The Rehnquist Court (1986–2004 Terms)

Decisions from the period when William H. Rehnquist was Chief Justice, as grouped by the Supreme Court Database.

Justices who sat

William J. Brennan Jr., Byron R. White, Thurgood Marshall, Harry A. Blackmun, William H. Rehnquist, Lewis F. Powell Jr., John Paul Stevens, Sandra Day O'Connor, Antonin Scalia, Anthony M. Kennedy, David H. Souter, Clarence Thomas, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen G. Breyer

Terms

1986198719881989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004

Decisions that altered precedent or struck down a law (190)

• McCreary County v. American Civil Liberties Union of KentuckyLaw held unconstitutional
  545 U.S. 844Decided June 27, 20055–4David H. Souter
• Antonio Dwayne Halbert v. MichiganLaw held unconstitutional
  545 U.S. 605Decided June 23, 20057–2Ruth Bader Ginsburg
• Jennifer M. Granholm v. Eleanor HealdLaw held unconstitutional
  544 U.S. 460Decided May 16, 20055–4Anthony M. Kennedy
• Donald P. Roper v. Christopher SimmonsAltered precedentLaw held unconstitutional
  543 U.S. 551Decided March 1, 20055–4Anthony M. Kennedy
• United States v. Freddie J. BookerLaw held unconstitutional
  543 U.S. 220Decided January 12, 20055–4Stephen G. Breyer
• Ralph Howard Blakely, Jr. v. WashingtonLaw held unconstitutional
  542 U.S. 296Decided June 24, 20045–4Antonin Scalia
• Michael D. Crawford v. WashingtonAltered precedent
  541 U.S. 36Decided March 8, 20049–0Antonin Scalia
• Mitch McConnell v. Federal Election CommissionLaw held unconstitutional
  540 U.S. 93Decided December 10, 20035–4John Paul Stevens
• Marion Reynolds Stogner v. CaliforniaLaw held unconstitutional
  539 U.S. 607Decided June 26, 20035–4Stephen G. Breyer
• John Geddes Lawrence and Tyron Garner v. TexasAltered precedentLaw held unconstitutional
  539 U.S. 558Decided June 26, 20036–3Anthony M. Kennedy
• Virginia v. Barry Elton BlackLaw held unconstitutional
  538 U.S. 343Decided April 7, 20037–2Sandra Day O'Connor
• Timothy Stuart Ring v. ArizonaAltered precedentLaw held unconstitutional
  536 U.S. 584Decided June 24, 20027–2Ruth Bader Ginsburg
• Daryl Renard Atkins v. VirginiaAltered precedentLaw held unconstitutional
  536 U.S. 304Decided June 20, 20026–3John Paul Stevens
• Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc. v. Village of StrattonLaw held unconstitutional
  536 U.S. 150Decided June 17, 20028–1John Paul Stevens
• United States v. Leonard CottonAltered precedent
  535 U.S. 625Decided May 20, 20029–0William H. Rehnquist
• Paul D. Lapides v. Board of Regents of the University System of GeorgiaAltered precedent
  535 U.S. 613Decided May 13, 20029–0Stephen G. Breyer
• Tommy G. Thompson v. Western States Medical CenterLaw held unconstitutional
  535 U.S. 357Decided April 29, 20025–4Sandra Day O'Connor
• John D. Ashcroft v. the Free Speech CoalitionLaw held unconstitutional
  535 U.S. 234Decided April 16, 20026–3Anthony M. Kennedy
• Lorillard Tobacco Company v. Thomas F. ReillyLaw held unconstitutional
  533 U.S. 525Decided June 28, 20015–4Sandra Day O'Connor
• United States and Department of Agriculture v. United Foods, Inc.Law held unconstitutional
  533 U.S. 405Decided June 25, 20016–3Anthony M. Kennedy
• United States v. Terry J. Hatter, Jr.Altered precedentLaw held unconstitutional
  532 U.S. 557Decided May 21, 20015–2Stephen G. Breyer
• Bartnicki v. VopperLaw held unconstitutional
  532 U.S. 514Decided May 21, 20016–3John Paul Stevens
• Legal Services Corporation v. Carmen VelazquezLaw held unconstitutional
  531 U.S. 533Decided February 28, 20015–4Anthony M. Kennedy
