglas and Justice Marshall
Schlesinger v. Ballard 1975
Facts: Appellee, a naval officer with more than nine years of active service who failed for. a second time to be selected for was subject to mandatory discharge. Made the argument that if he had he been a woman officer, he would have been entitled to 13 years of commissioned service before a mandatory discharge. unconstitutional discrimination based on sex in violation of the Fifth Amendment’s Due Process Clause..
Question:
Does the different treatment of male and female naval officers in discharge for promotion violate DPC?
Decision:
classification is rational, and does not violate the Due Process Clause.
Legal Citation: 419 U.S. 498 (1975)
Statement of Facts:
•Robert C. Ballard was a lieutenant in the United States Navy. After completing more than nine years of service, he for the second time failed to be selected for a promotion to lieutenant commander, which then subjected him to a mandatory discharge under 10 U.S.C 6382(a). Ballard filed a suit in federal court citing that if he had been a woman officer 10 U.S.C. 6401 would apply, where women are entitled to 13 years of service before a mandatory discharge occurs in failure of a promotion. Ballard claimed that this gender-based classification violated the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment. A District Court concluded that the discharge provisions are considerations of a fiscal and administrative nature, thus ruling the provisions as unconstitutional. The case went to the Court.
Statement of Issues:
•Does the gender-based classifications in mandatory discharge provisions as outlined in 6382(a) and 6401 violate the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment?
Decision:
•No, the Court ruled that the challenged legislative classification is rational and does not violate the Due Process Clause.
Reasoning:
•The Court stated that the provisions are not strictly for fiscal or administrative purposes but instead “from the fact that female line officers, because of restrictions on their participating in combat and most sea duty, do not have opportunities for professional service equal to those of male line officers…longer period of tenure for women officers comported with the goal of providing women officers with fair and equitable career advancement programs”.
Concurring Opinions:
•None
Dissenting Opinions:
•Justice Brennan, Douglas, Marshall and White
Voting Coalition:
•5-4 in favor of Schlesinger
Significance:
•The case established that laws which treat men and women differently will be upheld if they compensate for actual differences in opportunities, particularly in the military context
419 US 498 (1975)
Rule of Law: It’s not a violation of due process to mandatorily discharge male naval officers for lack of promotion after approximately nine years of service while allowing female naval officers 13 years to be promoted before mandatory discharge.
Facts: As required by a statute applicable to male naval officers, Lieutenant Robert C. Ballard was discharged from naval service after not being promoted, twice, to the rank of lieutenant commander. He had served in the Navy for over nine years. Under a different separation statute applicable to female officers, women were entitled to 13 years of service before being discharged for lack of promotion to lieutenant commander. Ballard brought suit in federal court, claiming a violation of due process based on the statute’s unfairness.
Issue: Is it a violation of due process to mandatorily discharge male naval officers for lack of promotion after approximately nine years of service while allowing female naval officers 13 years to be promoted before mandatory discharge?
Holding: (Delivered by Justice Stewart) No. It is not a violation of due process to mandatorily discharge male naval officers for lack of promotion after approximately nine years of service while allowing female naval officers 13 years to be promoted before mandatory discharge. Differential treatment does not violate due process if it has a rational, non-arbitrary basis. The U.S. Navy has a pyramidal organizational structure, with progressively fewer higher-ranking officers at the top. To maintain effective leadership and a competitive environment, the Navy systematically discharges officers who have not been promoted to lieutenant commander within a certain timeframe. As for the statute governing female officers, lawmakers expressly acknowledged that women would receive the benefit of a few extra years relative to men before being mandatorily discharged.
To be promoted in army for men it takes 9 years, for woman 13
Q: Does different treatment of male and female officers in discharge violate Due Process of 5th?
Rulling: No, does not violate, it is constitutional
Schlesinger wins
Helps to ensure equality for woman, in the same time assumes that woman are weaker
I think the different standards on the basis of genders within this case is reasonable and helps to achieve equity. The court ruled that these statutes were permissible because of the fact that women had restrictions in their participation within combat which made certain achievements unattainable for them. Essentially, the court recognized that holding them to a different standard was permissible because they had to abide by different rules and restrictions within their career. I think this case does a good job as distinguishing between equality v. equity. There is a difference between equity and equality. Equality says everyone gets the same opportunities but equity recognizes that people start off at different points and need different amounts of support to reach the same ending.
Title and Citation:
Schlesinger v Ballard
419 US 498 1975
Facts:
A naval officer with more than 9 years of active service was subject to mandatory discharge, after failing for a second time to be selected for promotion.
The naval office then brought this action to the courts on the grounds that 10 U.S.C 6832a, when compared to 10 U.S.C 6401, was unconstitutional based on sex discrimination was a violation of the due process clause of the Fifth Amendment.
Legal Questions:
Does the statute applied to him differentiating the treatment of men and women officers’ unconstitutional discrimination based on sex a violation of the due process clause of the Fifth Amendment?
Holding:
No, in a 5-4 majority opinion, the Court held that the legislative classification is completely rational and does not violate the due process clause.
Reasoning:
The Court reasoned that the differential treatment of men and women naval officers is justified because they are not similarly situated. Female line offices, because of restriction on their participating in combat, don’t have the same opportunities for professional service compared to male line officers.
Dissenting:
Justice Brennan, Douglas and Marshall dissented.
schlesinger v. ballard
fed law requiring the honorable dischargement of lieutenants or captains who have been passed over for promotion twice, but females would have a minimum 13-year extension
does the law violate the Due Process Clause of the 5th amd
no, female service members tend to have less opportunities (e.g., for promotion), so this sex-based distinction was intended to combat injustice, not reproduce it
intermediate scrut
Schlesinger v Ballard
419 US 498 (1974)
Facts: A Naval officer with more than 9 years of service failed for the second time, so under the 10 U.S.C. 6382 (a) he was subject to a mandatory discharge. The rule for women in similar situations was after 13 years they would be subject to mandatory discharge (10 U.S.C. 6401).
Question: Did discrepancy in laws violate the due process clause of the 5th amendment?
Opinion: no
Reasoning: female officers have restrictions in combat and most over sea duty, do not have opportunities for professional service equal to those of male line officers, thus a longer period of tenure for women officers is okay since it is providing “a fair and equitable career advancement program”
I.Schlesinger v. Ballard
II.Legal Citation
419 US 498 (1975)
III. Facts
Under a federal statute, section 6382(a), any lieutenant in the U.S. Navy or captain in the U.S. Marine Corps who was twice passed over for a promotion was to be honorably discharged in the year of the second failure. This section did not apply to women officers since they were granted a minimum of 13 years of duty before they could be forced out. Robert C. Ballard, a lieutenant in the US, after more than 9 years of active service as a commissioned officer. Ballard was discharged under the mandatory requirements due to failing , for a second time, to be selected for promotion. Ballard brought a suit to the District court of California, claiming if he was a women officer, he would be subjected to a different statute
IV. Issue
Does the different treatment of male and female naval officers in discharge violate the due process clause of the 5th Amendment?
V. Decision
5-4, No.
Schlesinger v. Ballard
419 US 498 (1975)
Facts:
A cohort of male naval officers was discharged before completing their tenth year of commissioned service due to promotion requirements. They received a lower separation pay rate compared to female officers, who had longer service periods and more promotion opportunities. Even female officers who failed to secure promotions received higher separation pay rates than their male counterparts. Ballard, one of the male officers, received $15,000 in separation pay but argued that had he been a female officer in a similar situation, he would have received over $200,000.
Issue:
Did the discrepancy in separation pay between male and female officers violate the due process clause of the 5th Amendment?
Decision:
The court found that the law underwent intermediate scrutiny equal protection analysis because women faced fewer advancement opportunities in the military. It held that the statute directly addressed past statutory barriers to advancement and did not contravene the Constitution.
