Supreme Court decisions of October Term 1977

The Court’s 1977 Term began in October 1977. These are the 155 decisions SCDB records for it, decided between October 3, 1977 and July 3, 1978, during the Burger Court.

← 1976 Term · 1978 Term →

Decided by one vote (20)

• Key v. Doyle
  434 U.S. 59Decided November 14, 19775–4Potter Stewart
• United States v. New York Telephone Co.
  434 U.S. 159Decided December 7, 19775–4Byron R. White
• Adamo Wrecking Co. v. United States
  434 U.S. 275Decided January 10, 19785–4William H. Rehnquist
• Bordenkircher v. Hayes
  434 U.S. 357Decided January 18, 19785–4Potter Stewart
• City of Lafayette v. Louisiana Power & Light Co.
  435 U.S. 389Decided March 29, 19785–4William J. Brennan Jr.
• Malone v. White Motor Corp.
  435 U.S. 497Decided April 3, 19784–3Byron R. White
• Nixon v. Warner Communications, Inc.
  435 U.S. 589Decided April 18, 19785–4Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• First National Bank of Boston v. BellottiLaw held unconstitutional
  435 U.S. 765Decided April 26, 19785–4Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• United States v. Sotelo et Ux.
  436 U.S. 268Decided May 22, 19785–4Thurgood Marshall
• California v. Southland Royalty Co.
  436 U.S. 519Decided May 31, 19784–3Byron R. White
• United States v. ScottAltered precedent
  437 U.S. 82Decided June 14, 19785–4William H. Rehnquist
• United States v. Lasalle National Bank
  437 U.S. 298Decided June 19, 19785–4Harry A. Blackmun
• American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. v. Writers Guild of America
  437 U.S. 411Decided June 21, 19785–4Byron R. White
• Will, U. S. District Judge v. Calvert Fire Insurance Co.
  437 U.S. 655Decided June 23, 19785–4William H. Rehnquist
• Hutto v. Finney
  437 U.S. 678Decided June 23, 19785–4John Paul Stevens
• Houchins v. Kqed, Inc.
  438 U.S. 1Decided June 26, 19784–3Warren E. Burger
• Regents of the University of California v. Bakke
  438 U.S. 265Decided June 26, 19785–4Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• Butz v. Economou
  438 U.S. 478Decided June 29, 19785–4Byron R. White
• United States v. New Mexico
  438 U.S. 696Decided July 3, 19785–4William H. Rehnquist
• Federal Communications Commission v. Pacifica Foundation
  438 U.S. 726Decided July 3, 19785–4John Paul Stevens

All decisions, in order

• New Hampshire v. Maine
  434 U.S. 1Decided October 3, 19779–0
• County Board of Arlington County v. Richards
  434 U.S. 5Decided October 11, 19778–1Per curiam
• Southern Overlying Carrier Chapter of the California Dump Truck Owners Association v. Public Utilities Commission of California
  434 U.S. 9Decided October 11, 19778–1Per curiam
• General Atomic Co. v. Felter
  434 U.S. 12Decided October 31, 19777–2Per curiam
• Rinaldi v. United States
  434 U.S. 22Decided November 7, 19776–3Per curiam
• Citizens & Southern National Bank v. Bougas
  434 U.S. 35Decided November 8, 19779–0Harry A. Blackmun
• Califano v. Jobst
  434 U.S. 47Decided November 8, 19779–0John Paul Stevens
• Key v. Doyle
  434 U.S. 59Decided November 14, 19775–4Potter Stewart
• Commissioner of Internal Revenue v. Kowalski et Ux.
  434 U.S. 77Decided November 29, 19777–2William J. Brennan Jr.
• Shell Oil Co. v. Dartt
  434 U.S. 99Decided November 29, 19774–4
• Idaho Department of Employment v. Smith
  434 U.S. 100Decided December 5, 19776–3Per curiam
• Pennsylvania v. Mimms
  434 U.S. 106Decided December 5, 19776–3Per curiam
• New York v. Cathedral AcademyLaw held unconstitutional
  434 U.S. 125Decided December 6, 19776–3Potter Stewart
• Nashville Gas Co. v. Satty
  434 U.S. 136Decided December 6, 19779–0William H. Rehnquist
• Richmond Unified School District v. Berg
  434 U.S. 158Decided December 6, 19779–0Per curiam
• United States v. New York Telephone Co.
