City of Philadelphia v. New Jersey

437 U.S. 617 · Decided June 23, 1978 · Supreme Court of the United States

At a glance

City of Philadelphia v. New Jersey was decided on June 23, 1978 by a vote of 7–2. The Court reversed the lower court's decision. Justice Potter Stewart wrote the opinion of the Court. SCDB classifies its main issue as “State or local business regulation” in the Economic Activity 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

City of Philadelphia et al. v. New Jersey et al.

SCDB identifiers: case 1977-134, docket 1977-134-01.

Related decisions

Other cases on “State or local business regulation”

• Allied Structural Steel Co. v. SpannausLaw held unconstitutional
  438 U.S. 234Decided June 26, 19785–3Potter Stewart
• Exxon Corp. v. Governor of Maryland
  437 U.S. 117Decided June 14, 19787–1John Paul Stevens
• Raymond Motor Transportation, Inc. v. RiceLaw held unconstitutional
  434 U.S. 429Decided February 21, 19788–0Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• Carter v. MillerLaw held unconstitutional
  434 U.S. 356Decided January 17, 19784–4
• Marquette National Bank of Minneapolis v. First of Omaha Service Corp.
  439 U.S. 299Decided December 18, 19789–0William J. Brennan Jr.
• Southern Overlying Carrier Chapter of the California Dump Truck Owners Association v. Public Utilities Commission of California
  434 U.S. 9Decided October 11, 19778–1Per curiam

See all

Cases on the same legal provision: Article I, Section 8, Paragraph 3 (interstate commerce clause)

• Department of Revenue of Washington v. Association of Washington Stevedoring CompaniesAltered precedent
  435 U.S. 734Decided April 26, 19788–0Harry A. Blackmun
• Hughes v. OklahomaAltered precedentLaw held unconstitutional
  441 U.S. 322Decided April 24, 19797–2William J. Brennan Jr.
• Japan Line, Ltd. v. County of Los AngelesLaw held unconstitutional
  441 U.S. 434Decided April 30, 19798–1Harry A. Blackmun
• National Geographic Society v. California Board of Equalization
  430 U.S. 551Decided April 4, 19777–0William J. Brennan Jr.
• Complete Auto Transit, Inc. v. BradyAltered precedent
  430 U.S. 274Decided March 7, 19779–0Harry A. Blackmun
• Boston Stock Exchange v. State Tax CommissionLaw held unconstitutional
  429 U.S. 318Decided January 12, 19779–0Byron R. White

Same Term, same area (Economic Activity)

• County Board of Arlington County v. Richards
  434 U.S. 5Decided October 11, 19778–1Per curiam
• Southern Overlying Carrier Chapter of the California Dump Truck Owners Association v. Public Utilities Commission of California
  434 U.S. 9Decided October 11, 19778–1Per curiam
• Adamo Wrecking Co. v. United States
  434 U.S. 275Decided January 10, 19785–4William H. Rehnquist
• Pfizer Inc. v. Government of India
  434 U.S. 308Decided January 11, 19785–3Potter Stewart
• Carter v. MillerLaw held unconstitutional
  434 U.S. 356Decided January 17, 19784–4
• Raymond Motor Transportation, Inc. v. RiceLaw held unconstitutional
  434 U.S. 429Decided February 21, 19788–0Lewis F. Powell 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