Robert Shaw v. Kevin Murphy
532 U.S. 223 · Decided April 18, 2001 · 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
Robert Shaw v. Kevin Murphy was decided on April 18, 2001 unanimously (9–0). The Court reversed the lower court's decision and remanded the case. Justice Clarence Thomas wrote the opinion of the Court. SCDB classifies its main issue as “First Amendment, miscellaneous” in the First Amendment area.
Read the opinion
Case details
- Citations
- 532 U.S. 223 · 121 S. Ct. 1475 · 149 L. Ed. 2d 420 · 2001 U.S. LEXIS 3205
- Docket number
- 99-1613
- Decided
- April 18, 2001
- Argued
- January 16, 2001
- Court era
- Rehnquist Court
- Decision type
- Opinion of the Court (orally argued)
- Disposition
- Reversed and remanded
- Outcome for petitioner
- The petitioning party received a favorable disposition
- Vote
- 9–0 (unanimous)
- Majority opinion
- Clarence Thomas
- Opinion assigned by
- William H. Rehnquist
- How the case arrived
- Certiorari
- Issue (SCDB)
- First Amendment, miscellaneous
- 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist | Majority | |
| Justice John Paul Stevens | Majority | |
| Justice Sandra Day O'Connor | Majority | |
| Justice Antonin Scalia | Majority | |
| Justice Anthony M. Kennedy | Majority | |
| Justice David H. Souter | Majority | |
| Justice Clarence Thomas | Majority | Wrote an opinion |
| Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg | Concurrence | Wrote an opinion |
| Justice Stephen G. Breyer | Majority |
Full case caption
Robert Shaw, et al. v. Kevin Murphy
SCDB identifiers: case 2000-040, docket 2000-040-01.
Related decisions
Other cases on “First Amendment, miscellaneous”
- Legal Services Corporation v. Carmen VelazquezLaw held unconstitutional
- Caren Cronk Thomas and Windy City Hemp Development Board v. Chicago Park District
- United States v. Playboy Entertainment Group, Inc.Law held unconstitutional
- Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System v. Scott Harold Southworth
- Republican Party of Minnesota v. Suzanne White
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Cases on the same legal provision: First Amendment (speech, press, and assembly)
- Bartnicki v. VopperLaw held unconstitutional
- Good News Club v. Milford Central School
- Boy Scouts of America and Monmouth Council v. James DaleLaw held unconstitutional
- Leila Jeanne Hill v. Colorado
- Tommy G. Thompson v. Western States Medical CenterLaw held unconstitutional
- City of Erie v. Pap's A. M.
Same Term, same area (First Amendment)
- Legal Services Corporation v. Carmen VelazquezLaw held unconstitutional
- Bartnicki v. VopperLaw held unconstitutional
- Good News Club v. Milford Central School
- United States and Department of Agriculture v. United Foods, Inc.Law held unconstitutional
- Federal Election Commission v. Colorado Republican Federal Campaign Committee
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