Results for: Equal Protection

Two Wisconsin wedding barns, Farmview Event Barn and Monarch Valley Wedding & Events, have filed a lawsuit against the state, seeking to block enactment of a new law that requires them to obtain liquor licenses. The lawsuit alleges that the law violates equal protection guarantees and the right to earn a living under the Wisconsin Constitution by imposing an illegal, non-uniform tax. The new law affects every level of the state’s alcohol industry, including new requirements on facilities that host wedding receptions and other events but are not traditional bars, restaurants, or entertainment venues. These venues must now obtain either a permit or license to sell or allow alcohol legally starting in 2026. The lawsuit argues that the law gives special treatment to certain entities, such as municipalities, schools, churches, and clubs, and that this is unconstitutional.

A coalition of civil rights organizations is challenging California’s death penalty system in the state supreme court, arguing that it disproportionately targets minorities and violates constitutional guarantees to equal protection under the law. The state, which has the largest death row in the nation, has seen a dramatic decline in executions in recent years amid growing opposition to capital punishment. However, prosecutors continue to seek new death sentences, and a majority of voters still support the death penalty for murder convictions.