  434 U.S. 159Decided December 7, 19775–4Byron R. White
• United Air Lines, Inc. v. McMann
  434 U.S. 192Decided December 12, 19777–2Warren E. Burger
• Moore v. Illinois
  434 U.S. 220Decided December 12, 19778–0Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• Chase Manhattan Bank v. South Acres Development Co.
  434 U.S. 236Decided January 9, 19789–0Per curiam
• Philadelphia Newspapers, Inc. v. Jerome
  434 U.S. 241Decided January 9, 19787–2Per curiam
• Quilloin v. Walcott et Vir
  434 U.S. 246Decided January 10, 19789–0Thurgood Marshall
• Browder v. Director
  434 U.S. 257Decided January 10, 19789–0Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• Adamo Wrecking Co. v. United States
  434 U.S. 275Decided January 10, 19785–4William H. Rehnquist
• Pfizer Inc. v. Government of India
  434 U.S. 308Decided January 11, 19785–3Potter Stewart
• Smith v. Digmon
  434 U.S. 332Decided January 16, 19789–0Per curiam
• National Labor Relations Board v. Local Union No. 103
  434 U.S. 335Decided January 17, 19786–3Byron R. White
• Carter v. MillerLaw held unconstitutional
  434 U.S. 356Decided January 17, 19784–4
• Bordenkircher v. Hayes
  434 U.S. 357Decided January 18, 19785–4Potter Stewart
• Zablocki v. RedhailLaw held unconstitutional
  434 U.S. 374Decided January 18, 19788–1Thurgood Marshall
• Christiansburg Garment Co. v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
  434 U.S. 412Decided January 23, 19788–0Potter Stewart
• Vendo Co. v. Lektro-Vend Corp.
  434 U.S. 425Decided January 23, 19789–0Per curiam
• Raymond Motor Transportation, Inc. v. RiceLaw held unconstitutional
  434 U.S. 429Decided February 21, 19788–0Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• United States Steel Corp. v. Multistate Tax Commission
  434 U.S. 452Decided February 21, 19787–2Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• Arizona v. Washington
  434 U.S. 497Decided February 21, 19786–3John Paul Stevens
• Fulman v. United States
  434 U.S. 528Decided February 22, 19787–1William J. Brennan Jr.
• Durst v. United States
  434 U.S. 542Decided February 22, 19788–0William J. Brennan Jr.
• Procunier v. Navarette
  434 U.S. 555Decided February 22, 19787–2Byron R. White
• Lorillard v. Pons
  434 U.S. 575Decided February 22, 19788–0Thurgood Marshall
• J. W. Bateson Co., Inc. v. United States ex Rel. Board of Trustees of the National Automatic Sprinkler Industry Pension Fund
  434 U.S. 586Decided February 22, 19786–2Thurgood Marshall
• Califano v. Torres
  435 U.S. 1Decided February 27, 19787–2Per curiam
• Simpson v. United States
  435 U.S. 6Decided February 28, 19788–1William J. Brennan Jr.
• Central Illinois Public Service Co. v. United States
  435 U.S. 21Decided February 28, 19789–0Harry A. Blackmun
• Federal Maritime Commission v. Pacific Maritime Assn.
  435 U.S. 40Decided March 1, 19785–3Byron R. White
• Board of Curators of the University of Missouri v. Horowitz
  435 U.S. 78Decided March 1, 19786–3William H. Rehnquist
• United States v. Board of Commissioners of Sheffield
  435 U.S. 110Decided March 6, 19786–3William J. Brennan Jr.
• Ray v. Atlantic Richfield Co.
