Steel Company v. Citizens for a Better Environment
523 U.S. 83 · Decided March 4, 1998 · 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
Steel Company v. Citizens for a Better Environment was decided on March 4, 1998 unanimously (9–0). The Court vacated the lower court's decision and remanded the case. Justice Antonin Scalia wrote the opinion of the Court. SCDB classifies its main issue as “Standing, direct injury” in the Judicial Power area.
Read the opinion
Case details
- Citations
- 523 U.S. 83 · 118 S. Ct. 1003 · 140 L. Ed. 2d 210 · 1998 U.S. LEXIS 1601
- Docket number
- 96-643
- Decided
- March 4, 1998
- Argued
- October 6, 1997
- Court era
- Rehnquist Court
- Decision type
- Opinion of the Court (orally argued)
- Disposition
- Vacated and remanded
- Outcome for petitioner
- The petitioning party received a favorable disposition
- Vote
- 9–0 (unanimous)
- Majority opinion
- Antonin Scalia
- Opinion assigned by
- William H. Rehnquist
- How the case arrived
- Certiorari
- Issue (SCDB)
- Standing, direct injury
- Issue area
- Judicial Power
- Legal provision
- Article III, Section 2, Paragraph 1 (case or controversy requirement)
- Type of law
- Constitution
- Decision direction (SCDB)
- Conservative what this means
How the Justices voted
| Justice | Vote | Separate writing |
|---|---|---|
| Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist | Majority | |
| Justice John Paul Stevens | Special concurrence | Wrote an opinion |
| Justice Sandra Day O'Connor | Concurrence | Wrote an opinion |
| Justice Antonin Scalia | Majority | Wrote an opinion |
| Justice Anthony M. Kennedy | Concurrence | |
| Justice David H. Souter | Special concurrence | |
| Justice Clarence Thomas | Majority | |
| Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg | Special concurrence | Wrote an opinion |
| Justice Stephen G. Breyer | Special concurrence | Wrote an opinion |
Full case caption
Steel Company, aka Chicago Steel and Pickling Company v. Citizens for a Better Environment
SCDB identifiers: case 1997-038, docket 1997-038-01.
Related decisions
Other cases on “Standing, direct injury”
- Vermont Agency of Natural Resources v. United States
- Manuel Lujan, Jr. v. Defenders of Wildlife
- Keith Lance v. Mike Coffman
- Virginia v. American Booksellers Association, Inc.
- Arizona Christian School Tuition Organization v. Kathleen M. Winn
- Carol Anne Bond v. United StatesAltered precedent
Cases on the same legal provision: Article III, Section 2, Paragraph 1 (case or controversy requirement)
- Randy G. Spencer v. Mike Kemna
- Texas v. United States
- Terry Campbell v. Louisiana
- Arthur Calderon v. Troy Ashmus, Etc.
- Frederick D. Raines v. Robert C. Byrd
- Brad Bennett v. Michael Spear
Same Term, same area (Judicial Power)
- Melvin Jefferson v. City of Tarrant
- General Electric Company v. Robert K. Joiner et Ux.
- City of Chicago v. International College of Surgeons
- George G. Rogers v. United States
- Regions Hospital v. Donna E. Shalala
- Mary Anna Rivet v. Regions Bank of Louisiana
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