Case Citation
Legal Case Name

BOARD OF REGENTS v. ROTH Case Brief

Supreme Court of United States1972
408 U.S. 564 92 S.Ct. 2701 33 L.Ed.2d 548 Constitutional Law Administrative Law Civil Procedure

Why Top Law Students (And Those Aspiring to Be) Use LSD+ Briefs

Let's be real, law school is a marathon. Our exclusive Flash-to-Full case system is designed by Harvard Law School and MIT grads to match your pace: Quick summaries when you're slammed, detailed analysis when you need to go deep. Only LSD+ offers this kind of flexibility to genuinely fit your study flow.

Adaptive Case Views

Toggle between Flash, Standard, and Expanded. Get what you need, when you need it.

Exam-Ready IRAC Format

We deliver the precise structure professors look for in exam answers.

Complex Cases, Clarified

We break down dense legal reasoning into something digestible, helping you grasp core concepts.

Case Brief Summary & Legal Analysis

General Brief
4 min read

tl;dr: A non-tenured professor was not rehired and received no reason or hearing. The Supreme Court held that without a protected “liberty” or “property” interest in continued employment, the Fourteenth Amendment’s procedural due process clause does not require a hearing or statement of reasons for non-renewal.

Legal Significance: This case established the “legitimate claim of entitlement” test for determining whether a government benefit constitutes a “property” interest protected by the Due Process Clause. It clarified that a unilateral expectation of a benefit is insufficient to trigger procedural due process protections.

BOARD OF REGENTS v. ROTH Law School Study Guide

Use this case brief structure for your own legal analysis. Focus on the IRAC methodology to excel in law school exams and cold calls.

Case Facts & Court Holding

Key Facts & Case Background

David Roth, a non-tenured assistant professor, was hired by Wisconsin State University-Oshkosh for a fixed, one-year term. Under Wisconsin law and university rules, a professor could only gain tenure after four years of employment. Roth had no contractual or statutory right to re-employment beyond his one-year term. At the end of his contract, the university notified Roth that he would not be rehired for the following academic year. In accordance with its rules for non-tenured faculty, the university provided no reason for its decision and offered no opportunity for a hearing to challenge the non-renewal. Roth filed suit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, alleging the university’s failure to provide a reason and a hearing violated his Fourteenth Amendment right to procedural due process. The District Court granted summary judgment for Roth on this claim, and the Court of Appeals affirmed. The Supreme Court granted certiorari to address only the procedural due process question.

Court Holding & Legal Precedent

Issue: Does the Fourteenth Amendment’s Due Process Clause require a state university to provide a non-tenured professor with a statement of reasons and a hearing before declining to renew his one-year employment contract?

No. The Court held that Roth was not deprived of a liberty Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi

Master Every Case Faster

Unlock premium legal analysis that helps you quickly understand complex cases, designed by Harvard Law and MIT graduates. It's about working smarter, not just harder.

Start 14-Day Free Trial

Thousands of students are already saving time and gaining clarity. Why not you?

IRAC Legal Analysis

Premium Feature Unlock

Complete IRAC Analysis for Higher Grades

IRAC (Issue, Rule, Analysis, Conclusion) is the exact format professors want to see in your exam answers. Our exclusive Flash-to-Full briefs combine holding, analysis, and rule statements formatted to match what A+ students produce in exams. These structured briefs help reinforce the essential legal reasoning patterns expected in law school.

Legal Issue

Does the Fourteenth Amendment’s Due Process Clause require a state university to provide a non-tenured professor with a statement of reasons and a hearing before declining to renew his one-year employment contract?

Conclusion

Roth is a foundational case in constitutional law that defines the threshold Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit e

Legal Rule

The procedural protections of the Fourteenth Amendment's Due Process Clause apply only Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa

Legal Analysis

The Court's analysis established a crucial two-step inquiry for procedural due process Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem i

Flash-to-Full Case Opinions

Flash Summary

  • A nontenured public employee is not entitled to a due process
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia d

Master Every Case Faster

Unlock premium legal analysis that helps you quickly understand complex cases, designed by Harvard Law and MIT graduates. It's about working smarter, not just harder.

Start 14-Day Free Trial

Thousands of students are already saving time and gaining clarity. Why not you?

It's every lawyer's dream to help shape the law, not just react to it.

✨ Enjoy an ad-free experience with LSD+