California Department of Human Resources Development v. Java

402 U.S. 121 · Decided April 26, 1971 · Supreme Court of the United States

At a glance

California Department of Human Resources Development v. Java was decided on April 26, 1971 unanimously (9–0). The Court affirmed the lower court's decision. Chief Justice Warren E. Burger wrote the opinion of the Court. SCDB classifies its main issue as “Poverty law, statutory welfare benefits” in the Civil Rights area.

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

California Department of Human Resources Development et al. v. Java et al.

SCDB identifiers: case 1970-090, docket 1970-090-01.

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Other cases on “Poverty law, statutory welfare benefits”

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Cases on the same legal provision: Social Security Act

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  429 U.S. 181Decided December 13, 19769–0Potter Stewart
• Califano v. GoldfarbLaw held unconstitutional
  430 U.S. 199Decided March 2, 19775–4William J. Brennan Jr.
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  435 U.S. 1Decided February 27, 19787–2Per curiam
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Same Term, same area (Civil Rights)

• Oregon v. MitchellLaw held unconstitutional
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• Kennerly v. District Court of the Ninth Judicial District of Montana
  400 U.S. 423Decided January 18, 19717–2Per curiam
• Phillips v. Martin Marietta Corp.
  400 U.S. 542Decided January 25, 19719–0Per curiam
• Relford v. Commandant, U.S. Disciplinary Barracks, Ft. Leavenworth
  401 U.S. 355Decided February 24, 19719–0Harry A. Blackmun
• Boddie v. ConnecticutLaw held unconstitutional
  401 U.S. 371Decided March 2, 19718–1John M. Harlan II

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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