Larson v. Valente

456 U.S. 228 · Decided April 21, 1982 · Supreme Court of the United States

At a glance

Larson v. Valente was decided on April 21, 1982 by a vote of 5–4. The Court affirmed the lower court's decision. Justice William J. Brennan Jr. wrote the opinion of the Court. SCDB classifies its main issue as “Establishment of religion” in the First Amendment area. 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

Larson, Commissioner of Securities, Minnesota Department of Commerce, et al. v. Valente et al.

SCDB identifiers: case 1981-081, docket 1981-081-01.

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Cases on the same legal provision: First Amendment (establishment of religion)

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  474 U.S. 481Decided January 27, 19869–0Thurgood Marshall

Same Term, same area (First Amendment)

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• Citizens Against Rent Control/coalition for Fair Housing v. City of BerkeleyLaw held unconstitutional
  454 U.S. 290Decided December 14, 19818–1Warren E. Burger
• United States v. Lee
  455 U.S. 252Decided February 23, 19829–0Warren E. Burger
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  455 U.S. 489Decided March 2, 19828–0Thurgood Marshall

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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