Joseph Lochner Case

Lochner v New York is a Supreme Court case regarding maximum labor hours in the state of New York. Joseph Lochner is a baker in Utica, New York. He was arrested for allowing employees to work more than 10 hours in a day or 60 hours in a week. He was charged multiple times for infringing on the Bakeshop Act of 1895 leading up to when he brought his case all the way up to the Supreme Court in February of 1905. Lochner was just trying to run his bakery his own way and in a way that made money for him and his family. He also was allowing his employees to earn extra money by working more hours each day and in each week. Joseph Lochner was arguing that the Bakeshop Act was unconstitutional. The Bakeshop Act of 1895 was a law that the New York State Legislators approved to help regulate working conditions and safety regulations in bakeries. The law prohibited any worker in a bakery of working more than 10 hours in a day or 60 hours
in a week. Bakeries were known as places that were tough to work in, however, Lochner’s bakery had no complaints of dirtiness and was acknowledged for being clean. Lochner’s main argument against the State of New York revolved around the Fourteenth Amendment. The amendment states, “No state shall deprive any person of life, liberty, or property”. In his argument, he complained that the Bakeshop Act was breaking the Fourteenth Amendment by restricting labor hours for him or his employees. The State of New York’s Legislators were voted on by the people of the State, thus meaning the people trusted the Legislators to do what is best for the people. The bakeries in New York City had much worse conditions than Lochner’s bakery in Utica. The State issued the Bakeshop Act in 1895 to protect the majority of bakers and employees in the worse conditions. Unfortunately, for Lochner his bakery still fell under that Act. New York argued that the state has its right to issue Police Powers, which is what they did when issuing the Bakeshop Act. They were looking out for the health, safety, and working conditions for the people who work in such places. The Supreme Court made its 5-4 decision in April of 1905 in favor of Joseph Lochner.
Their decision was based around the Fourteenth Amendment. They agreed with Lochner that the Bakeshop Act of 1895 was unconstitutional because it takes away people’s liberty. Also, included in that is the right to contract. It cannot take away that right of someone, like Lochner, determining labor hours for him or the employees. The State of New York cannot restrict people under those circumstances. In conclusion, Lochner v New York proved to be a pivotal Supreme Court case. It was the cornerstone case for future cases regarding state’s Police Powers. The Fourteenth Amendment covers a lot of rights for any person. We see this Amendment as defense for many cases that are brought in front of the Supreme Court. This case also proves the Due Process Clause is a very important part of the Fourteenth Amendment. I agree with the Supreme Court’s ruling that Joseph Lochner should have the right to dictate his labor hours for him and his employees in his own
bakery.