Supreme Court decisions of October Term 1985

The Court’s 1985 Term began in October 1985. These are the 165 decisions SCDB records for it, decided between November 4, 1985 and July 7, 1986, during the Burger Court.

← 1984 Term · 1986 Term →

Decided by one vote (37)

• California State Board of Equalization v. Chemehuevi Indian Tribe
  474 U.S. 9Decided November 4, 19855–4Per curiam
• Pennsylvania v. Goldhammer
  474 U.S. 28Decided November 12, 19855–4Per curiam
• Green v. Mansour
  474 U.S. 64Decided December 3, 19855–4William H. Rehnquist
• Maine v. Moulton
  474 U.S. 159Decided December 10, 19855–4William J. Brennan Jr.
• United States v. Loud Hawk
  474 U.S. 302Decided January 21, 19865–4Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• Cabana v. Bullock
  474 U.S. 376Decided January 22, 19865–4Byron R. White
• Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corp. v. State Oil and Gas Board of Mississippi
  474 U.S. 409Decided January 22, 19865–4Harry A. Blackmun
• United States v. LaneAltered precedent
  474 U.S. 438Decided January 27, 19865–4Warren E. Burger
• Midlantic National Bank v. New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
  474 U.S. 494Decided January 27, 19865–4Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• New York v. Class
  475 U.S. 106Decided February 25, 19865–4Sandra Day O'Connor
• Whitley v. Albers
  475 U.S. 312Decided March 4, 19865–4Sandra Day O'Connor
• Goldman v. Weinberger
  475 U.S. 503Decided March 25, 19865–4William H. Rehnquist
• Bender v. Williamsport Area School District
  475 U.S. 534Decided March 25, 19865–4John Paul Stevens
• Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., LTD v. Zenith Radio Corp.
  475 U.S. 574Decided March 25, 19865–4Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• Philadelphia Newspapers, Inc. v. HeppsLaw held unconstitutional
  475 U.S. 767Decided April 21, 19865–4Sandra Day O'Connor
• California v. Ciraolo
  476 U.S. 207Decided May 19, 19865–4Warren E. Burger
• Dow Chemical Co. v. United States
  476 U.S. 227Decided May 19, 19865–4Warren E. Burger
• Wygant v. Jackson Board of Education
  476 U.S. 267Decided May 19, 19865–4Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• Henderson v. United States
  476 U.S. 321Decided May 19, 19865–4Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• Lee v. Illinois
  476 U.S. 530Decided June 3, 19865–4William J. Brennan Jr.
• Thornburgh v. American College of Obstetricians and GynecologistsLaw held unconstitutional
  476 U.S. 747Decided June 11, 19865–4Harry A. Blackmun
• McMillan v. Pennsylvania
  477 U.S. 79Decided June 19, 19865–4William H. Rehnquist
• Darden v. Wainwright
  477 U.S. 168Decided June 23, 19865–4Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• Offshore Logistics, Inc. v. Tallentire
