boddie connecticut argued december decided march view basic position marriage relationship society state monopolization means dissolving relationship due process law prohibits state denying solely inability pay fees costs access courts indigents good faith seek judicial dissolution marriage pp supp reversed harlan delivered opinion burger stewart white marshall blackmun joined douglas filed opinion concurring result post brennan filed opinion concurring part post black filed dissenting opinion post arthur lafrance reargued cause filed briefs appellants raymond cannon assistant attorney general connecticut reargued cause appellees brief robert killian attorney general william kaplan allan ashman filed brief national legal aid defender association amicus curiae urging reversal briefs amici curiae urging affirmance filed francis burch attorney general maryland michael mcwilliams assistant attorney general joined george kugler attorney general new jersey stephen skillman assistant attorney general following attorneys general david buckson delaware jack gremillion louisiana clarence meyer nebraska harvey dickerson nevada helgi johanneson north dakota lee johnson oregon justice harlan delivered opinion appellants welfare recipients residing state connecticut brought action federal district district connecticut behalf others similarly situated challenging applied certain state procedures commencement litigation including requirements payment fees costs service process restrict access courts effort bring action divorce appears briefs oral argument average cost litigant bringing action divorce section connecticut general statutes provides shall paid clerks superior entering civil cause dollars additional usually required service process sheriff although much may necessary notice must accomplished publication dispute inability named appellants present case pay either fees required statute cost incurred service process affidavits record establish appellants welfare income instance barely suffices meet costs daily essentials life includes allotment budgeted expense gain access courts order obtain divorce also undisputed appellants good faith seeking divorce assuming must motion dismiss complaint truth undisputed allegations made appellants appears unsuccessful attempt bring divorce actions connecticut courts simply reason indigency clerk superior returned papers ground accept entry fee paid app subsequent efforts obtain judicial waiver fee requirement effect service process avail appellants thereafter commenced action federal district seeking judgment declaring connecticut statute service process provisions requiring payment fees expenses condition precedent obtaining relief unconstitutional applied indigent appellants members class represent relief appellants requested entry injunction ordering appropriate officials permit proceed divorce actions without payment fees costs convened pursuant july concluded state may limit access civil courts particularly instance divorce courts requirement filing fee fees effectively bar persons relief commencing actions therein supp noted probable jurisdiction case heard term thereafter set reargument present term reverse conclusion given basic position marriage relationship society hierarchy values concomitant state monopolization means legally dissolving relationship due process prohibit state denying solely inability pay access courts individuals seek judicial dissolution marriages core right due process reflects fundamental value american constitutional system understanding value basis upon resolved case perhaps characteristic organized cohesive society fundamental erection enforcement system rules defining various rights duties members enabling govern affairs definitively settle differences orderly predictable manner without legal system social organization cohesion virtually impossible ability seek regularized resolution conflicts individuals capable interdependent action enables strive achievements without anxieties beset disorganized society put succinctly injection rule law allows society reap benefits rejecting political theorists call state nature american society course bottoms systematic definition individual rights duties well machinery dispute settlement custom strategically placed individuals model courts official bodies ultimately look implementation regularized orderly process dispute settlement within framework wrote original constitution fifth amendment later drafted fourteenth amendment recognized centrality concept due process operation system without guarantee one may deprived rights neither liberty property without due process law state monopoly techniques binding conflict resolution hardly said acceptable scheme things providing social enforcement mechanism must function strictly within bounds hope maintain ordered society also upon premise years adjudication put flesh upon due process principle litigation however typically involved rights defendants persons seeking access judicial process first instance society structured resort courts usually available legitimate means resolving private disputes indeed private structuring individual relationships repair breach largely encouraged american life subject caveat formal judicial process resorted paramount thus seldom asked view access courts element due process legitimacy state monopoly techniques final dispute settlement even denied access use stands unimpaired recognized effective alternatives adjustment differences remain successful invocation governmental power plaintiffs often created serious problems defendants rights point judicial proceeding becomes effective means resolving dispute hand denial defendant full access process raises grave problems legitimacy recognition theoretical framework illuminates precise issue presented case one occasion recognized marriage involves interests basic importance society see loving virginia skinner oklahoma meyer nebraska surprising seen fit oversee many aspects institution without prior judicial imprimatur individuals may freely enter rescind commercial contracts example unaware jurisdiction private citizens may covenant dissolve marriages without state approval even substantive requirements concededly met know instance two consenting adults may divorce mutually liberate constraints legal obligations go marriage fundamentally prohibition remarriage without invoking state judicial machinery thus although assert due process rights plaintiffs think appellants plight resort state courts avenue dissolution marriages akin defendants faced exclusion forum effectively empowered settle disputes resort judicial process plaintiffs voluntary realistic sense defendant called upon defend interests groups process paramount