Bellis v. United States
417 U.S. 85 · Decided May 28, 1974 · Supreme Court of the United States
Record summary. This page is generated from the Supreme Court Database’s coded data about the case. It describes who decided what, not the Court’s reasoning. Read the opinion itself before relying on it. Not legal advice.
At a glance
Bellis v. United States was decided on May 28, 1974 by a vote of 8–1. The Court affirmed the lower court's decision. Justice Thurgood Marshall wrote the opinion of the Court. SCDB classifies its main issue as “Self-incrimination (general)” in the Criminal Procedure area.
Read the opinion
Case details
- Citations
- 417 U.S. 85 · 94 S. Ct. 2179 · 40 L. Ed. 2d 678 · 1974 U.S. LEXIS 58
- Docket number
- 73-190
- Decided
- May 28, 1974
- Argued
- February 25, 1974
- Court era
- Burger Court
- Decision type
- Opinion of the Court (orally argued)
- Disposition
- Affirmed
- Outcome for petitioner
- The petitioning party did not receive a favorable disposition
- Vote
- 8–1
- Majority opinion
- Thurgood Marshall
- Opinion assigned by
- Warren E. Burger
- How the case arrived
- Certiorari
- Issue (SCDB)
- Self-incrimination (general)
- Issue area
- Criminal Procedure
- Legal provision
- Fifth Amendment (self-incrimination)
- Type of law
- Constitutional amendment
- Decision direction (SCDB)
- Conservative what this means
How the Justices voted
| Justice | Vote | Separate writing |
|---|---|---|
| Justice William O. Douglas | Dissent | Wrote an opinion |
| Justice William J. Brennan Jr. | Majority | |
| Justice Potter Stewart | Majority | |
| Justice Byron R. White | Majority | |
| Justice Thurgood Marshall | Majority | Wrote an opinion |
| Chief Justice Warren E. Burger | Majority | |
| Justice Harry A. Blackmun | Majority | |
| Justice Lewis F. Powell Jr. | Majority | |
| Justice William H. Rehnquist | Majority |
Full case caption
Bellis v. United States
SCDB identifiers: case 1973-118, docket 1973-118-01.
Related decisions
Other cases on “Self-incrimination (general)”
- United States v. Kahan
- Wardius v. OregonLaw held unconstitutional
- Couch v. United States
- Garner v. United States
- Fisher v. United States
- Brooks v. TennesseeLaw held unconstitutional
Cases on the same legal provision: Fifth Amendment (self-incrimination)
- Lefkowitz v. TurleyLaw held unconstitutional
- United States v. Nobles
- Beecher v. Alabama
- Kastigar v. United States
- Zicarelli v. New Jersey State Commission of Investigation
- Lefkowitz v. CunninghamLaw held unconstitutional
Same Term, same area (Criminal Procedure)
- Taylor v. United States
- Moore v. Arizona
- Berry v. City of Cincinnati
- Lefkowitz v. TurleyLaw held unconstitutional
- Cupp v. Naughten
- United States v. Robinson
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