Melrose Distillers, Inc. v. United States
359 U.S. 271 · Decided April 20, 1959 · Supreme Court of the United States
Record summary. This page is generated from the Supreme Court Database’s coded data about the case. It describes who decided what, not the Court’s reasoning. Read the opinion itself before relying on it. Not legal advice.
At a glance
Melrose Distillers, Inc. v. United States was decided on April 20, 1959 unanimously (9–0). The Court affirmed the lower court's decision. Justice William O. Douglas wrote the opinion of the Court. SCDB classifies its main issue as “Antitrust” in the Economic Activity area.
Read the opinion
Case details
- Citations
- 359 U.S. 271 · 79 S. Ct. 763 · 3 L. Ed. 2d 800 · 1959 U.S. LEXIS 1138
- Docket number
- 404
- Decided
- April 20, 1959
- Argued
- March 30, 1959
- Court era
- Warren Court
- Decision type
- Opinion of the Court (orally argued)
- Disposition
- Affirmed
- Outcome for petitioner
- The petitioning party did not receive a favorable disposition
- Vote
- 9–0 (unanimous)
- Majority opinion
- William O. Douglas
- Opinion assigned by
- Earl Warren
- How the case arrived
- Certiorari
- Issue (SCDB)
- Antitrust
- Issue area
- Economic Activity
- Legal provision
- Sherman Act
- Type of law
- Federal statute
- Decision direction (SCDB)
- Liberal what this means
How the Justices voted
| Justice | Vote | Separate writing |
|---|---|---|
| Justice Hugo L. Black | Majority | |
| Justice Felix Frankfurter | Majority | |
| Justice William O. Douglas | Majority | Wrote an opinion |
| Justice Tom C. Clark | Majority | |
| Chief Justice Earl Warren | Majority | |
| Justice John M. Harlan II | Majority | |
| Justice William J. Brennan Jr. | Majority | |
| Justice Charles E. Whittaker | Majority | |
| Justice Potter Stewart | Majority |
Full case caption
Melrose Distillers, Inc., et al. v. United States
SCDB identifiers: case 1958-075, docket 1958-075-01.
Related decisions
Other cases on “Antitrust”
- Klor's, Inc. v. Broadway-Hale Stores, Inc.
- Federal Trade Commission v. Mandel Brothers, Inc.
- United States v. Atlantic Refining Co.
- Federal Trade Commission v. Simplicity Pattern Co., Inc.
- United States v. Radio Corporation of America
- Kelly v. Kosuga
Cases on the same legal provision: Sherman Act
- International Boxing Club of New York, Inc. v. United States
- Los Angeles Meat & Provision Drivers Union v. United States
- United States v. First National Bank & Trust Co. of Lexington
- United States v. Employing Plasterers Association of Chicago
- United States v. Employing Lathers Association of Chicago and Vicinity
- United Mine Workers of America v. Pennington
Same Term, same area (Economic Activity)
- Moore v. Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis
- Sangamon Valley Television Corp. v. United States
- Wirl Television Corp. v. United States
- Deen v. Hickman
- Worz, Inc. v. Federal Communications Commission
- Boston & Maine Railroad v. United States
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