Federal Energy Regulatory Commission v. Shell Oil Co.
440 U.S. 192 · Decided February 22, 1979 · Supreme Court of the United States
At a glance
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission v. Shell Oil Co. was decided on February 22, 1979 by a vote of 4–4. The Court affirmed the lower court's decision. The Justices were equally divided, which leaves the lower court's judgment in place without setting precedent. SCDB classifies its main issue as “Gas producer regulation” in the Economic Activity area.
Read the opinion
Case details
- Citations
- 440 U.S. 192 · 99 S. Ct. 1273 · 59 L. Ed. 2d 247 · 1979 U.S. LEXIS 28
- Docket number
- 77-1652
- Decided
- February 22, 1979
- Argued
- January 15, 1979
- Court era
- Burger Court
- Decision type
- Equally divided vote
- Disposition
- Affirmed
- Outcome for petitioner
- The petitioning party did not receive a favorable disposition
- Vote
- 4–4
- How the case arrived
- Certiorari
- Issue (SCDB)
- Gas producer regulation
- Issue area
- Economic Activity
- Decision direction (SCDB)
- Conservative what this means
How the Justices voted
| Justice | Vote | Separate writing |
|---|---|---|
| Justice William J. Brennan Jr. | Equally divided vote | |
| Justice Byron R. White | Equally divided vote | |
| Justice Thurgood Marshall | Equally divided vote | |
| Chief Justice Warren E. Burger | Equally divided vote | |
| Justice Harry A. Blackmun | Equally divided vote | |
| Justice Lewis F. Powell Jr. | Equally divided vote | |
| Justice William H. Rehnquist | Equally divided vote | |
| Justice John Paul Stevens | Equally divided vote |
Did not participate: Potter Stewart.
Full case caption
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission v. Shell Oil Co. et al.
SCDB identifiers: case 1978-044, docket 1978-044-01.
Related decisions
Other cases on “Gas producer regulation”
- Federal Energy Regulatory Commission v. Pennzoil Producing Co.
- California v. Southland Royalty Co.
- Federal Power Commission v. Moss
- Mobil Oil Corp. v. Federal Power Commission
- Federal Power Commission v. Texaco Inc.
- Federal Energy Regulatory Commission v. Martin Exploration Management Co.
Same Term, same area (Economic Activity)
- Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System v. First Lincolnwood Corp.
- Marquette National Bank of Minneapolis v. First of Omaha Service Corp.
- Federal Energy Regulatory Commission v. Pennzoil Producing Co.
- International Brotherhood of Teamsters v. Daniel
- Director v. Rasmussen
- Butner 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