  477 U.S. 207Decided June 23, 19865–4Sandra Day O'Connor
• International Union v. Brock
  477 U.S. 274Decided June 25, 19865–4Thurgood Marshall
• Celotex Corp. v. Catrett
  477 U.S. 317Decided June 25, 19865–4William H. Rehnquist
• Macdonald v. County of Yolo
  477 U.S. 340Decided June 25, 19865–4John Paul Stevens
• Ford v. Wainwright
  477 U.S. 399Decided June 26, 19865–4Thurgood Marshall
• Smith v. Murray
  477 U.S. 527Decided June 26, 19865–4Sandra Day O'Connor
• City of Riverside v. Rivera
  477 U.S. 561Decided June 27, 19865–4William J. Brennan Jr.
• Bowers v. Hardwick
  478 U.S. 186Decided June 30, 19865–4Byron R. White
• Japan Whaling Association v. American Cetacean Society
  478 U.S. 221Decided June 30, 19865–4Byron R. White
• Posadas de Puerto Rico Associates v. Tourism Company of Puerto Rico
  478 U.S. 328Decided July 1, 19865–4William H. Rehnquist
• Allen v. Illinois
  478 U.S. 364Decided July 1, 19865–4William H. Rehnquist
• Local 28 of the Sheet Metal Workers' International Association v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
  478 U.S. 421Decided July 2, 19865–4William J. Brennan Jr.
• Papasan v. Allain
  478 U.S. 265Decided July 7, 19865–4Byron R. White
• Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals Inc. v. Thompson
  478 U.S. 804Decided July 7, 19865–4John Paul Stevens

All decisions, in order

• Kentucky v. Indiana
  474 U.S. 1Decided November 4, 19859–0
• Cuyahoga Valley Railway Co. v. United Transportation Union
  474 U.S. 3Decided November 4, 19856–3Per curiam
• California State Board of Equalization v. Chemehuevi Indian Tribe
  474 U.S. 9Decided November 4, 19855–4Per curiam
• Delaware v. Fensterer
  474 U.S. 15Decided November 4, 19857–2Per curiam
• Lanier v. South Carolina
  474 U.S. 25Decided November 4, 19858–1Per curiam
• Pennsylvania v. Goldhammer
  474 U.S. 28Decided November 12, 19855–4Per curiam
• Pennsylvania Bureau of Correction v. United States Marshals Service
  474 U.S. 34Decided November 18, 19858–1Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• Hill v. Lockhart
  474 U.S. 52Decided November 18, 19859–0William H. Rehnquist
• Green v. Mansour
  474 U.S. 64Decided December 3, 19855–4William H. Rehnquist
• Heath v. Alabama
  474 U.S. 82Decided December 3, 19857–2Sandra Day O'Connor
• Miller v. Fenton
  474 U.S. 104Decided December 3, 19858–1Sandra Day O'Connor
• Lake Coal Co., Inc. v. Roberts & Schaefer Co.
  474 U.S. 120Decided December 3, 19859–0Per curiam
• United States v. Riverside Bayview Homes, Inc.
  474 U.S. 121Decided December 4, 19859–0Byron R. White
• Thomas v. Arn
  474 U.S. 140Decided December 4, 19856–3Thurgood Marshall
• Maine v. Moulton
  474 U.S. 159Decided December 10, 19855–4William J. Brennan Jr.
• Cleavinger v. Saxner
  474 U.S. 193Decided December 10, 19856–3Harry A. Blackmun
• Eastern Air Lines, Inc. v. Mahfoud on Behalf of Mahfoud
  474 U.S. 213Decided December 10, 19854–4
• Regents of the University of Michigan v. Ewing
  474 U.S. 214Decided December 12, 19859–0John Paul Stevens
• United States v. Rojas-Contreras
  474 U.S. 231Decided December 16, 19859–0Warren E. Burger
• United States v. Von Neumann
  474 U.S. 242Decided January 14, 19869–0William J. Brennan Jr.
• Vasquez v. Hillery
  474 U.S. 254Decided January 14, 19866–3Thurgood Marshall
• Wainwright v. Greenfield
  474 U.S. 284Decided January 14, 19869–0John Paul Stevens
• United States v. Loud Hawk
  474 U.S. 302Decided January 21, 19865–4Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• Daniels v. WilliamsAltered precedent
  474 U.S. 327Decided January 21, 19869–0William H. Rehnquist
• Davidson v. Cannon
  474 U.S. 344Decided January 21, 19866–3William H. Rehnquist
• Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System v. Dimension Financial Corp.
