Robbins v. Superior Court

In Robbins v. Superior Court (1985) 38 Cal.3d 199, the California Supreme Court enjoined a county's general assistance program that precluded recipients who were single and employable from receiving cash grants for food and shelter and instead required them to reside in a county-run facility. The court held that it was likely that the residents would prevail at trial on their claim that the program violated their right to privacy under the state constitution. (Id. at pp. 203, 213-217.) It determined that the county's program compelled recipients to give up their living quarters and to live with people who were not of their choosing and that the county failed to demonstrate a practicable necessity for the program. (Id. at pp. 209, 213-217.)