Presumptions of Justice: Law, Politics, and the Mentally Retarded Parent

Although over half a century has passed since Justice Holmes' now infamous ruling in Buck v. Bell that "three generations of imbeciles are enough," our legal system continues to discriminate against mentally retarded parents. In this Article, Professor Hayman argues that stereotyped r...

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Veröffentlicht in:Harvard law review 1990-04, Vol.103 (6), p.1201-1271
1. Verfasser: Hayman, Robert L.
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description Although over half a century has passed since Justice Holmes' now infamous ruling in Buck v. Bell that "three generations of imbeciles are enough," our legal system continues to discriminate against mentally retarded parents. In this Article, Professor Hayman argues that stereotyped responses to mental retardation have been codified into law and are reflected in the current legal presumption that mentally retarded people are unfit to be parents. Using scientific studies of parenting skills, Professor Hayman argues that this presumption of unfitness is both unjust and empirically invalid. The presumption persists, he explains, because the label "mentally retarded" is based on discredited assumptions and reflects a political view of the ideal person that is anti-communal, anti-passionate, and anti-egalitarian. He urges decisionmakers in the juvenile court process to eliminate the label from their adjudications. The Article concludes with suggestions for the advocate for mentally retarded parents who must work within the current system.
doi_str_mv 10.2307/1341412
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identifier ISSN: 0017-811X
ispartof Harvard law review, 1990-04, Vol.103 (6), p.1201-1271
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source Jstor Complete Legacy; PAIS Index; Worldwide Political Science Abstracts; HeinOnline Law Journal Library; Business Source Complete; Periodicals Index Online
subjects Capital punishment
Child care
Child neglect
Child welfare
Civil law
Disabilities
Discrimination
Family
Intellectual disabilities
Intellectual disability
Justice
Law
Learning difficulties
Legal status, laws, etc
Mental Health
Mothers
Parent and child (law)
Parental rights
PARENTAL RIGHTS AND DUTIES
Parenting
Parents
Parents & parenting
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
Politics
Statutory law
United States
title Presumptions of Justice: Law, Politics, and the Mentally Retarded Parent
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