Supreme Court decisions of October Term 1979

The Court’s 1979 Term began in October 1979. These are the 157 decisions SCDB records for it, decided between October 9, 1979 and July 2, 1980, during the Burger Court.

← 1978 Term · 1980 Term →

Decided by one vote (28)

• Transamerica Mortgage Advisors, Inc. v. Lewis
  444 U.S. 11Decided November 13, 19795–4Potter Stewart
• Thompson v. United States
  444 U.S. 248Decided January 14, 19805–4Per curiam
• Vance v. Terrazas
  444 U.S. 252Decided January 15, 19805–4Byron R. White
• California Brewers Assn. v. Bryant
  444 U.S. 598Decided February 20, 19804–3Potter Stewart
• Committee for Public Education and Religious Liberty v. Regan
  444 U.S. 646Decided February 20, 19805–4Byron R. White
• National Labor Relations Board v. Yeshiva University
  444 U.S. 672Decided February 20, 19805–4Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• Rummel v. Estelle
  445 U.S. 263Decided March 18, 19805–4William H. Rehnquist
• Vance v. Universal Amusement Co., Inc.Law held unconstitutional
  445 U.S. 308Decided March 18, 19805–4Per curiam
• United States Parole Commission v. Geraghty
  445 U.S. 388Decided March 19, 19805–4Harry A. Blackmun
• Vitek v. JonesLaw held unconstitutional
  445 U.S. 480Decided March 25, 19805–4Byron R. White
• Owen v. City of Independence
  445 U.S. 622Decided April 16, 19805–4William J. Brennan Jr.
• Baldasar v. Illinois
  446 U.S. 222Decided April 22, 19805–4Per curiam
• General Telephone Company of the Northwest, Inc. v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
  446 U.S. 318Decided May 12, 19805–4Byron R. White
• Nachman Corp. v. Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation
  446 U.S. 359Decided May 12, 19805–4John Paul Stevens
• Andrus v. Utah
  446 U.S. 500Decided May 19, 19805–4John Paul Stevens
• United States v. Mendenhall
  446 U.S. 544Decided May 27, 19805–4Potter Stewart
• United States v. Havens
  446 U.S. 620Decided May 27, 19805–4Byron R. White
• Diamond v. Chakrabarty
  447 U.S. 303Decided June 16, 19805–4Warren E. Burger
• Illinois v. Vitale
  447 U.S. 410Decided June 19, 19805–4Byron R. White
• Reeves, Inc. v. Stake
  447 U.S. 429Decided June 19, 19805–4Harry A. Blackmun
• National Labor Relations Board v. International Longshoremen's Assn.
  447 U.S. 490Decided June 20, 19805–4Thurgood Marshall
• Walter v. United States
  447 U.S. 649Decided June 20, 19805–4John Paul Stevens
• United States v. Raddatz
  447 U.S. 667Decided June 23, 19805–4Warren E. Burger
• Central Machinery Co. v. Arizona State Tax Commission
  448 U.S. 160Decided June 27, 19805–4Thurgood Marshall
• Dawson Chemical Co. v. Rohm & Haas Co.
  448 U.S. 176Decided June 27, 19805–4Harry A. Blackmun
• Harris v. McRae
  448 U.S. 297Decided June 30, 19805–4Potter Stewart
• Williams v. Zbaraz
  448 U.S. 358Decided June 30, 19805–4Potter Stewart
• Industrial Union Department v. American Petroleum Institute
  448 U.S. 607Decided July 2, 19805–4John Paul Stevens

All decisions, in order

• Pilon v. Bordenkircher
  444 U.S. 1Decided October 9, 19799–0Per curiam
• United States v. Benmar Transport & Leasing Corp.
  444 U.S. 4Decided October 15, 19798–1Per curiam
• Transamerica Mortgage Advisors, Inc. v. Lewis
  444 U.S. 11Decided November 13, 19795–4Potter Stewart
• Perrin v. United States
  444 U.S. 37Decided November 27, 19798–0Warren E. Burger
• Andrus v. Allard
  444 U.S. 51Decided November 27, 19799–0William J. Brennan Jr.
• P. C. Pfeiffer Co., Inc. v. Ford
  444 U.S. 69Decided November 27, 19799–0Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• Ybarra v. Illinois
  444 U.S. 85Decided November 28, 19796–3Potter Stewart
• United States v. Kubrick
  444 U.S. 111Decided November 28, 19796–3Byron R. White
• Board of Education of the City School District of New York v. Harris
  444 U.S. 130Decided November 28, 19796–3Harry A. Blackmun
• Kaiser Aetna v. United States
  444 U.S. 164Decided December 4, 19796–3William H. Rehnquist
• Ferri v. Ackerman
  444 U.S. 193Decided December 4, 19799–0John Paul Stevens
• Vaughn v. Vermilion Corp.
