Hooper v. Bernalillo County Assessor

Justice Stevens, with whom Justice Rehnquist and Justice O’Connor join,

dissenting.

Vietnam veterans are, of course, a distinct minority of the population of New Mexico.1 The majority has decided to *625provide them with a special benefit that is not available to the average citizen. In my opinion, there can be no question about the constitutionality of that decision, and I believe it is equally clear that there is nothing invidious in the way the State has defined the class of veterans eligible for the benefit. The validity of the classification is unaffected by the form of the benefit or the date…