  474 U.S. 361Decided January 22, 19868–0Warren E. Burger
• Cabana v. Bullock
  474 U.S. 376Decided January 22, 19865–4Byron R. White
• Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corp. v. State Oil and Gas Board of Mississippi
  474 U.S. 409Decided January 22, 19865–4Harry A. Blackmun
• United States v. LaneAltered precedent
  474 U.S. 438Decided January 27, 19865–4Warren E. Burger
• Witters v. Washington Department of Services for the Blind
  474 U.S. 481Decided January 27, 19869–0Thurgood Marshall
• Midlantic National Bank v. New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
  474 U.S. 494Decided January 27, 19865–4Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• Parsons Steel, Inc. v. First Alabama Bank
  474 U.S. 518Decided January 27, 19869–0William H. Rehnquist
• Pacific Gas & Electric Co. v. Public Utilities Commission of CaliforniaLaw held unconstitutional
  475 U.S. 1Decided February 25, 19865–3Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• City of Renton v. Playtime Theatres, Inc.
  475 U.S. 41Decided February 25, 19867–2William H. Rehnquist
• United States v. Mechanik
  475 U.S. 66Decided February 25, 19868–1William H. Rehnquist
• United States v. Maine
  475 U.S. 89Decided February 25, 19868–0John Paul Stevens
• New York v. Class
  475 U.S. 106Decided February 25, 19865–4Sandra Day O'Connor
• United States v. Koecher
  475 U.S. 133Decided February 25, 19869–0Per curiam
• Texas v. McCullough
  475 U.S. 134Decided February 26, 19866–3Warren E. Burger
• Nix v. Whiteside
  475 U.S. 157Decided February 26, 19869–0Warren E. Burger
• National Labor Relations Board v. Financial Institution Employees of America
  475 U.S. 192Decided February 26, 19869–0William J. Brennan Jr.
• Connolly v. Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation
  475 U.S. 211Decided February 26, 19869–0Byron R. White
• Morris v. Mathews
  475 U.S. 237Decided February 26, 19867–2Byron R. White
• Fisher v. City of Berkeley
  475 U.S. 260Decided February 26, 19868–1Thurgood Marshall
• Wisconsin Department of Industry v. Gould Inc.
  475 U.S. 282Decided February 26, 19869–0Harry A. Blackmun
• Chicago Teachers Union v. Hudson
  475 U.S. 292Decided February 26, 19869–0John Paul Stevens
• Whitley v. Albers
  475 U.S. 312Decided March 4, 19865–4Sandra Day O'Connor
• Malley v. Briggs
  475 U.S. 335Decided March 5, 19867–2Byron R. White
• Exxon Corp. v. Hunt
  475 U.S. 355Decided March 10, 19867–1Thurgood Marshall
• United States v. Inadi
  475 U.S. 387Decided March 10, 19867–2Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• Moran v. Burbine
  475 U.S. 412Decided March 10, 19866–3Sandra Day O'Connor
• Pembaur v. City of Cincinnati
  475 U.S. 469Decided March 25, 19866–3William J. Brennan Jr.
• Goldman v. Weinberger
  475 U.S. 503Decided March 25, 19865–4William H. Rehnquist
• Bender v. Williamsport Area School District
  475 U.S. 534Decided March 25, 19865–4John Paul Stevens
• Paulussen v. Herion
  475 U.S. 557Decided March 25, 19869–0Per curiam
• Holbrook v. Flynn
  475 U.S. 560Decided March 25, 19869–0Thurgood Marshall
• Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., LTD v. Zenith Radio Corp.
  475 U.S. 574Decided March 25, 19865–4Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• Golden State Transit Corp. v. City of Los Angeles
  475 U.S. 608Decided April 1, 19868–1Harry A. Blackmun
• Michigan v. Jackson
  475 U.S. 625Decided April 1, 19866–3John Paul Stevens
• AT&T Technologies, Inc. v. Communications Workers of America
  475 U.S. 643Decided April 7, 19869–0Byron R. White
• United States v. City of Fulton
  475 U.S. 657Decided April 7, 19869–0Thurgood Marshall
• Delaware v. Van Arsdall
  475 U.S. 673Decided April 7, 19867–2William H. Rehnquist
• Icicle Seafoods, Inc. v. Worthington
  475 U.S. 709Decided April 21, 19868–1William H. Rehnquist
• Evans v. Jeff D.
