C Claude for Excel — session transcript

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---
meta-description: The Supreme Court Database is the definitive source for researchers, students, journalists, and citizens interested in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Database contains over two hundred pieces of information about each case decided by the Court between the 1946 and 2012 terms. Examples include the identity of the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed, the parties to the suit, the legal provisions considered in the case, and the votes of the Justices.
meta-generator: Coda
meta-keywords: supreme court, spaeth, database
title: The Supreme Court Database
---

| [![wulaw](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/wulaw.png)](http://law.wustl.edu) |  |
| -------------------------------------------------- | --- |

- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/index.php) image image image image
- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/about.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/analysis.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php)
- image
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- Online Code Book

- Introduction A Prefatory Note from Harold J. Spaeth, Distinguished University Professor, emeritus, Michigan State University;
Research Professor in the College of Law and in the Institute for Public Policy & Social Research.

The database to which this introduction pertains spans all four centuries of the Court's decisions, from its first decision in 1791 to the Court's most recent decision. As such, it contains sixty variables for each case which, in turn, are composed of 2,633 elements, or components. The data in any given case, therefore, is drawn from a universe of 157,980 data points. The likelihood of resulting error -- actual or debatable -- remains ever present, and so I invite users of the database to inform me not only of errors, but also of any comments or suggestions (good, bad, or indifferent) they care to make at spaeth@msu.edu.

The initial version of this database, which began with the Warren Court in 1953 and was back dated to the beginning of the Vinson Court in 1946, dates from the mid-1980's at the dawn of the desktop computing revolution and relies on pre-microcomputing and pre-internet conditions. As such, users needed knowledge of statistical software packages and the codified variables that the database contains. This new version, however, recognizes the existence of the 21st century by eliminating acquaintance with statistical software packages and coded variables. Plain English rules! But do note that the database can be uploaded into statistical packages to perform advanced calculations if a user so desires.

Aside from the foregoing, the major feature of this version of the database is an interface that is in line with modern technology and which will allow users to directly calculate and view relationships among the variables in the database. At present, this feature is available for the post-1946 terms; we are working on incorporating the legacy data.

I have specified decision rules governing the entry of data into the various variables, most particularly the legal provisions governing the Court's decisions and the issues to which cases pertain. These, however, are not set in concrete. You, of course, are free to redefine any and all variables on your copy of the database. If convention applies, I adhere to it. But for many variables and their specific entries, none exists.

Because the database now extends over four centuries, it is necessary to add, alter, and adjust a number of variables. I do so to keep the legacy cases (those decided between 1791 and the Court's acquisition of discretionary jurisdiction as a result of the Judges' Bill of 1925) as congruent as possible with the Court's modern decisions. These changes primarily apply to the issues the Court decides. Most notable is the addition of a set of common law issues. These account for much of the Court's heritage decisions, especially those of the 19th century, and have had little applicability to any but the parties to these cases.

In specifying the issue in the legacy cases I have chosen the one that best accords with what today's Court would consider the issue to be. For example, "prize cases," those in which vessels were captured on the high seas and brought into U.S. ports, are categorized either as Fifth Amendment takings clause cases or as cases pertaining to the jurisdiction of the federal district or appeals courts, depending on which issue the Court based its decision.This was done to provide a basis for continuity in the Court's decision making and to avoid undue segmentation of the Court's decisions. The same rule applies to various provisions pertaining to the Bill of Rights even though the Fourteenth Amendment had not been ratified and no guarantees of the Bill of Rights had been made binding on the state and local governments.

Do recognize, however, that the foregoing paragraph applies only to the issue(s) the Court addressed and not to the legal provisions decided by the Court. The latter were largely nonexistent before the end of the Civil War. These early legacy decisions generally rested either on the common law or judicial fiat.

Because of current concerns I have given primacy to issues involving women and Native Americans in cases in which they are involved.

The major shortcomings of this beta version of the database are, first, the incomplete rendering of the legacy cases' (pre-1946) legal provisions. We had assumed that the structure of the legacy cases would follow the pattern of those decided in 1946 and thereafter. Unfortunately, we were mistaken. Multiple issues and legal provisions in the modern cases were coded contemporaneously as they were handed down except for Vinson Court decisions (1946-1952) which were coded as a group in the 1970's. I simply added a second or third record to the case when I initially coded it a few days after the Court handed it down. Given that these heritage cases had been decided in the 154 years between 1791 and 1945, it was of course impossible to have followed the current procedure of entering all case data within a few days of its decision. Adding this additional information would have postponed the release of this beta version of the database for several more years, to say nothing of the alpha version.

Hence, if you are analyzing issue, legal provision, or direction (liberal, conservative, indeterminate), keep in mind that the data pertain only to the first of what may comprise an additional number of issues or legal provisions for any given case. This will be no problem for many studies but for some your analysis may be incomplete. Thus, if you are analyzing all self-incrimination cases, or all those pertaining to the Judiciary Act of 1789, or all state police power cases that pertain to welfare or morals legislation you will have the bulk of such cases, but not quite all.

A second shortcoming is that only the case-centered version of the heritage database is available at present. This presents no problem if you are interested only in case citation, which most users are. The next major release will include a docket-centered version.

