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Department of Revenue v. James B. Beam Distilling Co.

377 U.S. 341 · Decided June 1, 1964 · 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

Department of Revenue v. James B. Beam Distilling Co. was decided on June 1, 1964 by a vote of 6–2. The Court affirmed the lower court's decision. Justice Potter Stewart wrote the opinion of the Court. SCDB classifies its main issue as “National supremacy, state tax” in the Federalism area. SCDB records that the Court declared a state or territorial law, regulation or constitutional provision unconstitutional.

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Case details

Citations
377 U.S. 341 · 84 S. Ct. 1247 · 12 L. Ed. 2d 362 · 1964 U.S. LEXIS 1139
Docket number
389
Decided
June 1, 1964
Argued
March 23, 1964
Court era
Warren Court
Decision type
Opinion of the Court (orally argued)
Disposition
Affirmed
Outcome for petitioner
The petitioning party did not receive a favorable disposition
Vote
6–2
Majority opinion
Potter Stewart
Opinion assigned by
Earl Warren
How the case arrived
Certiorari
Issue area
Federalism
Legal provision
Article I, Section 10, Paragraph 2 (export-import clause)
Type of law
Constitution
Held unconstitutional
A state or territorial law, regulation or constitutional provision
Decision direction (SCDB)
Liberal what this means

How the Justices voted

Did not participate: William J. Brennan Jr..

Full case caption

Department of Revenue v. James B. Beam Distilling Co.

SCDB identifiers: case 1963-127, docket 1963-127-01.

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Cases on the same legal provision: Article I, Section 10, Paragraph 2 (export-import clause)

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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