Riley v. National Federation of the Blind of North Carolina, Inc.

487 U.S. 781 · Decided June 29, 1988 · Supreme Court of the United States

At a glance

Riley v. National Federation of the Blind of North Carolina, Inc. was decided on June 29, 1988 by a vote of 7–2. 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 “First Amendment, miscellaneous” 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

Riley, District Attorney of the Tenth Prosecutorial District of North Carolina, et al. v. National Federation of the Blind of North Carolina, Inc., et al.

SCDB identifiers: case 1987-151, docket 1987-151-01.

Related decisions

Other cases on “First Amendment, miscellaneous”

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  487 U.S. 474Decided June 27, 19886–3Sandra Day O'Connor
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  484 U.S. 260Decided January 13, 19885–3Byron R. White
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Cases on the same legal provision: First Amendment (speech, press, and assembly)

• Shapero v. Kentucky Bar AssociationLaw held unconstitutional
  486 U.S. 466Decided June 13, 19886–3William J. Brennan Jr.
• Michael Boos, J. Michael Waller and Bridget Brooker v. Marion S. Barry, Jr.Law held unconstitutional
  485 U.S. 312Decided March 22, 19885–3Sandra Day O'Connor
• Hustler Magazine and Larry C. Flynt v. Jerry Falwell
  485 U.S. 46Decided February 24, 19888–0William H. Rehnquist
• Fort Wayne Books, Inc. v. Indiana
  489 U.S. 46Decided February 21, 19899–0Byron R. White
• Texas v. JohnsonLaw held unconstitutional
  491 U.S. 397Decided June 21, 19895–4William J. Brennan Jr.
• The Florida Star v. B. J. F.Law held unconstitutional
  491 U.S. 524Decided June 21, 19896–3Thurgood Marshall

Same Term, same area (First Amendment)

• Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier
  484 U.S. 260Decided January 13, 19885–3Byron R. White
• Department of the Navy v. Egan
  484 U.S. 518Decided February 23, 19885–3Harry A. Blackmun
• Hustler Magazine and Larry C. Flynt v. Jerry Falwell
  485 U.S. 46Decided February 24, 19888–0William H. Rehnquist
• Michael Boos, J. Michael Waller and Bridget Brooker v. Marion S. Barry, Jr.Law held unconstitutional
  485 U.S. 312Decided March 22, 19885–3Sandra Day O'Connor
• Richard E. Lyng v. Northwest Indian Cemetery Protective Association
  485 U.S. 439Decided April 19, 19885–3Sandra Day O'Connor
• Employment Division v. Smith
  485 U.S. 660Decided April 27, 19885–3John Paul Stevens

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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