Title: Schlesinger v. Ballard 1975
Citation: 419 U.S. 498 (1975)
Facts: A Navy Attrition Policy allowing for male officers to have mandatory discharge 4 yeast earlier than female officers. A Federal Statute 6382(a) and 640, adopted by the Attrition policy allowed for male naval officers to be discharged after twice failing to be selected for promotion. Robert Ballard was a lieutenant in the United States Navy. After completing more than nine years of service, he for the second time failed to be selected for a promotion to lieutenant commander, which then subjected him to a mandatory discharge under 10 U.S.C 6382(a). Ballard challenged the statute on the basis that if he had been a woman officer, he would have been entitled to 4 more years of service, serving a total 13 years of service before a mandatory discharge occurs in failure of a promotion. Ballard claimed that this gender-based classification violated the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment. A District Court ruled the statute as unconstitutional.
Legal Question: Do the gender-based classifications in mandatory discharge provisions as outlined in 6382(a) and 6401, violate the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment?
Holding: No, 5-4.
Reasoning: The court ruled that gender-based classifications in mandatory discharge provisions as outlined in 6382(a) and 6401, did not violate the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment. “The complete rationality of this legislative classification is underscored by the fact that in corps where male and female lieutenants are similarly situated, Congress has not differentiated between them with respect to tenure… . These include officers in the medical, dental, judge advocate general, and medical service corps…We cannot say that, in exercising its broad constitutional power here, Congress has violated the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment.”
Dissenting Opinions: Justice Brennan, Douglas, Marshall, and White.
Summary: This case established the constitutionality of a federal statute, establishing only female Naval officers four more years of commissioned service before mandatory discharge.
Female naval officers given 4 more years before mandatory discharge compared to make officers. A group of officers discharged before their tenth year received lower separation pay compared to female officers received three more promotional opportunities. The female officers who weren’t promoted received higher separation pay. Ballard sued staying that it was a violation of the due process clause. The court ruled a majority of 5-4 that the differences were not administrative conveniences, due to men vs women not having the same advancement opportunities.
MILITARY CASE
I. Case Name: Schlesinger v. Ballard (1975)
II. Facts: Lieutenant Ballard, a male Naval officer, cleaned a challenge to the law that provided female officers with a longer tenure of commissioned service than male officers before they could face involuntary discharge. The law was intended to compensate for women’s inability to serve on combat ships, which was a condition for promotions and advancement.
III. Issue: The issue was to determine whether the different treatment of male and female Naval officers discriminated against males in violation of the Fifth Amendment’s Due Process Clause.
IV. Decision: In an unanimous 8-0 decision, the Supreme Court upheld the law.
V. Reasoning: The Supreme Court found that, because women were excluded from combat service and thus had fewer opportunities for advancement than men, the law did not discriminate against males but rather remedied the disadvantages faced by women.
VI. Impact: The case established that laws which treat men and women differently will be upheld if they compensate for actual differences in opportunities, particularly in the military context.
✍️ edit: 5-4 ruling.
Schlesinger v. Ballard
Legal Citation: 419 U.S. 498 (1975)
Statement of Facts: Robert C. Ballard was a lieutenant in the United States Navy. After completing more than nine years of service, he for the second time failed to be selected for a promotion to lieutenant commander, which then subjected him to a mandatory discharge under 10 U.S.C 6382(a). Ballard filed a suit in federal court citing that if he had been a woman officer 10 U.S.C. 6401 would apply, where women are entitled to 13 years of service before a mandatory discharge occurs in failure of a promotion. Ballard claimed that this gender-based classification violated the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment. A District Court concluded that the discharge provisions are considerations of a fiscal and administrative nature, thus ruling the provisions as unconstitutional. The case went to the Court.
Statement of Issues: Do the gender-based classifications in mandatory discharge provisions as outlined in 6382(a) and 6401, violate the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment?
Holding: No, 5-4.
Reasoning: Stewart- The Court ruled that the challenged legislative classification is rational and does not violate the Due Process Clause. The Court stated that the provisions are not strictly for fiscal or administrative purposes but instead “from the fact that female line officers, because of restrictions on their participating in combat and most sea duty, do not have opportunities for professional service equal to those of male line officers…longer period of tenure for women officers comported with the goal of providing women officers with fair and equitable career advancement programs”.
Concurring opinion: N/A
Dissenting opinion: Brennan, Douglas, Marshall. White.
Voting Coalition: 5-4
Summary: The gender-based classification in mandatory discharge provisions for the Navy is constitutional, as women line officers are not able to participate in combat at the same rate as men. A step in trying to create equity.
I.Schlesinger v. Ballard
II.Legal Citation
419 US 498 (1975)
III. Facts
A group of male naval officers were discharged before completing their tenth year of commissioned service due to needing to be promoted. They received a lower rate of separation pay than female officers, who were allowed to serve longer and had more opportunities for promotion. Even the female officers who failed to be promoted received a higher rate of separation pay than their male counterparts. One of the male officers, Ballard, received $15,000 in separation pay. Still, he argued that if he had been a female officer in a similar situation, he would have received over $200,000 in separation pay.
IV. Issue
Did it violate the due process clause of the 5th Amendment?
V. Decision
the law passed intermediate scrutiny equal protection analysis because women had fewer opportunities for advancement in the military. The Court held that the statute directly compensated for past statutory barriers to advancement and did not violate the Constitution.
I.Schlesinger v. Ballard
II. Citation 419 US 498 (1975)
III.Facts: In the 1970’s Navy Attrition policy male officers were forced to mandatory discharge 4 years earlier than female officers. Females have to wait 13 years. Ballard sued Schlesiger due to sex discrimination on the federal statue of promotion. Ballard claimed that it was a violation of due process because if he was a woman he could have served 13 years without a discharge. There is an arbitrary classification.
IV.Issues: is it unconstitutional and a violation of due process?
V. Holding: No
VI. Reasoning: The different treatment of men and women naval officers under §§ 6382 and 6401 results not from mere administrative or fiscal convenience, but from the fact that female line officers, because of restrictions on their participating in combat and most sea duty, do not have opportunities for professional service equal to those of male line officers.
1. Name or title of case:
Schlesinger v. Ballard
2. Legal Citation:
419 U.S. 498 (1975)
3. Facts of the case:
Robert C. Ballard, a lieutenant in the US, after more than 9 years of active service as a commissioned officer. Ballard was discharged under the mandatory requirements of 10 USCS 6382(a) because he failed , for a second time, to be selected for promotion. Ballard brought a suit to the District court of California, claiming if he was a women officer, he would be subjected to a different statute in 10 USCS 6401(a) . A woman Navy officer is entitled to 13 years of commissioned service before a mandatory discharge for want of promotion.
4. Legal Question:
Whether the application 6382 to him in comparison with the treatment of women officers subjected to 6401, was unconstitutional discrimination violated the due process clause of the 5th amendment?
5. Decision and Action:
Court in favor of Schlesinger holding that the challenged legislative classification is completely rational, and does not violate the Due Process Clause.
6. Opinion of the court:
Justice Stewart stated the different treatment of men and women navel officers under 6382 and 6401 results from mere administrative or fiscal convenience, but from the fact that female line officers, because of restrictions on their participating in combat and most sea duty, do not have opportunities for professional service equal to those of male officers.
Congress concluded that a longer period for tenure for women officers comported with the goal of providing women officers with “fair and equitable career advance”
7. Voting Coalition:
Court in favor of Schlesinger by a majority vote of 5 to 4.
8. Summary:
The court decided equity over equality of military women and men in receiving a tenure/promotion.
