Fundamental Rights in the "Gray" Area: The Right of Privacy under the Minnesota Constitution

William Mitchell Law Review Volume 20 Issue 2 Article 6 1994 Fundamental Rights in the "Gray" Area: The Right of Privacy under the Minnesota Constitution Michael K. Steenson Mitchell Hamline School of Law, mike.steenson@mitchellhamline.edu Follow this and additional works at: http://open.mitchellhamline.edu/wmlr Part of the Privacy Law Commons Recommended Citation Steenson, Michael K. (1994) "Fundamental Rights in the "Gray" Area: The Right of Privacy under the Minnesota Constitution," William Mitchell Law Review: Vol. 20: Iss. 2, Article 6. Available at: http://open.mitchellhamline.edu/wmlr/vol20/iss2/6 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Law Reviews and Journals at Mitchell Hamline Open Access. It has been accepted for inclusion in William Mitchell Law Review by an authorized administrator of Mitchell Hamline Open Access. For more information, please contact sean.felhofer@mitchellhamline.edu. Mitchell Hamline School of Law

Steenson: Fundamental Rights in the "Gray" Area: The Right of Privacy under William Mitchell College of Law Mitchell Open Access Faculty Scholarship 1994 Fundamental Rights in the "Gray" Area: The Right of Privacy Under the Minnesota Constitution Michael K. Steenson William Mitchell College of Law, mike.steenson@wmitchell.edu Publication Information 20 William Mitchell Law Review 383 (1994) Repository Citation Steenson, Michael K., "Fundamental Rights in the "Gray" Area: The Right of Privacy Under the Minnesota Constitution" (1994). Faculty Scholarship. Paper 60. http://open.wmitchell.edu/facsch/60 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by Mitchell Open Access. It has been accepted for inclusion in Faculty Scholarship by an authorized administrator of Mitchell Open Access. Published by Mitchell Hamline Open Access, 1994 1

William Mitchell Law Review, Vol. 20, Iss. 2 [1994], Art. 6 Fundamental Rights in the "Gray" Area: The Right of Privacy Under the Minnesota Constitution Abstract This Article explores the constitutional aspects of Minnesota privacy law. Part II briefly explains federal privacy law to provide a baseline for consideration of privacy law in Minnesota. Part III examines the right of privacy as it has evolved in the Minnesota common law. Part IV evaluates the Minnesota Supreme Court's application of federal privacy standards and then examines the court's decisions that outline the right of privacy under the Minnesota Constitution. Part V concludes by raising questions concerning the potential application of the court's concept of privacy under the Minnesota Constitution as applied to two areas: samesex marriages and abortion rights. Keywords Gay marriage, constitutional law, fundamental right, zone of privacy, Roe v. Wade, Planned Parenthood v. Casey, Baker v. Nelson, torts, invasion of privacy, Minnesota constitution Disciplines Civil Rights and Discrimination Comparative and Foreign Law Constitutional Law Human Rights Law Jurisprudence Torts This article is available at Mitchell Open Access: http://open.wmitchell.edu/facsch/60 http://open.mitchellhamline.edu/wmlr/vol20/iss2/6 2

Steenson: Fundamental Rights in the "Gray" Area: The Right of Privacy under Published by Mitchell Hamline Open Access, 1994 HeinOnline -- 20 Wm. Mitchell L. Rev. 383 1994 3

William Mitchell Law Review, Vol. 20, Iss. 2 [1994], Art. 6 http://open.mitchellhamline.edu/wmlr/vol20/iss2/6heinonline -- 20 Wm. Mitchell L. Rev. 384 1994 4

Steenson: Fundamental Rights in the "Gray" Area: The Right of Privacy under Published by Mitchell Hamline Open Access, 1994 HeinOnline -- 20 Wm. Mitchell L. Rev. 385 1994 5

William Mitchell Law Review, Vol. 20, Iss. 2 [1994], Art. 6 http://open.mitchellhamline.edu/wmlr/vol20/iss2/6heinonline -- 20 Wm. Mitchell L. Rev. 386 1994 6

Steenson: Fundamental Rights in the "Gray" Area: The Right of Privacy under Published by Mitchell Hamline Open Access, 1994 HeinOnline -- 20 Wm. Mitchell L. Rev. 387 1994 7

William Mitchell Law Review, Vol. 20, Iss. 2 [1994], Art. 6 http://open.mitchellhamline.edu/wmlr/vol20/iss2/6heinonline -- 20 Wm. Mitchell L. Rev. 388 1994 8

Steenson: Fundamental Rights in the "Gray" Area: The Right of Privacy under Published by Mitchell Hamline Open Access, 1994 HeinOnline -- 20 Wm. Mitchell L. Rev. 389 1994 9

William Mitchell Law Review, Vol. 20, Iss. 2 [1994], Art. 6 http://open.mitchellhamline.edu/wmlr/vol20/iss2/6heinonline -- 20 Wm. Mitchell L. Rev. 390 1994 10

