DOC 2 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Myra Bradwell, Charlize Theron, Lochner Era
Document Summary
Myra bradwell, an accomplished publisher and activist, could not receive her license to practice law in illinois. Supreme court acknowledged she was qualified, but she couldn"t practice because she was a married woman (women couldn"t enter contracts). Nature herself recognizes different spheres for men and women. Landmark case in which the supreme court struck down new york legislation, which had limited bakers maximum work hours. Justice peckham argued that liberty of contract was protected by the constitution and thus regulating labor was unconstitutional. Harlan dissented and argued that the worker needed protection from their employer and thus the bakeshop act was constitutional. Justice harlan dissented as well, arguing that the constitution is not meant to embrace laissez faire economics, it is meant to protect the people. This case began the lochner era, a period known for a lack of economic regulations and unsafe deregulated working conditions.
