Bigelow v. Virginia

421 U.S. 809 · Decided June 16, 1975 · Supreme Court of the United States

At a glance

Bigelow v. Virginia was decided on June 16, 1975 by a vote of 7–2. The Court reversed the lower court's decision. Justice Harry A. Blackmun wrote the opinion of the Court. SCDB classifies its main issue as “Commercial speech, excluding attorneys” in the First Amendment area. SCDB records that the Court declared a state or territorial law, regulation or constitutional provision unconstitutional.

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

Bigelow v. Virginia

SCDB identifiers: case 1974-118, docket 1974-118-01.

Related decisions

Other cases on “Commercial speech, excluding attorneys”

• Virginia State Board of Pharmacy v. Virginia Citizens Consumer Council, Inc.Altered precedentLaw held unconstitutional
  425 U.S. 748Decided May 24, 19767–1Harry A. Blackmun
• Linmark Associates, Inc. v. Township of WillingboroLaw held unconstitutional
  431 U.S. 85Decided May 2, 19778–0Thurgood Marshall
• Pittsburgh Press Co. v. Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations
  413 U.S. 376Decided June 21, 19735–4Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• Friedman v. Rogers
  440 U.S. 1Decided February 21, 19797–2Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp. v. Public Service Commission of New YorkLaw held unconstitutional
  447 U.S. 557Decided June 20, 19808–1Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• Metromedia, Inc. v. City of San DiegoLaw held unconstitutional
  453 U.S. 490Decided July 2, 19816–3Byron R. White

See all

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

• Erznoznik v. City of JacksonvilleLaw held unconstitutional
  422 U.S. 205Decided June 23, 19756–3Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• Southeastern Promotions, Ltd. v. Conrad
  420 U.S. 546Decided March 18, 19756–3Harry A. Blackmun
• Cox Broadcasting Corp. v. CohnLaw held unconstitutional
  420 U.S. 469Decided March 3, 19758–1Byron R. White
• Cantrell v. Forest City Publishing Co.
  419 U.S. 245Decided December 18, 19748–1Potter Stewart
• Time, Inc. v. Firestone
  424 U.S. 448Decided March 2, 19766–2William H. Rehnquist
• Hudgens v. National Labor Relations BoardAltered precedent
  424 U.S. 507Decided March 3, 19766–2Potter Stewart

Same Term, same area (First Amendment)

• Cantrell v. Forest City Publishing Co.
  419 U.S. 245Decided December 18, 19748–1Potter Stewart
• Cox Broadcasting Corp. v. CohnLaw held unconstitutional
  420 U.S. 469Decided March 3, 19758–1Byron R. White
• Southeastern Promotions, Ltd. v. Conrad
  420 U.S. 546Decided March 18, 19756–3Harry A. Blackmun
• Meek v. PittengerLaw held unconstitutional
  421 U.S. 349Decided May 19, 19756–3Potter Stewart
• Eastland v. United States Servicemen's Fund
  421 U.S. 491Decided May 27, 19758–1Warren E. Burger
• Cort v. Ash
  422 U.S. 66Decided June 17, 19759–0William J. Brennan Jr.

See all

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