Steenson: Fundamental Rights in the "Gray" Area: The Right of Privacy under Published by Mitchell Hamline Open Access, 1994 HeinOnline -- 20 Wm. Mitchell L. Rev. 391 1994 11

William Mitchell Law Review, Vol. 20, Iss. 2 [1994], Art. 6 http://open.mitchellhamline.edu/wmlr/vol20/iss2/6heinonline -- 20 Wm. Mitchell L. Rev. 392 1994 12

Steenson: Fundamental Rights in the "Gray" Area: The Right of Privacy under Published by Mitchell Hamline Open Access, 1994 HeinOnline -- 20 Wm. Mitchell L. Rev. 393 1994 13

William Mitchell Law Review, Vol. 20, Iss. 2 [1994], Art. 6 http://open.mitchellhamline.edu/wmlr/vol20/iss2/6heinonline -- 20 Wm. Mitchell L. Rev. 394 1994 14

Steenson: Fundamental Rights in the "Gray" Area: The Right of Privacy under Published by Mitchell Hamline Open Access, 1994 HeinOnline -- 20 Wm. Mitchell L. Rev. 395 1994 15

William Mitchell Law Review, Vol. 20, Iss. 2 [1994], Art. 6 http://open.mitchellhamline.edu/wmlr/vol20/iss2/6heinonline -- 20 Wm. Mitchell L. Rev. 396 1994 16

Steenson: Fundamental Rights in the "Gray" Area: The Right of Privacy under Published by Mitchell Hamline Open Access, 1994 HeinOnline -- 20 Wm. Mitchell L. Rev. 397 1994 17

William Mitchell Law Review, Vol. 20, Iss. 2 [1994], Art. 6 http://open.mitchellhamline.edu/wmlr/vol20/iss2/6heinonline -- 20 Wm. Mitchell L. Rev. 398 1994 18

Steenson: Fundamental Rights in the "Gray" Area: The Right of Privacy under Published by Mitchell Hamline Open Access, 1994 HeinOnline -- 20 Wm. Mitchell L. Rev. 399 1994 19

William Mitchell Law Review, Vol. 20, Iss. 2 [1994], Art. 6 http://open.mitchellhamline.edu/wmlr/vol20/iss2/6heinonline -- 20 Wm. Mitchell L. Rev. 400 1994 20

Steenson: Fundamental Rights in the "Gray" Area: The Right of Privacy under Published by Mitchell Hamline Open Access, 1994 HeinOnline -- 20 Wm. Mitchell L. Rev. 401 1994 21

William Mitchell Law Review, Vol. 20, Iss. 2 [1994], Art. 6 http://open.mitchellhamline.edu/wmlr/vol20/iss2/6heinonline -- 20 Wm. Mitchell L. Rev. 402 1994 22

Steenson: Fundamental Rights in the "Gray" Area: The Right of Privacy under Published by Mitchell Hamline Open Access, 1994 HeinOnline -- 20 Wm. Mitchell L. Rev. 403 1994 23

William Mitchell Law Review, Vol. 20, Iss. 2 [1994], Art. 6 http://open.mitchellhamline.edu/wmlr/vol20/iss2/6heinonline -- 20 Wm. Mitchell L. Rev. 404 1994 24

Steenson: Fundamental Rights in the "Gray" Area: The Right of Privacy under Published by Mitchell Hamline Open Access, 1994 HeinOnline -- 20 Wm. Mitchell L. Rev. 405 1994 25

William Mitchell Law Review, Vol. 20, Iss. 2 [1994], Art. 6 http://open.mitchellhamline.edu/wmlr/vol20/iss2/6heinonline -- 20 Wm. Mitchell L. Rev. 406 1994 26

Steenson: Fundamental Rights in the "Gray" Area: The Right of Privacy under Published by Mitchell Hamline Open Access, 1994 HeinOnline -- 20 Wm. Mitchell L. Rev. 407 1994 27

William Mitchell Law Review, Vol. 20, Iss. 2 [1994], Art. 6 http://open.mitchellhamline.edu/wmlr/vol20/iss2/6heinonline -- 20 Wm. Mitchell L. Rev. 408 1994 28

Steenson: Fundamental Rights in the "Gray" Area: The Right of Privacy under Published by Mitchell Hamline Open Access, 1994 HeinOnline -- 20 Wm. Mitchell L. Rev. 409 1994 29

William Mitchell Law Review, Vol. 20, Iss. 2 [1994], Art. 6 http://open.mitchellhamline.edu/wmlr/vol20/iss2/6heinonline -- 20 Wm. Mitchell L. Rev. 410 1994 30

Steenson: Fundamental Rights in the "Gray" Area: The Right of Privacy under Published by Mitchell Hamline Open Access, 1994 HeinOnline -- 20 Wm. Mitchell L. Rev. 411 1994 31

