Muller Vs. Oregon: Impact On Supreme Court History

Tanner Morrow
Period 1
Greening
5-26-13
Muller vs. Oregon Since its creation in the late 18th century, the Supreme Court has made numerous decisions that impacted the course of history. The Supreme Court has a very important job, to interpret the constitution principles and make decisions based on these important standards. Had it not been for the rulings made by this court, many laws and precedents may not have been adapted. One case that had an exceptionally important impact on history was the case of Muller vs. Oregon. This case is one of the most influential decisions in Supreme Court history and its impacts are still seen even today. The case of Muller vs. Oregon was a landmark court case that took place in 1908. The major issue
Muller was fined $10. Muller appealed to the Oregon Supreme Court and then to the U.S. Supreme Court, both of which upheld the constitutionality of the labor law and affirmed his conviction. Oregon 's attorney general agreed that Louis D. Brandeis should defend the law before the Court. Brandeis was a lawyer who supported reforms that protected workers. He filed a brief argument in the case that discussed previous legal cases for only two pages. Brandeis then presented much evidence showing a direct link between long hours of work and women 's health. The Court had suggested in previous court cases that it would support kinds of state laws with a direct link to health or safety. In his brief, Brandeis tried to show the Court that Oregon 's law was a valid use of its power to protect the health of women. This presentation to the Supreme Court became known as the "Brandeis Brief.” It provided social authorities on the issue of the impact of long working hours on women. This was the first instance in the United States that social science had been used in law and changed the direction of the Supreme Court and of U.S. law. The Brandeis Brief became the model for future Supreme Court presentations.
Not only was it important for the obvious reasons such as limiting the work day of women to 10 hours and protecting their wellbeing in the workplace, it was also significant for some other less obvious reasons. Some may believe that this case facilitates gender discrimination in the workplace, an issue that has been debated for countless decades. If the Supreme Court can rule to deny women their fourteenth amendment rights – even if it is claimed to be “for their own good,” then how can women ever escape the common stereotype of being inferior to men? It is difficult for feminists of the time who were fighting for equality to contend with this court case that basically encourages different regulations for men and women in the