Sears v. Stiffel Company
376 U.S. 225 · Decided March 9, 1964 · 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
Sears v. Stiffel Company was decided on March 9, 1964 unanimously (9–0). The Court reversed the lower court's decision. Justice Hugo L. Black wrote the opinion of the Court. SCDB classifies its main issue as “Patents” in the Economic Activity area. SCDB records that the Court declared a state or territorial law, regulation or constitutional provision unconstitutional.
Read the opinion
Case details
- Citations
- 376 U.S. 225 · 84 S. Ct. 784 · 11 L. Ed. 2d 661 · 1964 U.S. LEXIS 2365
- Docket number
- 108
- Decided
- March 9, 1964
- Argued
- January 16, 1964
- Court era
- Warren Court
- Decision type
- Opinion of the Court (orally argued)
- Disposition
- Reversed
- Outcome for petitioner
- The petitioning party received a favorable disposition
- Vote
- 9–0 (unanimous)
- Majority opinion
- Hugo L. Black
- Opinion assigned by
- Earl Warren
- How the case arrived
- Certiorari
- Issue (SCDB)
- Patents
- Issue area
- Economic Activity
- Legal provision
- Article VI, Section 2 (supremacy clause)
- Type of law
- Constitution
- Held unconstitutional
- A state or territorial law, regulation or constitutional provision
- Decision direction (SCDB)
- Liberal what this means
How the Justices voted
| Justice | Vote | Separate writing |
|---|---|---|
| Justice Hugo L. Black | Majority | Wrote an opinion |
| Justice William O. Douglas | Majority | |
| Justice Tom C. Clark | Majority | |
| Chief Justice Earl Warren | Majority | |
| Justice John M. Harlan II | Special concurrence | Wrote an opinion |
| Justice William J. Brennan Jr. | Majority | |
| Justice Potter Stewart | Majority | |
| Justice Byron R. White | Majority | |
| Justice Arthur J. Goldberg | Majority |
Full case caption
Sears, Roebuck & Co. v. Stiffel Company
SCDB identifiers: case 1963-063, docket 1963-063-01.
Related decisions
Other cases on “Patents”
- Compco Corporation v. Day-Brite Lighting, Inc.
- Wilbur-Ellis Co. v. Kuther
- Aro Manufacturing Co., Inc. v. Convertible Top Replacement Co., Inc.
- Brulotte v. Thys Co.
- Hazeltine Research, Inc. v. Brenner
- Graham v. John Deere Co. of Kansas City
Cases on the same legal provision: Article VI, Section 2 (supremacy clause)
- Donovan v. City of Dallas
- Florida Lime & Avocado Growers, Inc. v. Paul
- Free v. BlandLaw held unconstitutional
- Kesler v. Department of Public Safety of Utah
- Federal Land Bank of Wichita v. Board of County Commissioners of Kiowa CountyLaw held unconstitutional
- Moses Lake Homes, Inc. v. Grant County
Same Term, same area (Economic Activity)
- Tipton v. Socony Mobil Oil Co., Inc.
- Securities and Exchange Commission v. Capital Gains Research Bureau, Inc.
- Dennis v. Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad Co.
- Eichel v. New York Central Railroad Co.
- Polar Ice Cream & Creamery Co. v. AndrewsLaw held unconstitutional
- United States v. Wiesenfeld Warehouse Co.
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