Supreme Court decisions of October Term 1978

The Court’s 1978 Term began in October 1978. These are the 160 decisions SCDB records for it, decided between October 16, 1978 and July 2, 1979, during the Burger Court.

← 1977 Term · 1979 Term →

Decided by one vote (27)

• Board of Trustees of Keene State College v. Sweeney
  439 U.S. 24Decided November 13, 19785–4Per curiam
• Dougherty County v. White
  439 U.S. 32Decided November 28, 19785–4Thurgood Marshall
• Rakas v. Illinois
  439 U.S. 128Decided December 5, 19785–4William H. Rehnquist
• Lalli v. Lalli
  439 U.S. 259Decided December 11, 19785–4Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• Leis v. Flynt
  439 U.S. 438Decided January 15, 19795–4Per curiam
• Group Life & Health Insurance Co. v. Royal Drug Co., Inc.
  440 U.S. 205Decided February 27, 19795–4Potter Stewart
• Detroit Edison Co. v. National Labor Relations Board
  440 U.S. 301Decided March 5, 19795–4Potter Stewart
• Scott v. Illinois
  440 U.S. 367Decided March 5, 19795–4William H. Rehnquist
• National Labor Relations Board v. Catholic Bishop of Chicago
  440 U.S. 490Decided March 21, 19795–4Warren E. Burger
• County of Los Angeles v. Davis
  440 U.S. 625Decided March 27, 19795–4William J. Brennan Jr.
• Ambach v. Norwick
  441 U.S. 68Decided April 17, 19795–4Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• Dalia v. United States
  441 U.S. 238Decided April 18, 19795–4Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• Parham v. Hughes
  441 U.S. 347Decided April 24, 19795–4Potter Stewart
• Caban v. Mohammed et Ux.Law held unconstitutional
  441 U.S. 380Decided April 24, 19795–4Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• Oscar Mayer & Co. v. Evans
  441 U.S. 750Decided May 21, 19795–4William J. Brennan Jr.
• Greenholtz v. Inmates of the Nebraska Penal and Correction Complex
  442 U.S. 1Decided May 29, 19795–4Warren E. Burger
• County Court of Ulster County v. Allen
  442 U.S. 140Decided June 4, 19795–4John Paul Stevens
• Davis v. Passman
  442 U.S. 228Decided June 5, 19795–4William J. Brennan Jr.
• Moore v. Sims et Ux.
  442 U.S. 415Decided June 11, 19795–4William H. Rehnquist
• Fare v. Michael C.
  442 U.S. 707Decided June 20, 19795–4Harry A. Blackmun
• Mackey v. Montrym
  443 U.S. 1Decided June 25, 19795–4Warren E. Burger
• Califano v. WestcottLaw held unconstitutional
  443 U.S. 76Decided June 25, 19795–4Harry A. Blackmun
• Califano v. Boles
  443 U.S. 282Decided June 27, 19795–4William H. Rehnquist
• Gannett Co., Inc. v. Depasquale
  443 U.S. 368Decided July 2, 19795–4Potter Stewart
• Dayton Board of Education v. Brinkman
  443 U.S. 526Decided July 2, 19795–4Byron R. White
• Rose v. Mitchell
  443 U.S. 545Decided July 2, 19795–4Harry A. Blackmun
• Jones v. Wolf
  443 U.S. 595Decided July 2, 19795–4Harry A. Blackmun

All decisions, in order

• Long Island Rail Road Co. v. Aberdeen & Rockfish Railroad Co.
  439 U.S. 1Decided October 16, 19789–0Per curiam
• Carey v. Wynn
  439 U.S. 8Decided October 16, 19788–0Per curiam
• National Labor Relations Board v. Baylor University Medical Center
  439 U.S. 9Decided October 30, 19786–3Per curiam
• Presnell v. Georgia
  439 U.S. 14Decided November 6, 19786–3Per curiam
• Board of Trustees of Keene State College v. Sweeney
  439 U.S. 24Decided November 13, 19785–4Per curiam
• United States v. California
  439 U.S. 30Decided November 27, 19788–0
• Dougherty County v. White
  439 U.S. 32Decided November 28, 19785–4Thurgood Marshall
• Holt Civic Club v. City of Tuscaloosa
  439 U.S. 60Decided November 28, 19786–3William H. Rehnquist
• Union Pacific Railroad Co. v. Sheehan
  439 U.S. 89Decided December 4, 19789–0Per curiam
• New Motor Vehicle Board of California v. Orrin W. Fox Co.
