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Weinberger v. Wiesenfeld Case Brief
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Case Brief Summary & Legal Analysis
tl;dr: A widower was denied Social Security survivor’s benefits that were available only to widows. The Supreme Court found this gender-based distinction unconstitutional, as it was based on archaic stereotypes about family roles and unfairly devalued the contributions of female wage earners.
Legal Significance: This case solidified that gender-based classifications in federal benefit statutes, rooted in archaic stereotypes about dependency and family roles, violate the equal protection component of the Fifth Amendment’s Due Process Clause by devaluing the contributions of female wage earners.
Weinberger v. Wiesenfeld 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
Appellee Stephen Wiesenfeld’s wife, Paula, was the family’s primary wage earner and had paid maximum Social Security taxes throughout her employment. When she died in childbirth, Wiesenfeld was left as the sole caregiver for their infant son. He applied for Social Security survivor’s benefits for himself and his son. While his son was granted benefits, Wiesenfeld was denied personal benefits under § 402(g) of the Social Security Act, which authorized payments to a surviving “widow” with minor children but not to a similarly situated “widower.” The statute was premised on the traditional assumption that men were the primary breadwinners. Wiesenfeld challenged the statute, arguing that the gender-based classification constituted invidious discrimination against female wage earners and surviving fathers, violating the Fifth Amendment’s guarantee of equal protection.
Court Holding & Legal Precedent
Issue: Does a provision of the Social Security Act that grants survivor’s benefits to widows with minor children, but not to similarly situated widowers, constitute unconstitutional gender discrimination in violation of the equal protection component of the Fifth Amendment’s Due Process Clause?
Yes. The gender-based distinction in § 402(g) of the Social Security Act 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
IRAC Legal Analysis
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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 a provision of the Social Security Act that grants survivor’s benefits to widows with minor children, but not to similarly situated widowers, constitute unconstitutional gender discrimination in violation of the equal protection component of the Fifth Amendment’s Due Process Clause?
Conclusion
This decision reinforced that gender classifications based on traditional dependency stereotypes are 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 aliqu
Legal Rule
A gender-based classification in a federal statute that provides dissimilar treatment for 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 dol
Legal Analysis
The Court, applying the principles of *Frontiero v. Richardson*, found the gender-based 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 ni
Flash-to-Full Case Opinions
Flash Summary
- Holding: A Social Security Act provision granting survivor benefits to widows