The U.S. Supreme Court case City of Cleburne, Texas v. Cleburne Living Center, Inc., 1984 revolved around the issue of whether a city's denial of a special use permit for a home for mentally disabled individuals violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The city had denied the permit based on concerns about property values and safety in relation to nearby schools and neighborhoods. However, other similar facilities (nursing homes or hospitals) were allowed without such permits in residential areas under existing zoning laws. The Supreme Court ruled that intellectual disability did not constitute a "quasi-suspect" classification requiring heightened scrutiny under equal protection law but held that this particular denial was irrational prejudice against those with mental disabilities - thus violating their rights to equal protection under law as guaranteed by the Constitution. This landmark decision established an important precedent regarding discrimination against people with disabilities and clarified standards for judicial review concerning discriminatory legislation.

In the dissenting opinion for City of Cleburne, Texas v. Cleburne Living Center, Inc., Justice Marshall argued that mentally disabled individuals constitute a "quasi-suspect" class and thus any legislation targeting them should be subjected to heightened scrutiny. He disagreed with the majority's view that mental disability varies widely in nature and severity, making it unsuitable for recognition as a discrete class. Instead, he asserted that this group has been historically discriminated against and politically powerless due to their condition which warrants more rigorous judicial protection. Furthermore, he criticized the majority's reliance on legislative action as an indicator of societal progress towards equality for the mentally disabled; pointing out past instances where courts led rather than followed legislative changes regarding discrimination issues.