Law Commons^™

Owen Fiss, Equality Theory, And Judicial Role, Susan P. Sturm

Faculty Scholarship

This essay uses Owen Fiss’ treatment of equality doctrine in “Groups and the Equal Protection Clause” to demonstrate the influence of judicial role conceptions on equality jurisprudence. Fiss’ conception of the judiciary’s role in elaborating and enforcing public norms profoundly shapes his articulation of the anti-subordination principle. More specifically, Fiss looks to the federal judiciary unilaterally to declare public law truths and to impose those truths on noncompliant bureaucrats. This static, almost imperial role places great pressure on the judiciary to adopt unitary equality norms that can be implemented, at least in theory, through top-down imposition. Fiss’ commitment to a …