I. Name or Title of Case:
Schlesinger v. Ballard
II. Legal Citation:
419 U.S. 498 (1975)
III. Statement of Facts:
Appellee, a naval officer with over nine years of active service, filed this action, arguing that the application of 10 U.S.C. § 6382(a) to him was unconstitutional discrimination based on sex in violation of the Fifth Amendment’s Due Process Clause. In contrast, he claimed that 10 U.S.C. § 6401, which would have allowed him to serve for thirteen years as a commissioned officer before being subject to a mandatory discharge for lack of promotion, would not have applied to him. A three-judge District Court upheld the appellee’s claim, concluding that the challenged mandatory discharge clauses are only justified by administrative and fiscal policy concerns.
IV. Statement of Issues:
Whether or not the classification legislation was in violation of the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment?
V. Decision and Action:
The Court ruled in favor of Schlesinger, holding that the classification legislation was not in violation of the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment
VI. Reasoning of the Court:
The Court, provided by Justice Stewart, provided that because women were not allowed to serve in combat, they had less opportunity to develop in the military. This is why the Supreme Court decided that the statute passed intermediate scrutiny equal protection examination. The Court determined that there was a constitutional violation with the Act that directly compensated for previous statutory obstacles to development. Unlike Frontiero v. Richardson, the Court’s handling of the case was consistent with a line of decisions in which it showed deference to the armed forces.
VII. Concurring Opinions:
None.
VIII. Dissenting Opinions:
Justice Brennan, joined by Justices Douglas and Marshall, filed a dissenting opinion. In addition, Justice White also filed a dissenting opinion.
IX. Voting Coalition:
The Court ruled in favor of Schlesinger with a simple majority vote of 5 to 4.
X. Summary:
This case was important because it established that it was constitutional to grant female officers four more years of commissioned service before mandatory discharge.
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You get 10 years to be promoted if you’re a male service member, but 13 years if you’re a female service member — meaning male service members have less time to be promoted than female counterparts before they’re discharged for not advancing. There are not as many opportunities for women to be promoted in the military, therefore more time is needed due to lack of jobs. The Court, in a 5-4 ruling, ruled that this rule did not constitute unlawful discrimination on the basis of sex in violation of the due process clause of the Fifth Amendment.
The court says that the 5th amendment was not violated. Regarding different treatment of men and women officers. Women needed to serve a longer term than men for promotion of rank. Due to the differences of men and women. Personally I think that there is sex discrimination. There are way to many differences in policies for men and women.
The ruling of this case as some of my peers have stated already highlights equity over equality within the military system. It reminds me of the Khan v. Shevin case in where the rulings of the case also pointed towards an equitable approach for widows instead of equality due to women’s situation in that time. In regards to the ruling I guess it makes sense that the court realizes that the women and men experience in society is different and should acknowledge the additional hardships women face,,, but can’t they also not limit women in creating additional obstacles from getting promoted in the first place?
I think this case along with others helps further explore how the Court interprets the Equal Protection Clause, given that equality doesn’t seem to be the end goal of the Equal Protection Clause. It’s a misnomer for sure, but the reasoning behind it, like advancing equity over equality, is something I sometimes support🤙🏼
I think this case is a good example of equity versus equality. The court based their ruling on the rationale of restrictions on women’s participation in combat and sea duty creates an unequal opportunity for promotions for men and women. In an attempt to remedy this, the court imposed different time restraints on men and women to get promoted. I find this ruling fair. Although it doesn’t give equal treatment to everyone, the inequality stems from necessity. To hold men and women to the same standards, when advancements are accessible unevenly does a disservice to women.
A naval officer with 9 years of service failed to be selected for promotion. Therefore, under Section 6382, he was discharged. The naval officer argued that this was unconstitutional since women officers are entitled to 13 years without promotions before getting discharged. He argued unconstitutionally under the 5th amendments due process clause. The court held that the classification does not violate Due Process Clause. I find it fair that service officers are held to a certain standard and could be discharged if they don’t (think about working at Target and just not being a good employee). However, I find it unfair that men and women are held to a different standard which is seen in the years they’re given to be promoted. Women, regardless of restrictions, should be held to the same standard as men. In the military, its not about gender, its about physical and mental capabilities that being in the military requires of you.
buuuut, what if women are not allowed to exercise their physical and mental capabilities? see Olivia above
This case is related to different treatment between women and men; however, I see it kind of fairly since sometimes men are better paid than women and since men can be promote easily than women as well.
Robert Ballad was discharged after nine years of service as a naval officer because he failed to be selected for promotion. 10 U.S.C. § 6382(a) stated that after nine years of service without a promotion a man will be discharged. Ballard claimed that this was a violation of the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment when compared to 10 U.S.C. § 6401 under which, had he been a woman officer, he would have been entitled to 13 years of commissioned service before a mandatory discharge for want of promotion. In a 5 to 4 decision, the Supreme Court decided that the unequal requirement of the 10 U.S.C. § 6382(a) did not violate the 5th Amendment. The Court argued that women do not have the same opportunities as men because of their restrictions on combat. They argue that this law provides women with “equitable advancement programs.”
In Schlesinger v. Ballard, appellant Robert Ballard was a Navy Lt., who was forcibly discharged from service because he did not get selected for a promotion for the second time. Due to this, he brought a lawsuit to the district court of Socal arguing that if he had been a woman officer, he would have been held to a different standard. This is given that a 6401 statute held that Women Navy officers were entitled to 13 years of commissioned service before getting discharged from their service due to failure of promotion. He claimed it was discrimination and unconstitutional under the due process clause of the 5th. The court held that this was not true because this statute was made to sort of remedy the lack of opportunities that female naval officers had given that there were restrictions on their participation in combat and overseas making it difficult to get promotions to begin with.
The legislative classification did not violate the Due Process Clause. Women were able to stay an additional 4 years without a promotion because it wasn’t as easy for women to get promoted. They didn’t have the same opportunities as men to be promoted. As some of my classmates noted it was a matter of equity and not equality.
Appellee, a naval officer with more than nine years of active service, who failed for a second time to be selected for promotion and thus was subject to mandatory discharge, brought this action claiming that application of that statute to him, when compared to 10 U.S.C. § 6401 (under which, had he been a woman officer, he would have been entitled to 13 years of commissioned service before a mandatory discharge for want of promotion), was unconstitutional discrimination based on sex in violation of the Fifth Amendment’s Due Process Clause.
The court says that the different treatment of men and women naval officers was fine as female line officers, face restrictions barring them from participating in combat and most sea duties, do not have opportunities for professional service equal to those of male line officers, and Congress could rationally conclude that a longer period of tenure for women officers comported with the goal of providing women officers with “fair and equitable career advancement programs.”
I think that the law is fair as it gives women a leg up and works to redress problems. I guess this is an application of middle-level review where suspect classifications like sex are ok if it’s to right a former wrong.
The main premise of this case is to determine whether having different requirements for male and female naval officers did violate the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment. The requirement for male naval officers was, for any active service member with more than nine years who failed to be promoted by the second time was to be discharged mandatorily. The requirement for female naval officers was, for any active member with more than thirteen years who failed to be promoted by the second time to be discharged mandatorily. Naval Officer Ballard sued, and a district court ruled in his favor, using precedent from Frontiero v Richardson. The Defense Department appealed to the Supreme Court, which in a 5-4 decision reversed the lower court’s ruling. The Court justified that because of fewer opportunities for women in the military in the past and that Congress was justified to pass such a law. This was seen as “fair and equitable career advancement programs” (Court used equity rather than equality). Since the Court upheld the law, it was hence CONSTITUTIONAL.
As has been mentioned by my peers this case seems to serve as an example of the law being used to remedy the effects that have occurred due to past discrimination. Even though it is not necessarily fair, the logic behind the decision can be understood, especially since it is mentioned that women had a more difficult time advancing in their naval careers due to restrictions that they had to comply with, restrictions which were not imposed on their male counterparts.
