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Bennett v. Arkansas, 485 U.S. 395 (1988)
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General SummaryThis case is from a collection containing the full text of over 16,000 Supreme Court cases from 1793 to the present. The body of Supreme Court decisions are, effectively, the final interpretation of the Constitution. Only an amendment to the Constitution can permanently overturn an interpretation and this has happened only four times in American history.
Bennett v. Arkansas, 485 U.S. 395 (1988)
Bennett v. Arkansas No. 86-6124 Argued March 2, 1988 Decided March 29, 1988 485 U.S. 395
CERTIORARI TO THE SUPREME COURT OF ARKANSAS
Syllabus
Relying on an Arkansas statute authorizing the State to seize a prisoner’s property, including his Social Security benefits, in order to help defray the cost of maintaining its prison system, Arkansas filed suit in state court to attach petitioner’s Social Security benefits. The trial court directed that a portion of petitioner’s benefits be seized, rejecting his argument that the state law violates the Supremacy Clause of the Federal Constitution because it permits the State to attach funds that are exempt from legal process under 42 U.S.C. § 407(a). The Supreme Court of Arkansas affirmed, holding that there is no conflict between the state and federal statutes because § 407(a) contains an "implied exception to exemption from legal process" when a State provides for a Social Security recipient’s care and maintenance.
Held: The Arkansas statute violates the Supremacy Clause. There is no "implied exception" to the express language of § 407(a) and its clear intent that Social Security benefits not be attachable, even though the State provides for all of petitioner’s needs. The State is not a statutorily intended beneficiary of petitioner’s Social Security benefits. Rose v. Rose, 481 U.S. 619, distinguished.
290 Ark. 47, 716 S.W.2d 755, reversed.
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Chicago:
U.S. Supreme Court, "Syllabus," Bennett v. Arkansas, 485 U.S. 395 (1988) in 485 U.S. 395 485 U.S. 396. Original Sources, accessed July 1, 2025, http://www.originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=EAFUHXY4G5H1KWB.
MLA:
U.S. Supreme Court. "Syllabus." Bennett v. Arkansas, 485 U.S. 395 (1988), in 485 U.S. 395, page 485 U.S. 396. Original Sources. 1 Jul. 2025. http://www.originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=EAFUHXY4G5H1KWB.
Harvard:
U.S. Supreme Court, 'Syllabus' in Bennett v. Arkansas, 485 U.S. 395 (1988). cited in 1988, 485 U.S. 395, pp.485 U.S. 396. Original Sources, retrieved 1 July 2025, from http://www.originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=EAFUHXY4G5H1KWB.
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