Williams v. Florida
399 U.S. 78 · Decided June 22, 1970 · 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
Williams v. Florida was decided on June 22, 1970 by a vote of 6–2. The Court affirmed the lower court's decision. Justice Byron R. White wrote the opinion of the Court. SCDB classifies its main issue as “Self-incrimination (general)” in the Criminal Procedure area. SCDB codes this decision as formally altering one or more of the Court's own precedents.
Read the opinion
Case details
- Citations
- 399 U.S. 78 · 90 S. Ct. 1893 · 26 L. Ed. 2d 446 · 1970 U.S. LEXIS 98
- Docket number
- 927
- Decided
- June 22, 1970
- Argued
- March 4, 1970
- 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
- 6–2
- Majority opinion
- Byron R. White
- 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
- Altered precedent
- Yes — formally altered the Court's precedent
- Decision direction (SCDB)
- Conservative what this means
How the Justices voted
| Justice | Vote | Separate writing |
|---|---|---|
| Justice Hugo L. Black | Dissent | Wrote an opinion |
| Justice William O. Douglas | Dissent | |
| Justice John M. Harlan II | Concurrence | Wrote an opinion |
| Justice William J. Brennan Jr. | Majority | |
| Justice Potter Stewart | Concurrence | Wrote an opinion |
| Justice Byron R. White | Majority | Wrote an opinion |
| Justice Thurgood Marshall | Concurrence | Wrote an opinion |
| Chief Justice Warren E. Burger | Concurrence | Wrote an opinion |
Did not participate: Harry A. Blackmun.
Full case caption
Williams v. Florida
SCDB identifiers: case 1969-121, docket 1969-121-01.
Related decisions
Other cases on “Self-incrimination (general)”
- United States v. Kordel
- United States v. Knox
- Minor v. United States
- United States v. Freed
- California v. Byers
- Leary v. United StatesLaw held unconstitutional
Cases on the same legal provision: Fifth Amendment (self-incrimination)
- Brady v. United States
- Harris v. New York
- Jenkins v. Delaware
- Kastigar v. United States
- Zicarelli v. New Jersey State Commission of Investigation
- Beecher v. Alabama
Same Term, same area (Criminal Procedure)
- Debacker v. Brainard
- United States v. Knox
- Minor v. United States
- Morales v. New York
- Molinaro v. New Jersey
- Sigler v. Parker
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