Reed v. Reed

404 U.S. 71 (1971)

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Nature of the Case

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Facts

An Idaho statute that preferences male candidates over female candidates to manage intestate estates whenever the skills and eligibility of each applicant are equal was disputed. The purported purpose of the statute is to reduce the administrative burden of conducting hearings to determine a suitable administer whenever multiple administrator candidates are available. An Idaho Supreme Court selected the father over the mother to administer their son's intestate estate. The Mother maintains that this statute creates a classification subject to scrutiny under the Equal Protection Clause. The U.S. Supreme Court reversed in favor of the Mother and remanded for further proceeding.