  444 U.S. 206Decided December 4, 19796–3Per curiam
• Carbon Fuel Co. v. United Mine Workers of America
  444 U.S. 212Decided December 10, 19799–0William J. Brennan Jr.
• Strycker's Bay Neighborhood Council, Inc. v. Karlen
  444 U.S. 223Decided January 7, 19808–1Per curiam
• McLain v. Real Estate Board of New Orleans, Inc.
  444 U.S. 232Decided January 8, 19808–0Warren E. Burger
• Thompson v. United States
  444 U.S. 248Decided January 14, 19805–4Per curiam
• Vance v. Terrazas
  444 U.S. 252Decided January 15, 19805–4Byron R. White
• Martinez v. California
  444 U.S. 277Decided January 15, 19809–0John Paul Stevens
• World-Wide Volkswagen Corp. v. Woodson
  444 U.S. 286Decided January 21, 19806–3Byron R. White
• Rush v. Savchuk
  444 U.S. 320Decided January 21, 19807–2Thurgood Marshall
• Ohio v. Kentucky
  444 U.S. 335Decided January 21, 19806–3Harry A. Blackmun
• Brown v. Glines
  444 U.S. 348Decided January 21, 19805–3Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• Idaho ex Rel. Evans v. Oregon
  444 U.S. 380Decided January 21, 19807–2William H. Rehnquist
• United States v. Bailey
  444 U.S. 394Decided January 21, 19806–2William H. Rehnquist
• Secretary of the Navy v. Huff
  444 U.S. 453Decided January 21, 19805–3Per curiam
• Hatzlachh Supply Co., Inc. v. United States
  444 U.S. 460Decided January 21, 19808–1Per curiam
• Tague v. Louisiana
  444 U.S. 469Decided January 21, 19807–2Per curiam
• Estes v. Metropolitan Branches of the Dallas NAACP
  444 U.S. 437Decided January 21, 19805–3Per curiam
• Boeing Co. v. Van Gemert
  444 U.S. 472Decided February 19, 19808–1Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• Norfolk & Western Railway Co. v. Liepelt
  444 U.S. 490Decided February 19, 19807–2John Paul Stevens
• Crowell v. Mader
  444 U.S. 505Decided February 19, 19809–0Per curiam
• Snepp v. United States
  444 U.S. 507Decided February 19, 19806–3Per curiam
• Stafford, U.S. Attorney v. Briggs
  444 U.S. 527Decided February 20, 19805–2Warren E. Burger
• Ford Motor Credit Co. v. Milhollin
  444 U.S. 555Decided February 20, 19809–0William J. Brennan Jr.
• Seatrain Shipbuilding Corp. v. Shell Oil Co.
  444 U.S. 572Decided February 20, 19809–0William J. Brennan Jr.
• California Brewers Assn. v. Bryant
  444 U.S. 598Decided February 20, 19804–3Potter Stewart
• Village of Schaumburg v. Citizens for a Better EnvironmentLaw held unconstitutional
  444 U.S. 620Decided February 20, 19808–1Byron R. White
• Committee for Public Education and Religious Liberty v. Regan
  444 U.S. 646Decided February 20, 19805–4Byron R. White
• National Labor Relations Board v. Yeshiva University
  444 U.S. 672Decided February 20, 19805–4Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• United States v. Euge
  444 U.S. 707Decided February 20, 19806–3William H. Rehnquist
• Whirlpool Corp. v. Marshall
  445 U.S. 1Decided February 26, 19809–0Potter Stewart
• United States v. Clark
  445 U.S. 23Decided February 26, 19807–2Thurgood Marshall
• Massachusetts v. Meehan
  445 U.S. 39Decided February 26, 19809–0Per curiam
• Trammel v. United StatesAltered precedent
  445 U.S. 40Decided February 27, 19809–0Warren E. Burger
• Lewis v. United States
  445 U.S. 55Decided February 27, 19806–3Harry A. Blackmun
• Bloomer v. Liberty Mutual Insurance Co.