I wish to thank my former student, Distinguished University Professor Jeffrey Segal of the State University of New York at Stony Brook for his extremely valuable comments and suggestions on all phases and aspects of the database since its inception in the early 1980's. I also thank Harriet Dhanak, the former programming and software specialist in the Department of Political Science at Michigan State University, for her expert guidance and assistance. Her successor, Lawrence Kestenbaum, continued and extended the stellar services on which I had become dependent. Most recently I have relied on the superb technical knowledge and skills of John Schwarz of the Michigan State University Institute for Political and Social Science Research and his talented successor, Jess Sprague. Professor Tim Hagle of the University of Iowa continues to systematically inform me of errors and missing data that I have overlooked. My former graduate students, now well tenured scholars--Sara C. Benesh and Wendy L. Martinek--have shepherded me through the more arcane byways of current versions of statistical software packages. And though this feature of the database is now passe, their previous assistance has been key.

I also deeply appreciate the support provided me by the Michigan State University College of Law and that of Milly Shiraev of the University's Institute for Political and Social Science Research.

Three outstanding individuals are most responsible for this version of the database. Lee Epstein, whose wide-ranging scholarly productivity is unmatched in the world of judicial scholarship and effectively compliments her hard driving even-handed taskmastership; Andrew D. Martin, former chair of the Department of Political Science, professor of law, and Director of the Center for Empirical Research in Law (CERL) at Washington University in St. Louis, and now Chancellor of Washington University in St. Louis, whose methodological competence knows no bounds; and Troy DeArmitt, former Technology Director of CERL. Without his masterful skills the database would still be locked into its primitive pre-microcomputer and pre-internet structure. Its transformation into the creatively designed and implemented database you have at hand is Troy's creation.

Compilation of this database has been supported by grants from the National Science Foundation. Without its assistance, the database would not exist.

Notes to All Users

1. The Supreme Court Database's research team continuously updates the database. Accordingly, we urge you to pay attention to the date your version appeared on the website and to check whether it is the current one.

2. The codebook now provides five pieces of information for each variable: the name of the variable as it appears in the current version of the Database, the name Spaeth used in previous versions (if applicable), any normalization (changes we made when converting from Spaeth's format to the new web version), and, of course, a description of the variable and a list of its values. Introductory

- [Introduction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=intro)
- [Citing to the SCDB](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=cite)
 Identification Variables

- [SCDB Case ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseId)
- [SCDB Docket ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docketId)
- [SCDB Issues ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId)
- [SCDB Vote ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteId)
- [U.S. Reporter Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=usCite)
- [Supreme Court Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=sctCite)
- [Lawyers Edition Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=ledCite)
- [LEXIS Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lexisCite)
- [Docket Number](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docket)
 Background Variables

- [Case Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseName)
- [Petitioner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitioner)
- [Petitioner State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitionerState)
- [Respondent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondent)
- [Respondent State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondentState)
- [Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=jurisdiction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminAction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminActionState)
- [Three-Judge District Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc)
- [Origin of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOrigin)
- [Origin of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOriginState)
- [Source of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSource)
- [Source of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSourceState)
- [Lower Court Disagreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisagreement)
- [Reason for Granting Cert](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=certReason)
- [Lower Court Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisposition)
- [Lower Court Disposition Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDispositionDirection)
 Chronological Variables

- [Date of Decision](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateDecision)
- [Term of Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=term)
- [Natural Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=naturalCourt)
- [Chief Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=chief)
- [Date of Oral Argument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateArgument)
- [Date of Reargument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateRearg)
 Substantive Variables

- [Issue](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issue)
- [Issue Area](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issueArea)
- [Decision Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirection)
- [Decision Direction Dissent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirectionDissent)
- [Authority for Decision 1](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision1)
- [Authority for Decision 2](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision2)
- [Legal Provisions Considered by the Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawType)
- [Legal Provision Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawSupp)
- [Legal Provision Minor Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawMinor)
 Outcome Variables

- [Decision Type](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionType)
- [Declaration of Unconstitutionality](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=declarationUncon)
- [Disposition of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDisposition)
- [Unusual Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDispositionUnusual)
- [Winning Party](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=partyWinning)
- [Formal Alteration of Precedent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=precedentAlteration)
 Voting & Opinion Variables

- [Vote Not Clearly Specified](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteUnclear)
- [Majority Opinion Writer](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinWriter)
- [Majority Opinion Assigner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinAssigner)
- [Split Vote](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=splitVote)
- [Majority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majVotes)
- [Minority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=minVotes)
- [Justice ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice)
- [Justice Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justiceName)
- [The Vote in the Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=vote)
- [Opinion](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=opinion)
- [Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=direction)
- [Majority and Minority Voting by Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majority)
- [First Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=firstAgreement)
- [Second Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=secondAgreement)
- | | [CONTACT](http://scdb.wustl.edu/contact.php) | | [TOP](#top) |
| --- | ---------------------- | --- | ----------- |
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- image The Supreme Court Database has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. [Creative Commons License](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/)

| ![washu_logo](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/washu_logo.png) |
| ------------------------------------ |