  439 U.S. 96Decided December 5, 19788–1William J. Brennan Jr.
• Rakas v. Illinois
  439 U.S. 128Decided December 5, 19785–4William H. Rehnquist
• Califano v. Aznavorian
  439 U.S. 170Decided December 11, 19789–0Potter Stewart
• United California Bank v. United States
  439 U.S. 180Decided December 11, 19786–3Byron R. White
• Corbitt v. New Jersey
  439 U.S. 212Decided December 11, 19786–3Byron R. White
• Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System v. First Lincolnwood Corp.
  439 U.S. 234Decided December 11, 19787–2Thurgood Marshall
• Lalli v. Lalli
  439 U.S. 259Decided December 11, 19785–4Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• Massachusetts v. White
  439 U.S. 280Decided December 11, 19784–4
• Hunter v. Dean
  439 U.S. 281Decided December 11, 19789–0Per curiam
• Michigan v. Doran
  439 U.S. 282Decided December 18, 19789–0Warren E. Burger
• Marquette National Bank of Minneapolis v. First of Omaha Service Corp.
  439 U.S. 299Decided December 18, 19789–0William J. Brennan Jr.
• Givhan v. Western Line Consolidated School District
  439 U.S. 410Decided January 4, 19799–0William H. Rehnquist
• Mobay Chemical Corp. v. Costle
  439 U.S. 320Decided January 8, 19798–1Per curiam
• Parklane Hosiery Co., Inc. v. Shore
  439 U.S. 322Decided January 9, 19798–1Potter Stewart
• Duren v. MissouriAltered precedentLaw held unconstitutional
  439 U.S. 357Decided January 9, 19798–1Byron R. White
• Colautti v. FranklinLaw held unconstitutional
  439 U.S. 379Decided January 9, 19796–3Harry A. Blackmun
• Arizona v. California
  439 U.S. 419Decided January 9, 19798–0
• Leis v. Flynt
  439 U.S. 438Decided January 15, 19795–4Per curiam
• Harlin v. Missouri
  439 U.S. 459Decided January 15, 19798–1Per curiam
• Lee v. Missouri
  439 U.S. 461Decided January 15, 19798–1Per curiam
• Washington v. Confederated Bands and Tribes of the Yakima Indian Nation
  439 U.S. 463Decided January 16, 19797–2Potter Stewart
• Federal Energy Regulatory Commission v. Pennzoil Producing Co.
  439 U.S. 508Decided January 16, 19797–0Byron R. White
• Thor Power Tool Co. v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue
  439 U.S. 522Decided January 16, 19799–0Harry A. Blackmun
• International Brotherhood of Teamsters v. Daniel
  439 U.S. 551Decided January 16, 19798–0Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• Hisquierdo v. Hisquierdo
  439 U.S. 572Decided January 22, 19797–2Harry A. Blackmun
• Friedman v. Rogers
  440 U.S. 1Decided February 21, 19797–2Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• Director v. Rasmussen
  440 U.S. 29Decided February 21, 19798–0William H. Rehnquist
• Butner v. United States
  440 U.S. 48Decided February 21, 19799–0John Paul Stevens
• California v. Arizona
  440 U.S. 59Decided February 22, 19799–0Potter Stewart
• Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co., Inc. v. Federal Trade Commission
  440 U.S. 69Decided February 22, 19797–1Potter Stewart
• Vance v. Bradley
  440 U.S. 93Decided February 22, 19798–1Byron R. White
• Miller v. Youakim
  440 U.S. 125Decided February 22, 19798–0Thurgood Marshall
• Montana v. United States
  440 U.S. 147Decided February 22, 19798–1Thurgood Marshall
• Illinois State Board of Elections v. Socialist Workers PartyLaw held unconstitutional
  440 U.S. 173Decided February 22, 19799–0Thurgood Marshall
• Federal Energy Regulatory Commission v. Shell Oil Co.
  440 U.S. 192Decided February 22, 19794–4
• Harrah Independent School District v. Martin
  440 U.S. 194Decided February 26, 19799–0Per curiam
• United States v. Bodcaw Co.
  440 U.S. 202Decided February 26, 19799–0Per curiam
• Group Life & Health Insurance Co. v. Royal Drug Co., Inc.
  440 U.S. 205Decided February 27, 19795–4Potter Stewart
• Aronson v. Quick Point Pencil Co.
