Also known as: important governmental interest · important state interest
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
A governmental objective sufficiently weighty to justify a classification under intermediate scrutiny. The objective must be genuine and the classification must be substantially related to achieving it.
Isabella Ingram died intestate leaving two children. One was born during her marriage and the other outside it. State law barred the nonmarital child from any share of the estate. The court held the bar unconstitutional because the classification was not substantially related to an important government interest.
Ines Ibarra and Imran Iyer were unmarried parents of two children. State law allowed the mother but not the father to block an adoption by a stepparent. The court struck down the distinction because it was not substantially related to an important government interest in child welfare.
Select any source to read its text and confirm it supports the definition.
Imani Idowu and Israel Irving were fired after using peyote in a religious ceremony. State unemployment rules denied benefits because the conduct was criminal. The court upheld the denial because the neutral law advanced the important government interest in uniform drug enforcement without targeting religion.
Integrity Partners contributed to candidates beyond statutory caps. The firm challenged the limits as violating free speech. The court upheld the caps because they were closely drawn to match the sufficiently important government interest in preventing corruption.
Indigo Textiles operated an adult bookstore near a residential area. City zoning banned such uses within 500 feet of homes. The court upheld the rule because it served the important government interest in reducing secondary effects like crime.
Infinity Bank sponsored a health plan that excluded certain contraceptives on religious grounds. Federal rules required coverage but allowed narrow exemptions. The court held the mandate served an important government interest in public health while accommodating religious exercise.
Intermediate scrutiny requires the government to demonstrate that a sex-based classification serves an important governmental interest and is substantially related to achieving it.
Yes. A statute that criminalizes statutory rape only for males can be upheld because the gender classification is substantially related to the important governmental interest in preventing teenage pregnancy.
No. Preserving traditional gender roles or simplifying paperwork does not qualify as an important interest that justifies denying equal legal power based on sex.
The government must make an exceedingly persuasive showing that the objective is important and genuine and that the sex classification is substantially related to achieving it without relying on stereotypes.
…required by clear and compelling governmental interests “of the highest order,” Yoder, supra , at 215. “Only an especially important governmental interest pursued by narrowly tailored means can justify exacting a sacrifice of First Amendment freedoms as the price for an equal share of the rights, benefits, and privileges enjoyed by other…