Residency requirements: Supreme Court decisions

Every U.S. Supreme Court decision from the 1946 through 2025 Terms that the Supreme Court Database classifies under the issue “Residency requirements,” part of the Civil Rights area.

26decisions

42%favorable to the petitioner

15%unanimous

14altered precedent or struck a law

Decisions by decade

1940s1

1960s1

1970s14

1980s9

1990s1

Most majority opinions

William J. Brennan Jr.4

Anthony M. Kennedy2

Warren E. Burger2

Lewis F. Powell Jr.2

William H. Rehnquist2

Thurgood Marshall2

Legal provisions most often involved

Fourteenth Amendment (equal protection)11

Article IV, Section 2, Paragraph 1 (privileges and immunities clause)6

Article III, Section 2, Paragraph 1 (case or controversy requirement)2

First Amendment (association)2

Fourteenth Amendment (privileges and immunities clause)1

Immigration and Nationality statutes1

Federal Rules of Civil or Appellate Procedure1

Article I, Section 8, Paragraph 3 (interstate commerce clause)1

All 26 decisions, newest first

Rita L. Saenz v. Brenda Roe and Anna Doe Etc.Law held unconstitutional
526 U.S. 489Decided May 17, 19997–2John Paul Stevens
Barnard v. ThorstennLaw held unconstitutional
489 U.S. 546Decided March 6, 19896–3Anthony M. Kennedy
Supreme Court of Virginia v. FriedmanLaw held unconstitutional
487 U.S. 59Decided June 20, 19887–2Anthony M. Kennedy
Frazier v. Heebe
482 U.S. 641Decided June 19, 19876–3William J. Brennan Jr.
Attorney General of New York v. Soto-LopezLaw held unconstitutional
476 U.S. 898Decided June 16, 19866–3William J. Brennan Jr.
Hooper v. Bernalillo County AssessorLaw held unconstitutional
472 U.S. 612Decided June 24, 19855–3Warren E. Burger
Supreme Court of New Hampshire v. PiperLaw held unconstitutional
470 U.S. 274Decided March 4, 19858–1Lewis F. Powell Jr.
United Building & Construction Trades Council of Camden County and Vicinity v. Mayor and Council of the City of Camden
465 U.S. 208Decided February 21, 19848–1William H. Rehnquist
Martinez v. Bynum
461 U.S. 321Decided May 2, 19838–1Lewis F. Powell Jr.
Zobel et Ux. v. WilliamsLaw held unconstitutional
457 U.S. 55Decided June 14, 19828–1Warren E. Burger
Hicklin v. OrbeckLaw held unconstitutional
437 U.S. 518Decided June 22, 19789–0William J. Brennan Jr.
Terk v. Gordon
436 U.S. 850Decided June 12, 19789–0Per curiam
Baldwin v. Fish and Game Commission of Montana
436 U.S. 371Decided May 23, 19786–3Harry A. Blackmun
Elkins v. Moreno
435 U.S. 647Decided April 19, 19787–2William J. Brennan Jr.
Chappelle v. Greater Baton Rouge Airport DistrictLaw held unconstitutional
431 U.S. 159Decided May 16, 19778–1Per curiam
McCarthy v. Philadelphia Civil Service Commission
424 U.S. 645Decided March 22, 19766–3Per curiam
Sosna v. Iowa
419 U.S. 393Decided January 14, 19756–3William H. Rehnquist
Memorial Hospital v. Maricopa CountyLaw held unconstitutional
415 U.S. 250Decided February 26, 19748–1Thurgood Marshall
Kusper v. PontikesLaw held unconstitutional
414 U.S. 51Decided November 19, 19737–2Potter Stewart
Rosario v. Rockefeller
410 U.S. 752Decided March 21, 19735–4Potter Stewart
Marston v. Lewis
410 U.S. 679Decided March 19, 19736–3Per curiam
Burns v. Fortson
410 U.S. 686Decided March 19, 19736–3Per curiam
Carter v. Stanton
405 U.S. 669Decided April 3, 19727–0Per curiam
Dunn v. BlumsteinAltered precedentLaw held unconstitutional
405 U.S. 330Decided March 21, 19726–1Thurgood Marshall
Hall et Ux. v. Beals
396 U.S. 45Decided November 24, 19696–2Per curiam
Toomer v. WitsellLaw held unconstitutional
334 U.S. 385Decided June 7, 19489–0Fred M. Vinson

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