Hughes v. Oklahoma

441 U.S. 322 · Decided April 24, 1979 · Supreme Court of the United States

At a glance

Hughes v. Oklahoma was decided on April 24, 1979 by a vote of 7–2. The Court reversed the lower court's decision. Justice William J. Brennan Jr. wrote the opinion of the Court. SCDB classifies its main issue as “National supremacy, natural resources” in the Federalism area. SCDB codes this decision as formally altering one or more of the Court's own precedents. 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

Hughes v. Oklahoma

SCDB identifiers: case 1978-080, docket 1978-080-01.

Related decisions

Other cases on “National supremacy, natural resources”

• Sporhase v. Nebraska ex Rel. DouglasAltered precedentLaw held unconstitutional
  458 U.S. 941Decided July 2, 19827–2John Paul Stevens
• South-Central Timber Development, Inc. v. Wunnicke
  467 U.S. 82Decided May 22, 19846–2Byron R. White
• Idaho v. Coeur D'Alene Tribe of Idaho, Etc.
  521 U.S. 261Decided June 23, 19975–4Anthony M. Kennedy
• United States v. Grand River Dam Authority
  363 U.S. 229Decided June 13, 19609–0William O. Douglas

See all

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

• Japan Line, Ltd. v. County of Los AngelesLaw held unconstitutional
  441 U.S. 434Decided April 30, 19798–1Harry A. Blackmun
• City of Philadelphia v. New JerseyLaw held unconstitutional
  437 U.S. 617Decided June 23, 19787–2Potter Stewart
• Department of Revenue of Washington v. Association of Washington Stevedoring CompaniesAltered precedent
  435 U.S. 734Decided April 26, 19788–0Harry A. Blackmun
• Lewis v. Bt Investment Managers, Inc.Law held unconstitutional
  447 U.S. 27Decided June 9, 19809–0Harry A. Blackmun
• Reeves, Inc. v. Stake
  447 U.S. 429Decided June 19, 19805–4Harry A. Blackmun
• Raymond Motor Transportation, Inc. v. RiceLaw held unconstitutional
  434 U.S. 429Decided February 21, 19788–0Lewis F. Powell Jr.

Same Term, same area (Federalism)

• United States v. California
  439 U.S. 30Decided November 27, 19788–0
• Hisquierdo v. Hisquierdo
  439 U.S. 572Decided January 22, 19797–2Harry A. Blackmun
• Aronson v. Quick Point Pencil Co.
  440 U.S. 257Decided February 28, 19799–0Warren E. Burger
• New York Telephone Co. v. New York State Department of Labor
  440 U.S. 519Decided March 21, 19796–3John Paul Stevens

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