  445 U.S. 74Decided March 3, 19808–1Thurgood Marshall
• California Retail Liquor Dealers Assn. v. Midcal Aluminum, Inc.
  445 U.S. 97Decided March 3, 19808–0Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• United States v. Apfelbaum
  445 U.S. 115Decided March 3, 19809–0William H. Rehnquist
• Kissinger v. Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
  445 U.S. 136Decided March 3, 19805–2William H. Rehnquist
• Forsham v. Harris
  445 U.S. 169Decided March 3, 19807–2William H. Rehnquist
• Crown Simpson Pulp Co. v. Costle
  445 U.S. 193Decided March 17, 19809–0Per curiam
• Costle v. Pacific Legal Foundation
  445 U.S. 198Decided March 18, 19809–0Harry A. Blackmun
• Chiarella v. United States
  445 U.S. 222Decided March 18, 19806–3Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• United States v. Clarke
  445 U.S. 253Decided March 18, 19807–2William H. Rehnquist
• Rummel v. Estelle
  445 U.S. 263Decided March 18, 19805–4William H. Rehnquist
• Vance v. Universal Amusement Co., Inc.Law held unconstitutional
  445 U.S. 308Decided March 18, 19805–4Per curiam
• Deposit Guaranty National Bank of Jackson v. Roper
  445 U.S. 326Decided March 19, 19807–2Warren E. Burger
• United States v. Gillock
  445 U.S. 360Decided March 19, 19807–2Warren E. Burger
• GTE Sylvania, Inc. v. Consumers Union of the United States, Inc.
  445 U.S. 375Decided March 19, 19809–0Thurgood Marshall
• United States Parole Commission v. Geraghty
  445 U.S. 388Decided March 19, 19805–4Harry A. Blackmun
• Mobil Oil Corp. v. Commissioner of Taxes of Vermont
  445 U.S. 425Decided March 19, 19806–1Harry A. Blackmun
• United States v. Crews
  445 U.S. 463Decided March 25, 19808–0William J. Brennan Jr.
• Vitek v. JonesLaw held unconstitutional
  445 U.S. 480Decided March 25, 19805–4Byron R. White
• Branti v. Finkel
  445 U.S. 507Decided March 31, 19806–3John Paul Stevens
• United States v. Mitchell
  445 U.S. 535Decided April 15, 19805–3Thurgood Marshall
• Roberts v. United States
  445 U.S. 552Decided April 15, 19808–1Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• Payton v. New YorkLaw held unconstitutional
  445 U.S. 573Decided April 15, 19806–3John Paul Stevens
• Owen v. City of Independence
  445 U.S. 622Decided April 16, 19805–4William J. Brennan Jr.
• Whalen v. United States
  445 U.S. 684Decided April 16, 19807–2Potter Stewart
• Andrus v. Idaho
  445 U.S. 715Decided April 16, 19808–1Byron R. White
• Curtiss-Wright Corp. v. General Electric Co.
  446 U.S. 1Decided April 22, 19809–0Warren E. Burger
• Carlson v. Green
  446 U.S. 14Decided April 22, 19807–2William J. Brennan Jr.
• City of Mobile v. Bolden
  446 U.S. 55Decided April 22, 19806–3Potter Stewart
• Wengler v. Druggists Mutual Insurance Co.Law held unconstitutional
  446 U.S. 142Decided April 22, 19808–1Byron R. White
• City of Rome v. United States
  446 U.S. 156Decided April 22, 19806–3Thurgood Marshall
• Baldasar v. Illinois
  446 U.S. 222Decided April 22, 19805–4Per curiam
• Williams v. Brown
  446 U.S. 236Decided April 22, 19806–3Per curiam
• Marshall v. Jerrico, Inc.
