United States v. County of Fresno
429 U.S. 452 · Decided January 25, 1977 · 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
United States v. County of Fresno was decided on January 25, 1977 by a vote of 8–1. The Court affirmed the lower court's decision. Justice Byron R. White wrote the opinion of the Court. SCDB classifies its main issue as “National supremacy, state tax” in the Federalism area.
Read the opinion
Case details
- Citations
- 429 U.S. 452 · 97 S. Ct. 699 · 50 L. Ed. 2d 683 · 1977 U.S. LEXIS 10
- Docket number
- 75-1262
- Decided
- January 25, 1977
- Argued
- November 8, 1976
- Court era
- Burger Court
- Decision type
- Opinion of the Court (orally argued)
- Disposition
- Affirmed
- Outcome for petitioner
- The petitioning party did not receive a favorable disposition
- Vote
- 8–1
- Majority opinion
- Byron R. White
- Opinion assigned by
- Warren E. Burger
- How the case arrived
- Appeal
- Issue (SCDB)
- National supremacy, state tax
- Issue area
- Federalism
- Legal provision
- Article VI, Section 2 (supremacy clause)
- Type of law
- Constitution
- Decision direction (SCDB)
- Conservative what this means
How the Justices voted
| Justice | Vote | Separate writing |
|---|---|---|
| Justice William J. Brennan Jr. | Majority | |
| Justice Potter Stewart | Majority | |
| Justice Byron R. White | Majority | Wrote an opinion |
| Justice Thurgood Marshall | 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 | Wrote an opinion |
Full case caption
United States et al. v. County of Fresno
SCDB identifiers: case 1976-040, docket 1976-040-01.
Related decisions
Other cases on “National supremacy, state tax”
- United States Steel Corp. v. Multistate Tax Commission
- United States v. State Tax Commission of Mississippi
- Sullivan v. United States
- Davis v. Michigan Department of the TreasuryLaw held unconstitutional
- Department of Revenue v. James B. Beam Distilling Co.Law held unconstitutional
- Humble Pipe Line Co. v. Waggonner
Cases on the same legal provision: Article VI, Section 2 (supremacy clause)
- Ohio Bureau of Employment Services v. Hodory
- General Atomic Co. v. Felter
- De Canas v. Bica
- Antoine et Ux. v. Washington
- United States v. New Mexico
- Blum v. BaconLaw held unconstitutional
Same Term, same area (Federalism)
- Oregon ex Rel. State Land Board v. Corvallis Sand & Gravel Co.Altered precedent
- United States v. Florida
- Farmer v. United Brotherhood of Carpenters & Joiners of America
- Jones v. Rath Packing Co.
- Douglas v. Seacoast Products, Inc.
- Massachusetts v. Westcott
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