Arcara v. Cloud Books, Inc.

478 U.S. 697 · Decided July 7, 1986 · Supreme Court of the United States

At a glance

Arcara v. Cloud Books, Inc. was decided on July 7, 1986 by a vote of 6–3. The Court reversed the lower court's decision. Chief Justice Warren E. Burger wrote the opinion of the Court. SCDB classifies its main issue as “First Amendment, miscellaneous” in the First Amendment area.

Read the opinion

• CourtListener (Free Law Project) — opinion text
• Library of Congress — official U.S. Reports scan

Case details

How the Justices voted

Full case caption

Arcara, District Attorney of Erie County v. Cloud Books, Inc., Dba Village Book & News Store, et al.

SCDB identifiers: case 1985-161, docket 1985-161-01.

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Other cases on “First Amendment, miscellaneous”

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Cases on the same legal provision: First Amendment (speech, press, and assembly)

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  475 U.S. 292Decided February 26, 19869–0John Paul Stevens
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  475 U.S. 1Decided February 25, 19865–3Lewis F. Powell Jr.
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  481 U.S. 221Decided April 22, 19877–2Thurgood Marshall

Same Term, same area (First Amendment)

• Witters v. Washington Department of Services for the Blind
  474 U.S. 481Decided January 27, 19869–0Thurgood Marshall
• Pacific Gas & Electric Co. v. Public Utilities Commission of CaliforniaLaw held unconstitutional
  475 U.S. 1Decided February 25, 19865–3Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• City of Renton v. Playtime Theatres, Inc.
  475 U.S. 41Decided February 25, 19867–2William H. Rehnquist
• Goldman v. Weinberger
  475 U.S. 503Decided March 25, 19865–4William H. Rehnquist
• Bender v. Williamsport Area School District
  475 U.S. 534Decided March 25, 19865–4John Paul Stevens
• Philadelphia Newspapers, Inc. v. HeppsLaw held unconstitutional
  475 U.S. 767Decided April 21, 19865–4Sandra Day O'Connor

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Source: Supreme Court Database, 2026 Release 01 (data file dated September 8, 2026). Imported into CaseTrail November 5, 2026. Coverage: decisions from the 1946 through 2025 Terms. Methodology · Report an error