  475 U.S. 717Decided April 21, 19866–3John Paul Stevens
• Philadelphia Newspapers, Inc. v. HeppsLaw held unconstitutional
  475 U.S. 767Decided April 21, 19865–4Sandra Day O'Connor
• United States v. Quinn
  475 U.S. 791Decided April 21, 19867–2Per curiam
• City of Los Angeles v. Heller
  475 U.S. 796Decided April 21, 19866–2Per curiam
• Dennison Manufacturing Co. v. Panduit Corp.
  475 U.S. 809Decided April 21, 19868–1Per curiam
• Aetna Life Insurance Co. v. Lavoie
  475 U.S. 813Decided April 22, 19868–0Warren E. Burger
• United States v. American College of Physicians
  475 U.S. 834Decided April 22, 19869–0Thurgood Marshall
• Sorenson v. Secretary of the Treasury
  475 U.S. 851Decided April 22, 19868–1Harry A. Blackmun
• New York v. P.J. Video, Inc.
  475 U.S. 868Decided April 22, 19866–3William H. Rehnquist
• Skipper v. South Carolina
  476 U.S. 1Decided April 29, 19869–0Byron R. White
• McLaughlin v. United States
  476 U.S. 16Decided April 29, 19869–0John Paul Stevens
• Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Federal Labor Relations Authority
  476 U.S. 19Decided April 29, 19867–2Per curiam
• Turner v. Murray
  476 U.S. 28Decided April 30, 19867–2Byron R. White
• Diamond v. Charles
  476 U.S. 54Decided April 30, 19869–0Harry A. Blackmun
• Batson v. KentuckyAltered precedent
  476 U.S. 79Decided April 30, 19867–2Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• Smalis v. Pennsylvania
  476 U.S. 140Decided May 5, 19869–0Byron R. White
• Poland v. Arizona
  476 U.S. 147Decided May 5, 19866–3Byron R. White
• Lockhart v. McCree
  476 U.S. 162Decided May 5, 19866–3William H. Rehnquist
• California v. Ciraolo
  476 U.S. 207Decided May 19, 19865–4Warren E. Burger
• Dow Chemical Co. v. United States
  476 U.S. 227Decided May 19, 19865–4Warren E. Burger
• Brock v. Pierce County
  476 U.S. 253Decided May 19, 19869–0Thurgood Marshall
• Wygant v. Jackson Board of Education
  476 U.S. 267Decided May 19, 19865–4Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• Henderson v. United States
  476 U.S. 321Decided May 19, 19865–4Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• Bowen v. Owens
  476 U.S. 340Decided May 19, 19866–3Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• Louisiana Public Service Commission v. Federal Communications Commission
  476 U.S. 355Decided May 27, 19865–2William J. Brennan Jr.
• International Longshoremen's Association v. Davis
  476 U.S. 380Decided May 27, 19869–0Byron R. White
• Square D Co. v. Niagara Frontier Tariff Bureau, Inc.
  476 U.S. 409Decided May 27, 19868–1John Paul Stevens
• Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation v. Philadelphia Gear Corp.
  476 U.S. 426Decided May 27, 19866–3Sandra Day O'Connor
• Public Service Commission of Maryland v. Chesapeake & Potomac Telephone Company of Maryland
  476 U.S. 445Decided May 27, 19867–0Per curiam
• Federal Trade Commission v. Indiana Federation of Dentists
  476 U.S. 447Decided June 2, 19869–0Byron R. White
• Bowen v. City of New York
  476 U.S. 467Decided June 2, 19869–0Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• City of Los Angeles v. Preferred Communications, Inc.
  476 U.S. 488Decided June 2, 19869–0William H. Rehnquist
• South Carolina v. Catawba Indian Tribe, Inc.
  476 U.S. 498Decided June 2, 19866–3John Paul Stevens
• Lee v. Illinois
  476 U.S. 530Decided June 3, 19865–4William J. Brennan Jr.
• United States v. Hemme
  476 U.S. 558Decided June 3, 19869–0Thurgood Marshall
• Brown-Forman Distillers Corp. v. New York State Liquor AuthorityLaw held unconstitutional
  476 U.S. 573Decided June 3, 19865–3Thurgood Marshall
• United States v. Hughes Properties, Inc.
