Action Quote by David B. Rivkin
“There are a few instances that arise in the unique context of domestic equal-protection challenges to governmental actions that are facially neutral but produce substantial discriminatory impacts on groups of people, based on such suspect classifications as race, nationality, ethnic origin, etc. This doctrine has never been used in foreign affairs.”
About This Quote
Source Legal Article: Equal Protection Challenges, 2023
The quote explains that government actions that appear neutral can still cause significant discrimination against protected groups, and this legal doctrine is not applied in foreign affairs.
In simple terms: Neutral policies can still discriminate against protected groups.
Key Takeaway
Examine policies for hidden discriminatory effects.
Themes
law
discrimination
government
civilrights
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
legal
policy
When to use this quote
- policy review
- civil rights litigation
- government decision making
- public administration
Key Concepts
equal protection
facial neutrality
disparate impact
Questions to Reflect On
- How can hidden bias be uncovered in seemingly neutral policies?
- What safeguards can prevent disparate impact?
A Different Perspective
The doctrine may be hard to prove without clear statistical evidence.
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![“The fact that some former national security officials challenge the policy wisdom of the order, while other national security officials - most notably those of this [Donald Trump's] administration - support it, merely demonstrates that these are policy disputes that the judiciary is both…” quote by David B. Rivkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/04c/david-b-rivkin-43789_administration_the-fact-that-some-former-national-secur_3126900.jpg)