This case is hard because the fact is that in the military, in order to get promoted, you have to do things like re-enlist, become an instructor, a drill sergeant, a recruiter, and so on. If you don’t do these things and others within your time in the military you’ll get discharged or they just won’t let you re-enlist. Those things I mentioned (and many other things) come with experience and opportunities that come up depending on the job you have in the military. Combat jobs have a higher likely hood of these things because of the vacancies and opportunities in them all the time vs support jobs. Now the question comes up, is this fair. The thing is it’s not but it is. If you cannot perform well enough to pass the requirements to be in a harder MOS or combat MOS it’s not the military’s fault you can’t get in regardless if you’re a man or a women. If you can only perform well enough to get support jobs and because of that can’t get promoted as easily and therefore get kicked out eventually that’s not really the military’s fault. Is it a little unfair? Maybe. But this is a case where I’d have to say life’s not fair. If you can’t perform well enough to be in a harder job that is easier to get promoted in, well then that’s kind of tough. Maybe get another job then.
I’m with the Court on this one. If you aren’t going to open up all roles in the military to women, you can’t fault them for slower promotion patterns. I read in another comment that the Court was going for equity over equality, and I think that’s right here. Two wrongs don’t make a right, but the Court wasn’t concurrently being asked about opening all roles for women.
I don’t know if this is ‘strict’ equal protection ordue process, but I think the Court’s finding was in line with both — at least in spirit.not sure how to pose this quickly, but if two wrongs do not make a right, then why do we ask perpetrators to compensate victims? punitive damages? maybe even jail/prison is a form of second “wrong.”
I don’t know that the examples you mentioned constitute two wrongs. If I commit a “wrong,” I think that the remedy/recourse is a “right” — or at least an attempt at it. Without consequences there would be no incentive to modify behavior or prevent criminal behavior. I’m not advocating for mass incarceration or high mandatory minimums or three strikes policies, but we have to have some kind of consequence. I think jail/prison can be a second form of “wrong” and a net negative for society — though not always.
Current methods of “righting wrongs” are imperfect, and I don’t have a good alternative. We could move to a scandinavian style rehabilitation program for offenders, we could repeal the 2nd amendment and confiscate guns, we could legalize all forms of drugs, but there isn’t a political appetite for those things.
In this case, the Supreme Court determined that women did not have the same opportunities to develop professionally in the Navy as men, and therefore, the unequal requirements of rule 10 USCS 6382(a) did not violate the Fifth Amendment’s Due Process Clause. We recently discussed that in sex or race cases, the Court might uphold a law if used to redress, fix or repair previous discrimination, which is the objective behind rule 10 USCS 6382(a).
I don’t remember exactly what was said, but in class we recently spoke about how sometimes to reach equality, the process requires some inequity. I feel like that is what’s happening here especially considering the restrictions women face regarding sea duty and combat.
In Schlesinger v. Ballard, the Court faced the issue of whether the differing terms of tenure for male and female officers in the navy constituted an unconstitutional gender-based classification in violation of the due process clause. The Court accepted the legislative classification because no due process violation had occurred.
This case is very interesting to consider because despite it appearing to be discriminatory to men at first glance, the decision to give women a 13 year commissioned service period and not men is in order to make up for the restrictions placed on their access to combat and most sea duty positions. This means that the law did not violate the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment, as it was decided in order to maintain equity rather than equality between male and female soldiers (once again due to the unequal access to certain positions in active combat roles etc).
The court found that, because women have fewer opportunities to show their worthiness of promotion through combat experience, they need more time to get the experience that other officers would have. As such, women have a fairer and more equitable career ahead of them.
I would raise the same comment I made on Rotsker, but in this case it’s more complicated. Women have more guaranteed time in the military and get paid more when they leave, so if one were to argue that it’s not fair to be given this extra time for not being in combat, the court could interpret her as arguing on behalf of men and not “I want to beat up ‘Murica’s bullies! Let me please!” Could that work? Maybe, but to the Justices the only option would be to make all officers have the two review boards, which some women officers could see as a bad thing, and for all they know the same case but backwards would be filed soon thereafter. Could there be an option for some women to take combat roles while receiving the reduced time frame and others can stay in non-combat roles and maintain their extended time? Yes, but that starts getting complicated, and the government doesn’t like complicated, so it’s an either-or for the courts, and they chose to maintain the status quo.
Did 10 USCS 6382(a) unconstitutionally discriminate against the plaintiff based on sex? No. The Court held that the due process clause of the Fifth Amendment was not violated by the different statutory treatment of men and women officers since the statutory classification was utterly rational. According to the Court, the other treatment of men and women naval officers under §§ 6382 and 6401 resulted not from mere administrative or fiscal convenience but from the fact that female line officers, because of restrictions on their participating in combat and most sea duty, did not have opportunities for professional service equal to those of male line officers.
Facts of the case:
Schlesinger v. Ballard upheld a federal statute granting female Naval officers four more years of commissioned service before mandatory discharge than male Naval officers. A group of naval officers who were discharged prior to their tenth year of commissioned service, as a result of not being promoted, received a lower rate of separation pay than female officers who were permitted to remain in service longer and receive three additional promotion board opportunities. As a result, the female officers who failed to be promoted received a higher rate of separation pay over their male counterparts. Ballard, a male officer who was passed over earned $15,000 in separation pay, but if he had been a similarly situated female officer, he argued that he would have received over $200,000 in separation pay. Ballard had also served as an enlisted sailor, but his eighteen years of total service was not enough to earn a military retirement.
Based on some of the comments I’ve read thus far, I also agree that this is an example of the court prioritizing equity versus equality. I court used mere rationality and the BFOQ test to justify this federal law due to the differences in opportunity between both men and women in the military. Despite this law being to the benefit of women and there being differences between both men and women in terms of combat potential, I would not support the court’s decision since I believe it is creating an unequal field of advancement between both genders. If a female is choosing to enter the military she should face similar expectations upon her as would be expected on a man.
The appellee failed to be promoted for a second time which resulted in him being discharged. He argued that the 10 U.S. 6382(a) section was unconstitutional as it discriminated based on sex since women were entitled to 13 years of service before being discharged if they failed to receive a promotion too. The court decided that this section did not violate the Due Process Clause since this difference was to make up for the fact that women were not equal to men and in these circumstances, they did not have the same opportunities, prioritizing equity over equality.
I really enjoyed the previous comment that Jeremy left about the difference between equality and equity. It brings up an interesting trend that I’ve noticed from the shift in the SCOTUS where prior to this, cases were being made about women being “too delicate” and decisions were made that upheld gender stereotypes, but now there is, not a rejection of these ideas, but almost a compensation for inherent discrimination and unequal opportunity.
This case exemplifies equity versus equality. Equality would have been having the same standard regardless of gender, whereas equity recognizes that in certain cases there are unequal opportunities for service between men and women that would restrict advancement, and then seek a way to allow a more equal footing. The women, not being allowed into combat or for sea duty on most types of ships, inherently lacked the ability to gain experience that was given by those experiences, which would then go before the commissioning boards. While facially there is discrimination against men, it is in response to discrimination against women in an effort to equal it out.
This case is one that makes us question whether there are any occasions when men and women being treated differently is reasonable as the court stated. They agree/acknowledge that there are inequities between men and women in the military, but I question if this will lead women not treated respectfully in the military in accordance with their capability and would place women in a vulnerable position. As stated by the Court, females do not have equivalent possibilities for professional service as male line officers. The argument subtly acknowledges women’s inadequacy in the professional environment at the time and defends an inherently discriminatory statute on those grounds.
Schlesinger v. Ballard, 419 U.S. 498, was a case in which the United States Supreme Court affirmed a federal provision allowing female Naval officers to serve four years longer before being forced to retire than male Naval officers. The difference in statutory treatment of men and women officers did not violate the Fifth Amendment’s due process clause, according to the Court, because the legislative classification was perfectly reasonable.
Just like in Rostker v Goldberg, we see the re-appearance of the combat restriction argument. Essentially, the court justifies gender distinction based on the male and female member of the military not being similarly situated. In this case, the court also justifies the gender distinction by saying that women don’t have the same opportunities of promotion that men do. The difference in service periods are different as a way to make up for that fact.
