Also known as: legitimate governmental interest · legitimate state interest · legitimate interest
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
A governmental objective that is valid under the Constitution and not grounded in prejudice or mere moral disapproval. The objective must bear a rational relationship to the challenged action under rational basis review. It supplies the justification required to uphold classifications or conditions that would otherwise violate equal protection or due process.
Lumen Capital holds the benefit of a covenant in gross restricting development on adjacent parcels. It sues to enforce the restriction against a new owner who plans a large warehouse. Because Lumen owns no benefited land, the court requires it to prove a legitimate government interest in enforcement before allowing the suit to proceed.
The city council denies Legacy Motors a permit to convert a warehouse into supervised housing for adults with intellectual disabilities. Neighbors cite only fears tied to the residents' mental condition. The denial lacks any legitimate government interest and violates equal protection.
Select any source to read its text and confirm it supports the definition.
A state agency conditions approval of a business license on Lance Lee's agreement to a broad noncompete covering the entire state. The restraint exceeds what is needed to protect any legitimate government interest in fair competition. The court refuses to enforce the covenant.
A state statute criminalizes private consensual sexual conduct between adults. Prosecutors defend the law solely on grounds of moral disapproval. The statute fails rational basis review because the state has no legitimate government interest in regulating such conduct.
Voters approve a state constitutional amendment that bars any local law protecting persons based on sexual orientation from discrimination. The measure singles out one class and denies it equal access to the political process. It lacks a rational relationship to any legitimate state interest.
The county conditions approval of Levi Lowe's subdivision permit on dedication of a public trail across his property. The trail does not mitigate any impact caused by the development. Without an essential nexus to a legitimate government interest the condition constitutes a taking.
The government must demonstrate that the objective is valid and not grounded solely in prejudice or moral disapproval. Courts accept a wide range of public welfare, safety, and administrative goals when supported by the record.
No. Moral disapproval standing alone is insufficient to satisfy rational basis review in equal protection or due process challenges. The government must identify an objective beyond disapproval of the regulated conduct.
A holder of a covenant benefit in gross must establish a legitimate interest in enforcement before a court will recognize standing. Mere ownership of the covenant is not enough when the benefit is not appurtenant to land.
An exaction fails when the required dedication bears no essential nexus to a legitimate interest that would justify outright denial of the permit. The condition must mitigate an impact actually caused by the proposed development.
…against the life she carries within her, should the interest of the embryo or fetus not prevail. Logically, of course, a legitimate state interest in this area need not stand or fall on acceptance of the belief that life begins at conception or at some other point prior to live birth. In assessing the State's interest, recognition may…