Simmons et Ux. v. West Haven Housing Authority
399 U.S. 510 · Decided June 29, 1970 · 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
Simmons et Ux. v. West Haven Housing Authority was decided on June 29, 1970 by a vote of 6–2. SCDB codes the disposition as “petition denied or appeal dismissed.” The decision was issued per curiam (an unsigned opinion of the Court). SCDB classifies its main issue as “Debtors' rights” in the Civil Rights area.
Read the opinion
Case details
- Citations
- 399 U.S. 510 · 90 S. Ct. 1960 · 26 L. Ed. 2d 764 · 1970 U.S. LEXIS 11
- Docket number
- 81
- Decided
- June 29, 1970
- Argued
- December 8, 1969
- Court era
- Burger Court
- Decision type
- Per curiam (orally argued)
- Disposition
- Petition denied or appeal dismissed
- Outcome for petitioner
- The petitioning party did not receive a favorable disposition
- Vote
- 6–2
- Opinion assigned by
- Warren E. Burger
- How the case arrived
- Appeal
- Issue (SCDB)
- Debtors' rights
- Issue area
- Civil Rights
- Decision direction (SCDB)
- Conservative what this means
How the Justices voted
| Justice | Vote | Separate writing |
|---|---|---|
| Justice Hugo L. Black | Majority | |
| Justice William O. Douglas | Dissent | Wrote an opinion |
| Justice John M. Harlan II | Majority | |
| Justice William J. Brennan Jr. | Majority | |
| Justice Potter Stewart | Majority | |
| Justice Byron R. White | Majority | |
| Justice Thurgood Marshall | Dissent | |
| Chief Justice Warren E. Burger | Majority |
Did not participate: Harry A. Blackmun.
Full case caption
Simmons et Ux. v. West Haven Housing Authority
SCDB identifiers: case 1969-133, docket 1969-133-01.
Related decisions
Other cases on “Debtors' rights”
- Moya et Ux. v. Debaca
- Sniadach v. Family Finance Corp. of Bay ViewLaw held unconstitutional
- Lindsey v. NormetLaw held unconstitutional
- D. H. Overmyer Co., Inc. v. Frick Co.
- Swarb v. Lennox
- Lynch v. Household Finance Corp.
Same Term, same area (Civil Rights)
- Alexander v. Holmes County Board of Education
- Brockington v. Rhodes
- Hall et Ux. v. Beals
- Carter v. West Feliciana Parish School Board
- Sullivan v. Little Hunting Park, Inc.
- Dowell v. Board of Education of Oklahoma City Public Schools
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