  440 U.S. 257Decided February 28, 19799–0Warren E. Burger
• Orr v. OrrLaw held unconstitutional
  440 U.S. 268Decided March 5, 19796–3William J. Brennan Jr.
• Detroit Edison Co. v. National Labor Relations Board
  440 U.S. 301Decided March 5, 19795–4Potter Stewart
• Quern v. Jordan
  440 U.S. 332Decided March 5, 19799–0William H. Rehnquist
• Scott v. Illinois
  440 U.S. 367Decided March 5, 19795–4William H. Rehnquist
• Lake Country Estates, Inc. v. Tahoe Regional Planning Agency
  440 U.S. 391Decided March 5, 19796–3John Paul Stevens
• Nevada v. Hall
  440 U.S. 410Decided March 5, 19796–3John Paul Stevens
• Ramsey v. New York
  440 U.S. 444Decided March 5, 19799–0Per curiam
• Anders v. Floyd
  440 U.S. 445Decided March 5, 19798–1Per curiam
• Chase Manhattan Bank, N. A. v. Finance Administration of City of New York
  440 U.S. 447Decided March 5, 19799–0Per curiam
• New Jersey v. Portash
  440 U.S. 450Decided March 20, 19797–2Potter Stewart
• National Muffler Dealers Assn., Inc. v. United States
  440 U.S. 472Decided March 20, 19796–3Harry A. Blackmun
• National Labor Relations Board v. Catholic Bishop of Chicago
  440 U.S. 490Decided March 21, 19795–4Warren E. Burger
• New York Telephone Co. v. New York State Department of Labor
  440 U.S. 519Decided March 21, 19796–3John Paul Stevens
• New York City Transit Authority v. Beazer
  440 U.S. 568Decided March 21, 19796–3John Paul Stevens
• Connor v. Coleman
  440 U.S. 612Decided March 26, 19797–1Per curiam
• County of Los Angeles v. Davis
  440 U.S. 625Decided March 27, 19795–4William J. Brennan Jr.
• Delaware v. Prouse
  440 U.S. 648Decided March 27, 19798–1Byron R. White
• Leo Sheep Co. v. United States
  440 U.S. 668Decided March 27, 19798–0William H. Rehnquist
• Federal Communications Commission v. Midwest Video Corporation
  440 U.S. 689Decided April 2, 19796–3Byron R. White
• United States v. Kimbell Foods, Inc.
  440 U.S. 715Decided April 2, 19799–0Thurgood Marshall
• United States v. Caceres
  440 U.S. 741Decided April 2, 19797–2John Paul Stevens
• Broadcast Music, Inc. v. Columbia Broadcasting System, Inc.
  441 U.S. 1Decided April 17, 19798–1Byron R. White
• Alexander v. United States Department of Housing and Urban Development
  441 U.S. 39Decided April 17, 19799–0Thurgood Marshall
• Ambach v. Norwick
  441 U.S. 68Decided April 17, 19795–4Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• Gladstone v. Village of Bellwood
  441 U.S. 91Decided April 17, 19797–2Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• Burch v. LouisianaLaw held unconstitutional