The Supreme Court Database




|  |  |
| --- | --- |
| [wulaw](http://law.wustl.edu) |  |

|  |  |  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/index.php) | image | image | image | image |
| [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/about.php) | [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) | [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) | [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/analysis.php) | [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php) |
| image | | | | |
| |  |  |  |  | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) | [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) | [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) | [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php) | | | | | |
| Online Code Book    |  |  |  |  |  | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | SCDB Case ID   |  |  |  | | --- | --- | --- | | **Variable Name** caseId | **Spaeth Name** n/a | **Normalizations** n/a |    This is the first of four unique internal identification numbers.    The first four digits are the term. The next four are the case within the term (starting at 001 and counting up). | Introductory   * [Introduction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=intro) * [Citing to the SCDB](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=cite)   Identification Variables   * [SCDB Case ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseId) * [SCDB Docket ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docketId) * [SCDB Issues ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId) * [SCDB Vote ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteId) * [U.S. Reporter Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=usCite) * [Supreme Court Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=sctCite) * [Lawyers Edition Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=ledCite) * [LEXIS Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lexisCite) * [Docket Number](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docket)   Background Variables   * [Case Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseName) * [Petitioner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitioner) * [Petitioner State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitionerState) * [Respondent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondent) * [Respondent State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondentState) * [Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=jurisdiction) * [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminAction) * [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminActionState) * [Three-Judge District Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc) * [Origin of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOrigin) * [Origin of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOriginState) * [Source of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSource) * [Source of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSourceState) * [Lower Court Disagreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisagreement) * [Reason for Granting Cert](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=certReason) * [Lower Court Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisposition) * [Lower Court Disposition Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDispositionDirection)   Chronological Variables   * [Date of Decision](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateDecision) * [Term of Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=term) * [Natural Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=naturalCourt) * [Chief Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=chief) * [Date of Oral Argument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateArgument) * [Date of Reargument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateRearg)   Substantive Variables   * [Issue](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issue) * [Issue Area](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issueArea) * [Decision Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirection) * [Decision Direction Dissent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirectionDissent) * [Authority for Decision 1](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision1) * [Authority for Decision 2](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision2) * [Legal Provisions Considered by the Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawType) * [Legal Provision Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawSupp) * [Legal Provision Minor Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawMinor)   Outcome Variables   * [Decision Type](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionType) * [Declaration of Unconstitutionality](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=declarationUncon) * [Disposition of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDisposition) * [Unusual Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDispositionUnusual) * [Winning Party](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=partyWinning) * [Formal Alteration of Precedent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=precedentAlteration)   Voting & Opinion Variables   * [Vote Not Clearly Specified](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteUnclear) * [Majority Opinion Writer](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinWriter) * [Majority Opinion Assigner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinAssigner) * [Split Vote](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=splitVote) * [Majority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majVotes) * [Minority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=minVotes) * [Justice ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice) * [Justice Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justiceName) * [The Vote in the Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=vote) * [Opinion](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=opinion) * [Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=direction) * [Majority and Minority Voting by Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majority) * [First Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=firstAgreement) * [Second Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=secondAgreement) | | | | | |
| |  |  |  |  | | --- | --- | --- | --- | |  | [CONTACT](http://scdb.wustl.edu/contact.php) |  |  [TOP](#top) | | | | | |
| |  |  |  |  | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) | [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) | [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) | [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php) | | | | | |
| image | The Supreme Court Database has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. | | | [Creative Commons License](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/) |

|  |
| --- |
| washu_logo |

The Supreme Court Database




|  |  |
| --- | --- |
| [wulaw](http://law.wustl.edu) |  |

|  |  |  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/index.php) | image | image | image | image |
| [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/about.php) | [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) | [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) | [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/analysis.php) | [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php) |
| image | | | | |
| |  |  |  |  | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) | [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) | [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) | [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php) | | | | | |
| Online Code Book    |  |  |  |  |  | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | SCDB Case ID   |  |  |  | | --- | --- | --- | | **Variable Name** caseId | **Spaeth Name** n/a | **Normalizations** n/a |    This is the first of four unique internal identification numbers.    The first four digits are the term. The next four are the case within the term (starting at 001 and counting up). | Introductory   * [Introduction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=intro) * [Citing to the SCDB](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=cite)   Identification Variables   * [SCDB Case ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseId) * [SCDB Docket ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docketId) * [SCDB Issues ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId) * [SCDB Vote ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteId) * [U.S. Reporter Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=usCite) * [Supreme Court Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=sctCite) * [Lawyers Edition Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=ledCite) * [LEXIS Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lexisCite) * [Docket Number](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docket)   Background Variables   * [Case Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseName) * [Petitioner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitioner) * [Petitioner State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitionerState) * [Respondent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondent) * [Respondent State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondentState) * [Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=jurisdiction) * [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminAction) * [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminActionState) * [Three-Judge District Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc) * [Origin of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOrigin) * [Origin of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOriginState) * 

---
meta-description: The Supreme Court Database is the definitive source for researchers, students, journalists, and citizens interested in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Database contains over two hundred pieces of information about each case decided by the Court between the 1946 and 2012 terms. Examples include the identity of the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed, the parties to the suit, the legal provisions considered in the case, and the votes of the Justices.
meta-generator: Coda
meta-keywords: supreme court, spaeth, database
title: The Supreme Court Database
---

| [![wulaw](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/wulaw.png)](http://law.wustl.edu) |  |
| -------------------------------------------------- | --- |

- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/index.php) image image image image
- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/about.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/analysis.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php)
- image
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- Online Code Book

- Date of Oral Argument

| **Variable Name** dateArgument | **Spaeth Name** ORAL | **Normalizations** n/a |
| -------------------------------- | ---------------------- | ------------------------ |

This variable contains the day, month, and year that the case was orally argued before the Court. dateArgument has no entry for cases that were not orally argued. For volumes 2-107 of the U.S. Reports (1791-1882), we used Dates of Supreme Court Decisions and Arguments (http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/datesofdecisions.pdf), prepared by Anne Ashmore of the Library of the Supreme Court, because many of the early reports do not list the date of argument.