  435 U.S. 151Decided March 6, 19786–3Byron R. White
• Oliphant v. Suquamish Indian Tribe
  435 U.S. 191Decided March 6, 19786–2William H. Rehnquist
• Cleland v. National College of Business
  435 U.S. 213Decided March 20, 19788–1Per curiam
• Ballew v. GeorgiaLaw held unconstitutional
  435 U.S. 223Decided March 21, 19789–0Harry A. Blackmun
• Carey v. Piphus
  435 U.S. 247Decided March 21, 19788–0Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• United States v. Ceccolini
  435 U.S. 268Decided March 21, 19786–2William H. Rehnquist
• Foley v. Connelie
  435 U.S. 291Decided March 22, 19786–3Warren E. Burger
• United States v. Wheeler
  435 U.S. 313Decided March 22, 19788–0Potter Stewart
• Lakeside v. Oregon
  435 U.S. 333Decided March 22, 19786–2Potter Stewart
• Stump v. Sparkman et Vir
  435 U.S. 349Decided March 28, 19785–3Byron R. White
• United States v. Culbert
  435 U.S. 371Decided March 28, 19788–0Thurgood Marshall
• Bankers Trust Co. v. Mallis
  435 U.S. 381Decided March 28, 19788–0Per curiam
• City of Lafayette v. Louisiana Power & Light Co.
  435 U.S. 389Decided March 29, 19785–4William J. Brennan Jr.
• Massachusetts v. United States
  435 U.S. 444Decided March 29, 19786–2William J. Brennan Jr.
• Holloway v. Arkansas
  435 U.S. 475Decided April 3, 19786–3Warren E. Burger
• Malone v. White Motor Corp.
  435 U.S. 497Decided April 3, 19784–3Byron R. White
• Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc.
  435 U.S. 519Decided April 3, 19787–0William H. Rehnquist
• Proctor v. Warden
  435 U.S. 559Decided April 17, 19789–0Per curiam
• Frank Lyon Co. v. United States
  435 U.S. 561Decided April 18, 19787–2Harry A. Blackmun
• Nixon v. Warner Communications, Inc.
  435 U.S. 589Decided April 18, 19785–4Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• McDaniel v. PatyLaw held unconstitutional
  435 U.S. 618Decided April 19, 19788–0Warren E. Burger
• Elkins v. Moreno
  435 U.S. 647Decided April 19, 19787–2William J. Brennan Jr.
• National Society of Professional Engineers v. United States
  435 U.S. 679Decided April 25, 19788–0John Paul Stevens
• City of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power v. Manhart
  435 U.S. 702Decided April 25, 19786–2John Paul Stevens
• Department of Revenue of Washington v. Association of Washington Stevedoring CompaniesAltered precedent
  435 U.S. 734Decided April 26, 19788–0Harry A. Blackmun
• First National Bank of Boston v. BellottiLaw held unconstitutional
  435 U.S. 765Decided April 26, 19785–4Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• Landmark Communications, Inc. v. VirginiaLaw held unconstitutional
  435 U.S. 829Decided May 1, 19787–0Warren E. Burger
• United States v. Macdonald
  435 U.S. 850Decided May 1, 19788–0Harry A. Blackmun
• Memphis Light v. Craft
  436 U.S. 1Decided May 1, 19786–3Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• United States v. Jacobs
  436 U.S. 31Decided May 1, 19789–0Per curiam
• United States v. California
  436 U.S. 32Decided May 15, 19785–3Potter Stewart
• Santa Clara Pueblo v. Martinez
  436 U.S. 49Decided May 15, 19787–1Thurgood Marshall
• Kulko v. Superior Court of California in and for the City and County of San Francisco (Horn
  436 U.S. 84Decided May 15, 19786–3Thurgood Marshall
• Securities and Exchange Commission v. Sloan
  436 U.S. 103Decided May 15, 19789–0William H. Rehnquist
• Scott v. United States
  436 U.S. 128Decided May 15, 19787–2William H. Rehnquist
• Flagg Bros., Inc. v. Brooks
  436 U.S. 149Decided May 15, 19785–3William H. Rehnquist
• Sears v. San Diego County District Council of Carpenters
  436 U.S. 180Decided May 15, 19786–3John Paul Stevens
• Slodov v. United States
  436 U.S. 238Decided May 22, 19786–3William J. Brennan Jr.
• United States v. Sotelo et Ux.