  441 U.S. 130Decided April 17, 19799–0William H. Rehnquist
• Arizona Public Service Co. v. SneadLaw held unconstitutional
  441 U.S. 141Decided April 18, 19799–0Potter Stewart
• Herbert v. Lando
  441 U.S. 153Decided April 18, 19796–3Byron R. White
• Douglas Oil Company of California v. Petrol Stops Northwest
  441 U.S. 211Decided April 18, 19796–3Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• Dalia v. United States
  441 U.S. 238Decided April 18, 19795–4Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• Chrysler Corp. v. Brown
  441 U.S. 281Decided April 18, 19799–0William H. Rehnquist
• Hughes v. OklahomaAltered precedentLaw held unconstitutional
  441 U.S. 322Decided April 24, 19797–2William J. Brennan Jr.
• Parham v. Hughes
  441 U.S. 347Decided April 24, 19795–4Potter Stewart
• North Carolina v. Butler
  441 U.S. 369Decided April 24, 19795–3Potter Stewart
• Caban v. Mohammed et Ux.Law held unconstitutional
  441 U.S. 380Decided April 24, 19795–4Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• Addington v. Texas
  441 U.S. 418Decided April 30, 19798–0Warren E. Burger
• Japan Line, Ltd. v. County of Los AngelesLaw held unconstitutional
  441 U.S. 434Decided April 30, 19798–1Harry A. Blackmun
• Toll v. Moreno
  441 U.S. 458Decided April 30, 19799–0Per curiam
• Smith v. Arkansas State Highway Employees
  441 U.S. 463Decided April 30, 19797–1Per curiam
• Wilkins v. United States
  441 U.S. 468Decided April 30, 19796–2Per curiam
• Burks v. Lasker
  441 U.S. 471Decided May 14, 19798–0William J. Brennan Jr.
• Ford Motor Co. v. National Labor Relations Board
  441 U.S. 488Decided May 14, 19799–0Byron R. White
• United States v. 564.54 Acres of Land
  441 U.S. 506Decided May 14, 19798–0Thurgood Marshall
• Bell v. Wolfish
  441 U.S. 520Decided May 14, 19796–3William H. Rehnquist
• Chapman v. Houston Welfare Rights Organization
  441 U.S. 600Decided May 14, 19796–3John Paul Stevens
• Cannon v. University of Chicago
  441 U.S. 677Decided May 14, 19796–3John Paul Stevens
• Oscar Mayer & Co. v. Evans
  441 U.S. 750Decided May 21, 19795–4William J. Brennan Jr.
• United States v. Naftalin
  441 U.S. 768Decided May 21, 19798–0William J. Brennan Jr.
• United States v. Timmreck
  441 U.S. 780Decided May 21, 19799–0John Paul Stevens
• Kentucky v. Whorton
  441 U.S. 786Decided May 21, 19796–3Per curiam
• Connor v. Coleman
  441 U.S. 792Decided May 21, 19798–0Per curiam
• Greenholtz v. Inmates of the Nebraska Penal and Correction Complex
  442 U.S. 1Decided May 29, 19795–4Warren E. Burger
• International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers v. Foust
  442 U.S. 42Decided May 29, 19799–0Thurgood Marshall
• Parker v. Randolph
  442 U.S. 62Decided May 29, 19795–3William H. Rehnquist
• Great Western Sugar Co. v. Nelson
  442 U.S. 92Decided May 29, 19798–1Per curiam
• Green v. Georgia
  442 U.S. 95Decided May 29, 19798–1Per curiam
• Dunn v. United States
  442 U.S. 100Decided June 4, 19798–0Thurgood Marshall
• United States v. Batchelder
  442 U.S. 114Decided June 4, 19799–0Thurgood Marshall
• Brown v. Felsen
  442 U.S. 127Decided June 4, 19799–0Harry A. Blackmun
• County Court of Ulster County v. Allen
  442 U.S. 140Decided June 4, 19795–4John Paul Stevens
• United States v. Addonizio
  442 U.S. 178Decided June 4, 19797–0John Paul Stevens
• Marchioro v. Chaney
  442 U.S. 191Decided June 4, 19798–0John Paul Stevens
• Dunaway v. New York
  442 U.S. 200Decided June 5, 19796–2William J. Brennan Jr.
• Davis v. Passman
  442 U.S. 228Decided June 5, 19795–4William J. Brennan Jr.
• Personnel Administrator of Massachusetts v. Feeney
  442 U.S. 256Decided June 5, 19797–2Potter Stewart
• Babbitt v. United Farm Workers National Union
  442 U.S. 289Decided June 5, 19797–2Byron R. White
• Lo-Ji Sales, Inc. v. New York
  442 U.S. 319Decided June 11, 19799–0Warren E. Burger
• Reiter v. Sonotone Corp.
  442 U.S. 330Decided June 11, 19798–0Warren E. Burger
• Andrus v. Sierra Club
  442 U.S. 347Decided June 11, 19799–0William J. Brennan Jr.
• Great American Federal Savings & Loan Association v. Novotny
  442 U.S. 366Decided June 11, 19796–3Potter Stewart
• Southeastern Community College v. Davis
  442 U.S. 397Decided June 11, 19799–0Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• Moore v. Sims et Ux.
  442 U.S. 415Decided June 11, 19795–4William H. Rehnquist
• Southern Railway Co. v. Seaboard Allied Milling Corp.