On some occasions, oral argument extended over more than a single day. In such cases, only the first date is specified. Introductory

- [Introduction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=intro)
- [Citing to the SCDB](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=cite)
 Identification Variables

- [SCDB Case ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseId)
- [SCDB Docket ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docketId)
- [SCDB Issues ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId)
- [SCDB Vote ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteId)
- [U.S. Reporter Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=usCite)
- [Supreme Court Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=sctCite)
- [Lawyers Edition Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=ledCite)
- [LEXIS Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lexisCite)
- [Docket Number](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docket)
 Background Variables

- [Case Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseName)
- [Petitioner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitioner)
- [Petitioner State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitionerState)
- [Respondent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondent)
- [Respondent State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondentState)
- [Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=jurisdiction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminAction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminActionState)
- [Three-Judge District Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc)
- [Origin of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOrigin)
- [Origin of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOriginState)
- [Source of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSource)
- [Source of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSourceState)
- [Lower Court Disagreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisagreement)
- [Reason for Granting Cert](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=certReason)
- [Lower Court Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisposition)
- [Lower Court Disposition Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDispositionDirection)
 Chronological Variables

- [Date of Decision](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateDecision)
- [Term of Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=term)
- [Natural Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=naturalCourt)
- [Chief Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=chief)
- [Date of Oral Argument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateArgument)
- [Date of Reargument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateRearg)
 Substantive Variables

- [Issue](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issue)
- [Issue Area](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issueArea)
- [Decision Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirection)
- [Decision Direction Dissent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirectionDissent)
- [Authority for Decision 1](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision1)
- [Authority for Decision 2](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision2)
- [Legal Provisions Considered by the Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawType)
- [Legal Provision Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawSupp)
- [Legal Provision Minor Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawMinor)
 Outcome Variables

- [Decision Type](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionType)
- [Declaration of Unconstitutionality](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=declarationUncon)
- [Disposition of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDisposition)
- [Unusual Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDispositionUnusual)
- [Winning Party](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=partyWinning)
- [Formal Alteration of Precedent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=precedentAlteration)
 Voting & Opinion Variables

- [Vote Not Clearly Specified](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteUnclear)
- [Majority Opinion Writer](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinWriter)
- [Majority Opinion Assigner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinAssigner)
- [Split Vote](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=splitVote)
- [Majority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majVotes)
- [Minority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=minVotes)
- [Justice ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice)
- [Justice Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justiceName)
- [The Vote in the Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=vote)
- [Opinion](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=opinion)
- [Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=direction)
- [Majority and Minority Voting by Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majority)
- [First Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=firstAgreement)
- [Second Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=secondAgreement)
- | | [CONTACT](http://scdb.wustl.edu/contact.php) | | [TOP](#top) |
| --- | ---------------------- | --- | ----------- |
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- image The Supreme Court Database has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. [Creative Commons License](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/)

| ![washu_logo](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/washu_logo.png) |
| ------------------------------------ |

---
meta-description: The Supreme Court Database is the definitive source for researchers, students, journalists, and citizens interested in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Database contains over two hundred pieces of information about each case decided by the Court between the 1946 and 2012 terms. Examples include the identity of the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed, the parties to the suit, the legal provisions considered in the case, and the votes of the Justices.
meta-generator: Coda
meta-keywords: supreme court, spaeth, database
title: The Supreme Court Database
---

| [![wulaw](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/wulaw.png)](http://law.wustl.edu) |  |
| --- | --- |

- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/index.php) image image image image
- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/about.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/analysis.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php)
- image
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- Online Code Book

- Docket Number

| **Variable Name** docket | **Spaeth Name** DOCKET | **Normalizations** n/a |
| --- | --- | --- |

This variable contains the docket number that the Supreme Court has assigned to the case. Prior to the first two terms of the Burger Court (1969-1970), different cases coming to the Court in different terms could have the same docket number. The Court eliminated the possibility of such duplication by including the last two digits of the appropriate term before the assigned docket number. Since the 1971 Term, the Court has also operated with a single docket. Cases filed pursuant to the Court's appellate jurisdiction have a two-digit number corresponding to the term in which they were filed, followed by a hyphen and a number varying from one to five digits. Cases invoking the Court's original jurisdiction have a number followed by the abbreviation, "Orig."

During much of the legacy period, docket number do not exist in the Reports; a handful of more modern cases also lack a docket number. For these, the docket variable has no entry.

For administrative purposes, the Court uses the letters, "A," "D," and "S," in place of the term year to identify applications ("A") for stays or bail, proceedings of disbarment or discipline of attorneys ("D"), and matters being held indefinitely for one reason or another ("S"). These occur infrequently and then almost always in the Court's summary orders at the back of each volume of the U.S.Reports. The database excludes these cases, the overwhelming majority of which are denials of petition for certiorari.

