Goldberg v. Kelly, 397 U.S. 254 (1970)
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Learning Objectives
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Learn how the status of the affected persons can
change the nature of the due process needed for
fundamental fairness
Learn how increasing due process rights can
have unintended consequences in a program with
limited resources
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The pre-1996 Welfare System
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What is the general attitude toward people on
Welfare?
How was this reflected in the administration of the
welfare programs?
What was AFDC?
What were the unintended consequences of the
welfare system?
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Supreme Court Context
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Earl Warren
 Appointed Chief Justice in 1953 - by which
president?
 What was Warren's background?
 Served until 1969
What was the jurisprudential shift on the United
States Supreme Court in the 1950s and 1960s?
Who became Chief Justice after Earl Warren?
Goldberg is the last gasp of the Earl Warren Court
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Facts of the Case
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What state did this case arise in?
What program was providing benefits to the
plaintiffs?
What was the economic status of plaintiffs?
How does this complicate their effectively
asserting their legal rights?
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Statutory Entitlements
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What makes a benefit an entitlement?
What is a matrix regulation?
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Matrix Regulation
Test 1
Test 2
Claimant Status
Income less than
$3000 for family
of 2
Assets less than
$2000
Income less than x
$6000 for family
of 4
Head of
x
household is
disabled
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Pre-Goldberg Administrative Process
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What was the administrative process that plaintiffs were
contesting?
What do you think is the relationship between the agency
personnel and the plaintiffs?
What were the problems with the informal system of
reevaluating beneficiaries status?
What was the impact on plaintiffs of terminating benefits?
How does this further complicate post-deprivation
hearing rights?
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Why a Hearing?
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Why couldn't plaintiff hire an attorney and file
a written response to the termination letter?
What could she do at a hearing that she
could not do in writing?
Why wasn't a post-termination hearing
enough?
Why didn't the state want to give everyone a
hearing?
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Goldberg Rights - I
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1) timely and adequate notice
2) oral presentation of arguments
3) oral presentation of evidence
4) confronting adverse witnesses
5) cross-examination of adverse
witnesses
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Goldberg Rights - II
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6) disclosure to the claimant of opposing
evidence
7) the right to retain an attorney (no appointed
counsel)
8) a determination on the record of the hearing
9) record of reasons and evidence relied on; and
10) an impartial decision maker
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Administrative Costs of Goldberg
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What does granting these hearings do to the cost
of removing someone from welfare?
What does it do to the balance of benefits costs to
administration costs?
What does this do to the global cost of the
benefits system?
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Short-Term Impact of Goldberg
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How does raising the administrative costs affect
new claims for welfare?
What is the incentive for the welfare officers under
the Goldberg ruling?
What expectation does it create for welfare
recipients?
What long term problem did this contribute to?
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Fixing Welfare - The 1996 Act
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Who pushed for welfare reform?
Who signed it?
What is the new name for AFDC?
 TANF - Temporary assistance for Needy Families
What does the name change tell you about the change in
philosophy?
How long do you get on the program?
How does this affect future Goldberg actions?
 Will there be facts in dispute?
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