technique fact available one posture think appeal properly resolved light principles enunciated due process decisions delimit rights defendants compelled litigate differences judicial forum ii due process decisions representing hundred years effort give concrete embodiment concept provide think complete vindication appellants contentions particular precedent firmly embedded due process jurisprudence two important principles upon whose application rest decision case us prior cases establish first due process requires minimum absent countervailing state interest overriding significance persons forced settle claims right duty judicial process must given meaningful opportunity heard early jurisprudence voiced doctrine herever one assailed person property may defend windsor mcveigh see baldwin hale wall hovey elliott theme due process law signifies right heard one defense hovey elliott supra continually recurred years since baldwin windsor hovey although controversies raged cryptic abstract words due process clause justice jackson wrote mullane central hanover tr doubt minimum require deprivation life liberty property adjudication preceded notice opportunity hearing appropriate nature case due process course require defendant every civil case actually hearing merits state example enter default judgment defendant adequate notice fails make timely appearance see windsor supra without justifiable excuse violates procedural rule requiring production evidence necessary orderly adjudication hammond packing arkansas constitution require opportunity granted meaningful time meaningful manner armstrong manzo emphasis added hearing appropriate nature case mullane central hanover tr supra formality procedural requisites hearing vary depending upon importance interests involved nature subsequent proceedings hearing required due process subject waiver fixed form affect root requirement individual given opportunity hearing deprived significant property interest except extraordinary situations valid governmental interest stake justifies postponing hearing event short within limits practicability state must afford individuals meaningful opportunity heard fulfill promise due process clause cases establish statute rule may held constitutionally invalid applied operates deprive individual protected right although general validity measure enacted legitimate exercise state power beyond question thus cases involving religious freedom free speech assembly often held valid statute unconstitutionally applied particular circumstances interfered individual exercise rights less rights right meaningful opportunity heard within limits practicality must protected denial particular laws operate jeopardize particular individuals see mullane central hanover tr supra covey town somers mullane held statutory provision notice publication local newspaper although sufficient beneficiaries trust whose interests addresses unknown trustee sufficient notice due process clause known beneficiaries similarly covey held notice publication foreclosure action even though sufficient provide normal person opportunity hearing sufficient defendant known incompetent expressly rejected argument fourteenth amendment require state take measures giving notice incompetent beyond deemed sufficient case ordinary taxpayer generally valid notice procedure may fail satisfy due process circumstances defendant cost requirement valid face may offend due process operates foreclose particular party opportunity heard state obligations fourteenth amendment simply generalized ones rather state owes individual process light values free society characterized due iii drawing upon principles established cases canvassed conclude state refusal admit appellants courts sole means connecticut obtaining divorce must regarded equivalent denying opportunity heard upon claimed right dissolution marriages absence sufficient countervailing justification state action denial due process arguments kind fee cost requirement state interest prevention frivolous litigation substantial use fees process costs allocate scarce resources rational balance defendant right notice plaintiff right access reasonable opinion none considerations sufficient override interest access avenue open dissolving allegedly untenable marriages necessary connection litigant assets seriousness motives bringing suit beyond present dispute appellants bring actions good faith moreover alternatives exist fees cost requirements means conserving time courts protecting parties frivolous litigation penalties false pleadings affidavits actions malicious prosecution abuse process mention vein think reliable alternatives exist service process sheriff state unwilling assume cost official service perforce true service publication method notice least calculated bring potential defendant attention pendency judicial proceedings see mullane central hanover tr supra think case service defendant last known address mail posted notice equally effective publication newspaper thus left evaluate state asserted interest fee cost requirements mechanism resource allocation cost recoupment justification offered rejected griffin illinois griffin requirement transcript beyond means indigent blocked access judicial process griffin transcript waived convenient necessary predicate access state invariably imposes costs measure allocating judicial resources surely rationale griffin covers case iv concluding due process clause fourteenth amendment requires appellants afforded opportunity go obtain divorce wish go necessary dispose case us case bona fides appellants indigency desire divorce beyond dispute decide access individuals courts right circumstances guaranteed due process clause fourteenth amendment exercise may placed beyond reach individual already noted case us right exclusive precondition adjustment fundamental human relationship requirement appellants resort judicial process entirely matter thus hold state may consistent obligations imposed due process clause fourteenth amendment right dissolve legal relationship without affording citizens access means prescribed reversed footnotes following colloquy oral reargument possible availability public private funds enable defray expense requirements issue case parties submitted papers score nothing materials justify declining adjudicate constitutional question squarely presented record see goldberg kelly sniadach family finance armstrong manzo schroeder new york best humboldt placer mining covey town somers mullane central hanover tr anderson nat bank luckett opp cotton mills administrator morgan illinois central trust savings hill coe armour fertilizer works londoner denver louisville nashville schmidt compare goldberg kelly supra winship see also bowles