Bates v. State Bar of Arizona
433 U.S. 350 · Decided June 27, 1977 · Supreme Court of the United States
At a glance
Bates v. State Bar of Arizona was decided on June 27, 1977 by a vote of 5–4. The Court affirmed the lower court's decision in part and reversed or vacated it in part. Justice Harry A. Blackmun wrote the opinion of the Court. SCDB classifies its main issue as “Commercial speech, attorneys” in the Attorneys area. SCDB records that the Court declared a state or territorial law, regulation or constitutional provision unconstitutional.
Read the opinion
Case details
- Citations
- 433 U.S. 350 · 97 S. Ct. 2691 · 53 L. Ed. 2d 810 · 1977 U.S. LEXIS 23
- Docket number
- 76-316
- Decided
- June 27, 1977
- Argued
- January 18, 1977
- Court era
- Burger Court
- Decision type
- Opinion of the Court (orally argued)
- Disposition
- Affirmed and reversed (or vacated) in part
- Outcome for petitioner
- The petitioning party received a favorable disposition
- Vote
- 5–4
- Majority opinion
- Harry A. Blackmun
- Opinion assigned by
- William J. Brennan Jr.
- How the case arrived
- Appeal
- Issue (SCDB)
- Commercial speech, attorneys
- Issue area
- Attorneys
- Legal provision
- First Amendment (speech, press, and assembly)
- 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 William J. Brennan Jr. | Majority | |
| Justice Potter Stewart | Dissent | |
| Justice Byron R. White | Majority | |
| Justice Thurgood Marshall | Majority | |
| Chief Justice Warren E. Burger | Dissent | Wrote an opinion |
| Justice Harry A. Blackmun | Majority | Wrote an opinion |
| Justice Lewis F. Powell Jr. | Dissent | Wrote an opinion |
| Justice William H. Rehnquist | Dissent | Wrote an opinion |
| Justice John Paul Stevens | Majority |
Full case caption
Bates et al. v. State Bar of Arizona
SCDB identifiers: case 1976-174, docket 1976-174-01.
Related decisions
Other cases on “Commercial speech, attorneys”
- In re Primus
- Ohralik v. Ohio State Bar Assn.
- In re R. M. J.Law held unconstitutional
- United Transportation Union v. State Bar of Michigan
- Zauderer v. Office of Disciplinary Counsel of the Supreme Court of OhioLaw held unconstitutional
- Shapero v. Kentucky Bar AssociationLaw held unconstitutional
Cases on the same legal provision: First Amendment (speech, press, and assembly)
- Zacchini v. Scripps-Howard Broadcasting Co.
- National Socialist Party of America v. Village of Skokie
- Ward v. Illinois
- Splawn v. California
- Linmark Associates, Inc. v. Township of WillingboroLaw held unconstitutional
- Oklahoma Publishing Co. v. District Court in and for Oklahoma County
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