Craig v. Boren

Appellants

Curtis Craig, for men between the ages of 18 and 21 wanting to purchase 3.2 percent beer in the state of Oklahoma and Ms. Whitener, a licensed vendor for 3.2 percent beer, for other vendors.

Appellee

David Boren, Governor of Oklahoma

Appellants' Claim

That Oklahoma laws prohibiting the sale of 3.2 percent beer to males under 21 and females under 18 discriminated against males between the ages of 18 and 21.

Chief Lawyer for Appellants

Frederick P. Gilbert

Chief Lawyer for Appellee

James H. Gray

Justices for the Court

Harry A. Blackmun, William J. Brennan, Jr. (writing for the Court), Thurgood Marshall, Lewis F. Powell, Jr., John Paul Stevens, Potter Stewart, Byron R. White

Justices Dissenting

Warren E. Burger, William H. Rehnquist

Place

Washington, D.C.

Date of Decision

5 October 1976

Decision

That the Oklahoma laws restricting the sale of 3.2 percent beer to males over 21 and females over 18 violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment by discriminating on the basis of gender.

Related Cases

• Michael M. v. Superior Court of Sonoma County, California, 450 U.S. 464 (1981).
• Murphy v. Edmonds, 601 A.2d 102 (1992).