How has the Supreme Court interpreted the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment?

The Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment states that no state can “deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.” In practice, this means that each person in the United States should receive equal treatment under the law regardless of race, gender, age, religion, national origin, ability, and other characteristics. In Hawaii, the Supreme Court has interpreted the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment in numerous cases. In Baehr v. Lewin, 74 Haw. 530 (Haw. 1993), the Supreme Court of Hawaii held that the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment applied to sexual orientation discrimination, striking down a state statute which limited marriage to opposite-sex couples. It stated that the Equal Protection Clause was designed to protect individuals from irrational and arbitrary discrimination and to prevent the majority from subordinating a minority based on unfounded stereotypes and prejudices. In County of Hawaii v. Kahoohanohano, 9 Haw. App. 498 (Haw. Ct. App. 1982), the court ruled that a county-imposed residency requirement violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The court held that the requirement discriminated against non-residents and violated the constitutional guarantee of equal protection, noting that classifications based on residence should be closely scrutinized and should bear a strong relationship to a legitimate governmental interest. In general, Hawaii’s Supreme Court has been a strong advocate for enshrining equality and fairness in its body of constitutional law. Through its interpretation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, the Court has sought to guarantee that the fundamental rights of all citizens are respected and that discrimination on the basis of arbitrary factors is prohibited.

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How has the Supreme Court interpreted the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment?

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