Department of Revenue of Washington v. Association of Washington Stevedoring Companies

435 U.S. 734 · Decided April 26, 1978 · Supreme Court of the United States

At a glance

Department of Revenue of Washington v. Association of Washington Stevedoring Companies was decided on April 26, 1978 unanimously (8–0). The Court reversed the lower court's decision and remanded the case. Justice Harry A. Blackmun wrote the opinion of the Court. SCDB classifies its main issue as “State or local government tax” in the Economic Activity area. SCDB codes this decision as formally altering one or more of the Court's own precedents.

Read the opinion

• CourtListener (Free Law Project) — opinion text
• Library of Congress — official U.S. Reports scan

Case details

How the Justices voted

Did not participate: William J. Brennan Jr..

Full case caption

Department of Revenue of Washington v. Association of Washington Stevedoring Companies et al.

SCDB identifiers: case 1977-072, docket 1977-072-01.

Related decisions

Other cases on “State or local government tax”

• First Federal Savings & Loan Association of Boston v. Tax Commission of Massachusetts
  437 U.S. 255Decided June 15, 19788–1John Paul Stevens
• Moorman Manufacturing Co. v. Bair
  437 U.S. 267Decided June 15, 19786–3John Paul Stevens
• Montana v. United States
  440 U.S. 147Decided February 22, 19798–1Thurgood Marshall
• Chase Manhattan Bank, N. A. v. Finance Administration of City of New York
  440 U.S. 447Decided March 5, 19799–0Per curiam
• Arizona Public Service Co. v. SneadLaw held unconstitutional
  441 U.S. 141Decided April 18, 19799–0Potter Stewart
• Japan Line, Ltd. v. County of Los AngelesLaw held unconstitutional
  441 U.S. 434Decided April 30, 19798–1Harry A. Blackmun

See all

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

• City of Philadelphia v. New JerseyLaw held unconstitutional
  437 U.S. 617Decided June 23, 19787–2Potter Stewart
• Raymond Motor Transportation, Inc. v. RiceLaw held unconstitutional
  434 U.S. 429Decided February 21, 19788–0Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• Hunt v. Washington State Apple Advertising CommissionLaw held unconstitutional
  432 U.S. 333Decided June 20, 19778–0Warren E. Burger
• Hughes v. OklahomaAltered precedentLaw held unconstitutional
  441 U.S. 322Decided April 24, 19797–2William J. Brennan Jr.
• Hughes v. Alexandria Scrap Corp.
  426 U.S. 794Decided June 24, 19766–3Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• National League of Cities v. UseryAltered precedentLaw held unconstitutional
  426 U.S. 833Decided June 24, 19765–4William H. Rehnquist

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