United States Leading Case restrictive covenantsequal protectionstate action

Shelley v. Kraemer

334 U.S. 1 (1948); 68 S. Ct. 836; 92 L. Ed. 1161

JurisdictionUnited States

CourtSupreme Court of the United States

Year1948

StatusBinding authority

Key Principle

Racially restrictive covenants are private and not themselves unconstitutional, but judicial enforcement of them by state courts is state action that violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

Area of Law

Land & Property

Related Cases

Dolan v. City of Tigard 512 U.S. 374 (1994); 114 S. Ct. 2309; 129 L. Ed. 2d 304

Lucas v. South Carolina Coastal Council 505 U.S. 1003 (1992); 112 S. Ct. 2886; 120 L. Ed. 2d 798

Nollan v. California Coastal Commission 483 U.S. 825 (1987); 107 S. Ct. 3141; 97 L. Ed. 2d 677

Ask CommonBench about this case

Get a detailed analysis of Shelley v. Kraemer and how it applies to your situation.

Explain Shelley v. Kraemer