Bradwell v. Illinois case brief

Bradwell v. Illinois (1873)

Facts: Bradwell’s application to IL bar rejected on the basis that she is a married woman.

Holding: SC affirmed and upheld IL law prohibiting women from having licenses to practice law.

Miller said Bradwell’s argument that this violated the P or I clause did not apply b/c admission to the bar of a state is not one of the privileges and immunities of US citizenship. P or I did not apply to Bradwell b/c married women were seen as possessions of their husbands at that time. She is a citizen of the US and IL, however.

Slaughterhouse was decided the day before, this case effectively nullified the P or I clause.