  476 U.S. 593Decided June 3, 19867–2Harry A. Blackmun
• Bowen v. American Hospital Association
  476 U.S. 610Decided June 9, 19865–3John Paul Stevens
• Bowen v. Michigan Academy of Family Physicians
  476 U.S. 667Decided June 9, 19868–0John Paul Stevens
• Crane v. Kentucky
  476 U.S. 683Decided June 9, 19869–0Sandra Day O'Connor
• Bowen v. Roy
  476 U.S. 693Decided June 11, 19868–1Warren E. Burger
• United States v. Dion
  476 U.S. 734Decided June 11, 19869–0Thurgood Marshall
• Thornburgh v. American College of Obstetricians and GynecologistsLaw held unconstitutional
  476 U.S. 747Decided June 11, 19865–4Harry A. Blackmun
• United States v. Mottaz
  476 U.S. 834Decided June 11, 19869–0Harry A. Blackmun
• Reed v. Campbell
  476 U.S. 852Decided June 11, 19869–0John Paul Stevens
• East River Steamship Corp. v. Transamerica Delaval Inc.
  476 U.S. 858Decided June 16, 19869–0Harry A. Blackmun
• Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation v. Wold Engineering, P. C.
  476 U.S. 877Decided June 16, 19866–3Sandra Day O'Connor
• Attorney General of New York v. Soto-LopezLaw held unconstitutional
  476 U.S. 898Decided June 16, 19866–3William J. Brennan Jr.
• Lyng v. Payne
  476 U.S. 926Decided June 16, 19868–1Sandra Day O'Connor
• Nantahala Power & Light Co. v. Thornburg
  476 U.S. 953Decided June 16, 19867–0Sandra Day O'Connor
• Young v. Community Nutrition Institute
  476 U.S. 974Decided June 16, 19868–1Sandra Day O'Connor
• Wardair Canada Inc. v. Florida Department of Revenue
  477 U.S. 1Decided June 18, 19868–1William J. Brennan Jr.
• Schiavone v. Fortune
  477 U.S. 21Decided June 18, 19866–3Harry A. Blackmun
• Bowen v. Public Agencies Opposed to Social Security Entrapment
  477 U.S. 41Decided June 19, 19869–0Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• Meritor Savings Bank v. Vinson
  477 U.S. 57Decided June 19, 19869–0William H. Rehnquist
• McMillan v. Pennsylvania
  477 U.S. 79Decided June 19, 19865–4William H. Rehnquist
• United States v. American Bar Endowment
  477 U.S. 105Decided June 23, 19866–1Thurgood Marshall
• Atkins v. Rivera
  477 U.S. 154Decided June 23, 19869–0Harry A. Blackmun
• Darden v. Wainwright
  477 U.S. 168Decided June 23, 19865–4Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• Offshore Logistics, Inc. v. Tallentire
  477 U.S. 207Decided June 23, 19865–4Sandra Day O'Connor
• Maine v. Taylor
  477 U.S. 131Decided June 24, 19868–1Harry A. Blackmun
• Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc.