William Mitchell Law Review, Vol. 20, Iss. 2 [1994], Art. 6 http://open.mitchellhamline.edu/wmlr/vol20/iss2/6heinonline -- 20 Wm. Mitchell L. Rev. 412 1994 32

Steenson: Fundamental Rights in the "Gray" Area: The Right of Privacy under Published by Mitchell Hamline Open Access, 1994 HeinOnline -- 20 Wm. Mitchell L. Rev. 413 1994 33

William Mitchell Law Review, Vol. 20, Iss. 2 [1994], Art. 6 http://open.mitchellhamline.edu/wmlr/vol20/iss2/6heinonline -- 20 Wm. Mitchell L. Rev. 414 1994 34

Steenson: Fundamental Rights in the "Gray" Area: The Right of Privacy under Published by Mitchell Hamline Open Access, 1994 HeinOnline -- 20 Wm. Mitchell L. Rev. 415 1994 35

William Mitchell Law Review, Vol. 20, Iss. 2 [1994], Art. 6 http://open.mitchellhamline.edu/wmlr/vol20/iss2/6heinonline -- 20 Wm. Mitchell L. Rev. 416 1994 36

Steenson: Fundamental Rights in the "Gray" Area: The Right of Privacy under Published by Mitchell Hamline Open Access, 1994 HeinOnline -- 20 Wm. Mitchell L. Rev. 417 1994 37

William Mitchell Law Review, Vol. 20, Iss. 2 [1994], Art. 6 http://open.mitchellhamline.edu/wmlr/vol20/iss2/6heinonline -- 20 Wm. Mitchell L. Rev. 418 1994 38

Steenson: Fundamental Rights in the "Gray" Area: The Right of Privacy under Published by Mitchell Hamline Open Access, 1994 HeinOnline -- 20 Wm. Mitchell L. Rev. 419 1994 39

William Mitchell Law Review, Vol. 20, Iss. 2 [1994], Art. 6 http://open.mitchellhamline.edu/wmlr/vol20/iss2/6heinonline -- 20 Wm. Mitchell L. Rev. 420 1994 40

Steenson: Fundamental Rights in the "Gray" Area: The Right of Privacy under Published by Mitchell Hamline Open Access, 1994 HeinOnline -- 20 Wm. Mitchell L. Rev. 421 1994 41

William Mitchell Law Review, Vol. 20, Iss. 2 [1994], Art. 6 http://open.mitchellhamline.edu/wmlr/vol20/iss2/6heinonline -- 20 Wm. Mitchell L. Rev. 422 1994 42

Steenson: Fundamental Rights in the "Gray" Area: The Right of Privacy under Published by Mitchell Hamline Open Access, 1994 HeinOnline -- 20 Wm. Mitchell L. Rev. 423 1994 43

William Mitchell Law Review, Vol. 20, Iss. 2 [1994], Art. 6 http://open.mitchellhamline.edu/wmlr/vol20/iss2/6heinonline -- 20 Wm. Mitchell L. Rev. 424 1994 44

Steenson: Fundamental Rights in the "Gray" Area: The Right of Privacy under Published by Mitchell Hamline Open Access, 1994 HeinOnline -- 20 Wm. Mitchell L. Rev. 425 1994 45

William Mitchell Law Review, Vol. 20, Iss. 2 [1994], Art. 6 http://open.mitchellhamline.edu/wmlr/vol20/iss2/6heinonline -- 20 Wm. Mitchell L. Rev. 426 1994 46

Steenson: Fundamental Rights in the "Gray" Area: The Right of Privacy under Published by Mitchell Hamline Open Access, 1994 HeinOnline -- 20 Wm. Mitchell L. Rev. 427 1994 47

William Mitchell Law Review, Vol. 20, Iss. 2 [1994], Art. 6 http://open.mitchellhamline.edu/wmlr/vol20/iss2/6heinonline -- 20 Wm. Mitchell L. Rev. 428 1994 48

Steenson: Fundamental Rights in the "Gray" Area: The Right of Privacy under Published by Mitchell Hamline Open Access, 1994 HeinOnline -- 20 Wm. Mitchell L. Rev. 429 1994 49

William Mitchell Law Review, Vol. 20, Iss. 2 [1994], Art. 6 http://open.mitchellhamline.edu/wmlr/vol20/iss2/6heinonline -- 20 Wm. Mitchell L. Rev. 430 1994 50

Steenson: Fundamental Rights in the "Gray" Area: The Right of Privacy under Published by Mitchell Hamline Open Access, 1994 HeinOnline -- 20 Wm. Mitchell L. Rev. 431 1994 51

William Mitchell Law Review, Vol. 20, Iss. 2 [1994], Art. 6 http://open.mitchellhamline.edu/wmlr/vol20/iss2/6heinonline -- 20 Wm. Mitchell L. Rev. 432 1994 52