New York v. P.J. Video, Inc.
475 U.S. 868 · Decided April 22, 1986 · 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
New York v. P.J. Video, Inc. was decided on April 22, 1986 by a vote of 6–3. The Court reversed the lower court's decision and remanded the case. Justice William H. Rehnquist wrote the opinion of the Court. SCDB classifies its main issue as “Obscenity, state” in the First Amendment area.
Read the opinion
Case details
- Citations
- 475 U.S. 868 · 106 S. Ct. 1610 · 89 L. Ed. 2d 871 · 1986 U.S. LEXIS 104
- Docket number
- 85-363
- Decided
- April 22, 1986
- Argued
- March 4, 1986
- Court era
- Burger Court
- Decision type
- Opinion of the Court (orally argued)
- Disposition
- Reversed and remanded
- Outcome for petitioner
- The petitioning party received a favorable disposition
- Vote
- 6–3
- Majority opinion
- William H. Rehnquist
- Opinion assigned by
- Warren E. Burger
- How the case arrived
- Certiorari
- Issue (SCDB)
- Obscenity, state
- Issue area
- First Amendment
- Legal provision
- First Amendment (speech, press, and assembly)
- Type of law
- Constitutional amendment
- Decision direction (SCDB)
- Conservative what this means
How the Justices voted
| Justice | Vote | Separate writing |
|---|---|---|
| Justice William J. Brennan Jr. | Dissent | |
| Justice Byron R. White | Majority | |
| Justice Thurgood Marshall | Dissent | Wrote an opinion |
| Chief Justice Warren E. Burger | Majority | |
| Justice Harry A. Blackmun | Majority | |
| Justice Lewis F. Powell Jr. | Majority | |
| Justice William H. Rehnquist | Majority | Wrote an opinion |
| Justice John Paul Stevens | Dissent | |
| Justice Sandra Day O'Connor | Majority |
Full case caption
New York v. P.J. Video, Inc., Dba Network Video, et al.
SCDB identifiers: case 1985-072, docket 1985-072-01.
Related decisions
Other cases on “Obscenity, state”
- City of Renton v. Playtime Theatres, Inc.
- City of Newport v. Iacobucci
- Brockett v. Spokane Arcades, Inc.Law held unconstitutional
- Pope v. Illinois
- Fort Wayne Books, Inc. v. Indiana
- Massachusetts v. Oakes
Cases on the same legal provision: First Amendment (speech, press, and assembly)
- Philadelphia Newspapers, Inc. v. HeppsLaw held unconstitutional
- City of Los Angeles v. Preferred Communications, Inc.
- Chicago Teachers Union v. Hudson
- Pacific Gas & Electric Co. v. Public Utilities Commission of CaliforniaLaw held unconstitutional
- Press-Enterprise Co. v. Superior Court of California for the County of Riverside
- Bethel School District No. 403 v. Fraser
Same Term, same area (First Amendment)
- Witters v. Washington Department of Services for the Blind
- Pacific Gas & Electric Co. v. Public Utilities Commission of CaliforniaLaw held unconstitutional
- City of Renton v. Playtime Theatres, Inc.
- Goldman v. Weinberger
- Bender v. Williamsport Area School District
- Philadelphia Newspapers, Inc. v. HeppsLaw held unconstitutional
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