Note that the Court can consolidate multiple petitions--each with its own docket number--under one U.S. cite. If you are interested in only the first (lead) case, use the database organized by Supreme Court citation. If you are interested in all the cases consolidated under one cite, select the data organized by docket. Multiple docket numbers under a single case citation almost always contain the same issue as the lead case and differ only in the parties to the case and its origin and source

For the first release of the legacy dataset, only data by citation are available. Users interested in the Vinson Court forward can still download or analyze the data by citation or docket. Introductory

- [Introduction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=intro)
- [Citing to the SCDB](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=cite)
 Identification Variables

- [SCDB Case ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseId)
- [SCDB Docket ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docketId)
- [SCDB Issues ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId)
- [SCDB Vote ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteId)
- [U.S. Reporter Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=usCite)
- [Supreme Court Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=sctCite)
- [Lawyers Edition Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=ledCite)
- [LEXIS Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lexisCite)
- [Docket Number](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docket)
 Background Variables

- [Case Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseName)
- [Petitioner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitioner)
- [Petitioner State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitionerState)
- [Respondent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondent)
- [Respondent State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondentState)
- [Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=jurisdiction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminAction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminActionState)
- [Three-Judge District Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc)
- [Origin of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOrigin)
- [Origin of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOriginState)
- [Source of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSource)
- [Source of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSourceState)
- [Lower Court Disagreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisagreement)
- [Reason for Granting Cert](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=certReason)
- [Lower Court Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisposition)
- [Lower Court Disposition Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDispositionDirection)
 Chronological Variables

- [Date of Decision](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateDecision)
- [Term of Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=term)
- [Natural Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=naturalCourt)
- [Chief Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=chief)
- [Date of Oral Argument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateArgument)
- [Date of Reargument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateRearg)
 Substantive Variables

- [Issue](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issue)
- [Issue Area](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issueArea)
- [Decision Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirection)
- [Decision Direction Dissent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirectionDissent)
- [Authority for Decision 1](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision1)
- [Authority for Decision 2](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision2)
- [Legal Provisions Considered by the Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawType)
- [Legal Provision Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawSupp)
- [Legal Provision Minor Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawMinor)
 Outcome Variables

- [Decision Type](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionType)
- [Declaration of Unconstitutionality](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=declarationUncon)
- [Disposition of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDisposition)
- [Unusual Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDispositionUnusual)
- [Winning Party](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=partyWinning)
- [Formal Alteration of Precedent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=precedentAlteration)
 Voting & Opinion Variables

- [Vote Not Clearly Specified](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteUnclear)
- [Majority Opinion Writer](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinWriter)
- [Majority Opinion Assigner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinAssigner)
- [Split Vote](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=splitVote)
- [Majority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majVotes)
- [Minority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=minVotes)
- [Justice ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice)
- [Justice Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justiceName)
- [The Vote in the Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=vote)
- [Opinion](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=opinion)
- [Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=direction)
- [Majority and Minority Voting by Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majority)
- [First Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=firstAgreement)
- [Second Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=secondAgreement)
- | | [CONTACT](http://scdb.wustl.edu/contact.php) | | [TOP](#top) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- image The Supreme Court Database has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. [Creative Commons License](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/)

| ![washu_logo](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/washu_logo.png) |
| --- |

---
meta-description: The Supreme Court Database is the definitive source for researchers, students, journalists, and citizens interested in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Database contains over two hundred pieces of information about each case decided by the Court between the 1946 and 2012 terms. Examples include the identity of the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed, the parties to the suit, the legal provisions considered in the case, and the votes of the Justices.
meta-generator: Coda
meta-keywords: supreme court, spaeth, database
title: The Supreme Court Database
---

| [![wulaw](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/wulaw.png)](http://law.wustl.edu) |  |
| -------------------------------------------------- | --- |

- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/index.php) image image image image
- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/about.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/analysis.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php)
- image
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- Online Code Book

- SCDB Vote ID

| **Variable Name** voteId | **Spaeth Name** n/a | **Normalizations** n/a |
| -------------------------- | --------------------- | ------------------------ |

This is the fourth of four unique internal identification numbers.

The first four digits are the term. The next four are the case within the term (starting at 001 and counting up). The next two are the number of dockets consolidated under the U.S. Reports citation (starting at 01 and counting up). The next two are the number of issues and legal provisions within the case (starting at 01 and counting up). The next two indicate a split vote within an issue or legal provision (01 for only one vote; 02 if a split vote). The final two represent the vote in the case (usually runs 01 to 09, but fewer if less than all justices participated). Introductory

- [Introduction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=intro)
- [Citing to the SCDB](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=cite)
 Identification Variables

- [SCDB Case ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseId)
- [SCDB Docket ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docketId)
- [SCDB Issues ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId)
- [SCDB Vote ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteId)
- [U.S. Reporter Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=usCite)
- [Supreme Court Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=sctCite)
- [Lawyers Edition Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=ledCite)
- [LEXIS Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lexisCite)
- [Docket Number](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docket)
 Background Variables