Similar to Rostker v. Goldberg, the Supreme Court ruled that women have different circumstances in a military situation. In this case, the Court believed that the statute was acceptable as women had fewer opportunities to be promoted within the ranks of the military. It feels like this statute would be an early example of affirmative action.
The Court’s decision to allow the unequal service times of female versus male Naval officers is not solving the issue at hand but trying to remedy the lack of opportunities for women by simply extending their service time instead of allowing them to be part of combat duty, which would eliminate the need for different service times based on gender. The Court acknowledged the unfair treatment of women and tried to compensate for it in different ways while upholding the law that differentiated between male and female Naval service time.
This case upheld the notion that it would take a female naval officer longer to reach the same achievements as a male naval officer. In the language it states that women did not have the same opportunities as a man in this realm. The ruling was not decided due to a lack of opportunity for women but rather for the notion that women can not do things as well as a man in such a short time frame.
Schlesinger v. Ballard (1975) Updated Feb 26, 2018, 9:54 AM
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Schlesinger v. Ballard (1975)
See Baer and Goldstein, pp. 69-72.
Syllabus w/headnotes
Appellee, a naval officer with more than nine years of active service, who failed for a second time to be selected for promotion and thus under 10 U.S.C. § 6382(a) was subject to mandatory discharge, brought this action claiming that application of that statute to him, when compared to 10 U.S.C. § 6401 (under which, had he been a woman officer, he would have been entitled to 13 years of commissioned service before a mandatory discharge for want of promotion), was an unconstitutional discrimination based on sex in violation of the Fifth Amendment’s Due Process Clause. A three-judge District Court, relying on Frontiero v. Richardson, 411 U. S. 677, concluded that the challenged mandatory discharge provisions are supported solely by considerations of fiscal and administrative policy, and upheld appellee’s claim.
Held: The challenged legislative classification is completely rational, and does not violate the Due Process Clause. Pp. 419 U. S. 505-510.
(a) The different treatment of men and women naval officers under §§ 6382 and 6401 results not from mere administrative or fiscal convenience, but from the fact that female line officers, because of restrictions on their participating in combat and most sea duty, do not have opportunities for professional service equal to those of male line officers, and Congress could rationally conclude that a longer period of tenure for women officers comported with the goal of providing women officers with “fair and equitable career advancement programs.” Frontiero v. Richardson, supra; Reed v. Reed, 404 U. S. 71, distinguished. Pp. 419 U. S. 505-508.
(b) In naval corps where male and female officers are similarly situated Congress, made no tenure distinctions, thus underscoring the rationality of the legislative classification. P. 419 U. S. 509.
(c) The challenged statutes further a flow of promotions commensurate with the Navy’s current needs, and serve to motivate qualified commissioned officers so to conduct themselves that they may realistically anticipate higher command levels. P. 419 U. S. 510. 360 F.Supp. 643, reversed.
STEWART, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which BURGER, C.J., and BLACKMUN, POWELL, and REHNQUIST, JJ., joined. BRENNAN, J., filed a dissenting opinion, in which DOUGLAS and MARSHALL, JJ., joined, post, p. 419 U. S. 511. WHITE, J., filed a dissenting statement, post, p. 419 U. S. 521.
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Kevin Lyles
Kevin Lyles
Mohammed Alzweiy
Mohammed Alzweiy7:14 AM May 10
Rather than fixing the corruption that exists within the system, they have simply adapted the circumstances. Instead of offering women the same opportunity they thought additional time was a fair fix.
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Desiree Estrada
Desiree Estrada6:01 AM Mar 13
I am conflicted by the circumstances of this case considering woman are granted more time to be promoted can be seen as a leg p but also as sense to be-little women.
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Catherine Ortega
Catherine Ortega3:00 AM Mar 2
From what I gathered, women were still unable to participate in active combat during that time. I guess that the ruling makes sense in that case because if the question of sex discrimination in combat isn’t addressed then laws surrounding it in the army/Navy/etc. would reflect that. Women are indeed disadvantaged in this case. Sucks for Ballard.
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Grace Castillo Rojo Moreno
Grace Castillo Rojo Moreno2:33 AM Mar 1
It is funny how we tried to solve the difficulties that the system presented but never thought of solving the system itself. If you see that women do not have the same opportunity as men when they want to be part of the navy, it would be better if you change that instead of just not promoting them faster than men. Giving more opportunities to women is changing the system which is the important goal.
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Nicole Solayman
Nicole SolaymanFeb 25, 2021
The state’s solution and court’s ruling suggest that giving women more time to gain a promotion is a poor solution to a poor system.
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Daniela Guerrero Rodriguez
Daniela Guerrero RodriguezFeb 25, 2021
In this case, the court’s ruling stated that because women got fewer opportunities in the navy than men, it was only fair to give them a longer time frame to be promoted. This is an immediate solution to the problem, however, it doesn’t tackle the real problem which is the lack of opportunities for women and the unequal treatment that men and women receive.
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Jacqueline Harmon
Jacqueline HarmonFeb 25, 2021
This case was an affirmative action case and gave women a step up in the military. I agree with the courts but I also could see this backfiring on women because some men could see this as not fair and show aggression towards women because of it.
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Ariana Lopez
Ariana LopezFeb 25, 2021
I am really shocked that the court really believed that allowing women to serve was a step forward when they accompanied and acted in support of the discharge/promotion requirements for women vs the ones for men. The standard of what is permissible for women as opposed to what is permissible for men is not anywhere close. I also feel like the attitude behind this case and it’s ruling is meant to make it as though they are giving women so many opportunities and allowing them to do the most manly thing, which is serve, but it feels very backhanded.
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Anastasia Pogrebchtchikov
Anastasia PogrebchtchikovFeb 25, 2021
This case is somewhat frustrating especially when it sees every other case is 1 step forward & 2 steps back. The court ruled this as constitutional simply because it allowed women to be in military and that was seen as enough. This reminds me of the popular cartoon that describes equality vs equity. These women are not getting the opportunity to expand their careers while men are.
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Donny Situ
Donny SituFeb 25, 2021
I guess the question is whether an institution (in this case the Navy) should “overcompensate in favor of women on certain things because they are aware that women have fewer opportunities than men to advance in their careers. To me, it seems like a very short sighted solution. The military should do everything in its capabilities to give women the same standard of opportunities as men so that they shouldn’t have to create extra provisions to compensate for the Navy’s inherent issues of discrimination.
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Kevin Lyles
Kevin Lyles
“overcompensate” or compensate
Feb 25, 2021•Delete
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Kevin Lyles
Emma Floyd
Emma FloydFeb 25, 2021
This case is conflicting to me because section 6401 seems to me like it was created to help promote opportunities for women and level the playing field when, for so long, men had had an advantage. However, I also agree with Brennan in that cases regarding gender should be subjected to closer judicial scrutiny, in which case, no government interest justifies the gender-based classification.
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Yoli Esparza
Yoli EsparzaFeb 25, 2021
I am very conflict with this case ruling, I understand that women have a harder time to advance in the military and therefore they were given more time to do so, I still think this was a form of shrinking women because of their gender. where they really at an advantage or was it made to seem that way.
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Ana Al Saad
Ana Al SaadFeb 24, 2021
Like Kahn v. Shevin, the Court rules that a statute is constitutional because women face limited opportunities, so the statute aids them in those situations.
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Tanmayi Kadamuddi
Tanmayi KadamuddiFeb 24, 2021
This case frankly makes me roll my eyes. Time and time again men will shout in rage over rules claiming them to be unfair to men, when in actuality, the real purpose of said rule was to actually make the playing field more equal because as it stood before, women were at an advantage.
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Seamus McNamara
Seamus McNamaraFeb 24, 2021
This statue exists to support women entering and being promoting within the military and therefore is constitutional.
