Metro Broadcasting, Inc. v. Federal Communications Commission
497 U.S. 547 · Decided June 27, 1990 · 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
Metro Broadcasting, Inc. v. Federal Communications Commission was decided on June 27, 1990 by a vote of 5–4. The Court affirmed the lower court's decision. Justice William J. Brennan Jr. wrote the opinion of the Court. SCDB classifies its main issue as “Affirmative action” in the Civil Rights area.
Read the opinion
Case details
- Citations
- 497 U.S. 547 · 110 S. Ct. 2997 · 111 L. Ed. 2d 445 · 1990 U.S. LEXIS 3459
- Docket number
- 89-453
- Decided
- June 27, 1990
- Argued
- March 28, 1990
- Court era
- Rehnquist Court
- Decision type
- Opinion of the Court (orally argued)
- Disposition
- Affirmed
- Outcome for petitioner
- The petitioning party did not receive a favorable disposition
- Vote
- 5–4
- Majority opinion
- William J. Brennan Jr.
- Opinion assigned by
- William J. Brennan Jr.
- How the case arrived
- Certiorari
- Issue (SCDB)
- Affirmative action
- Issue area
- Civil Rights
- Legal provision
- Fifth Amendment (equal protection)
- Type of law
- Constitutional amendment
- Decision direction (SCDB)
- Liberal what this means
How the Justices voted
| Justice | Vote | Separate writing |
|---|---|---|
| Justice William J. Brennan Jr. | Majority | Wrote an opinion |
| Justice Byron R. White | Majority | |
| Justice Thurgood Marshall | Majority | |
| Justice Harry A. Blackmun | Majority | |
| Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist | Dissent | |
| Justice John Paul Stevens | Concurrence | Wrote an opinion |
| Justice Sandra Day O'Connor | Dissent | Wrote an opinion |
| Justice Antonin Scalia | Dissent | |
| Justice Anthony M. Kennedy | Dissent | Wrote an opinion |
Full case caption
Metro Broadcasting, Inc. v. Federal Communications Commission et al.
SCDB identifiers: case 1989-136, docket 1989-136-01.
Related decisions
Other cases on “Affirmative action”
- Martin v. Wilks
- City of Richmond v. J. A. Croson CompanyLaw held unconstitutional
- Johnson v. Transportation Agency
- United States v. Paradise
- Local 28 of the Sheet Metal Workers' International Association v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
- Local Number 93 v. City of Cleveland
Cases on the same legal provision: Fifth Amendment (equal protection)
- Thaddeus Donald Edmonson v. Leesville Concrete Co., Inc.
- Lyng v. Castillo
- Hobby v. United States
- Schweiker v. Hogan
- Schweiker v. Wilson
- United States Railroad Retirement Board v. Fritz
Same Term, same area (Civil Rights)
- Golden State Transit Corp. v. City of Los Angeles
- Sullivan v. Zebley
- Louis W. Sullivan v. Sandra Everhart
- Marlus C. Zinermon v. Darrell E. Burch
- Missouri v. Jenkins
- Ngiraingas v. Sanchez
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