Linda J. Blessing v. Cathy Freestone, Etc.
520 U.S. 329 · Decided April 21, 1997 · Supreme Court of the United States
At a glance
Linda J. Blessing v. Cathy Freestone, Etc. was decided on April 21, 1997 unanimously (9–0). The Court vacated the lower court's decision and remanded the case. Justice Sandra Day O'Connor wrote the opinion of the Court. SCDB classifies its main issue as “Standing, private or implied cause of action” in the Judicial Power area.
Read the opinion
Case details
- Citations
- 520 U.S. 329 · 117 S. Ct. 1353 · 137 L. Ed. 2d 569 · 1997 U.S. LEXIS 2506
- Docket number
- 95-1441
- Decided
- April 21, 1997
- Argued
- January 6, 1997
- Court era
- Rehnquist Court
- Decision type
- Opinion of the Court (orally argued)
- Disposition
- Vacated and remanded
- Outcome for petitioner
- The petitioning party received a favorable disposition
- Vote
- 9–0 (unanimous)
- Majority opinion
- Sandra Day O'Connor
- Opinion assigned by
- William H. Rehnquist
- How the case arrived
- Certiorari
- Issue (SCDB)
- Standing, private or implied cause of action
- Issue area
- Judicial Power
- Legal provision
- Aid to Families with Dependent Children (Social Security Act)
- Type of law
- Federal statute
- Decision direction (SCDB)
- Conservative what this means
How the Justices voted
| Justice | Vote | Separate writing |
|---|---|---|
| Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist | Majority | |
| Justice John Paul Stevens | Majority | |
| Justice Sandra Day O'Connor | Majority | Wrote an opinion |
| Justice Antonin Scalia | Concurrence | Wrote an opinion |
| Justice Anthony M. Kennedy | Concurrence | |
| Justice David H. Souter | Majority | |
| Justice Clarence Thomas | Majority | |
| Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg | Majority | |
| Justice Stephen G. Breyer | Majority |
Full case caption
Linda J. Blessing, Director, Arizona Department of Economic Security v. Cathy Freestone, Etc., et al.
SCDB identifiers: case 1996-045, docket 1996-045-01.
Related decisions
Other cases on “Standing, private or implied cause of action”
- Alan Meghrig v. KFC Western, Inc.
- United States v. California and California State Board of Equalization
- James Alexander v. Martha Sandoval
- Sue Suter v. Artist M.
- Karahalios v. National Federation of Federal Employees
- Thompson v. Thompson
Cases on the same legal provision: Aid to Families with Dependent Children (Social Security Act)
- Eloise Anderson v. Verna Edwards, Etc.
- Louis W. Sullivan v. Elizabeth Stroop
- Sandra Gardebring v. Kathryn Jenkins
- Bowen v. Gilliard
- Lukhard v. Reed
- Heckler v. Turner
Same Term, same area (Judicial Power)
- United States v. Laddie F. Jose
- Caterpillar Inc. v. James David Lewis
- Daniel Greene v. Georgia
- Tom Grimmett v. Patricia L. Brown
- Arizonans for Official English and Robert D. Park v. Arizona
- Guy E. Adams v. Charlie Frank Robertson and Liberty National Life Insurance Company
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