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Southern Pacific Transportation Co. v. Commercial Metals Co.

456 U.S. 336 · Decided April 27, 1982 · 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

Southern Pacific Transportation Co. v. Commercial Metals Co. was decided on April 27, 1982 unanimously (9–0). The Court reversed the lower court's decision. Justice Harry A. Blackmun wrote the opinion of the Court. SCDB classifies its main issue as “Railroad regulation” in the Economic Activity area.

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Case details

Citations
456 U.S. 336 · 102 S. Ct. 1815 · 72 L. Ed. 2d 114 · 1982 U.S. LEXIS 35
Docket number
81-622
Decided
April 27, 1982
Argued
March 31, 1982
Court era
Burger Court
Decision type
Opinion of the Court (orally argued)
Disposition
Reversed
Outcome for petitioner
The petitioning party received a favorable disposition
Vote
9–0 (unanimous)
Majority opinion
Harry A. Blackmun
Opinion assigned by
Warren E. Burger
How the case arrived
Certiorari
Legal provision
Interstate Commerce Act
Type of law
Federal statute
Decision direction (SCDB)
Liberal what this means

How the Justices voted

Full case caption

Southern Pacific Transportation Co. v. Commercial Metals Co.

SCDB identifiers: case 1981-084, docket 1981-084-01.

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Cases on the same legal provision: Interstate Commerce Act

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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