Goldberg v. Kelly

E54958

Goldberg v. Kelly is a landmark 1970 U.S. Supreme Court decision that held welfare recipients are entitled to an evidentiary hearing before their benefits are terminated, significantly expanding procedural due process protections.


Statements (49)

Predicate Object
instanceOf United States Supreme Court case
due process case
landmark decision
areaOfLaw administrative law
constitutional law
social welfare law
citation 397 U.S. 254
constitutionalProvision Fourteenth Amendment
surface form: "Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution"
constitutionalRight right to due process of law
country United States of America
surface form: "United States"
court Supreme Court of the United States
decisionDate 1970-03-23
fullName Goldberg v. Kelly
surface form: "Goldberg v. Kelly, 397 U.S. 254 (1970)"
holding Due process requires a pre-termination hearing when welfare benefits are discontinued
Public assistance benefits are a form of statutory entitlement protected by due process
Welfare recipients are entitled to an evidentiary hearing before termination of benefits
impact established precedent for due process in entitlement programs
expanded procedural due process protections for government benefit recipients
influenced administrative hearing procedures nationwide
jurisdiction United States of America
surface form: "United States"
legalIssue procedural due process
termination of welfare benefits
majorityOpinionBy William J. Brennan Jr. NERFINISHED
opinionType majority opinion
originatingJurisdiction New York
page 254
party Jack R. Goldberg
John Kelly
petitioner Jack R. Goldberg
principle Due process requires an opportunity to be heard at a meaningful time and in a meaningful manner
Due process requires timely and adequate notice before termination of welfare benefits
Government benefits that are statutory entitlements cannot be terminated without due process
recognizedInterest property interest in continued receipt of welfare benefits
rejectedRequirement full judicial trial before termination of benefits
relatedCase Mathews v. Eldridge
relatedConcept entitlement theory of benefits
notice and hearing requirements
reporter United States Reports
requiredProcedure impartial decision maker
pre-termination evidentiary hearing
right to confront and cross-examine adverse witnesses
right to present evidence and arguments
written statement of reasons for the decision
respondent John Kelly
subjectMatter public assistance
welfare benefits
timePeriod Warren Court era
volume 397
vote 5–3

Referenced by (4)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Mathews v. Eldridge citedBy Goldberg v. Kelly
this entity surface form: "Goldberg v. Kelly (distinguished)"
Mathews v. Eldridge distinguishedFrom Goldberg v. Kelly
Goldberg v. Kelly fullName Goldberg v. Kelly
this entity surface form: "Goldberg v. Kelly, 397 U.S. 254 (1970)"
Due Process Clause interpretedInCase Goldberg v. Kelly