Goldberg v. Kelly
United States Supreme Court
397 U.S. 254 (1970)
Relevant factsFree
Kelly (plaintiff) represented New York City welfare recipients whose AFDC or Home Relief benefits were terminated without any prior notice or hearing; they sued state and city officials (defendants), arguing this violated due process. The district court agreed a pre-termination hearing was constitutionally required and granted relief, and the state appealed.
IssueFree
Whether a state that terminates public assistance payments without affording the recipient an evidentiary hearing prior to termination denies the recipient procedural due process under the Fourteenth Amendment.