  436 U.S. 268Decided May 22, 19785–4Thurgood Marshall
• Pinkus v. United States
  436 U.S. 293Decided May 23, 19788–1Warren E. Burger
• Marshall v. Barlow's, Inc.Law held unconstitutional
  436 U.S. 307Decided May 23, 19785–3Byron R. White
• United States v. Mauro
  436 U.S. 340Decided May 23, 19789–0Byron R. White
• Baldwin v. Fish and Game Commission of Montana
  436 U.S. 371Decided May 23, 19786–3Harry A. Blackmun
• Vitek v. Jones
  436 U.S. 407Decided May 23, 19788–1Per curiam
• In re Primus
  436 U.S. 412Decided May 30, 19787–1Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• Ohralik v. Ohio State Bar Assn.
  436 U.S. 447Decided May 30, 19788–0Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• Taylor v. Kentucky
  436 U.S. 478Decided May 30, 19787–2Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• General Atomic Co. v. Felter
  436 U.S. 493Decided May 30, 19789–0Per curiam
• Michigan v. Tyler
  436 U.S. 499Decided May 31, 19787–1Potter Stewart
• California v. Southland Royalty Co.
  436 U.S. 519Decided May 31, 19784–3Byron R. White
• Zurcher v. Stanford Daily
  436 U.S. 547Decided May 31, 19785–3Byron R. White
• Robertson v. Wegmann
  436 U.S. 584Decided May 31, 19786–3Thurgood Marshall
• Andrus v. Charlestone Stone Products Co.
  436 U.S. 604Decided May 31, 19789–0Thurgood Marshall
• Mobil Oil Corp. v. Higginbotham
  436 U.S. 618Decided June 5, 19786–2John Paul Stevens
• Mobil Alaska Pipeline Co. v. United States
  436 U.S. 631Decided June 6, 19788–0William J. Brennan Jr.
• Monell v. Department of Social Services of the City of New YorkAltered precedent
  436 U.S. 658Decided June 6, 19787–2William J. Brennan Jr.
• Quern v. Mandley
  436 U.S. 725Decided June 6, 19788–0Potter Stewart
• Agosto v. Immigration and Naturalization Service
  436 U.S. 748Decided June 6, 19787–2Thurgood Marshall
• Federal Communications Commission v. National Citizens Committee for Broadcasting
  436 U.S. 775Decided June 12, 19788–0Thurgood Marshall
• National Broiler Marketing Assn. v. United States
  436 U.S. 816Decided June 12, 19787–2Harry A. Blackmun
• Terk v. Gordon
  436 U.S. 850Decided June 12, 19789–0Per curiam
• Burks v. United StatesAltered precedent
  437 U.S. 1Decided June 14, 19788–0Warren E. Burger
• Greene v. Massey
  437 U.S. 19Decided June 14, 19788–0Warren E. Burger
• Crist v. Bretz
  437 U.S. 28Decided June 14, 19786–3Potter Stewart
• Sanabria v. United States
  437 U.S. 54Decided June 14, 19787–2Thurgood Marshall
• United States v. ScottAltered precedent
  437 U.S. 82Decided June 14, 19785–4William H. Rehnquist
• Exxon Corp. v. Governor of Maryland
  437 U.S. 117Decided June 14, 19787–1John Paul Stevens
• Tennessee Valley Authority v. Hill
  437 U.S. 153Decided June 15, 19786–3Warren E. Burger
• National Labor Relations Board v. Robbins Tire & Rubber Co.
  437 U.S. 214Decided June 15, 19789–0Thurgood Marshall
• First Federal Savings & Loan Association of Boston v. Tax Commission of Massachusetts
  437 U.S. 255Decided June 15, 19788–1John Paul Stevens
• Moorman Manufacturing Co. v. Bair
  437 U.S. 267Decided June 15, 19786–3John Paul Stevens
• United States v. Lasalle National Bank
  437 U.S. 298Decided June 19, 19785–4Harry A. Blackmun
• Greyhound Corp. v. Mt. Hood Stages, Inc.
