Free v. Bland
369 U.S. 663 · Decided May 21, 1962 · Supreme Court of the United States
At a glance
Free v. Bland was decided on May 21, 1962 unanimously (7–0). The Court reversed the lower court's decision and remanded the case. Chief Justice Earl Warren wrote the opinion of the Court. SCDB classifies its main issue as “National supremacy, marital and family relationships” in the Federalism area. SCDB records that the Court declared a state or territorial law, regulation or constitutional provision unconstitutional.
Read the opinion
Case details
- Citations
- 369 U.S. 663 · 82 S. Ct. 1089 · 8 L. Ed. 2d 180 · 1962 U.S. LEXIS 1227
- Docket number
- 205
- Decided
- May 21, 1962
- Argued
- March 21, 1962
- 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
- 7–0 (unanimous)
- Majority opinion
- Earl Warren
- Opinion assigned by
- Earl Warren
- How the case arrived
- Certiorari
- Issue area
- Federalism
- Legal provision
- Article VI, Section 2 (supremacy clause)
- Type of law
- Constitution
- Held unconstitutional
- A state or territorial law, regulation or constitutional provision
- Decision direction (SCDB)
- Liberal what this means
How the Justices voted
| Justice | Vote | Separate writing |
|---|---|---|
| Justice Hugo L. Black | Majority | |
| Justice William O. Douglas | Majority | |
| Justice Tom C. Clark | Majority | |
| Chief Justice Earl Warren | Majority | Wrote an opinion |
| Justice John M. Harlan II | Majority | |
| Justice William J. Brennan Jr. | Majority | |
| Justice Potter Stewart | Majority |
Did not participate: Felix Frankfurter, Byron R. White.
Full case caption
Free v. Bland
SCDB identifiers: case 1961-071, docket 1961-071-01.
Related decisions
Other cases on “National supremacy, marital and family relationships”
- Yiatchos v. Yiatchos
- Hisquierdo v. Hisquierdo
- McCarty v. McCarty
- Rose v. Rose
- Virginia Office for Protection and Advocacy v. James W. Stewart III
- Daniel Coleman v. Court of Appeals of MarylandLaw held unconstitutional
Cases on the same legal provision: Article VI, Section 2 (supremacy clause)
- Kesler v. Department of Public Safety of Utah
- Federal Land Bank of Wichita v. Board of County Commissioners of Kiowa CountyLaw held unconstitutional
- Florida Lime & Avocado Growers, Inc. v. Paul
- Moses Lake Homes, Inc. v. Grant County
- Sears v. Stiffel CompanyLaw held unconstitutional
- Compco Corporation v. Day-Brite Lighting, Inc.
Same Term, same area (Federalism)
- Federal Land Bank of Wichita v. Board of County Commissioners of Kiowa CountyLaw held unconstitutional
- Campbell v. Hussey
- Charles Dowd Box Co., Inc. v. Courtney
- Marine Engineers Beneficial Association v. Interlake Steamship Co.
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