- [Case Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseName)
- [Petitioner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitioner)
- [Petitioner State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitionerState)
- [Respondent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondent)
- [Respondent State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondentState)
- [Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=jurisdiction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminAction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminActionState)
- [Three-Judge District Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc)
- [Origin of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOrigin)
- [Origin of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOriginState)
- [Source of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSource)
- [Source of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSourceState)
- [Lower Court Disagreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisagreement)
- [Reason for Granting Cert](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=certReason)
- [Lower Court Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisposition)
- [Lower Court Disposition Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDispositionDirection)
 Chronological Variables

- [Date of Decision](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateDecision)
- [Term of Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=term)
- [Natural Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=naturalCourt)
- [Chief Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=chief)
- [Date of Oral Argument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateArgument)
- [Date of Reargument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateRearg)
 Substantive Variables

- [Issue](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issue)
- [Issue Area](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issueArea)
- [Decision Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirection)
- [Decision Direction Dissent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirectionDissent)
- [Authority for Decision 1](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision1)
- [Authority for Decision 2](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision2)
- [Legal Provisions Considered by the Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawType)
- [Legal Provision Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawSupp)
- [Legal Provision Minor Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawMinor)
 Outcome Variables

- [Decision Type](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionType)
- [Declaration of Unconstitutionality](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=declarationUncon)
- [Disposition of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDisposition)
- [Unusual Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDispositionUnusual)
- [Winning Party](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=partyWinning)
- [Formal Alteration of Precedent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=precedentAlteration)
 Voting & Opinion Variables

- [Vote Not Clearly Specified](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteUnclear)
- [Majority Opinion Writer](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinWriter)
- [Majority Opinion Assigner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinAssigner)
- [Split Vote](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=splitVote)
- [Majority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majVotes)
- [Minority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=minVotes)
- [Justice ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice)
- [Justice Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justiceName)
- [The Vote in the Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=vote)
- [Opinion](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=opinion)
- [Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=direction)
- [Majority and Minority Voting by Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majority)
- [First Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=firstAgreement)
- [Second Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=secondAgreement)
- | | [CONTACT](http://scdb.wustl.edu/contact.php) | | [TOP](#top) |
| --- | ---------------------- | --- | ----------- |
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- image The Supreme Court Database has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. [Creative Commons License](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/)

| ![washu_logo](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/washu_logo.png) |
| ------------------------------------ |

---
meta-description: The Supreme Court Database is the definitive source for researchers, students, journalists, and citizens interested in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Database contains over two hundred pieces of information about each case decided by the Court between the 1946 and 2012 terms. Examples include the identity of the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed, the parties to the suit, the legal provisions considered in the case, and the votes of the Justices.
meta-generator: Coda
meta-keywords: supreme court, spaeth, database
title: The Supreme Court Database
---

| [![wulaw](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/wulaw.png)](http://law.wustl.edu) |  |
| -------------------------------------------------- | --- |

- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/index.php) image image image image
- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/about.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/analysis.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php)
- image
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- Online Code Book

- Reason for Granting Cert

| **Variable Name** certReason | **Spaeth Name** CERT | **Normalizations** [13 [ view ]](#norms) |
| ------------------------------ | ---------------------- | ------------------------------------------- |

This variable provides the reason, if any, that the Court gives for granting the petition for certiorari. If the case did not arise on certiorari, this variable will be so coded even if the Court provides a reason why it agreed to hear the case. The Court, however, rarely provides a reason for taking jurisdiction by writs other than certiorari.

**Values:**

| 1 | case did not arise on cert or cert not granted |
| --- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| 2 | federal court conflict |
| 3 | federal court conflict and to resolve important or significant question |
| 4 | putative conflict |
| 5 | conflict between federal court and state court |
| 6 | state court conflict |
| 7 | federal court confusion or uncertainty |
| 8 | state court confusion or uncertainty |
| 9 | federal court and state court confusion or uncertainty |
| 10 | to resolve important or significant question |
| 11 | to resolve question presented |
| 12 | no reason given |
| 13 | other reason | Introductory

- [Introduction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=intro)
- [Citing to the SCDB](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=cite)
 Identification Variables

- [SCDB Case ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseId)
- [SCDB Docket ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docketId)
- [SCDB Issues ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId)
- [SCDB Vote ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteId)
- [U.S. Reporter Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=usCite)
- [Supreme Court Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=sctCite)
- [Lawyers Edition Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=ledCite)
- [LEXIS Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lexisCite)
- [Docket Number](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docket)
 Background Variables

- [Case Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseName)
- [Petitioner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitioner)
- [Petitioner State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitionerState)
- [Respondent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondent)
- [Respondent State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondentState)
- [Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=jurisdiction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminAction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminActionState)
- [Three-Judge District Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc)
- [Origin of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOrigin)
- [Origin of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOriginState)
- [Source of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSource)
- [Source of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSourceState)
- [Lower Court Disagreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisagreement)
- [Reason for Granting Cert](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=certReason)
- [Lower Court Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisposition)
- [Lower Court Disposition Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDispositionDirection)
 Chronological Variables

- [Date of Decision](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateDecision)
- [Term of Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=term)
- [Natural Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=naturalCourt)
- [Chief Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=chief)
- [Date of Oral Argument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateArgument)
- [Date of Reargument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateRearg)
 Substantive Variables