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Haneen Abdelhafez
Haneen AbdelhafezFeb 24, 2021
After our discussion about Kahn v. Shevin on Tuesday, I agree with the Court’s ruling. But to go back to a question that repeatedly arrises in class, why do women continue to be held to different standards?
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Jeff Gemini
Jeff GeminiFeb 24, 2021
Well I agree they’re should be equal opportunity and there is for sure a history of sex based discrimination I think there is a better alternative than limiting officers by 9/13 years depending on their sex. I’m not sure what the better solution would be but I don’t believe it is that since time based restrictions are much more restrictive then other restrictions. Tina Tran is right it does feel like an affirmative action case.
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Mayra Villa
Mayra VillaFeb 24, 2021
I’m kind of conflicted with the ruling of the case because although the Court knows that Navy female soldiers have limited opportunities to advance and can take advantage of certain programs while they’re there, then shouldn’t they do something about that? They acknowledge that fact which is why women are there longer than male soldiers.
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Cassidy McLernon
Cassidy McLernonFeb 24, 2021
I’m honestly surprised that the Court didn’t rule in favor of Ballard because there is a trend of the Court ruling in favor of men who face discrimination. However, I do agree with the ruling. Wome would usually be passed over when it comes to promotions in the military, so they should receive more time to move up the ranks. I agree with the multiple people in the comments who said this is like affirmative action.
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Denice Bernal
Denice BernalFeb 24, 2021
The court ruled that the Navy statue did not violate the 5th amendment due to the fact that the statue was made under legitimate provisions. There are still many factors to consider. Does more time in the army really allow women the opportunity to qualify for promotions considering those positions are limited in the first place? How long do those who serve in those positions serve for? Not to mention that there is no clear indication that these positions are limited to only women. If the goal is to reach equality in the navy I believe more can be done to legitimately level the “playing field”.
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Tina Tran
Tina TranFeb 24, 2021
This seems like an affirmative action case, but I hope that this ruling doesn’t harm the way servicemen see servicewomen and alter their level of respect for them.
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Arnold Brown
Arnold BrownFeb 24, 2021
The SC ruled that the statue was constitutional. Because women had fewer opportunities and faced more struggles while in the military, this statute was enacted to make up for that discrimination.
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Ben Lee
Ben LeeFeb 24, 2021
The justification for the differing treatment seems to be rooted in advancing the opportunities of women rather than setting them to gender stereotypes.
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Xiomara Martinez
Xiomara MartinezFeb 23, 2021
I think this ruling was fair. Women are given less opportunities and giving them longer years of duty to get a promotion than men makes up for that. Men are easily able to get these promotions than women.
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Jocelyn Rodriguez
Jocelyn RodriguezFeb 23, 2021
This is similar to affirmative action, in the sense that they were aware of the advancement struggles women will face while in the military, thus allotted them a greater time frame in order to do so.
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Brianna Moling
Brianna MolingFeb 22, 2021
In this case the Court ruled that the law allowing women more time for a promotion in the military than men was constitutional. I agree with the ruling and their reasoning that women have limited opportunities for professional development in the military. I think it is fair to give women more time since they are the clear minority in the military compared to men and therefore their opportunities may be more limited.
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Jyah Vora
Jyah VoraFeb 22, 2021
I agree with the Court’s ruling and this reminds me of affirmative action. If there are limited opportunities for women in the military due to their inability to serve previously, then a remedy should be offered in place to compensate women for being turned down in the first place. I don’t see this as a special privelege to women, but rather a means of equity.
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Malak Kanan
Malak KananMay 7, 2020
I understand that The Court argued that the law established a “rational relationship” in
ensuring “fair and equitable career advancement programs” … meaning that since women got less opportunities in the navy than men, it was only fair to give them a longer time frame to be promoted, but this also means that the court knew that the navy gave women less opportunity. Instead of justifying long time frame to get promoted, why don’t they fix the discriminatory system and give women equal opportunity?
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Deleted user
Deleted userApr 24, 2020
since it is harder for women to advance int he military it is only fair that they are given more time to do so. I am happy that the judges recognized this.
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Deleted user
Deleted userApr 7, 2020
It only makes sense to me to for women to have a longer time precisely due to the fact that they are unable to partake in certain actions that would otherwise accelerate their career in the military.
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Alexis Rodriguez
Alexis RodriguezApr 1, 2020
This case makes me feel reluctant to agree with it’s ruling. At first I was glad they ruled against Robert. But it is also unsettling to realize the military was aware of the limitations placed on women’s opportunity to advance.
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Deleted user
Deleted userMar 24, 2020
This case is interesting because it brings up other potential constitutional issues based on the limitations put on women in the military. Perhaps if issues of inequality in combat training and deployment were addressed then the need for the extended tenure regulation would disappear. I would be interested to see how this case is cited in future cases involving women in the military.
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Aysha Ahmed
Aysha AhmedMar 1, 2020
The court acknowledged the fact that females in the military had a significantly less chance to advance in their career but yet did not nothing to change that. The court found this ruling to be fair and equal but I wonder how is it fair to hold both genders to different standards.
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Jessica Myles
Jessica MylesFeb 29, 2020
This case is one that makes us question whether there are some instances where men and women being treated differently is acceptable or as the court says “rational” . They acknowledge the fact that there are inequalities for women in the military compared to men, but I wonder if this will cause retaliation and resentment towards the women in the military. This might cause them to not be taken seriously.
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Marissa Scavelli
Marissa ScavelliFeb 27, 2020
If you look at this case in a broader lens, it can be viewed a discrimation against female naval officers. Even though the females are entitled to more years of commissioned service before mandatory discharge, this law was put into place because, as the Court said, females do not have opportunities for professional service equal to those of male line officers. Therefore, the Court held that the statute was rational due to the goal of providing women officers with “fair and equitable career advancement programs.” The reasoning discreetly recognizes the inferiority of women in the professional world during this time and upholds an essentially unequal statute on those grounds.
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Jose Perez
Jose PerezFeb 27, 2020
One of the reasons for there being a difference for women was, “because of restrictions on their participating in combat and most sea duty, do not have opportunities for professional service equal to those of male line officers”. I am not too sure what type of restrictions exist that would allow a male officer to perform better than a female officer. Are they talking about physical, mental or emotional capabilities? Maybe they believe there is a difference in the decision making process for each gender.
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Abigail Zurita-Calvario
Abigail Zurita-CalvarioFeb 27, 2020
Team 8
Schlesinger v. Ballard 1975
Legal Citation: 419 us 498 (1975)
Statement of Facts: Robert C. Ballard was a lieutenant for the United States Navy. He had been working under the administration for more than nine years. Yet, the intuition has placed a federal statute (10 U.S.C. §6382), that allowed for the removal of officers if they failed to be promoted in their second attempt. Consequently, Ballard was discharged from the his positions due to failing to be selected for a promotion. Ballard decided to bring his case to federal court claiming that his situation would have been handled differently if he were a woman. Ballard stated that under a section of the statute (10 U.S.C. §6401), women are entitled to at least 13 years of service before the mandatory discharge mandated by the statute (10 U.S.C. §6382). Therefore, Ballard claimed that the statute (10 U.S.C. §6382) was unconstitutional because it discriminated on the basis of sex, leading to the violation of the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment. The District Court sided with Ballard by using Frontiero v. Richardson as precedent. The panel agreed that statute (10 U.S.C. §6401) was unconstitutional because it discriminates against men and in favor of women.
Statement of Issues
Is the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment violated by the statutes (10 U.S.C. §6401) and (10 U.S.C. §6382)?
V. Decisions
No.
VI. Reasoning of the Court
The Court argued that the purpose of the statute was to ensure that women were provided with ‘fair and equitable career advancement programs.” The Court acknowledged that women constantly faced obstacles due to their sex, therefore, they believed that these statutes prevented sex discrimination against women in the workforce, specifically in the Navy where women face greater disadvantages and are usually seen working in hospitals or transportation.