• Rebecca McDowell Cook v. Donald J. Gralike and Mike HarmanLaw held unconstitutional
  531 U.S. 510Decided February 28, 20019–0John Paul Stevens
• Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama v. Patricia GarrettLaw held unconstitutional
  531 U.S. 356Decided February 21, 20015–4William H. Rehnquist
• City of Indianapolis v. James EdmondLaw held unconstitutional
  531 U.S. 32Decided November 28, 20006–3Sandra Day O'Connor
• Don Stenberg v. Leroy CarhartLaw held unconstitutional
  530 U.S. 914Decided June 28, 20005–4Stephen G. Breyer
• Guy Mitchell v. Mary L. HelmsAltered precedent
  530 U.S. 793Decided June 28, 20006–3Clarence Thomas
• Boy Scouts of America and Monmouth Council v. James DaleLaw held unconstitutional
  530 U.S. 640Decided June 28, 20005–4William H. Rehnquist
• California Democratic Party v. Bill JonesLaw held unconstitutional
  530 U.S. 567Decided June 26, 20007–2Antonin Scalia
• Charles C. Apprendi, Jr. v. New JerseyLaw held unconstitutional
  530 U.S. 466Decided June 26, 20005–4John Paul Stevens
• Charles Thomas Dickerson v. United StatesLaw held unconstitutional
  530 U.S. 428Decided June 26, 20007–2William H. Rehnquist
• Stephen P. Crosby v. National Foreign Trade CouncilLaw held unconstitutional
  530 U.S. 363Decided June 19, 20009–0David H. Souter
• Jenifer Troxel v. Tommie GranvilleLaw held unconstitutional
  530 U.S. 57Decided June 5, 20006–3Sandra Day O'Connor
• United States v. Playboy Entertainment Group, Inc.Law held unconstitutional
  529 U.S. 803Decided May 22, 20005–4Anthony M. Kennedy
• United States v. Antonio J. MorrisonLaw held unconstitutional
  529 U.S. 598Decided May 15, 20005–4William H. Rehnquist
• Scott Leslie Carmell v. TexasLaw held unconstitutional
  529 U.S. 513Decided May 1, 20005–4John Paul Stevens
• Harold F. Rice v. Benjamin J. CayetanoLaw held unconstitutional
  528 U.S. 495Decided February 23, 20007–2Anthony M. Kennedy
• Hunt-Wesson, Inc. v. Franchise Tax Board of CaliforniaLaw held unconstitutional
  528 U.S. 458Decided February 22, 20009–0Stephen G. Breyer
• J. Daniel Kimel, Jr. v. Florida Board of RegentsLaw held unconstitutional
  528 U.S. 62Decided January 11, 20005–4Sandra Day O'Connor
• John H. Alden v. MaineLaw held unconstitutional
  527 U.S. 706Decided June 23, 19995–4Anthony M. Kennedy
• College Savings Bank v. Florida Prepaid Postsecondary Education Expense BoardAltered precedentLaw held unconstitutional
  527 U.S. 666Decided June 23, 19995–4Antonin Scalia
• Florida Prepaid Postsecondary Education Expense Board v. College Savings Bank and United StatesLaw held unconstitutional
  527 U.S. 627Decided June 23, 19995–4William H. Rehnquist
• Greater New Orleans Broadcasting Association, Inc., Etc. v. United StatesLaw held unconstitutional
  527 U.S. 173Decided June 14, 19999–0John Paul Stevens
• City of Chicago v. Jesus MoralesLaw held unconstitutional
  527 U.S. 41Decided June 10, 19996–3John Paul Stevens
• Rita L. Saenz v. Brenda Roe and Anna Doe Etc.Law held unconstitutional
  526 U.S. 489Decided May 17, 19997–2John Paul Stevens
• Minnesota v. Mille Lacs Band of Chippewa IndiansAltered precedent
  526 U.S. 172Decided March 24, 19995–4Sandra Day O'Connor
• South Central Bell Telephone Company v. AlabamaLaw held unconstitutional
  526 U.S. 160Decided March 23, 19999–0Stephen G. Breyer
• Victoria Buckley v. American Constitutional Law Foundation, Inc.Law held unconstitutional
  525 U.S. 182Decided January 12, 19996–3Ruth Bader Ginsburg
• Patrick Knowles v. IowaLaw held unconstitutional
  525 U.S. 113Decided December 8, 19989–0William H. Rehnquist

See all 190

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