- [Issue](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issue)
- [Issue Area](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issueArea)
- [Decision Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirection)
- [Decision Direction Dissent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirectionDissent)
- [Authority for Decision 1](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision1)
- [Authority for Decision 2](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision2)
- [Legal Provisions Considered by the Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawType)
- [Legal Provision Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawSupp)
- [Legal Provision Minor Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawMinor)
 Outcome Variables

- [Decision Type](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionType)
- [Declaration of Unconstitutionality](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=declarationUncon)
- [Disposition of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDisposition)
- [Unusual Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDispositionUnusual)
- [Winning Party](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=partyWinning)
- [Formal Alteration of Precedent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=precedentAlteration)
 Voting & Opinion Variables

- [Vote Not Clearly Specified](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteUnclear)
- [Majority Opinion Writer](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinWriter)
- [Majority Opinion Assigner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinAssigner)
- [Split Vote](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=splitVote)
- [Majority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majVotes)
- [Minority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=minVotes)
- [Justice ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice)
- [Justice Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justiceName)
- [The Vote in the Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=vote)
- [Opinion](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=opinion)
- [Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=direction)
- [Majority and Minority Voting by Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majority)
- [First Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=firstAgreement)
- [Second Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=secondAgreement)
- | | [CONTACT](http://scdb.wustl.edu/contact.php) | | [TOP](#top) |
| --- | ---------------------- | --- | ----------- |
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- image The Supreme Court Database has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. [Creative Commons License](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/)

| ![washu_logo](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/washu_logo.png) |
| ------------------------------------ |

---
meta-description: The Supreme Court Database is the definitive source for researchers, students, journalists, and citizens interested in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Database contains over two hundred pieces of information about each case decided by the Court between the 1946 and 2012 terms. Examples include the identity of the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed, the parties to the suit, the legal provisions considered in the case, and the votes of the Justices.
meta-generator: Coda
meta-keywords: supreme court, spaeth, database
title: The Supreme Court Database
---

| [![wulaw](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/wulaw.png)](http://law.wustl.edu) |  |
| -------------------------------------------------- | --- |

- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/index.php) image image image image
- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/about.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/analysis.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php)
- image
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- Online Code Book

- Case Name

| **Variable Name** caseName | **Spaeth Name** n/a | **Normalizations** n/a |
| ---------------------------- | --------------------- | ------------------------ |

This is the name of the case. We derived the post-heritage names from WESTLAW and then did a bit of tidying so that they appear in a consistent format. With the exception of various Latin phrases and abbreviations, all words are now in upper case.

The names of the heritage cases are taken from the LAWYERS' EDITION of the Reports. If you are searching for a particular case and do not find it, it likely results because of a variant name. The citation of the case should, however, enable you to find the desired case.

Note that case name is tied to the docket number. In other words, if multiple cases appear under the same citation, the case name will be that of the particular case, not the lead case. Introductory

- [Introduction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=intro)
- [Citing to the SCDB](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=cite)
 Identification Variables

- [SCDB Case ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseId)
- [SCDB Docket ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docketId)
- [SCDB Issues ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId)
- [SCDB Vote ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteId)
- [U.S. Reporter Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=usCite)
- [Supreme Court Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=sctCite)
- [Lawyers Edition Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=ledCite)
- [LEXIS Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lexisCite)
- [Docket Number](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docket)
 Background Variables

- [Case Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseName)
- [Petitioner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitioner)
- [Petitioner State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitionerState)
- [Respondent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondent)
- [Respondent State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondentState)
- [Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=jurisdiction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminAction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminActionState)
- [Three-Judge District Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc)
- [Origin of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOrigin)
- [Origin of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOriginState)
- [Source of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSource)
- [Source of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSourceState)
- [Lower Court Disagreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisagreement)
- [Reason for Granting Cert](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=certReason)
- [Lower Court Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisposition)
- [Lower Court Disposition Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDispositionDirection)
 Chronological Variables

- [Date of Decision](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateDecision)
- [Term of Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=term)
- [Natural Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=naturalCourt)
- [Chief Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=chief)
- [Date of Oral Argument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateArgument)
- [Date of Reargument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateRearg)
 Substantive Variables

- [Issue](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issue)
- [Issue Area](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issueArea)
- [Decision Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirection)
- [Decision Direction Dissent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirectionDissent)
- [Authority for Decision 1](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision1)
- [Authority for Decision 2](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision2)
- [Legal Provisions Considered by the Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawType)
- [Legal Provision Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawSupp)
- [Legal Provision Minor Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawMinor)
 Outcome Variables

- [Decision Type](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionType)
- [Declaration of Unconstitutionality](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=declarationUncon)
- [Disposition of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDisposition)
- [Unusual Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDispositionUnusual)
- [Winning Party](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=partyWinning)
- [Formal Alteration of Precedent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=precedentAlteration)
 Voting & Opinion Variables

- [Vote Not Clearly Specified](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteUnclear)
- [Majority Opinion Writer](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinWriter)
- [Majority Opinion Assigner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinAssigner)
- [Split Vote](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=splitVote)
- [Majority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majVotes)
- [Minority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=minVotes)
- [Justice ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice)
- [Justice Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justiceName)
- [The Vote in the Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=vote)
- [Opinion](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=opinion)
- [Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=direction)
- [Majority and Minority Voting by Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majority)
- [First Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=firstAgreement)
- [Second Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=secondAgreement)
- | | [CONTACT](http://scdb.wustl.edu/contact.php) | | [TOP](#top) |
| --- | ---------------------- | --- | ----------- |
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- image The Supreme Court Database has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. [Creative Commons License](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/)

| ![washu_logo](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/washu_logo.png) |
| ------------------------------------ |

