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Tashjian v. Republican Party of Connecticut

479 U.S. 208 · Decided December 10, 1986 · 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

Tashjian v. Republican Party of Connecticut was decided on December 10, 1986 by a vote of 5–4. The Court affirmed the lower court's decision. Justice Thurgood Marshall wrote the opinion of the Court. SCDB classifies its main issue as “Ballot access” in the Civil Rights area. SCDB records that the Court declared a state or territorial law, regulation or constitutional provision unconstitutional.

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Case details

Citations
479 U.S. 208 · 107 S. Ct. 544 · 93 L. Ed. 2d 514 · 1986 U.S. LEXIS 25
Docket number
85-766
Decided
December 10, 1986
Argued
October 8, 1986
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
Thurgood Marshall
Opinion assigned by
William J. Brennan Jr.
How the case arrived
Appeal
Issue (SCDB)
Ballot access
Issue area
Civil Rights
Legal provision
First Amendment (association)
Type of law
Constitutional amendment
Held unconstitutional
A state or territorial law, regulation or constitutional provision
Decision direction (SCDB)
Liberal what this means

How the Justices voted

Full case caption

Tashjian, Secretary of State of Connecticut v. Republican Party of Connecticut et al.

SCDB identifiers: case 1986-014, docket 1986-014-01.

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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