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Constitutional Law Keyed to Levinson
Personnel Administrator of Massachusetts v. Feeney (II)
Citation:
442 U.S. 256 (1979)Facts
Helen Feeney (Respondent), a woman who applied for a federal civil service role, challenged the constitutionality of the Massachusetts veterans’ preference statute on the grounds that it discriminates against women in violation of the Equal Protection Clause. Feeney received the second highest score on a civil service examination for a job with the Board of Dental Examiners, but male veterans who had scored lower on the examination received the position based on the veterans’ preference statute. Years earlier, Feeney had attempted to enlist in the army but had been prohibited from doing so because she was a woman.
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Topic Resources
Topic Outline
Equal ProtectionTopic Refresher Course
Equal Protection Clause of the 14th AmendmentTopic Charts & Notes
Equal Protection