William Overton v. Michelle Bazzetta

539 U.S. 126 · Decided June 16, 2003 · Supreme Court of the United States

At a glance

William Overton v. Michelle Bazzetta was decided on June 16, 2003 unanimously (9–0). The Court reversed the lower court's decision. Justice Anthony M. Kennedy wrote the opinion of the Court. SCDB classifies its main issue as “First Amendment, miscellaneous” in the First Amendment area.

Read the opinion

• CourtListener (Free Law Project) — opinion text
• Library of Congress — official U.S. Reports scan

Case details

How the Justices voted

Full case caption

William Overton, Director, Michigan Department of Corrections, et al. v. Michelle Bazzetta et al.

SCDB identifiers: case 2002-073, docket 2002-073-01.

Related decisions

Other cases on “First Amendment, miscellaneous”

• Virginia v. Kevin Lamont Hicks
  539 U.S. 113Decided June 16, 20039–0Antonin Scalia
• Illinois ex Rel. Lisa Madigan v. Telemarketing Associates, Inc.
  538 U.S. 600Decided May 5, 20039–0Ruth Bader Ginsburg
• Republican Party of Minnesota v. Suzanne White
  536 U.S. 765Decided June 27, 20025–4Antonin Scalia
• Caren Cronk Thomas and Windy City Hemp Development Board v. Chicago Park District
  534 U.S. 316Decided January 15, 20029–0Antonin Scalia
• City of San Diego v. John Roe
  543 U.S. 77Decided December 6, 20049–0Per curiam
• Michael Clingman v. Andrea L. Beaver
  544 U.S. 581Decided May 23, 20056–3Clarence Thomas

See all

Cases on the same legal provision: First Amendment (association)

• California Democratic Party v. Bill JonesLaw held unconstitutional
  530 U.S. 567Decided June 26, 20007–2Antonin Scalia
• Washington State Grange v. Washington State Republican Party
  552 U.S. 442Decided March 18, 20087–2Clarence Thomas
• Michele L. Timmons v. Twin Cities Area New Party
  520 U.S. 351Decided April 28, 19976–3William H. Rehnquist
• Alan B. Burdick v. Morris Takushi
  504 U.S. 428Decided June 8, 19926–3Byron R. White
• Barbara J. Norman v. Dorothy ReedLaw held unconstitutional
  502 U.S. 279Decided January 14, 19927–1David H. Souter
• Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association
  578 U.S. 1Decided March 29, 20164–4

Same Term, same area (First Amendment)

• Virginia v. Barry Elton BlackLaw held unconstitutional
  538 U.S. 343Decided April 7, 20037–2Sandra Day O'Connor
• Illinois ex Rel. Lisa Madigan v. Telemarketing Associates, Inc.
  538 U.S. 600Decided May 5, 20039–0Ruth Bader Ginsburg
• Virginia v. Kevin Lamont Hicks
  539 U.S. 113Decided June 16, 20039–0Antonin Scalia
• Federal Election Commission v. Christine Beaumont
  539 U.S. 146Decided June 16, 20037–2David H. Souter
• United States v. American Library Association, Inc.
  539 U.S. 194Decided June 23, 20036–3William H. Rehnquist

See all

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