Slochower v. Board of Education of New York City
Slochower v. Board of Education of New York City is a significant Supreme Court case addressing the rights of public employees in relation to loyalty oaths and due process. The case involved a tenured college professor who was dismissed for refusing to fully cooperate with a congressional inquiry regarding alleged communist subversion in education. He had asserted his right against self-incrimination, a decision that led to his summary dismissal under a provision of the New York Charter that mandated termination for non-compliance. The Supreme Court, in a 5-4 ruling, determined that this provision was unconstitutional, asserting that the dismissal without a hearing violated the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The case underscores the tension between national security concerns during the Cold War and the civil rights of individuals, particularly in the context of education. Dissenting opinions raised concerns about the implications of the ruling on loyalty and accountability in public institutions. Overall, Slochower v. Board of Education highlights important issues surrounding academic freedom, the rights of educators, and the legal standards governing employment in public sectors.
Slochower v. Board of Education of New York City
Date: April 9, 1956
Citation: 350 U.S. 551
Issue: Loyalty oaths
Significance: The Supreme Court overturned a summary dismissal of a public school teacher for refusing to answer questions before a congressional committee.
Justice Tom C. Clark wrote the opinion for the 5-4 majority, voiding a summary dismissal of a tenured college professor who cooperated substantially with a congressional inquiry into “communist” subversion in college education but who asserted his right against self-incrimination for a brief period before World War II. The New York Charter provided for termination if an employee refused to answer questions about official conduct. The Supreme Court found that provision of the Charter unconstitutional and declared that the dismissal of the teacher without a hearing violated the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Justices Sherman Minton, Harold H. Burton, Stanley F. Reed, and John M. Harlan II dissented.