  446 U.S. 238Decided April 28, 19809–0Thurgood Marshall
• United States v. Louisiana
  446 U.S. 253Decided April 28, 19805–3Harry A. Blackmun
• American Export Lines, Inc. v. Alvez
  446 U.S. 274Decided May 12, 19806–3William J. Brennan Jr.
• Rhode Island v. Innis
  446 U.S. 291Decided May 12, 19806–3Potter Stewart
• General Telephone Company of the Northwest, Inc. v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
  446 U.S. 318Decided May 12, 19805–4Byron R. White
• Cuyler v. Sullivan
  446 U.S. 335Decided May 12, 19808–1Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• Nachman Corp. v. Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation
  446 U.S. 359Decided May 12, 19805–4John Paul Stevens
• Fungaroli v. Fungaroli
  446 U.S. 930Decided May 12, 19808–0Per curiam
• Busic v. United States
  446 U.S. 398Decided May 19, 19806–3William J. Brennan Jr.
• Godfrey v. Georgia
  446 U.S. 420Decided May 19, 19806–3Potter Stewart
• Navarro Savings Assn. v. Lee
  446 U.S. 458Decided May 19, 19808–1Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York v. Tomanio
  446 U.S. 478Decided May 19, 19807–2William H. Rehnquist
• Andrus v. Utah
  446 U.S. 500Decided May 19, 19805–4John Paul Stevens
• Texas v. New Mexico
  446 U.S. 540Decided May 19, 19808–1Per curiam
• United States v. Mendenhall
  446 U.S. 544Decided May 27, 19805–4Potter Stewart
• Harrison v. PPG Industries, Inc.
  446 U.S. 578Decided May 27, 19807–2Potter Stewart
• Andrus v. Glover Construction Co.
  446 U.S. 608Decided May 27, 19809–0Potter Stewart
• United States v. Havens
  446 U.S. 620Decided May 27, 19805–4Byron R. White
• Gomez v. Toledo
  446 U.S. 635Decided May 27, 19809–0Thurgood Marshall
• Catalano, Inc. v. Target Sales, Inc.
  446 U.S. 643Decided May 27, 19809–0Per curiam
• Harris v. Rosario
  446 U.S. 651Decided May 27, 19806–3Per curiam
• Andrus v. Shell Oil Co.
  446 U.S. 657Decided June 2, 19806–3Warren E. Burger
• Aaron v. Securities and Exchange Commission
  446 U.S. 680Decided June 2, 19806–3Potter Stewart
• Supreme Court of Virginia v. Consumers Union of the United States, Inc.
  446 U.S. 719Decided June 2, 19808–0Byron R. White
• Walker v. Armco Steel Corp.
  446 U.S. 740Decided June 2, 19809–0Thurgood Marshall
• Hanrahan v. Hampton
  446 U.S. 754Decided June 2, 19807–1Per curiam
• United States v. California
  447 U.S. 1Decided June 9, 19808–0Warren E. Burger
• Standefer v. United States
  447 U.S. 10Decided June 9, 19809–0Warren E. Burger
• Lewis v. Bt Investment Managers, Inc.Law held unconstitutional
  447 U.S. 27Decided June 9, 19809–0Harry A. Blackmun
• New York Gaslight Club, Inc. v. Carey
  447 U.S. 54Decided June 9, 19807–2Harry A. Blackmun
• Pruneyard Shopping Center v. Robins
  447 U.S. 74Decided June 9, 19809–0William H. Rehnquist
• Consumer Product Safety Commission v. GTE Sylvania, Inc.
  447 U.S. 102Decided June 9, 19809–0William H. Rehnquist
• California v. Nevada
  447 U.S. 125Decided June 10, 19809–0William J. Brennan Jr.
• Washington v. Confederated Tribes of the Colville Indian Reservation
  447 U.S. 134Decided June 10, 19806–3Byron R. White
• Coffy v. Republic Steel Corp.
  447 U.S. 191Decided June 10, 19809–0Thurgood Marshall
• Exxon Corp. v. Department of Revenue of Wisconsin
  447 U.S. 207Decided June 10, 19808–0Thurgood Marshall
• Jenkins v. Anderson
  447 U.S. 231Decided June 10, 19807–2Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• Agins et Ux. v. City of Tiburon
