Boston Stock Exchange v. State Tax Commission
429 U.S. 318 · Decided January 12, 1977 · Supreme Court of the United States
At a glance
Boston Stock Exchange v. State Tax Commission was decided on January 12, 1977 unanimously (9–0). The Court reversed the lower court's decision and remanded the case. Justice Byron R. White wrote the opinion of the Court. SCDB classifies its main issue as “State or local government tax” in the Economic Activity area. SCDB records that the Court declared a state or territorial law, regulation or constitutional provision unconstitutional.
Read the opinion
Case details
- Citations
- 429 U.S. 318 · 97 S. Ct. 599 · 50 L. Ed. 2d 514 · 1977 U.S. LEXIS 32
- Docket number
- 75-1019
- Decided
- January 12, 1977
- Argued
- November 2, 1976
- Court era
- Burger Court
- Decision type
- Opinion of the Court (orally argued)
- Disposition
- Reversed and remanded
- Outcome for petitioner
- The petitioning party received a favorable disposition
- Vote
- 9–0 (unanimous)
- Majority opinion
- Byron R. White
- Opinion assigned by
- Warren E. Burger
- How the case arrived
- Appeal
- Issue (SCDB)
- State or local government tax
- Issue area
- Economic Activity
- Legal provision
- Article I, Section 8, Paragraph 3 (interstate commerce clause)
- Type of law
- Constitution
- Held unconstitutional
- A state or territorial law, regulation or constitutional provision
- Decision direction (SCDB)
- Conservative what this means
How the Justices voted
| Justice | Vote | Separate writing |
|---|---|---|
| Justice William J. Brennan Jr. | Majority | |
| Justice Potter Stewart | Majority | |
| Justice Byron R. White | Majority | Wrote an opinion |
| Justice Thurgood Marshall | Majority | |
| Chief Justice Warren E. Burger | Majority | |
| Justice Harry A. Blackmun | Majority | |
| Justice Lewis F. Powell Jr. | Majority | |
| Justice William H. Rehnquist | Majority | |
| Justice John Paul Stevens | Majority |
Full case caption
Boston Stock Exchange et al. v. State Tax Commission et al.
SCDB identifiers: case 1976-033, docket 1976-033-01.
Related decisions
Other cases on “State or local government tax”
- Complete Auto Transit, Inc. v. BradyAltered precedent
- National Geographic Society v. California Board of Equalization
- Diamond National Corp. v. State Board of Equalization
- Michelin Tire Corp. v. WagesAltered precedent
- Department of Revenue of Washington v. Association of Washington Stevedoring CompaniesAltered precedent
- First Federal Savings & Loan Association of Boston v. Tax Commission of Massachusetts
Cases on the same legal provision: Article I, Section 8, Paragraph 3 (interstate commerce clause)
- Hunt v. Washington State Apple Advertising CommissionLaw held unconstitutional
- Hughes v. Alexandria Scrap Corp.
- National League of Cities v. UseryAltered precedentLaw held unconstitutional
- Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co., Inc. v. Cottrell
- Raymond Motor Transportation, Inc. v. RiceLaw held unconstitutional
- City of Philadelphia v. New JerseyLaw held unconstitutional
Same Term, same area (Economic Activity)
- Brunswick Corp. v. Pueblo Bowl-O-Mat, Inc.
- United States Steel Corp. v. Fortner Enterprises, Inc.
- Piper v. Chris-Craft Industries, Inc.
- E. I. Du Pont de Nemours & Co. v. Train
- City of Philadelphia v. New Jersey
- Complete Auto Transit, Inc. v. BradyAltered precedent
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