This educational guide is based on the linked primary sources. It is not a Court publication, is not affiliated with the Court, and is not legal advice.
In brief
Overview
If the address cannot be ascertained, the State may satisfy its duty by publishing notice.
Background and question before the Court
According to Justice Ginsburg, jUSTICE GINSBURG: Why?
According to Justice Souter, jUSTICE SOUTER: How do we … what significance do we give to this obligation to keep the government informed?
JUSTICE SCALIA: If you say it would come out differently, then isn’t it silly to make the State go on and say that?
According to Justice Breyer, jUSTICE BREYER: Is it a tiny minority …
According to Justice Stevens, jUSTICE STEVENS: … you might not have an obligation, it seemed to me you would have a motivation to do more because you want to collect your taxes.
According to Justice Souter, jUSTICE SOUTER: Why isn’t the simple answer to put notice on the house door?
- [1] f4fbd09b13e88622271c-r1-7a6c040331858ace.pdf, p. 5
- [2] f4fbd09b13e88622271c-r1-7a6c040331858ace.pdf, p. 7
- [3] f4fbd09b13e88622271c-r1-7a6c040331858ace.pdf, p. 20
- [4] f4fbd09b13e88622271c-r1-7a6c040331858ace.pdf, p. 38
- [5] f4fbd09b13e88622271c-r1-7a6c040331858ace.pdf, p. 41
- [6] f4fbd09b13e88622271c-r1-7a6c040331858ace.pdf, p. 57
What each side argues
Petitioner (Gary Kent Jones)
According to Petitioner, due process requires notice efforts to reflect what a reasonable notice‑giver would do, as explained in Mullane.
Respondent (Linda K. Flowers)
According to Respondent Mr. Feldman, notice by publication is permissible when the address is not easily ascertainable, rather than requiring continued mailed notice.
What happened at oral argument
What the Court decided
Why it matters
Terms to know
No glossary terms are available for this guide.
Primary sources
Read the source materials on the official site or open the immutable repository copy used for this guide.
- f4fbd09b13e88622271c-r1-7a6c040331858ace.pdforal argument transcript
Guide generated September 21, 2026. Automated validation accepted this version.