  447 U.S. 255Decided June 10, 19809–0Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• United States v. Henry
  447 U.S. 264Decided June 16, 19806–3Warren E. Burger
• Diamond v. Chakrabarty
  447 U.S. 303Decided June 16, 19805–4Warren E. Burger
• Brown v. Louisiana
  447 U.S. 323Decided June 16, 19806–3William J. Brennan Jr.
• Hicks v. Oklahoma
  447 U.S. 343Decided June 16, 19808–1Potter Stewart
• Bryant v. Yellen
  447 U.S. 352Decided June 16, 19809–0Byron R. White
• Bifulco v. United States
  447 U.S. 381Decided June 16, 19806–3Harry A. Blackmun
• Anderson v. Charles
  447 U.S. 404Decided June 16, 19807–2Per curiam
• Illinois v. Vitale
  447 U.S. 410Decided June 19, 19805–4Byron R. White
• Reeves, Inc. v. Stake
  447 U.S. 429Decided June 19, 19805–4Harry A. Blackmun
• Carey v. BrownLaw held unconstitutional
  447 U.S. 455Decided June 20, 19806–3William J. Brennan Jr.
• National Labor Relations Board v. International Longshoremen's Assn.
  447 U.S. 490Decided June 20, 19805–4Thurgood Marshall
• Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. v. Public Service Commission of New YorkLaw held unconstitutional
  447 U.S. 530Decided June 20, 19807–2Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp. v. Public Service Commission of New YorkLaw held unconstitutional
  447 U.S. 557Decided June 20, 19808–1Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• National Labor Relations Board v. Retail Store Employees Union
  447 U.S. 607Decided June 20, 19806–3Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• Beck v. AlabamaLaw held unconstitutional
  447 U.S. 625Decided June 20, 19807–2John Paul Stevens
• Walter v. United States
  447 U.S. 649Decided June 20, 19805–4John Paul Stevens
• United States v. Raddatz
  447 U.S. 667Decided June 23, 19805–4Warren E. Burger
• Sun Ship, Inc. v. Pennsylvania
  447 U.S. 715Decided June 23, 19809–0William J. Brennan Jr.
• United States v. Payner
  447 U.S. 727Decided June 23, 19806–3Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• Roadway Express, Inc. v. Piper
  447 U.S. 752Decided June 23, 19809–0Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• O'Bannon v. Town Court Nursing Center
  447 U.S. 773Decided June 23, 19807–1John Paul Stevens
• Mohasco Corp. v. Silver
  447 U.S. 807Decided June 23, 19806–3John Paul Stevens
• Maine v. Thiboutot et Vir.
  448 U.S. 1Decided June 25, 19806–3William J. Brennan Jr.
• Adams v. Texas
  448 U.S. 38Decided June 25, 19808–1Byron R. White
• Ohio v. Roberts
  448 U.S. 56Decided June 25, 19806–3Harry A. Blackmun
• United States v. SalvucciAltered precedent
  448 U.S. 83Decided June 25, 19807–2William H. Rehnquist
• Rawlings v. Kentucky
  448 U.S. 98Decided June 25, 19807–2William H. Rehnquist
• Maher v. Gagne
  448 U.S. 122Decided June 25, 19809–0John Paul Stevens
• White Mountain Apache Tribe v. Bracker
  448 U.S. 136Decided June 27, 19806–3Thurgood Marshall
• Central Machinery Co. v. Arizona State Tax Commission
  448 U.S. 160Decided June 27, 19805–4Thurgood Marshall
• Dawson Chemical Co. v. Rohm & Haas Co.
  448 U.S. 176Decided June 27, 19805–4Harry A. Blackmun
• United States v. Ward
  448 U.S. 242Decided June 27, 19808–1William H. Rehnquist
• Thomas v. Washington Gas Light Co.Altered precedent
  448 U.S. 261Decided June 27, 19807–2John Paul Stevens
• Harris v. McRae
  448 U.S. 297Decided June 30, 19805–4Potter Stewart
• Williams v. Zbaraz
  448 U.S. 358Decided June 30, 19805–4Potter Stewart
• United States v. Sioux Nation of Indians
  448 U.S. 371Decided June 30, 19808–1Harry A. Blackmun
• Reid v. Georgia
  448 U.S. 438Decided June 30, 19808–1Per curiam
• Mabry v. Klimas
  448 U.S. 444Decided June 30, 19809–0Per curiam
• Fullilove v. Klutznick
  448 U.S. 448Decided July 2, 19806–3Warren E. Burger
• Richmond Newspapers, Inc. v. Virginia
  448 U.S. 555Decided July 2, 19807–1Warren E. Burger
• Industrial Union Department v. American Petroleum Institute
  448 U.S. 607Decided July 2, 19805–4John Paul Stevens
• Hammett v. Texas
  448 U.S. 725Decided July 2, 19806–3Per curiam

← 1978 Term · 1980 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