The Burger Court (1969–1985 Terms)
Decisions from the period when Warren E. Burger was Chief Justice, as grouped by the Supreme Court Database.
2,809decisions
66%favorable to the petitioner
37%unanimous
299altered precedent or struck a law
Justices who sat
Hugo L. Black, William O. Douglas, John M. Harlan II, William J. Brennan Jr., Potter Stewart, Byron R. White, Thurgood Marshall, Warren E. Burger, Harry A. Blackmun, William H. Rehnquist, Lewis F. Powell Jr., John Paul Stevens, Sandra Day O'Connor
By issue area
Most majority opinions
Terms
19691970197119721973197419751976197719781979198019811982198319841985
Decisions that altered precedent or struck down a law (289)
- Bowsher v. SynarLaw held unconstitutional
- Attorney General of New York v. Soto-LopezLaw held unconstitutional
- Thornburgh v. American College of Obstetricians and GynecologistsLaw held unconstitutional
- Brown-Forman Distillers Corp. v. New York State Liquor AuthorityLaw held unconstitutional
- Batson v. KentuckyAltered precedent
- Philadelphia Newspapers, Inc. v. HeppsLaw held unconstitutional
- Pacific Gas & Electric Co. v. Public Utilities Commission of CaliforniaLaw held unconstitutional
- United States v. LaneAltered precedent
- Daniels v. WilliamsAltered precedent
- City of Cleburne v. Cleburne Living Center, Inc.Law held unconstitutional
- Aguilar v. FeltonLaw held unconstitutional
- Estate of Thornton v. Caldor, Inc.Law held unconstitutional
- Hooper v. Bernalillo County AssessorLaw held unconstitutional
- Brockett v. Spokane Arcades, Inc.Law held unconstitutional
- Jensen v. QuaringLaw held unconstitutional
- Wallace v. JaffreeLaw held unconstitutional
- Williams v. VermontLaw held unconstitutional
- Zauderer v. Office of Disciplinary Counsel of the Supreme Court of OhioLaw held unconstitutional
- Hunter v. UnderwoodLaw held unconstitutional
- United States v. MillerAltered precedent
- Tennessee v. GarnerLaw held unconstitutional
- Board of Education of Oklahoma City v. National Gay Task ForceLaw held unconstitutional
- Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. v. WardLaw held unconstitutional
- Federal Election Commission v. National Conservative Political Action CommitteeLaw held unconstitutional
- Supreme Court of New Hampshire v. PiperLaw held unconstitutional
- Garcia v. San Antonio Metropolitan Transit AuthorityAltered precedent
- Lawrence County v. Lead-Deadwood School District No. 40-1Law held unconstitutional
- Regan v. Time, Inc.Law held unconstitutional
- Federal Communications Commission v. League of Women Voters of CaliforniaLaw held unconstitutional
- Bacchus Imports, Ltd. v. DiasLaw held unconstitutional
- Secretary of State of Maryland v. Joseph H. Munson Co., Inc.Law held unconstitutional
- Copperweld Corp. v. Independence Tube Corp.Altered precedent
- Armco Inc. v. HardestyLaw held unconstitutional
- Bernal v. FainterLaw held unconstitutional
- Westinghouse Electric Corp. v. TullyLaw held unconstitutional
- Limbach v. Hooven & Allison Co.Altered precedent
- United States v. One Assortment of 89 FirearmsAltered precedent
- Pennhurst State School and Hospital v. HaldermanAltered precedent
- Michigan v. LongAltered precedent
- Bolger v. Youngs Drug Products Corp.Law held unconstitutional
- Immigration and Naturalization Service v. ChadhaLaw held unconstitutional
- Mennonite Board of Missions v. AdamsLaw held unconstitutional
- Karcher v. DaggettLaw held unconstitutional
- Planned Parenthood Association of Kansas City v. AshcroftLaw held unconstitutional
- City of Akron v. Akron Center for Reproductive Health, Inc.Law held unconstitutional
- Illinois v. Gates et Ux.Altered precedent
- Pickett v. BrownLaw held unconstitutional
- Bob Jones University v. United StatesAltered precedent
- Kolender v. LawsonLaw held unconstitutional
- United States v. GraceLaw held unconstitutional
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