Loading...

Due Process - Constitutional Law

Due Process

The Due Process Clause in the Fifth Amendment and to the states through the Fourth Amendment provides that no government entity shall deprive any “person” of “life, liberty or property” without due process of law. Procedural due process, based on principles of “fundamental fairness,” addresses which legal procedures are required to be followed in proceedings. Substantive due process, although also based on principles of “fundamental fairness,” is used to evaluate whether a law can be applied legally at all, regardless of the procedure followed.

About Us

Michael Devereux is a highly respected civil rights attorney in Los Angeles. His vast experience, zealous advocacy for his clients and extensive knowledge of many areas of civil rights, including due process make Mr. Devereux an elite constitutional law attorney. Mr. Devereux started his own firm in 2004 after working for the Cochran Firm, and assisting with the Robert Blake and Michael Jackson defense teams under Thomas Mesereau. As the sole proprietor of Wexford Law, Mr. Devereux has been successfully representing clients for close to 20 years in respect to the constitutional law and civil rights. Former clients, their family and friends repeatedly return to Wexford Law for help in matters involving civil rights. Mr. Devereux loves taking on the federal government and the State of California in constitutional law matters.

FAQ

The Due Process Clause is the Fifth Amendment and applied to the States in through the Fourteenth Amendment. The Due Process Clause provides that no government shall deprive any “person” of “life, liberty or property” without due process of law. Procedural due process, based on principles of “fundamental fairness,” addresses which legal procedures are required to be followed in proceedings. Substantive due process, although also based on principles of “fundamental fairness,” is used to evaluate whether a law can be applied legally at all, regardless of the procedure followed.

The due process clauses apply to both natural persons as well as to "legal persons" (that is, corporate personhood) as well as to individuals, including both citizens and non-citizens.

In many situations, some form of procedural due process is required. As an example, a government agency might terminate someone from a government job, send a defendant to prison, revoke a prisoner's parole, or cut someone's social security payments or other welfare benefits. Due process is the process that citizen's are entitled to for the protection of their rights. Procedural Due Process does not necessarily prohibit these actions, but it does require that certain procedures be followed before any action is taken.

Substantive due process refers to the Court's examination of the reasons why the government passed a law or otherwise acted in a manner denying a citizen or a group of citizens life, liberty, or property (regardless of the procedure the law provides). In many cases, such as when a law infringes upon a citizen's First Amendment rights, right to privacy, right to vote, or makes a racial or sexual classification, the Court requires the government to have a damn good reason or "compelling" reason for the law. The Court will "strictly scrutinize" the government's reasons and, in all likelihood, will strike the law down if the compelling reason isn't strong enough. In other cases, such as when the government enacts taxation or zoning laws, the personal rights involved are not as fundamental, and the Court will uphold the law as long as the government's motives are not arbitrary or irrational, thus a legitimate government interest is enough to pass this review called "rational basis."

Michael Devereux, An Elite Civil Rights Attorney

Millions of veterans have risked their lives to protect the Fifth & Fourteenth Amendment. Revolutionay war veterans thought that Due Process rights were important enought that they were the 5th Amendment to the Bill of Rights. After the civil war, the Fourteenth Amendment was created to assigned Due Process to the states, thus ending slavery.
06

The Best

in Their Fields

If you or your business is facing a legal challenge, contact us today to arrange a free initial consultation with an attorney.

Read more

What People Say

Why Choose Us

  • Our Beliefs

    Experience gets the job done. Wex Law attorneys have more than 20 years of legal practice.

  • Great Results

    Results are only successful when we make a difference in your life. We’ll help you make that difference.