FOLIO Ontology

An equal protection claim is a legal action initiated by an individual or group alleging that their Fourteenth Amendment right to equal protection under the law has been violated by the government or a government actor. The Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment prohibits the government from treating individuals or groups differently based on their race, gender, national origin, or other protected categories. An equal protection claim may arise in various contexts, such as when a government enacts a law or policy that treats certain individuals or groups unfairly or unequally, or when a government actor engages in discriminatory conduct. Examples of unequal treatment can include unequal enforcement of laws, unequal access to public services or benefits, or unequal treatment in the criminal justice system.