Frontiero et Vir v. Richardson

411 U.S. 677 · Decided May 14, 1973 · Supreme Court of the United States

At a glance

Frontiero et Vir v. Richardson was decided on May 14, 1973 by a vote of 8–1. The Court reversed the lower court's decision. Justice William J. Brennan Jr. wrote the opinion announcing the judgment of the Court. SCDB classifies its main issue as “Sex discrimination (excluding employment)” in the Civil Rights area. SCDB records that the Court declared an act of Congress 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

Frontiero et Vir v. Richardson, Secretary of Defense, et al.

SCDB identifiers: case 1972-113, docket 1972-113-01.

Related decisions

Other cases on “Sex discrimination (excluding employment)”

• Kahn v. Shevin
  416 U.S. 351Decided April 24, 19746–3William O. Douglas
• Stanley v. IllinoisLaw held unconstitutional
  405 U.S. 645Decided April 3, 19725–2Byron R. White
• Reed v. ReedLaw held unconstitutional
  404 U.S. 71Decided November 22, 19717–0Warren E. Burger
• Schlesinger v. Ballard
  419 U.S. 498Decided January 15, 19755–4Potter Stewart
• Taylor v. LouisianaAltered precedentLaw held unconstitutional
  419 U.S. 522Decided January 21, 19758–1Byron R. White
• Weinberger v. WiesenfeldLaw held unconstitutional
  420 U.S. 636Decided March 19, 19758–0William J. Brennan Jr.

See all

Cases on the same legal provision: Fifth Amendment (equal protection)

• United States v. Kras
  409 U.S. 434Decided January 10, 19735–4Harry A. Blackmun
• Morton v. Mancari
  417 U.S. 535Decided June 17, 19749–0Harry A. Blackmun
• Jimenez v. WeinbergerLaw held unconstitutional
  417 U.S. 628Decided June 19, 19748–1Warren E. Burger
• Richardson v. Belcher
  404 U.S. 78Decided November 22, 19714–3Potter Stewart
• Weinberger v. Salfi
  422 U.S. 749Decided June 26, 19756–3William H. Rehnquist
• Washington v. Davis
  426 U.S. 229Decided June 7, 19767–2Byron R. White

Same Term, same area (Civil Rights)

• Philpott v. Essex County Welfare BoardLaw held unconstitutional
  409 U.S. 413Decided January 10, 19739–0William O. Douglas
• District of Columbia v. Carter
  409 U.S. 418Decided January 10, 19739–0William J. Brennan Jr.
• United States v. Kras
  409 U.S. 434Decided January 10, 19735–4Harry A. Blackmun
• Goosby v. Osser
  409 U.S. 512Decided January 17, 19739–0William J. Brennan Jr.
• Gomez v. PerezLaw held unconstitutional
  409 U.S. 535Decided January 17, 19737–2Per curiam
• Mahan v. HowellLaw held unconstitutional
  410 U.S. 315Decided February 21, 19735–3William H. Rehnquist

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