Secretary of the Navy v. Huff
444 U.S. 453 · Decided January 21, 1980 · 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
Secretary of the Navy v. Huff was decided on January 21, 1980 by a vote of 5–3. The Court reversed the lower court's decision. The decision was issued per curiam (an unsigned opinion of the Court). SCDB classifies its main issue as “First Amendment, miscellaneous” in the First Amendment area.
Read the opinion
Case details
- Citations
- 444 U.S. 453 · 100 S. Ct. 606 · 62 L. Ed. 2d 607 · 1980 U.S. LEXIS 71
- Docket number
- 78-599
- Decided
- January 21, 1980
- Argued
- November 6, 1979
- Court era
- Burger Court
- Decision type
- Per curiam (orally argued)
- Disposition
- Reversed
- Outcome for petitioner
- The petitioning party received a favorable disposition
- Vote
- 5–3
- Opinion assigned by
- Warren E. Burger
- 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Justice William J. Brennan Jr. | Dissent | Wrote an opinion |
| Justice Potter Stewart | Dissent | Co-authored an opinion |
| Justice Byron R. White | Majority | |
| Chief Justice Warren E. Burger | Majority | |
| Justice Harry A. Blackmun | Majority | |
| Justice Lewis F. Powell Jr. | Majority | |
| Justice William H. Rehnquist | Majority | |
| Justice John Paul Stevens | Dissent | Co-authored an opinion |
Did not participate: Thurgood Marshall.
Full case caption
Secretary of the Navy et al. v. Huff et al.
SCDB identifiers: case 1979-025, docket 1979-025-01.
Related decisions
Other cases on “First Amendment, miscellaneous”
- Brown v. Glines
- Snepp v. United States
- Village of Schaumburg v. Citizens for a Better EnvironmentLaw held unconstitutional
- Branti v. Finkel
- Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. v. Public Service Commission of New YorkLaw held unconstitutional
- Richmond Newspapers, Inc. v. Virginia
Cases on the same legal provision: First Amendment (speech, press, and assembly)
- Vance v. Universal Amusement Co., Inc.Law held unconstitutional
- Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp. v. Public Service Commission of New YorkLaw held unconstitutional
- Wolston v. Reader's Digest Association, Inc.
- Herbert v. Lando
- Friedman v. Rogers
- Schad v. Borough of Mount EphraimLaw held unconstitutional
Same Term, same area (First Amendment)
- Brown v. Glines
- Snepp v. United States
- Village of Schaumburg v. Citizens for a Better EnvironmentLaw held unconstitutional
- Committee for Public Education and Religious Liberty v. Regan
- Vance v. Universal Amusement Co., Inc.Law held unconstitutional
- Branti v. Finkel
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