Michigan Citizens for an Independent Press v. Thornburgh
493 U.S. 38 · Decided November 13, 1989 · Supreme Court of the United States
At a glance
Michigan Citizens for an Independent Press v. Thornburgh was decided on November 13, 1989 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 “Antitrust” in the Economic Activity area.
Read the opinion
Case details
- Citations
- 493 U.S. 38 · 110 S. Ct. 398 · 107 L. Ed. 2d 277 · 1989 U.S. LEXIS 5404
- Docket number
- 88-1640
- Decided
- November 13, 1989
- Argued
- October 30, 1989
- Court era
- Rehnquist 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)
- Antitrust
- 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 Thurgood Marshall | Equally divided vote | |
| Justice Harry A. Blackmun | Equally divided vote | |
| Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist | Equally divided vote | |
| Justice John Paul Stevens | Equally divided vote | |
| Justice Sandra Day O'Connor | Equally divided vote | |
| Justice Antonin Scalia | Equally divided vote | |
| Justice Anthony M. Kennedy | Equally divided vote |
Did not participate: Byron R. White.
Full case caption
Michigan Citizens for an Independent Press et al. v. Thornburgh, Attorney General of the United States, et al.
SCDB identifiers: case 1989-005, docket 1989-005-01.
Related decisions
Other cases on “Antitrust”
- Atlantic Richfield Co. v. USA Petroleum Co.
- Texaco Inc. v. Ricky Hasbrouck
- Kansas v. Utilicorp United Inc.
- Jay Palmer v. BRG of Georgia, Inc.
- City of Columbia v. Omni Outdoor Advertising, Inc.
- Allied Tube & Conduit Corp. v. Indian Head, Inc.
Same Term, same area (Economic Activity)
- Northbrook National Insurance Company v. Larry W. Brewer
- Olaf A. Hallstrom v. Tillamook County
- Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company v. Nancy J. Schwalb and William McGlone
- Bob Reves v. Ernst & Young
- Lawrence H. Crandon v. United States
- Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp. v. Bonjorno
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