Frisby v. Schultz
487 U.S. 474 · Decided June 27, 1988 · 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
Frisby v. Schultz was decided on June 27, 1988 by a vote of 6–3. The Court reversed the lower court's decision. Justice Sandra Day O'Connor wrote the opinion of the Court. SCDB classifies its main issue as “First Amendment, miscellaneous” in the First Amendment area.
Read the opinion
Case details
- Citations
- 487 U.S. 474 · 108 S. Ct. 2495 · 101 L. Ed. 2d 420 · 1988 U.S. LEXIS 3026
- Docket number
- 87-168
- Decided
- June 27, 1988
- Argued
- April 20, 1988
- Court era
- Rehnquist Court
- Decision type
- Opinion of the Court (orally argued)
- Disposition
- Reversed
- Outcome for petitioner
- The petitioning party received a favorable disposition
- Vote
- 6–3
- Majority opinion
- Sandra Day O'Connor
- Opinion assigned by
- William H. Rehnquist
- How the case arrived
- Certiorari
- Issue (SCDB)
- First Amendment, miscellaneous
- Issue area
- First Amendment
- Legal provision
- First Amendment (speech, press, and assembly)
- Type of law
- Constitutional amendment
- Decision direction (SCDB)
- Conservative what this means
How the Justices voted
| Justice | Vote | Separate writing |
|---|---|---|
| Justice William J. Brennan Jr. | Dissent | Wrote an opinion |
| Justice Byron R. White | Special concurrence | Wrote an opinion |
| Justice Thurgood Marshall | Dissent | |
| Justice Harry A. Blackmun | Majority | |
| Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist | Majority | |
| Justice John Paul Stevens | Dissent | Wrote an opinion |
| Justice Sandra Day O'Connor | Majority | Wrote an opinion |
| Justice Antonin Scalia | Majority | |
| Justice Anthony M. Kennedy | Majority |
Full case caption
Frisby et al. v. Schultz et al.
SCDB identifiers: case 1987-144, docket 1987-144-01.
Related decisions
Other cases on “First Amendment, miscellaneous”
- Riley v. National Federation of the Blind of North Carolina, Inc.Law held unconstitutional
- City of Lakewood v. Plain Dealer Publishing Co.Law held unconstitutional
- Meyer v. GrantLaw held unconstitutional
- Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier
- Eu v. San Francisco County Democratic Central CommitteeLaw held unconstitutional
- City of Dallas v. Stanglin
Cases on the same legal provision: First Amendment (speech, press, and assembly)
- Shapero v. Kentucky Bar AssociationLaw held unconstitutional
- Michael Boos, J. Michael Waller and Bridget Brooker v. Marion S. Barry, Jr.Law held unconstitutional
- Hustler Magazine and Larry C. Flynt v. Jerry Falwell
- Fort Wayne Books, Inc. v. Indiana
- Texas v. JohnsonLaw held unconstitutional
- The Florida Star v. B. J. F.Law held unconstitutional
Same Term, same area (First Amendment)
- Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier
- Department of the Navy v. Egan
- Hustler Magazine and Larry C. Flynt v. Jerry Falwell
- Michael Boos, J. Michael Waller and Bridget Brooker v. Marion S. Barry, Jr.Law held unconstitutional
- Richard E. Lyng v. Northwest Indian Cemetery Protective Association
- Employment Division v. Smith
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