Burns v. Fortson
410 U.S. 686 · Decided March 19, 1973 · 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
Burns v. Fortson was decided on March 19, 1973 by a vote of 6–3. The Court affirmed the lower court's decision. The decision was issued per curiam (an unsigned opinion of the Court). SCDB classifies its main issue as “Residency requirements” in the Civil Rights area.
Read the opinion
Case details
- Citations
- 410 U.S. 686 · 93 S. Ct. 1209 · 35 L. Ed. 2d 633 · 1973 U.S. LEXIS 95
- Docket number
- 72-901
- Decided
- March 19, 1973
- Court era
- Burger Court
- Decision type
- Per curiam (no oral argument)
- Disposition
- Affirmed
- Outcome for petitioner
- The petitioning party did not receive a favorable disposition
- Vote
- 6–3
- Opinion assigned by
- Warren E. Burger
- How the case arrived
- Appeal
- Issue (SCDB)
- Residency requirements
- Issue area
- Civil Rights
- Legal provision
- Fourteenth Amendment (equal protection)
- 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 | |
| Justice William J. Brennan Jr. | Dissent | |
| Justice Potter Stewart | Majority | |
| Justice Byron R. White | Majority | |
| Justice Thurgood Marshall | Dissent | Wrote an opinion |
| Chief Justice Warren E. Burger | Majority | |
| Justice Harry A. Blackmun | Special concurrence | Wrote an opinion |
| Justice Lewis F. Powell Jr. | Majority | |
| Justice William H. Rehnquist | Majority |
Full case caption
Burns et al. v. Fortson, Secretary of State of Georgia, et al.
SCDB identifiers: case 1972-077, docket 1972-077-01.
Related decisions
Other cases on “Residency requirements”
- Marston v. Lewis
- Rosario v. Rockefeller
- Kusper v. PontikesLaw held unconstitutional
- Memorial Hospital v. Maricopa CountyLaw held unconstitutional
- Carter v. Stanton
- Dunn v. BlumsteinAltered precedentLaw held unconstitutional
Cases on the same legal provision: Fourteenth Amendment (equal protection)
- Salyer Land Co. v. Tulare Lake Basin Water Storage District
- Associated Enterprises, Inc. v. Toltec Watershed Improvement District
- San Antonio Independent School District v. Rodriguez
- Lehnhausen v. Lake Shore Auto Parts Co.Altered precedent
- McGinnis v. Royster
- Mahan v. HowellLaw held unconstitutional
Same Term, same area (Civil Rights)
- Philpott v. Essex County Welfare BoardLaw held unconstitutional
- District of Columbia v. Carter
- United States v. Kras
- Goosby v. Osser
- Gomez v. PerezLaw held unconstitutional
- Mahan v. HowellLaw held unconstitutional
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