  477 U.S. 242Decided June 25, 19866–3Byron R. White
• International Union v. Brock
  477 U.S. 274Decided June 25, 19865–4Thurgood Marshall
• Memphis Community School District v. Stachura
  477 U.S. 299Decided June 25, 19869–0Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• Celotex Corp. v. Catrett
  477 U.S. 317Decided June 25, 19865–4William H. Rehnquist
• Macdonald v. County of Yolo
  477 U.S. 340Decided June 25, 19865–4John Paul Stevens
• Kimmelman v. Morrison
  477 U.S. 365Decided June 26, 19869–0William J. Brennan Jr.
• Ford v. Wainwright
  477 U.S. 399Decided June 26, 19865–4Thurgood Marshall
• Kuhlmann v. Wilson
  477 U.S. 436Decided June 26, 19866–3Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• Murray v. Carrier
  477 U.S. 478Decided June 26, 19867–2Sandra Day O'Connor
• Smith v. Murray
  477 U.S. 527Decided June 26, 19865–4Sandra Day O'Connor
• United States Department of the Treasury v. Galioto
  477 U.S. 556Decided June 26, 19869–0Warren E. Burger
• City of Riverside v. Rivera
  477 U.S. 561Decided June 27, 19865–4William J. Brennan Jr.
• United States Department of Transportation v. Paralyzed Veterans of America
  477 U.S. 597Decided June 27, 19866–3Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• Ohio Civil Rights Commission v. Dayton Christian Schools, Inc.
  477 U.S. 619Decided June 27, 19869–0William H. Rehnquist
• Lyng v. Castillo
  477 U.S. 635Decided June 27, 19866–3John Paul Stevens
• New Mexico v. Earnest
  477 U.S. 648Decided June 27, 19869–0Per curiam
• Press-Enterprise Co. v. Superior Court of California for the County of Riverside
  478 U.S. 1Decided June 30, 19867–2Warren E. Burger
• Thornburg v. Gingles
  478 U.S. 30Decided June 30, 19869–0William J. Brennan Jr.
• Davis v. Bandemer
  478 U.S. 109Decided June 30, 19866–3Byron R. White
• Bowers v. Hardwick
  478 U.S. 186Decided June 30, 19865–4Byron R. White
• Japan Whaling Association v. American Cetacean Society
  478 U.S. 221Decided June 30, 19865–4Byron R. White
• Acosta v. Louisiana Department of Health and Human Resources
  478 U.S. 251Decided June 30, 19867–2Per curiam
• Allen v. Hardy
  478 U.S. 255Decided June 30, 19866–3Per curiam
• Library of Congress v. Shaw
  478 U.S. 310Decided July 1, 19866–3Harry A. Blackmun
• Posadas de Puerto Rico Associates v. Tourism Company of Puerto Rico
  478 U.S. 328Decided July 1, 19865–4William H. Rehnquist
• Allen v. Illinois
  478 U.S. 364Decided July 1, 19865–4William H. Rehnquist
• Bazemore v. Friday
  478 U.S. 385Decided July 1, 19869–0Per curiam
• Local 28 of the Sheet Metal Workers' International Association v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
  478 U.S. 421Decided July 2, 19865–4William J. Brennan Jr.
• Local Number 93 v. City of Cleveland
  478 U.S. 501Decided July 2, 19866–3William J. Brennan Jr.
• Pennsylvania v. Delaware Valley Citizens' Council for Clean Air
  478 U.S. 546Decided July 2, 19866–3Byron R. White
• Rose v. Clark
  478 U.S. 570Decided July 2, 19866–3Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• United States v. James
  478 U.S. 597Decided July 2, 19866–3Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• Baker v. General Motors Corp.
  478 U.S. 621Decided July 2, 19866–3John Paul Stevens
• Randall v. Loftsgaarden
  478 U.S. 647Decided July 2, 19868–1Sandra Day O'Connor
• Papasan v. Allain
  478 U.S. 265Decided July 7, 19865–4Byron R. White
• Bethel School District No. 403 v. Fraser
  478 U.S. 675Decided July 7, 19867–2Warren E. Burger
• Arcara v. Cloud Books, Inc.
  478 U.S. 697Decided July 7, 19866–3Warren E. Burger
• Bowsher v. SynarLaw held unconstitutional
  478 U.S. 714Decided July 7, 19867–2Warren E. Burger
• University of Tennessee v. Elliott
  478 U.S. 788Decided July 7, 19865–3Byron R. White
• Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals Inc. v. Thompson
  478 U.S. 804Decided July 7, 19865–4John Paul Stevens
• Commodity Futures Trading Commission v. Schor
  478 U.S. 833Decided July 7, 19867–2Sandra Day O'Connor

← 1984 Term · 1986 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