Roger L. Spencer v. South Carolina Tax Commission
471 U.S. 82 · Decided March 27, 1985 · Supreme Court of the United States
At a glance
Roger L. Spencer v. South Carolina Tax Commission was decided on March 27, 1985 by a vote of 4–4. The Court affirmed the lower court's decision. The Justices were equally divided, which leaves the lower court's judgment in place without setting precedent. SCDB classifies its main issue as “Attorneys' and officials' fees, compensation, or licenses” in the Attorneys area.
Read the opinion
Case details
- Citations
- 471 U.S. 82 · 105 S. Ct. 1859 · 85 L. Ed. 2d 62 · 1985 U.S. LEXIS 193
- Docket number
- 84-249
- Decided
- March 27, 1985
- Argued
- February 27, 1985
- Court era
- Burger Court
- Decision type
- Equally divided vote
- Disposition
- Affirmed
- Outcome for petitioner
- The petitioning party did not receive a favorable disposition
- Vote
- 4–4
- How the case arrived
- Certiorari
- Issue area
- Attorneys
- Decision direction (SCDB)
- Conservative what this means
How the Justices voted
| Justice | Vote | Separate writing |
|---|---|---|
| Justice William J. Brennan Jr. | Equally divided vote | |
| Justice Byron R. White | Equally divided vote | |
| Justice Thurgood Marshall | Equally divided vote | |
| Chief Justice Warren E. Burger | Equally divided vote | |
| Justice Harry A. Blackmun | Equally divided vote | |
| Justice William H. Rehnquist | Equally divided vote | |
| Justice John Paul Stevens | Equally divided vote | |
| Justice Sandra Day O'Connor | Equally divided vote |
Did not participate: Lewis F. Powell Jr..
Full case caption
Roger L. Spencer, et Ux. v. South Carolina Tax Commission et al.
SCDB identifiers: case 1984-069, docket 1984-069-01.
Related decisions
Other cases on “Attorneys' and officials' fees, compensation, or licenses”
- Webb v. County Board of Education of Dyer County
- Marek v. Chesny
- Kentucky v. Graham
- Walters v. National Association of Radiation Survivors
- Smith v. Robinson
- Blum v. Stenson
Same Term, same area (Attorneys)
- Webb v. County Board of Education of Dyer County
- Zauderer v. Office of Disciplinary Counsel of the Supreme Court of OhioLaw held unconstitutional
- In re Snyder
- Marek v. Chesny
- Kentucky v. Graham
- Walters v. National Association of Radiation Survivors
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