VII. Opinion of the Court
(5-4)
i. Majority: Stewart, Burger, Blackmun, Powell and Rehnquist.
ii. Dissent: Justice Brennan, Douglas, Marshall, White
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Deleted user
Deleted userFeb 27, 2020
The reason why this case was challenged under the 5th amendment due process clause as opposed to the 14th amendment equal protection clause is because the 14th amendment is for states and is a restriction on state action. Since Schlesinger was the US secretary of Defense is NOT A STATE which is why this was challenged via the 5th amendment due process.
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Deidre Mensah
Deidre MensahFeb 27, 2020
TEAM 2:
Schlesinger v Ballard:
419 U.S. 498
Facts: Robert Ballard, a naval officer (the appellee) who has over nine years of active service, failed to be selected for the second time for promotion. Under the federal law, he was subject to mandatory discharge because he was passed over twice for a promotion. This does not apply to female officers because were granted a minimum of 13 years of duty before they could be discharged, therefore Ballard stated that the statute was an unconstitutional discrimination based on sex in violation of the Fifth Amendment’s Due Process Clause. Frontiero v Richardson was relied on by the three-judge District Court .
Issue: Does the application of the federal statute violate the Due Process Clause of the the Fifth Amendment?
Decision: No
Reasoning: The goal of the statute is to protect women since women who will be excluded from combat duty, had fewer opportunities for advancement in the military. The court stated that “the challenged legislative classification is completely rational.” The law passed an intermediate scrutiny equal protection analysis.
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Liliana Diaz
Liliana DiazFeb 26, 2020
The Court argued that the statue established a “rational relationship” in ensuring “fair and equitable career advancement programs” … meaning that since women got less opportunities in the navy than men, it was only fair to give them a longer time frame to be promoted.I’m not sure how to feel about this case because I am glad the court recognized that women had less opportunities, this made me think about what we talked about in class about how we should want gender equality not gender favoritism and I feel like this does more of a disservice to women than actually helps them.
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Sylvia Waz
Sylvia Waz
I agree. I think that the law leads to more harm than good. I think if anything this would lead to service men taking service women less seriously since they get “more chances” in proving themselves. They may not see them as deserving and that encourages more unequal treatment in the military.
Feb 26, 2020•Delete
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Kevin Lyles
Deleted user
Deleted userFeb 25, 2020
The differential treatment was not due to fiscal or administrative convenience but due to the fact that females have less opportunity to act in service than males do. Therefore, they would need more time to ‘prove’ themselves or earn promotions. For example, restrictions on combat and sea duty impede their chance to showcase skills that would award them promotion. There is no restriction in naval corps, where male and female officers have similar situations. The law is constitutional and allows males and females realistic expectations. This ruling makes a lot of sense to me, given the circumstances. It perpetuates sexism by upholding restrictions and finding ways to reward women for working less, without choice.
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Deleted user
Deleted userMar 3, 2019
While yes its great the court acknowledged that women face have low opportunities for professional service equal to those of male line officers, , in sensei still find that instead of having the court saying ” men sorry you get 9 years and women get 13 since they can’t serve in combat ” why couldn’t Congress at the time allow women in combat and in effect make it equal for all genders to have the same time frame for promotion before job termination . This case to me bring up the debate of equality vs equity and I feel as if like said of previous students comments that this case is about affirmative action in the army.
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Ines Josefina Castaneda
Ines Josefina CastanedaFeb 27, 2019
I was glad to see that the court acknowledged that women faced more difficulties. I think Schlesinger should of taken this another rote to have a chance to have a promotion and keep his naval job.
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Deleted user
Deleted userMar 1, 2018
This seems like an argument over affirmative action, which I completely support since women often face more obstacles than men; in this case women having limited participation in combat and sea duty, as described. Also, the comic actually made me laugh out loud.
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Deleted user
Deleted userFeb 28, 2018
I enjoyed reading the reasoning in this case. It is surprising to see the court acknowledge and try to address the disparities women face in their careers.
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Deleted user
Deleted userFeb 28, 2018
The court’s decision takes an important step in recognizing the fact that many women face stronger adversity when seeking opportunities.
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Deleted user
Deleted userFeb 28, 2018
The court’s reasoning behind their decision in that the statute served as evening the fairness of women’s and men’s careers as men have more opportunities for advancement reminds me of affirmative action policies. As women have less opportunity to be promoted, extending women officers’ service recognizes the inequality of opportunities afforded by gender and acts to balance it.
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Deleted user
Deleted userApr 24, 2017
I agree with the court’s decision as it acknowledges certain barriers women face to moving up in rank when in service because they had fewer opportunities for military advancements.
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Deleted user
Deleted userFeb 15, 2017
http://diversity.defense.gov/Portals/51/Documents/Resources/Commission/docs/Issue%20Papers/Paper%2045%20-%20Officer%20Promotion%20by%20Race%20Ethnicity%20and%20Gender.pdf
While experience in combat is important in determining promotions, according to this study it appears as though minority women, minority men, and non-minority women are all trailing behind white males for promotions. Therefore the argument can be made that women do not, in fact, need the extra time to be considered equals because even with the extra time they are discriminated against.
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Deleted user
Deleted userFeb 15, 2017
Does 10 U.S.C. § 6401 violate the Fifth Amendment’s Due Process Clause as unconstitutional sex discrimination?
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Deleted user
Deleted userFeb 24, 2016
I think that this case is a little different from others in which work restrictions and/or exceptions were made for women based on their fragility or reliance on men. In this case, the navy was recognizing that it put women at a disadvantage in terms of opportunities for promotion, and therefore gives them more time to achieve promotion because there are fewer spots open to them. I do think that this statute evens the playing field in a sector where women have been discriminated against in terms of job opportunities since this country was founded. However, I think it would be better if gender-based restrictions for positions in the military were discarded.
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Deleted user
Deleted userFeb 24, 2016
I. Schlesinger v. Ballard, 419 U.S. 498 (1975)
II. Facts: A naval officer was appealing a case in which a mandate stated that a Lt. in the Navy or a Cpt. in the Marine Corps who was unable to be selected on a second round of promotion was to be honorably discharged from his duties. While a female officer of the same ranking in either armed service group did not fall under the same mandate of the male officers. Women had up to thirteen (13) years to be promoted. Ballard who was appealing the case was discharged after 16 years of service, 7 as an enlisted soldier and 9 as an officer. With being discharged with 16 years that left him short 4 years in which at that time he would have been eligible to collect his pension for the rest of his lifetime.
III. Issue: Is it unconstitutional based on sex discrimination of his equal protection of the 5th amendments due process clause?
IV. Holding: No, it does not violate the due process of the 5th amendment.
V. Opinion: Per Justice Stewart: the mandate does not violate the 5th amendment on the basis that it was not meant for administrative or fiscal policy, but rather that the opportunities for women to advance in the ranks of the hierarchy system of the Navy or Marine Corps were limited compared to male advancement. It was interpreted that Congress may have intended to give female officers the longer time period because they knew that chances were limited in comparison of men who had combat experience. This was based on having “fair and equitable career advancement programs” for male and female officers.
VI. Dissent: Per Justice Brennan, stated that there was gender-discrimination present and the difference between promotion time of men and women had no real purpose. The dissenting justices believed that the case should have been looked at under close judicial scrutiny. In all the government had no compelling interest in the two distinctive tenures between male and female officers.
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Maria E
Maria EFeb 24, 2016
So basically, why promote someone whose trying to do better for themselves when you can just discharge them ?
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Deleted user
Deleted userFeb 23, 2015
This goes back to our discussion in class a couple of weeks ago on whether or not women are considered “special” and “need protection” under given circumstances. In this case woman are being negated advancement in naval services due to lack of opportunity available. Who’s to confidently say that women would no longer be needed once their 9 years are up? Although it seems reasonable holding for the given statute, it lacks legislative objective.
