Wheeler v. Montgomery (1969)
- Docket
- 14
- Decided
- 1969-01-01
- Category
- General
Summary
Question: Does due process permit the termination of regularly recurring welfare payments without adequate notice and without a prior hearing on the factual questions underlying the decision to cut off assistance? Conclusion: Justice Brennan delivered the opinion of the Court. The Court held that the California welfare termination regulations did not satisfy the requirements of the Due Process Clause because they did not afford recipients an evidentiary hearing or allow the recipients to offer evidence or confront opposing witnesses. The Court reversed the lower court's opinion. Chief Justice Burger filed a dissenting opinion which was joined by Justice Black. In his opinion, the justice stated that the administrative regulations regarding welfare was in an early stage of development and that the Court should allow the administrative processes to develop before burdening them with a heavy-handed constitutional ruling. Justice Stewart also filed a dissenting opinion, where he stated that the procedures the state followed for terminating welfare payments did not violate the Constitution.