  442 U.S. 444Decided June 11, 19798–0John Paul Stevens
• Torres v. Puerto RicoLaw held unconstitutional
  442 U.S. 465Decided June 18, 19799–0Warren E. Burger
• United States v. Helstoski
  442 U.S. 477Decided June 18, 19796–2Warren E. Burger
• Helstoski v. Meanor
  442 U.S. 500Decided June 18, 19797–1Warren E. Burger
• Sandstrom v. Montana
  442 U.S. 510Decided June 18, 19799–0William J. Brennan Jr.
• United Gas Pipe Line Co. v. McCombs
  442 U.S. 529Decided June 18, 19798–0Thurgood Marshall
• United States v. Rutherford
  442 U.S. 544Decided June 18, 19799–0Thurgood Marshall
• Touche Ross & Co. v. Redington
  442 U.S. 560Decided June 18, 19797–1William H. Rehnquist
• Parham v. J.R.
  442 U.S. 584Decided June 20, 19796–3Warren E. Burger
• Secretary of Public Welfare of Pennsylvania v. Institutionalized Juveniles
  442 U.S. 640Decided June 20, 19796–3Warren E. Burger
• Wilson v. Omaha Indian Tribe
  442 U.S. 653Decided June 20, 19798–0Byron R. White
• Califano v. Yamasaki
  442 U.S. 682Decided June 20, 19798–0Harry A. Blackmun
• Fare v. Michael C.
  442 U.S. 707Decided June 20, 19795–4Harry A. Blackmun
• Smith v. Maryland
  442 U.S. 735Decided June 20, 19795–3Harry A. Blackmun
• Arkansas v. Sanders
  442 U.S. 753Decided June 20, 19797–2Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• National Labor Relations Board v. Baptist Hospital, Inc.
  442 U.S. 773Decided June 20, 19799–0Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• Mackey v. Montrym
  443 U.S. 1Decided June 25, 19795–4Warren E. Burger
• Michigan v. Defillippo
  443 U.S. 31Decided June 25, 19796–3Warren E. Burger
• Brown v. Texas
  443 U.S. 47Decided June 25, 19799–0Warren E. Burger
• Barry v. BarchiLaw held unconstitutional
  443 U.S. 55Decided June 25, 19799–0Byron R. White
• Califano v. WestcottLaw held unconstitutional
  443 U.S. 76Decided June 25, 19795–4Harry A. Blackmun
• Smith v. Daily Mail Publishing Co.Law held unconstitutional
  443 U.S. 97Decided June 26, 19798–0Warren E. Burger
• Hutchinson v. Proxmire
  443 U.S. 111Decided June 26, 19798–1Warren E. Burger
• Baker v. McCollan
  443 U.S. 137Decided June 26, 19796–3William H. Rehnquist
• Wolston v. Reader's Digest Association, Inc.
  443 U.S. 157Decided June 26, 19798–1William H. Rehnquist
• Leroy v. Great Western United Corp.
  443 U.S. 173Decided June 26, 19796–3John Paul Stevens
• United Steelworkers of America v. Weber
  443 U.S. 193Decided June 27, 19795–2William J. Brennan Jr.
• Edmonds v. Compagnie Generale Transatlantique
  443 U.S. 256Decided June 27, 19795–3Byron R. White
• Califano v. Boles
  443 U.S. 282Decided June 27, 19795–4William H. Rehnquist
• Jackson v. Virginia
  443 U.S. 307Decided June 27, 19798–0Potter Stewart
• Federal Open Market Committee of the Federal Reserve System v. Merrill
  443 U.S. 340Decided June 27, 19797–2Harry A. Blackmun
• Gannett Co., Inc. v. Depasquale
  443 U.S. 368Decided July 2, 19795–4Potter Stewart
• Columbus Board of Education v. Penick
  443 U.S. 449Decided July 2, 19797–2Byron R. White
• Dayton Board of Education v. Brinkman
  443 U.S. 526Decided July 2, 19795–4Byron R. White
• Rose v. Mitchell
  443 U.S. 545Decided July 2, 19795–4Harry A. Blackmun
• Jones v. Wolf
  443 U.S. 595Decided July 2, 19795–4Harry A. Blackmun
• Bellotti v. BairdLaw held unconstitutional
  443 U.S. 622Decided July 2, 19798–1Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• Washington v. Washington State Commercial Passenger Fishing Vessel Association
  443 U.S. 658Decided July 2, 19796–3John Paul Stevens
• Morland v. Sprecher
  443 U.S. 709Decided July 2, 19797–2Per curiam
• Moore v. Duckworth
  443 U.S. 713Decided July 2, 19799–0Per curiam

← 1977 Term · 1979 Term →

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