  437 U.S. 322Decided June 19, 19789–0Harry A. Blackmun
• Oppenheimer Fund, Inc. v. Sanders
  437 U.S. 340Decided June 19, 19789–0Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• Owen Equipment & Erection Co. v. Kroger
  437 U.S. 365Decided June 21, 19787–2Potter Stewart
• Mincey v. Arizona
  437 U.S. 385Decided June 21, 19789–0Potter Stewart
• American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. v. Writers Guild of America
  437 U.S. 411Decided June 21, 19785–4Byron R. White
• Zenith Radio Corp. v. United States
  437 U.S. 443Decided June 21, 19789–0Thurgood Marshall
• Coopers & Lybrand v. Livesay
  437 U.S. 463Decided June 21, 19789–0John Paul Stevens
• Gardner v. Westinghouse Broadcasting Co.
  437 U.S. 478Decided June 21, 19789–0John Paul Stevens
• Beth Israel Hospital v. National Labor Relations Board
  437 U.S. 483Decided June 22, 19789–0William J. Brennan Jr.
• Hicklin v. OrbeckLaw held unconstitutional
  437 U.S. 518Decided June 22, 19789–0William J. Brennan Jr.
• Wise v. Lipscomb
  437 U.S. 535Decided June 22, 19786–3Byron R. White
• Eastex, Inc. v. National Labor Relations Board
  437 U.S. 556Decided June 22, 19787–2Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• Parker v. Flook
  437 U.S. 584Decided June 22, 19786–3John Paul Stevens
• California v. Texas
  437 U.S. 601Decided June 22, 19789–0Per curiam
• City of Philadelphia v. New JerseyLaw held unconstitutional
  437 U.S. 617Decided June 23, 19787–2Potter Stewart
• United States v. John
  437 U.S. 634Decided June 23, 19789–0Harry A. Blackmun
• Will, U. S. District Judge v. Calvert Fire Insurance Co.
  437 U.S. 655Decided June 23, 19785–4William H. Rehnquist
• Hutto v. Finney
  437 U.S. 678Decided June 23, 19785–4John Paul Stevens
• Houchins v. Kqed, Inc.
  438 U.S. 1Decided June 26, 19784–3Warren E. Burger
• United States v. Grayson
  438 U.S. 41Decided June 26, 19786–3Warren E. Burger
• Duke Power Co. v. Carolina Environmental Study Group, Inc.
  438 U.S. 59Decided June 26, 19786–3Warren E. Burger
• Penn Central Transportation Co. v. New York City
  438 U.S. 104Decided June 26, 19786–3William J. Brennan Jr.
• Franks v. Delaware
  438 U.S. 154Decided June 26, 19787–2Harry A. Blackmun
• Berry v. Doles
  438 U.S. 190Decided June 26, 19787–2Per curiam
• McAdams v. McSurely et Ux.
  438 U.S. 189Decided June 26, 19789–0Per curiam
• Swisher v. Brady
  438 U.S. 204Decided June 26, 19786–3Warren E. Burger
• Allied Structural Steel Co. v. SpannausLaw held unconstitutional
  438 U.S. 234Decided June 26, 19785–3Potter Stewart
• Regents of the University of California v. Bakke
  438 U.S. 265Decided June 26, 19785–4Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• United States v. United States Gypsum Co.
  438 U.S. 422Decided June 29, 19787–1Warren E. Burger
• Butz v. Economou
  438 U.S. 478Decided June 29, 19785–4Byron R. White
• St. Paul Fire & Marine Insurance Co. v. Barry
  438 U.S. 531Decided June 29, 19787–2Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• Furnco Construction Corp. v. Waters
  438 U.S. 567Decided June 29, 19789–0William H. Rehnquist
• Lockett v. OhioLaw held unconstitutional
  438 U.S. 586Decided July 3, 19787–1Warren E. Burger
• Bell v. Ohio
  438 U.S. 637Decided July 3, 19787–1Warren E. Burger
• California v. United States
  438 U.S. 645Decided July 3, 19786–3William H. Rehnquist
• United States v. New Mexico
  438 U.S. 696Decided July 3, 19785–4William H. Rehnquist
• Federal Communications Commission v. Pacifica Foundation
  438 U.S. 726Decided July 3, 19785–4John Paul Stevens
• Alabama v. Pugh
  438 U.S. 781Decided July 3, 19786–3Per curiam

← 1976 Term · 1978 Term →

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