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Powell v. Texas

492 U.S. 680 · Decided July 3, 1989 · 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

Powell v. Texas was decided on July 3, 1989 unanimously (9–0). The Court reversed the lower court's decision. The decision was issued per curiam (an unsigned opinion of the Court). SCDB classifies its main issue as “Right to counsel” in the Criminal Procedure area.

Read the opinion

Case details

Citations
492 U.S. 680 · 109 S. Ct. 3146 · 106 L. Ed. 2d 551 · 1989 U.S. LEXIS 3383
Docket number
88-6801
Decided
July 3, 1989
Decision type
Per curiam (no oral argument)
Disposition
Reversed
Outcome for petitioner
The petitioning party received a favorable disposition
Vote
9–0 (unanimous)
Opinion assigned by
William H. Rehnquist
How the case arrived
Certiorari
Issue (SCDB)
Right to counsel
Legal provision
Sixth Amendment (right to counsel)
Type of law
Constitutional amendment
Decision direction (SCDB)
Liberal what this means

How the Justices voted

JusticeVoteSeparate writing
Justice William J. Brennan Jr.Majority
Justice Byron R. WhiteMajority
Justice Thurgood MarshallMajority
Justice Harry A. BlackmunMajority
Chief Justice William H. RehnquistMajority
Justice John Paul StevensMajority
Justice Sandra Day O'ConnorMajority
Justice Antonin ScaliaMajority
Justice Anthony M. KennedyMajority

Full case caption

Powell v. Texas

SCDB identifiers: case 1988-152, docket 1988-152-01.

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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