Brandeis Brief
The Brandeis Brief is a groundbreaking legal document prepared by Louis D. Brandeis in the early 20th century, notably for the case Muller v. Oregon in 1908. This brief gained prominence for its unique approach to legal arguments, combining legal analysis with sociological data and empirical research to advocate for the protection of women's labor rights. Brandeis defended Oregon's law that limited the working hours of women in certain industries, using a wealth of statistics, medical reports, and studies to support his case. His method marked a shift in legal strategy, emphasizing the importance of social context and public welfare in judicial decisions. The Supreme Court ultimately ruled in favor of the Oregon law, which not only affirmed the specific legislation but also served as a precedent for the use of social science in legal arguments. This case and the Brandeis Brief are significant both in the context of labor reform and the evolving role of the judiciary in addressing social issues. Brandeis later became an associate justice of the Supreme Court, further influencing American law and progressive reforms.
Brandeis Brief
Date: 1908
Description: Lengthy summarization of a case before the Supreme Court prepared by Louis D. Brandeis in defense of an Oregon law that limited the length of the workday for women in certain industries.
Significance: The Brandeis Brief was a defining moment in the history of the Supreme Court. Instead of limiting his defense of reform legislation to current law, Brandeis used Progressive social and economic values as the basis for his defense. The success of his effort led to his methodology being employed by many others.
Eight years before he joined the Supreme Court himself, Brandeis gained national attention with the lengthy brief he prepared while counsel for the defense in Muller v. Oregon (1908). A Progressive, Brandeis was retained to defend Oregon’s 1903 reform law limiting the length of the workday for women in certain industries. After a cursory two-page review of the legal issues, Brandeis advanced a comprehensive and persuasive argument that validated the Oregon law. Supported by a team of researchers, Brandeis used statistics, medical reports, and other studies to develop a brief that reflected the sociological approach favored by Progressivism. The court found in favor of his brief, thereby giving tacit approval to this method of argumentation. President Woodrow Wilson appointed Brandeis as associate justice on the Supreme Court in 1916.
