Califano v. Sanders
430 U.S. 99 · Decided February 23, 1977 · 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
Califano v. Sanders was decided on February 23, 1977 unanimously (8–0). The Court reversed the lower court's decision. Justice William J. Brennan Jr. wrote the opinion of the Court. SCDB classifies its main issue as “Judicial review of agency actions” in the Judicial Power area.
Read the opinion
Case details
- Citations
- 430 U.S. 99 · 97 S. Ct. 980 · 51 L. Ed. 2d 192 · 1977 U.S. LEXIS 49
- Docket number
- 75-1443
- Decided
- February 23, 1977
- Argued
- January 11, 1977
- Court era
- Burger Court
- Decision type
- Opinion of the Court (orally argued)
- Disposition
- Reversed
- Outcome for petitioner
- The petitioning party received a favorable disposition
- Vote
- 8–0 (unanimous)
- Majority opinion
- William J. Brennan Jr.
- Opinion assigned by
- Warren E. Burger
- How the case arrived
- Certiorari
- Issue (SCDB)
- Judicial review of agency actions
- Issue area
- Judicial Power
- Legal provision
- Administrative Procedure Act or Administrative Orders Review Act
- Type of law
- Federal statute
- Decision direction (SCDB)
- Conservative what this means
How the Justices voted
| Justice | Vote | Separate writing |
|---|---|---|
| Justice William J. Brennan Jr. | Majority | Wrote an opinion |
| Justice Potter Stewart | Special concurrence | Wrote an opinion |
| Justice Byron R. White | Majority | |
| Justice Thurgood Marshall | Majority | |
| Chief Justice Warren E. Burger | Special concurrence | |
| Justice Harry A. Blackmun | Majority | |
| Justice Lewis F. Powell Jr. | Majority | |
| Justice William H. Rehnquist | Majority |
Did not participate: John Paul Stevens.
Full case caption
Califano, Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare v. Sanders
SCDB identifiers: case 1976-055, docket 1976-055-01.
Related decisions
Other cases on “Judicial review of agency actions”
- United States v. Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Co.
- Nader v. Allegheny Airlines, Inc.
- National Independent Coal Operators' Association v. Kleppe
- Kleppe v. Delta Mining, Inc.
- Federal Power Commission v. Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corp.
- Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc.
Cases on the same legal provision: Administrative Procedure Act or Administrative Orders Review Act
- International Telephone & Telegraph Corp. v. Local 134
- Bowman Transportation, Inc. v. Arkansas-Best Freight System, Inc.
- Steadman v. Securities and Exchange Commission
- Sierra Club v. Morton
- Citizens to Preserve Overton Park, Inc. v. Volpe
- Webster v. Doe
Same Term, same area (Judicial Power)
- Standard Oil Co. of California v. United StatesAltered precedent
- Scott v. Kentucky Parole Board
- Massachusetts v. Feeney
- Tully v. Griffin, Inc.
- Belcher v. Stengel
- Cook v. Hudson
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