Katzenbach v. McClung

Katzenbach v. McClung, 379 U.S. 294 (1964), is a landmark decision of the United States Supreme Court.

Ollie’s Barbecue, a family-owned restaurant in Birmingham, Alabama, refused to serve Black customers. The restaurant was located near interstate highways and purchased substantial supplies from out of state. The owners challenged Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, arguing that their business was purely local.

Significance

Justice Clark’s unanimous opinion upheld the application of Title II to Ollie’s Barbecue. Even though the restaurant served mostly local customers, it purchased food and supplies from out of state. Discrimination reduced Black patronage, which in turn reduced interstate purchases. The ‘aggregation principle’ from Wickard v. Filburn allowed the Court to consider the cumulative effect of similar businesses across the country. The decision, together with Heart of Atlanta Motel, provided the constitutional foundation for the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Category

US Federal Case Law