willingham goldberg kelly supra sniadach family finance supra opp cotton mills administrator supra illinois central supra coe armour fertilizer works supra cafeteria restaurant workers union mcelroy ewing mytinger casselberry fahey mallonee bowles willingham supra yakus schneider state cantwell connecticut bates little rock sherbert verner least one already recognized special nature divorce action justice sobel case like us took note state involvement marital relationship marriage clearly marked public interest state marriage dissolved except due judicial proceedings erected statute money hurdle dissolution requiring many circumstances service summons publication hurdle effective barrier plaintiff access courts loss access courts action divorce right substantial magnitude courts may redress relief obtained jeffreys jeffreys misc see also brown chastain rives dissenting think cohen beneficial loan bearing case differences divorce actions derivative actions aside unlike cohen considered merely statute face application statute operates cut entirely access courts justice douglas concurring result believe case decided upon principles developed line cases marked griffin illinois considered state law denied persons convicted crime full appellate review unable pay transcript trial justice black opinion announcing judgment stated denial misfit country dedicated affording equal justice special privileges none administration criminal law equal justice kind trial man gets depends amount money destitute defendants must afforded adequate appellate review defendants money enough buy transcripts burns ohio invalidated procedure whereby cases within jurisdiction state considered person pay filing fee smith bennett held requiring indigents pay filing fees writ habeas corpus considered state invalid equal protection clause connecticut provided requirements married couples obtain divorces filing fees service process one requirements necessary money affluent obtain divorce indigent situation comparable burns ohio smith bennett due process clause relies proven elastic hands judges doctrine prevailed lochner new york coppage kansas adkins children hospital jay burns baking bryan like cases due process authorizes courts hold laws unconstitutional believe legislature acted unwisely long since discarded ferguson skrupa invite revival whatever residual element substantive law due process clause may still thompson louisville essentially regulates procedure sniadach family finance wisconsin constantineau today puts flesh upon due process clause concluding marriage dissolution important unhappy couple indigent access divorce courts free charge fishing may equally important communities may indigent excused obtain license requires payment money requirement onerous bond prevent summary eviction rented property affluent put bond though indigent may able see williams shaffer housing less important mucilage holding society together marriage examples multiplied see length road must follow accept brother harlan invitation question historically whether right claimed essence scheme ordered liberty palko connecticut makes test highly subjective dependent idiosyncrasies individual judges lochner coppage adkins illustrate reach equal protection clause definable mathematical precision spite doubts construed rather definite guidelines developed race one strauder west virginia mclaughlin florida alienage another takahashi fish game religion another sherbert verner poverty still another griffin illinois supra class caste yet another skinner oklahoma power marriage divorce course complete except limited specific constitutional provisions state deny divorces domiciliaries negroes grant whites deny resident aliens grant citizens deny catholics grant protestants deny convicted larceny grant convicted embezzlement invidious discrimination based one guidelines poverty invidious discrimination based poverty adequate case connecticut provided procedure severing bonds marriage person meet every requirement save fees cost service process denied divorce connecticut says brief justified state favor divorces permits divorce granted conditions found exist respect one named parties seem legislature make probable interests society better served parties happier better citizens separate compelled remain together thus connecticut law divorces may denied granted solely basis wealth denying judicial review burns smith appellate counsel douglas transcript griffin created invidious distinction based wealth making grant denial divorce turn wealth parties affluence pass muster equal protection clause determining must remain married shall allowed separate see karst invidious discrimination rev justice brennan concurring part join opinion extent holds connecticut denies procedural due process denying indigent appellants access courts sole reason pay required fee onsideration procedures due process may require given set circumstances must begin determination precise nature government function involved well private interest affected governmental action cafeteria restaurant workers union mcelroy goldberg kelly state interest imposing fee requirement indigent compared indigent interest heard clear latter weightier unjustifiable denial hearing therefore denial due process close courts indigent ground nonpayment fee join opinion insofar today holding made depend upon factor state grant divorce indigent locked marriage unable pay fees required obtain divorce state ultimate monopoly judicial process attendant enforcement machinery practical matter disputes successfully settled parties system usually forum effectively empowered settle disputes resort judicial process plaintiffs voluntary realistic sense defendant called upon defend interests ante case holds connecticut unyielding fee requirement violates due process clause denying appellants opportunity heard upon claimed right dissolution marriages without sufficient countervailing justification ante see constitutional distinction appellants attempt enforce state statutory right attempt vindicate right arising federal state law fee requirements close courts indigent invoke aid courts forms relief escape legal incidents marriage right heard way time extends proceedings entertained courts possible distinctions suggested today withstand analysis addition case presents classic problem equal protection laws question treats exclusively one due process inevitably implicates considerations due process equal protection certainly issue denial hearing matter analysis due process clause connecticut deny hearing everyone circumstances denies people fail pay certain fees validity partial denial differentiation treatment tested well equal protection clause griffin illinois held equal protection