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United States v. Darlina K. France

498 U.S. 335 · Decided January 22, 1991 · 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. Darlina K. France was decided on January 22, 1991 by a vote of 4–4. The Court affirmed the lower court's decision. The Justices were equally divided, which leaves the lower court's judgment in place without setting precedent. SCDB classifies its main issue as “Subconstitutional fair procedure, miscellaneous” in the Criminal Procedure area.

Read the opinion

Case details

Citations
498 U.S. 335 · 111 S. Ct. 805 · 112 L. Ed. 2d 836 · 1991 U.S. LEXIS 625
Docket number
89-1363
Decided
January 22, 1991
Argued
October 2, 1990
Decision type
Equally divided vote
Disposition
Affirmed
Outcome for petitioner
The petitioning party did not receive a favorable disposition
Vote
4–4
How the case arrived
Certiorari
Decision direction (SCDB)
Liberal what this means

How the Justices voted

JusticeVoteSeparate writing
Justice Byron R. WhiteEqually divided vote
Justice Thurgood MarshallEqually divided vote
Justice Harry A. BlackmunEqually divided vote
Chief Justice William H. RehnquistEqually divided vote
Justice John Paul StevensEqually divided vote
Justice Sandra Day O'ConnorEqually divided vote
Justice Antonin ScaliaEqually divided vote
Justice Anthony M. KennedyEqually divided vote

Did not participate: David H. Souter.

Full case caption

United States v. Darlina K. France

SCDB identifiers: case 1990-027, docket 1990-027-01.

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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