Eu v. San Francisco County Democratic Central Committee
489 U.S. 214 · Decided February 22, 1989 · Supreme Court of the United States
At a glance
Eu v. San Francisco County Democratic Central Committee was decided on February 22, 1989 unanimously (8–0). The Court affirmed the lower court's decision. Justice Thurgood Marshall wrote the opinion of the Court. SCDB classifies its main issue as “First Amendment, miscellaneous” in the First Amendment area. SCDB records that the Court declared a state or territorial law, regulation or constitutional provision unconstitutional.
Read the opinion
Case details
- Citations
- 489 U.S. 214 · 109 S. Ct. 1013 · 103 L. Ed. 2d 271 · 1989 U.S. LEXIS 1042
- Docket number
- 87-1269
- Decided
- February 22, 1989
- Argued
- December 5, 1988
- Court era
- Rehnquist Court
- Decision type
- Opinion of the Court (orally argued)
- Disposition
- Affirmed
- Outcome for petitioner
- The petitioning party did not receive a favorable disposition
- Vote
- 8–0 (unanimous)
- Majority opinion
- Thurgood Marshall
- Opinion assigned by
- William J. Brennan Jr.
- How the case arrived
- Appeal
- Issue (SCDB)
- First Amendment, miscellaneous
- Issue area
- First Amendment
- Legal provision
- First Amendment (speech, press, and assembly)
- Type of law
- Constitutional amendment
- Held unconstitutional
- A state or territorial law, regulation or constitutional provision
- Decision direction (SCDB)
- Liberal what this means
How the Justices voted
| Justice | Vote | Separate writing |
|---|---|---|
| Justice William J. Brennan Jr. | Majority | |
| Justice Byron R. White | Majority | |
| Justice Thurgood Marshall | Majority | Wrote an opinion |
| Justice Harry A. Blackmun | Majority | |
| Justice John Paul Stevens | Concurrence | Wrote an opinion |
| Justice Sandra Day O'Connor | Majority | |
| Justice Antonin Scalia | Majority | |
| Justice Anthony M. Kennedy | Majority |
Did not participate: William H. Rehnquist.
Full case caption
Eu, Secretary of State of California, et al. v. San Francisco County Democratic Central Committee et al.
SCDB identifiers: case 1988-038, docket 1988-038-01.
Related decisions
Other cases on “First Amendment, miscellaneous”
- City of Dallas v. Stanglin
- Thornburgh v. AbbottAltered precedent
- Ward v. Rock Against Racism
- Riley v. National Federation of the Blind of North Carolina, Inc.Law held unconstitutional
- Frisby v. Schultz
- City of Lakewood v. Plain Dealer Publishing Co.Law held unconstitutional
Cases on the same legal provision: First Amendment (speech, press, and assembly)
- Fort Wayne Books, Inc. v. Indiana
- Texas v. JohnsonLaw held unconstitutional
- The Florida Star v. B. J. F.Law held unconstitutional
- Massachusetts v. Oakes
- Board of Trustees of the State University of New York v. Fox
- Shapero v. Kentucky Bar AssociationLaw held unconstitutional
Same Term, same area (First Amendment)
- Carlucci v. Doe
- Texas Monthly, Inc. v. BullockLaw held unconstitutional
- Fort Wayne Books, Inc. v. Indiana
- Frazee v. Illinois Department of Employment Security
- City of Dallas v. Stanglin
- Thornburgh v. AbbottAltered precedent
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