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
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