Barbara J. Norman v. Dorothy Reed
502 U.S. 279 · Decided January 14, 1992 · Supreme Court of the United States
At a glance
Barbara J. Norman v. Dorothy Reed was decided on January 14, 1992 by a vote of 7–1. The Court affirmed the lower court's decision in part, reversed or vacated it in part, and remanded the case. Justice David H. Souter wrote the opinion of the Court. SCDB classifies its main issue as “Ballot access” in the Civil Rights area. SCDB records that the Court declared a state or territorial law, regulation or constitutional provision unconstitutional.
Read the opinion
Case details
- Citations
- 502 U.S. 279 · 112 S. Ct. 698 · 116 L. Ed. 2d 711 · 1992 U.S. LEXIS 370
- Docket number
- 90-1126
- Decided
- January 14, 1992
- Argued
- October 7, 1991
- Court era
- Rehnquist Court
- Decision type
- Opinion of the Court (orally argued)
- Disposition
- Affirmed and reversed (or vacated) in part and remanded
- Outcome for petitioner
- The petitioning party received a favorable disposition
- Vote
- 7–1
- Majority opinion
- David H. Souter
- Opinion assigned by
- William H. Rehnquist
- How the case arrived
- Certiorari
- Issue (SCDB)
- Ballot access
- Issue area
- Civil Rights
- Legal provision
- First Amendment (association)
- Type of law
- Constitutional amendment
- Held unconstitutional
- A state or territorial law, regulation or constitutional provision
- Decision direction (SCDB)
- Liberal what this means
How the Justices voted
| Justice | Vote | Separate writing |
|---|---|---|
| Justice Byron R. White | Majority | |
| Justice Harry A. Blackmun | Majority | |
| Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist | Majority | |
| Justice John Paul Stevens | Majority | |
| Justice Sandra Day O'Connor | Majority | |
| Justice Antonin Scalia | Dissent | Wrote an opinion |
| Justice Anthony M. Kennedy | Majority | |
| Justice David H. Souter | Majority | Wrote an opinion |
Did not participate: Clarence Thomas.
Full case caption
Barbara J. Norman, et al. v. Dorothy Reed, et al.
SCDB identifiers: case 1991-022, docket 1991-022-01.
Related decisions
Other cases on “Ballot access”
- Alan B. Burdick v. Morris Takushi
- Munro v. Socialist Workers Party
- Tashjian v. Republican Party of ConnecticutLaw held unconstitutional
- Michele L. Timmons v. Twin Cities Area New Party
- California Democratic Party v. Bill JonesLaw held unconstitutional
- Anderson v. CelebrezzeLaw held unconstitutional
Cases on the same legal provision: First Amendment (association)
- David Dawson v. Delaware
- City of Dallas v. Stanglin
- O'Hare Truck Service v. City of Northlake
- Board of Directors of Rotary International v. Rotary Club of Duarte
- Roberts v. United States Jaycees
- Rodriguez v. Popular Democratic Party
Same Term, same area (Civil Rights)
- Raymond Mireles v. Howard Waco
- Vladimir Zatko v. California
- Barbara Hafer v. James C. Melo, Jr.
- Immigration and Naturalization Service v. National Center for Immigrants' Rights, Inc.
- William 'sky' King v. St. Vincent's Hospital
- County of Yakima v. Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakima Indian Nation
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