Tanzin v. Tanvir
141 S. Ct. 486 · Decided December 10, 2020 · 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
Tanzin v. Tanvir was decided on December 10, 2020 unanimously (8–0). The Court affirmed the lower court's decision. Justice Clarence Thomas wrote the opinion of the Court. SCDB classifies its main issue as “Free exercise of religion” in the First Amendment area.
Read the opinion
- CourtListener (Free Law Project) — opinion text
- Supreme Court of the United States — slip opinions, October Term 2020
- Supreme Court of the United States — docket 19-71
Case details
- Citations
- 141 S. Ct. 486 · 208 L. Ed. 2d 295 · 2020 U.S. LEXIS 5987
- Docket number
- 19-71
- Decided
- December 10, 2020
- Argued
- October 6, 2020
- Court era
- Roberts Court
- Decision type
- Opinion of the Court (orally argued)
- Disposition
- Affirmed
- Outcome for petitioner
- The petitioning party did not receive a favorable disposition
- Vote
- 8–0 (unanimous)
- Majority opinion
- Clarence Thomas
- Opinion assigned by
- John G. Roberts Jr.
- How the case arrived
- Certiorari
- Issue (SCDB)
- Free exercise of religion
- Issue area
- First Amendment
- Legal provision
- Religious Freedom Restoration Act
- Type of law
- Federal statute
- Decision direction (SCDB)
- Liberal what this means
How the Justices voted
| Justice | Vote | Separate writing |
|---|---|---|
| Justice Clarence Thomas | Majority | Wrote an opinion |
| Justice Stephen G. Breyer | Majority | |
| Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. | Majority | |
| Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. | Majority | |
| Justice Sonia Sotomayor | Majority | |
| Justice Elena Kagan | Majority | |
| Justice Neil M. Gorsuch | Majority | |
| Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh | Majority |
Did not participate: Amy Coney Barrett.
Full case caption
Tanzin v. Tanvir
SCDB identifiers: case 2020-003, docket 2020-003-01.
Related decisions
Other cases on “Free exercise of religion”
- Our Lady of Guadalupe School v. Morrissey-Berru
- Ramirez v. Collier
- Mahmoud v. Taylor
- Zubik v. Burwell
- Holt v. Hobbs
- Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores
Same Term, same area (First Amendment)
- Mahanoy Area School District v. B.L.
- Americans for Prosperity Foundation v. BontaLaw held unconstitutional
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