Kotch v. Board of River Port Pilot Commissioners, 330 U.S. 552 (1947), was a United States Supreme Court case in which the Court held that a preference for nepotism is an acceptable rational basis for a state policy.

The plaintiffs in this case sued over the exclusionary policy, saying it violated the Equal Protection Clause.

[2] The Supreme Court upheld the policy, saying it withstood rational basis review.

Although nepotism was "a subject of controversy," states that had wanted to prohibit its use in public policy had banned the practice with laws or constitutional amendments.

"[2] In dissent, Justice Rutledge objected to the fact that "Blood [was], in effect, made the crux of the selection."