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Deleted user
Deleted userFeb 18, 2015
I think this case kind of fits into women are supposed to occupy the divine “offices of wife and mother” rhetoric once again. It’s not about men. It’s about women being accommodated because they are fragile, which can be a good thing sometimes.
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Deleted user
Deleted userFeb 18, 2015
I think the opinion is valid due to the fact that women were at a disadvantage in the work field. Because men have more jobs available to them, it makes sense why women were given a four year extension. If more opportunities for advancement were available to women, women would not need this “special privilege”.
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Deleted user
Deleted userFeb 18, 2015
If women are to be restricted on the types of job positions they occupy then it makes sense that they would get more time to advance. Perhaps the military should lift these restrictions for a little more balance and equal opportunity. -L. Trujillo
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Deleted user
Deleted userFeb 13, 2015
I think that this case is difficult to fathom because it still uses a little of the “women need defending mentality” but, the truth is these are not jobs women traditionally occupy. So, to give them a few advantages does not hurt male chances very much.
At best if he would have won they would have just shortened women’s tenured years to 10 instead of increasing men’s to 13.
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Deleted userFeb 20, 2014
Is this decision even valid anymore? Aren’t women allowed to hold combat positions in the military now? Or they’re supposed to place them in combat positions by 2016.
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Deleted userFeb 19, 2014
I’m not sure I’m understanding this case. Male officers are required fewer years of service before being eligible for promotion than female officers are? And this is because there is more expected of men than of women?
Nicole Melicor, Team 3
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Deleted user
At the time, women in the Navy couldn’t serve in combat posts. They also couldn’t serve on any ship in the Navy that wasn’t a hospital ship or transport. That being the case, promotions were harder to come by for women than they were for men, since experience in combat or on those combat-ready ships helped get promotions. Recognizing that, Congress gave women more time to get a promotion before getting discharged. In an nutshell, women needed the extra time because their time was spent in less valuable capacities.
Steve McGowan, T3
Feb 19, 2014 (edited Feb 19, 2014)•Delete
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Kevin Lyles
Deleted user
Deleted userFeb 19, 2014
“The severely divided Court analyzed the issues using rational relationship scrutiny, as opposed to the strict scrutiny criterion used by the lower court. The rational relationship standard is traditionally lenient and used by courts in equal protection cases involving nonsuspect classes. The strict scrutiny test requires a narrowly tailored compelling state interest showing that the governmental classification is necessary.”
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Deleted userFeb 19, 2014
I want to know more about female naval officers’ “restrictions on participation in combat and most sea duty” and the consequent loss of opportunities accessible to female officers (compared to the male officers). Since this is used to explain the difference in time periods given to male and female naval officers to gain promotion, my question is:
What are the restrictions on participation for female officers? And, Why is their an accommodation made (extended time period to be promoted) for a presumption of restrictions on participation in combat, based on gender?
The difference in time periods is discriminatory to the male officers who are all expected to have less restrictions on participation just because of their gender and consequently many opportunities to be promoted. All naval officers (female and male) should be given the same time period (to try to be promoted) and more importantly there should be no presumptions of gender-based restrictions on participation in combat. Additionally, the extended time given to female naval officers seems like a way to avoid essential problems within the institution that restrict opportunities for women’s promotion.
It makes me think of when a coach or teacher creates an environment where bullying occurs and is seen as inevitable, and then reaches out to the bullied children by giving them special treatment after class.
Perhaps, I do not know enough about the Navy, and these restrictions on participation are justifiable, but I can not imagine how so…
Asma, T3
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I believe the restrictions on combat and sea duty roles is that they cannot participate at all. So if they cannot be in those roles they should have more time to move up through different channels. I buy it, I think…
Kevin Sliwa Team 3
also, http://news.yahoo.com/military-plans-put-women-most-combat-jobs-180430171.html
Feb 19, 2014•Delete
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Kevin Lyles
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Liliana Diaz
TEAM 6
CASE BRIEF
Schlesinger v. Ballard
419 U.S. 498 (1975)
Facts: A federal statute, section 6382(a), established that a lieutenant in the United States Navy or a captain in the United States Marine Corps who was twice passed over for promotion should be discharged after the second failure to be promoted. However, section 6382(a) didn’t apply to women — so women got a minimum of 13 years of duty before they would be discharged. Robert Ballard, a naval officer, was “honorably discharged” for failing to be promoted twice in his 9 years of service. Thus, Ballard argued that this was sex based discrimination which violated the Due Process Clause of the 5th amendment. Ballard claimed if he had been a woman he would have gotten 13 years. A district court judge agreed with Ballard, but the case went up to the Supreme Court. Schlesinger is the United States Secretary of Defense.
Issue: Does the statute that gives woman more time to gain a promotion in the miltary create sex- based discrimination and violate the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment?
Holding: No (5-4).
Reasoning: The Court argued that the law established a “rational relationship” in
ensuring “fair and equitable career advancement programs” … meaning that since women got less opportunities in the navy than men, it was only fair to give them a longer time frame to be promoted
Christopher Nevarez Azdar
Schlesinger v. Ballard
419 U.S. 498 (1975)
Statement of Facts: Under a federal statute, section 6382(a), any lieutenant in the U.S. Navy or captain in the U.S. Marine Corps who was twice passed over for a promotion was to be honorably discharged in the year of the second failure. This section did not apply to women officers since they were granted a minimum of 13 years of duty before they could be forced out. Lieut. Robert Ballard was honorably discharged for being passed over twice, only after 9 years of service. He argued that if he had been a woman he would have been granted 4 extra years which in his case meant a lifetime pension, in return for an additional 7 years of enlistment. He was granted an injunction by a district court which relied on Frontiero and Reed.
Statement of Issues:
Does this statute creating a sex-based distinction violate the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution?
Decision and Action:
No. Reversed. Removed the Injunction Placed by District Court.
Reasoning of the Court: Since the Navy has a pyramidal organization structure, fewer officers are needed at every ascending level. This statute allows for more competition for higher ranked officers and provides incentives for junior officers. This reason goes beyond simple administrative or fiscal policy considerations. This statute does not rely on “archaic and overbroad generalizations” such as the statutes presented in Frontiero and Reed. This statute instead relies on the demonstrable fact that men and women are not similarly situated with respect to professional service. Since women are restricted from duty on aircraft that are engaged in combat and vessels of the Navy that are not hospitals or transports, they are at a disadvantage when presenting qualifications for promotions. Therefore, a longer tenure helps to serve the purpose of providing women with “fair and equitable career advancement programs”. Furthermore, this statute does not affect males in other areas such as the Nurse Corps where males also receive a 13-year tenure. Both Congress and the President have exercised their very broad power to best to manage the armed forces and no violation to the Fifth Amendment exists.
Voting Coalition: 5-4
Majority: Justice Stewart, with Justice Burger, Justice Blackmun, Justice Powell and Justice Rehnquist.
Dissent: Justice Brennan, with Justice Douglas and Justice Marshall. Justice White.
Summary of Legal Principles: Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment.
Free Space:
Natalie Merlo
Group #1
Facts
Robert Ballard was a naval officer for nine years and failed to receive a promotion for a second
time. A law required that Ballard was discharged after nine years of failing to receive a
promotion, which he then challenged in a district court by claiming it violated the Due Process
Clause of the Fifth Amendment. The district court ruled in favor of Ballard, but the case was
brought
Issue
Does a statute allowing more time for woman to gain a promotion in the military create sex-
based discrimination and violate the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment?
Holding
The Court reversed the district court’s ruling and found that the law was constitutional.
Reasoning
The Court found that the law had a rational relationship towards its goals of providing women
with “fair and equitable career advancement programs” in light of the fact that woman had
limited opportunities for professional development in the military.