City of Grants Pass, Oregon v.
Issues
Do fines for camping on public land constitute cruel and unusual punishment of homeless people?
This case asks the Supreme Court to resolve a dispute between the City of Grants Pass, Oregon, and a class of homeless residents of Grants Pass represented by Gloria Johnson. Petitioner Grants Pass contends that its anti-camping ordinances do not violate the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. Respondent Johnson argues that the city’s ordinances amount to criminalization of the status of homelessness, contravening the Eighth Amendment. This case could impact the balance of power between federal, state, and local government and may clarify the limits on criminalizing conduct like camping outside at night.
Questions as Framed for the Court by the Parties
Whether the enforcement of generally applicable laws regulating camping on public property constitutes “cruel and unusual punishment” prohibited by the Eighth Amendment.
The homeless population in Grants Pass, Oregon exceeds the available shelter for homeless people. Johnson v.
Additional Resources
- Amy Howe, Justices take up camping ban case, SCOTUSblog (Jan. 12, 2024).
- Jennifer Ludden, How far can cities go to clear homeless camps? The U.S. Supreme Court will decide, NPR (Feb. 20, 2024).
- Jeremiah Hayden, Grants Pass v. Johnson: Here's what led to key homelessness case before high court, Oregon Public Broadcasting (Apr. 4, 2024).
- Liz Kreutz and Alexa Keyes, How a small city in Oregon could shape the way major U.S. cities handle homelessness, NBC News (Mar. 12, 2024).