Baker v. Carr
369 U.S. 186 · Decided March 26, 1962 · Supreme Court of the United States
At a glance
Baker v. Carr was decided on March 26, 1962 by a vote of 6–2. The Court reversed the lower court's decision and remanded the case. Justice William J. Brennan Jr. wrote the opinion of the Court. SCDB classifies its main issue as “Reapportionment (other than Voting Rights Act plans)” in the Civil Rights area. SCDB codes this decision as formally altering one or more of the Court's own precedents.
Read the opinion
Case details
- Citations
- 369 U.S. 186 · 82 S. Ct. 691 · 7 L. Ed. 2d 663 · 1962 U.S. LEXIS 1567
- Docket number
- 6
- Decided
- March 26, 1962
- Argued
- April 19, 1961
- Reargued
- October 9, 1961
- Court era
- Warren Court
- Decision type
- Opinion of the Court (orally argued)
- Disposition
- Reversed and remanded
- Outcome for petitioner
- The petitioning party received a favorable disposition
- Vote
- 6–2
- Majority opinion
- William J. Brennan Jr.
- Opinion assigned by
- Earl Warren
- How the case arrived
- Appeal
- Issue area
- Civil Rights
- Legal provision
- Fourteenth Amendment (equal protection)
- Type of law
- Constitutional amendment
- Altered precedent
- Yes — formally altered the Court's precedent
- Decision direction (SCDB)
- Liberal what this means
How the Justices voted
| Justice | Vote | Separate writing |
|---|---|---|
| Justice Hugo L. Black | Majority | |
| Justice Felix Frankfurter | Dissent | Wrote an opinion |
| Justice William O. Douglas | Concurrence | Wrote an opinion |
| Justice Tom C. Clark | Concurrence | Wrote an opinion |
| Chief Justice Earl Warren | Majority | |
| Justice John M. Harlan II | Dissent | Wrote an opinion |
| Justice William J. Brennan Jr. | Majority | Wrote an opinion |
| Justice Potter Stewart | Concurrence | Wrote an opinion |
Did not participate: Charles E. Whittaker.
Full case caption
Baker et al. v. Carr et al.
SCDB identifiers: case 1961-051, docket 1961-051-01.
Related decisions
Other cases on “Reapportionment (other than Voting Rights Act plans)”
- Scholle v. Hare
- W. M. C. A., Inc. v. Simon
- Gray v. SandersAltered precedentLaw held unconstitutional
- Wesberry v. SandersAltered precedentLaw held unconstitutional
- Wright v. Rockefeller
- Martin v. BushLaw held unconstitutional
Cases on the same legal provision: Fourteenth Amendment (equal protection)
- Bailey v. PattersonLaw held unconstitutional
- Hoyt v. Florida
- Martin v. Walton
- McGowan v. Maryland
- Gallagher v. Crown Kosher Super Market of Massachusetts, Inc.
- Two Guys From Harrison-Allentown, Inc. v. McGinley
Same Term, same area (Civil Rights)
- Hoyt v. Florida
- Garner v. Louisiana
- Seymour v. Superintendent of Washington State Penitentiary
- Bailey v. PattersonLaw held unconstitutional
- Metlakatla Indian Community v. Egan
- Turner v. City of MemphisLaw held unconstitutional
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