Couch v. United States
409 U.S. 322 · Decided January 9, 1973 · Supreme Court of the United States
Record summary. This page is generated from the Supreme Court Database’s coded data about the case. It describes who decided what, not the Court’s reasoning. Read the opinion itself before relying on it. Not legal advice.
At a glance
Couch v. United States was decided on January 9, 1973 by a vote of 7–2. The Court affirmed the lower court's decision. Justice Lewis F. Powell Jr. wrote the opinion of the Court. SCDB classifies its main issue as “Self-incrimination (general)” in the Criminal Procedure area.
Read the opinion
Case details
- Citations
- 409 U.S. 322 · 93 S. Ct. 611 · 34 L. Ed. 2d 548 · 1973 U.S. LEXIS 23
- Docket number
- 71-889
- Decided
- January 9, 1973
- Argued
- November 14, 1972
- Court era
- Burger Court
- Decision type
- Opinion of the Court (orally argued)
- Disposition
- Affirmed
- Outcome for petitioner
- The petitioning party did not receive a favorable disposition
- Vote
- 7–2
- Majority opinion
- Lewis F. Powell Jr.
- Opinion assigned by
- Warren E. Burger
- How the case arrived
- Certiorari
- Issue (SCDB)
- Self-incrimination (general)
- Issue area
- Criminal Procedure
- Legal provision
- Fifth Amendment (self-incrimination)
- Type of law
- Constitutional amendment
- Decision direction (SCDB)
- Conservative what this means
How the Justices voted
| Justice | Vote | Separate writing |
|---|---|---|
| Justice William O. Douglas | Dissent | Wrote an opinion |
| Justice William J. Brennan Jr. | Concurrence | Wrote an opinion |
| Justice Potter Stewart | Majority | |
| Justice Byron R. White | Majority | |
| Justice Thurgood Marshall | Dissent | Wrote an opinion |
| Chief Justice Warren E. Burger | Majority | |
| Justice Harry A. Blackmun | Majority | |
| Justice Lewis F. Powell Jr. | Majority | Wrote an opinion |
| Justice William H. Rehnquist | Majority |
Full case caption
Couch v. United States et al.
SCDB identifiers: case 1972-029, docket 1972-029-01.
Related decisions
Other cases on “Self-incrimination (general)”
- Wardius v. OregonLaw held unconstitutional
- Brooks v. TennesseeLaw held unconstitutional
- United States v. Kahan
- Bellis v. United States
- California v. Byers
- United States v. Freed
Cases on the same legal provision: Fifth Amendment (self-incrimination)
- Beecher v. Alabama
- Kastigar v. United States
- Zicarelli v. New Jersey State Commission of Investigation
- Lefkowitz v. TurleyLaw held unconstitutional
- Harris v. New York
- United States v. Nobles
Same Term, same area (Criminal Procedure)
- Murch v. Mottram
- Webb v. Texas
- Cool v. United States
- Neil v. Biggers
- Swenson v. Stidham
- One Lot Emerald Cut Stones and One Ring v. United States
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