Supreme Court Cases Heart of Atlanta Motel vs. The United States By: Jennifer Lacaillade

Back Round Of The Case This case represented a great challenge to the Civil Rights Act of The act banned racial discrimination in public places. The Heart of Atlanta Motel refused to rent rooms to black patrons, which directly violated the act. The owner of the motel filed suit in federal court, arguing that the requirements of the act exceeded the authority granted to Congress over interstate commerce. He also argued that the act violated his Fifth Amendment right to choose customers and operate his business as he wished and resulted in unjust deprivation of his property without due process of law and just compensation. Finally, the owner argued that Congress had placed him in a position of involuntary servitude by forcing him to rent available rooms to blacks, thereby violating his Thirteenth Amendment rights.

Ruling Of The Court The Court held that Congress acted well within its jurisdiction of the Interstate Commerce clause in passing the Civil Rights Act of It found no merit in the arguments pursuant to the Thirteenth Amendment, finding it hard to conceive that such an Amendment might possibly be applicable in restraining civil rights legislation. It therefore upheld the permanent injunction issued by the District Court that required the Heart of Atlanta Motel to receive business from clientele of all races.

Significance Heart of Atlanta Motel case marked a turning point in Congress' efforts to promote civil rights through use of its power to regulate interstate commerce. It also set a president regarding de- segregation in the south.

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