Jenkins v. The City of Jennings

Brief Fact Summary.

Impoverished people jailed without representation, a hearing, or having their rights read.

Synopsis of Rule of Law.

A state government must give notice and an opportunity to be heard before taking a person’s life, liberty, or property.

Facts.

Plaintiffs, impoverished people, sue Defendant, City of Jennings, for violating a number of their constitutional rights, including their right to Due Process guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment. The City had a practice of arresting and jailing people that failed to pay traffic tickets and other minor violations. The impoverished people were not given counsel or an opportunity to be heard. They were told that despite their inability to pay that they would be detained indefinitely until they paid off their fines. Their bail amount changed daily and usually decreased the longer they were incarcerated. The city held a “confined docket” every week where some incarcerated people were brought before city clerks, the city prosecutor, and the city judge. The incarcerated people still were not given counsel or informed of their rights, instead they were again told they would be jailed indefinitely until they paid a certain amount of their debts off.

Issue.

According to the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment must a state government give notice and an opportunity to be heard before taking a person’s life, liberty, or property?

Held.

NONE PROVIDED IN THE CASEBOOK.

Discussion.

NONE PROVIDED IN THE CASEBOOK.