Linmark Associates, Inc. v. Township of Willingboro

431 U.S. 85 · Decided May 2, 1977 · Supreme Court of the United States

At a glance

Linmark Associates, Inc. v. Township of Willingboro was decided on May 2, 1977 unanimously (8–0). The Court reversed the lower court's decision. Justice Thurgood Marshall wrote the opinion of the Court. SCDB classifies its main issue as “Commercial speech, excluding attorneys” in the First Amendment area. SCDB records that the Court declared a municipal or other local ordinance unconstitutional.

Read the opinion

• CourtListener (Free Law Project) — opinion text
• Library of Congress — official U.S. Reports scan

Case details

How the Justices voted

Did not participate: William H. Rehnquist.

Full case caption

Linmark Associates, Inc., et al. v. Township of Willingboro et al.

SCDB identifiers: case 1976-096, docket 1976-096-01.

Related decisions

Other cases on “Commercial speech, excluding attorneys”

• Virginia State Board of Pharmacy v. Virginia Citizens Consumer Council, Inc.Altered precedentLaw held unconstitutional
  425 U.S. 748Decided May 24, 19767–1Harry A. Blackmun
• Friedman v. Rogers
  440 U.S. 1Decided February 21, 19797–2Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• Bigelow v. VirginiaLaw held unconstitutional
  421 U.S. 809Decided June 16, 19757–2Harry A. Blackmun
• Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp. v. Public Service Commission of New YorkLaw held unconstitutional
  447 U.S. 557Decided June 20, 19808–1Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• Pittsburgh Press Co. v. Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations
  413 U.S. 376Decided June 21, 19735–4Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• Metromedia, Inc. v. City of San DiegoLaw held unconstitutional
  453 U.S. 490Decided July 2, 19816–3Byron R. White

See all

Cases on the same legal provision: First Amendment (speech, press, and assembly)

• Splawn v. California
  431 U.S. 595Decided June 6, 19775–4William H. Rehnquist
• Ward v. Illinois
  431 U.S. 767Decided June 9, 19775–4Byron R. White
• National Socialist Party of America v. Village of Skokie
  432 U.S. 43Decided June 14, 19775–4Per curiam
• Oklahoma Publishing Co. v. District Court in and for Oklahoma County
  430 U.S. 308Decided March 7, 19779–0Per curiam
• Bates v. State Bar of ArizonaLaw held unconstitutional
  433 U.S. 350Decided June 27, 19775–4Harry A. Blackmun
• Zacchini v. Scripps-Howard Broadcasting Co.
  433 U.S. 562Decided June 28, 19775–4Byron R. White

Same Term, same area (First Amendment)

• Parker Seal Co. v. Cummins
  429 U.S. 65Decided November 2, 19764–4
• City of Madison Joint School District No. 8 v. Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission
  429 U.S. 167Decided December 8, 19769–0Warren E. Burger
• Mt. Healthy City School District Board of Education v. Doyle
  429 U.S. 274Decided January 11, 19779–0William H. Rehnquist
• Marks v. United States
  430 U.S. 188Decided March 1, 19775–4Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• Oklahoma Publishing Co. v. District Court in and for Oklahoma County
  430 U.S. 308Decided March 7, 19779–0Per curiam
• Wooley v. Maynard et Ux.Law held unconstitutional
  430 U.S. 705Decided April 20, 19776–3Warren E. Burger

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