United States v. Kahan
415 U.S. 239 · Decided February 25, 1974 · 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. Kahan was decided on February 25, 1974 by a vote of 6–3. The Court reversed the lower court's decision and remanded the case. The decision was issued per curiam (an unsigned opinion of the Court). SCDB classifies its main issue as “Self-incrimination (general)” in the Criminal Procedure area.
Read the opinion
Case details
- Citations
- 415 U.S. 239 · 94 S. Ct. 1179 · 39 L. Ed. 2d 297 · 1974 U.S. LEXIS 100
- Docket number
- 73-428
- Decided
- February 25, 1974
- Court era
- Burger Court
- Decision type
- Per curiam (no oral argument)
- Disposition
- Reversed and remanded
- Outcome for petitioner
- The petitioning party received a favorable disposition
- Vote
- 6–3
- Opinion assigned by
- Warren E. Burger
- How the case arrived
- Certiorari
- Issue (SCDB)
- Self-incrimination (general)
- Issue area
- Criminal Procedure
- Legal provision
- Fifth Amendment (self-incrimination)
- Type of law
- Constitutional amendment
- Decision direction (SCDB)
- Conservative what this means
How the Justices voted
| Justice | Vote | Separate writing |
|---|---|---|
| Justice William O. Douglas | Dissent | Wrote an opinion |
| Justice William J. Brennan Jr. | Dissent | |
| Justice Potter Stewart | Majority | |
| Justice Byron R. White | Majority | |
| Justice Thurgood Marshall | Dissent | Wrote an opinion |
| Chief Justice Warren E. Burger | Majority | |
| Justice Harry A. Blackmun | Majority | |
| Justice Lewis F. Powell Jr. | Majority | |
| Justice William H. Rehnquist | Majority |
Full case caption
United States v. Kahan
SCDB identifiers: case 1973-057, docket 1973-057-01.
Related decisions
Other cases on “Self-incrimination (general)”
- Bellis v. United States
- Wardius v. OregonLaw held unconstitutional
- Couch v. United States
- Brooks v. TennesseeLaw held unconstitutional
- Garner v. United States
- Fisher v. United States
Cases on the same legal provision: Fifth Amendment (self-incrimination)
- Lefkowitz v. TurleyLaw held unconstitutional
- United States v. Nobles
- Beecher v. Alabama
- Kastigar v. United States
- Zicarelli v. New Jersey State Commission of Investigation
- Harris v. New York
Same Term, same area (Criminal Procedure)
- Taylor v. United States
- Moore v. Arizona
- Berry v. City of Cincinnati
- Lefkowitz v. TurleyLaw held unconstitutional
- Cupp v. Naughten
- United States v. Robinson
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