clause well due process clause state may deny free transcript indigent transcript necessary direct appeal conviction subsequently applied extended principle numerous criminal cases see eskridge washington state board prison terms paroles burns ohio smith bennett coppedge lane brown draper washington rinaldi yeager long district iowa roberts lavallee gardner california rationale griffin covers present case courts central institutions society bound equal justice law rich poor alike fail perform function accordance equal protection clause shut doors indigent plaintiffs altogether money determines merely kind trial man gets griffin illinois supra whether gets great principle equal protection becomes mockery state may make judicial processes available deny others simply pay fee cf harper virginia board elections view connecticut fee requirement applied indigent denial equal protection justice black dissenting strange case strange holding absent specific federal constitutional statutory provision marriage country completely state control divorce first settlers arrived power grant divorces great britain vested country courts parliament recently maynard hill upheld divorce granted legislature territory oregon since time power state legislatures grant divorces vest power courts seems questioned accident marriage divorce always considered state control institution marriage peculiar importance people within live vote rear children laws passed elected representatives provide stability social order good morals citizens needs children broken homes therefore particular interests kinds laws regulating citizens enter maintain dissolve marriages power marriage divorce complete except limited specific constitutional provisions loving virginia holds however state connecticut little control marriages divorces citizens without power charge practically nominal initial costs without ready money put costs holds state law requiring payment costs barred due process clause fourteenth amendment federal constitution two members majority believe equal protection clause also applies think connecticut costs law barred neither clauses true majority points hold griffin illinois indigent defendants criminal cases must afforded right appeal convictions afforded defendant ample funds pay costs griffin studiously carefully refrained saying one word one sentence suggesting rule announced control rights criminal defendants control quite different field civil cases strong reasons distinguishing two types cases criminal defendants brought state federal government defend charges crime go knowing may convicted condemned lose lives liberty property penalty crimes great governmental power constitution provided special protections people charged crime convicted bills attainder ex post facto laws numerous provisions bill rights right counsel right free coerced confessions rights shield defendants state courts well federal courts see benton maryland duncan louisiana malloy hogan gideon wainwright protections safeguarding defendants charged government crime quite naturally quite properly held griffin due process equal protection clauses barred discrimination criminal trials poor defendants unable defend state held unfaithful explicit commands bill rights designed wrap protections constitution around defendants upon mighty powers government hurled punish crime civil lawsuits however like government prosecutions crime civil courts set government give people quarrels neighbors chance use neutral governmental agency adjust differences cases government usually involved party deprivation life liberty property punishment crime federal constitution therefore place private disputes high level places criminal trials punishment consequently necessity reason government civil trials hampered handicapped strict rigid due process rules constitution provided protect people charged crime distinction civil criminal proceedings implicit cohen beneficial loan held statute requiring plaintiffs stockholder derivative actions post bond violate due process equal protection clause cohen case indistinguishable one us cohen statute applied plaintiffs situations legal relationships involved creatures state extensively governed state law effect statutes may deter frivolous suits instances state considerable interest prevention suits might harm relationship state created fostered finally effect statutes may close state courts entirely certain plaintiffs result explicitly accepted cohen see believe present case controlled thorough opinion cohen suggested distinction cohen ground dealt validity statute face ignores following pertinent language urged requirement foreclose resort stockholders available judicial remedy protection rights course require security payment kind costs necessity bearing kind expense litigation deterring effect deal power wisdom think notwithstanding tendency within power state close courts type litigation condition reasonable security met emphasis added believe wise men sought draw written constitution protect people governmental harassment oppression feared alike king king judges used words phrases unbounded authority group politically appointed elected judges unquestionably sufficient classify nation government men government laws boast shock conscience test constitutionality citizens must guess law guess majority nine judges believe fair reasonable test wilfully throws away certainty security lies written constitution one alter judge health belief politics believe way steer country towards great destiny follow constitution says judges think said reasons constrained repeat said dissent williams north carolina agree latest expansion federal power consequent diminution state power marriage marriage dissolution derives adding new content due process clause elasticity clause necessary justify holding found suppose notion intended give unlimited authority supervise assertions state federal power see comport ideas civilized standards law perhaps keeping idea due process clause blank sheet paper provided courts make changes constitution bill rights accordance ideas civilization demands leave power divorces one thought due process equal protection clauses neither judgment justifies judges trying make constitution fit times hold laws constitutional basis judge sense fairness equal protection clause appropriate vehicle shock conscience test due process clause see dissent harper virginia board elections rules set constitution provide governmentally fair neither due process equal protection permits state laws invalidated nonconstitutional standard judge personal view fairness people elected representatives judges constitutionally vested power amend constitution judges usurp power order put views accordingly affirm case