---
meta-description: The Supreme Court Database is the definitive source for researchers, students, journalists, and citizens interested in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Database contains over two hundred pieces of information about each case decided by the Court between the 1946 and 2012 terms. Examples include the identity of the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed, the parties to the suit, the legal provisions considered in the case, and the votes of the Justices.
meta-generator: Coda
meta-keywords: supreme court, spaeth, database
title: The Supreme Court Database
---

| [![wulaw](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/wulaw.png)](http://law.wustl.edu) |  |
| -------------------------------------------------- | --- |

- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/index.php) image image image image
- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/about.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/analysis.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php)
- image
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- Online Code Book

- Decision Type

| **Variable Name** decisionType | **Spaeth Name** DEC\_TYPE | **Normalizations** [7 [ view ]](#norms) |
| -------------------------------- | --------------------------- | ------------------------------------------ |

decisionType=1: Cases the Court decides by a signed opinion. Note that for the 1946 terms to present, decisionType=1 cases are those that the Court decided by a signed opinion and in which it heard oral arguments. This is true for the 1791-1945 terms too. When both these conditions are met, the case is coded as decisionType=1. But the second condition—oral argument—is no longer necessary for a decisionType=1 classification. That's because the dates of oral argument were not reported for many cases that were likely argued (if only because the reporter noted, "After argument…"). We are working to locate these (many) missing dates and would appreciate any leads from users.

Jettisoning the oral argument requirement also means that there are many cases that were probably not orally argued but that are included as decisionType=1 cases because a justice is listed as delivering the opinion of the Court. For users that want to examine cases we know for sure were orally argued, we suggest selecting on dateArgument—with the important caveat that you will miss cases that were likely argued but are lacking a date.

decisionType=2: Cases decided with an opinion but without hearing oral argument; i.e., per curiam opinions. In the legacy data, decisionType2 cases include cases in which the Court (or reporter) did not use the term "per curiam" but rather "The Court [said]," "By the Court," or "By direction of the Court." If these cases identify the author of the opinion, we code an opinion writer.

decisionType=4: Decrees. This infrequent type of decision usually arises under the Court's original jurisdiction and involves state boundary disputes. The justices will typically appoint a special master to take testimony and render a report, the bulk of which generally becomes the Court's decision. The presence of the label, "decree," distinguishes this type of decision from the others.

decisionType=5: Cases decided by an equally divided vote. When a justice fails to participate in a case or when the Court has a vacancy, the participating justices may cast a tie vote. In such cases, the Reports merely state that "the judgment is affirmed by an equally divided vote" and the name of any nonparticipating justice(s). Their effect is to uphold the decision of the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed.

decisionType=6: This decision type is a variant of decisionType=1 cases. It differs from type 1 in that no individual justice's name appears as author of the Court's opinion. Instead, these unsigned orally argued cases are labeled as decided "per curiam." The difference between this type and decisionType=2 is the occurrence of oral argument in the former but not the latter. In both types the opinion of the Court is unsigned.

decisionType=7: Judgments of the Court. This decision type is also a variant of the formally decided cases. It differs from type 1 in that less than a majority of the participating justices agree with the opinion produced by the justice assigned to write the Court's opinion. Except for those interested only in the authors of the opinions of the Court, decisionType=7 should be included in analyses of the Court's formally decided cases. See also the notes under decisionType=1.

The database does not contain all of the non-orally argued per curiam decisions (decisionType=2). The Reports contain large numbers of brief, non-orally argued per curiam decisions. The database includes only those for which the Court has provided a summary, as well as those without a summary in which one or more of the justices wrote an opinion.

Along similar lines, the database also does not contain memorandum decisions or "back-of-the-book" U.S. Reports cases with the exceptions of, first, volumes 131 and 154. In these volumes, the reporters included (in the Appendices) cases previously omitted or "not hitherto reported in full." Second, we are trying to include all orally argued cases in the back-of-the-book (the Database already contains "front-of-the-book" orally argued cases). All decisionType=5 orally argued cases, even if in the back of the book, already have been entered. We are in the process of adding decisionType=6 back-of-the-book cases. In the vast majority of these, the Court dismissed the case with a one-line sentence.

**Values:**

| 1 | opinion of the court (orally argued) |
| --- | ------------------------------------- |
| 2 | per curiam (no oral argument) |
| 4 | decrees |
| 5 | equally divided vote |
| 6 | per curiam (orally argued) |
| 7 | judgment of the Court (orally argued) |
| 8 | seriatim | Introductory

- [Introduction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=intro)
- [Citing to the SCDB](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=cite)
 Identification Variables

- [SCDB Case ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseId)
- [SCDB Docket ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docketId)
- [SCDB Issues ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId)
- [SCDB Vote ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteId)
- [U.S. Reporter Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=usCite)
- [Supreme Court Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=sctCite)
- [Lawyers Edition Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=ledCite)
- [LEXIS Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lexisCite)
- [Docket Number](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docket)
 Background Variables

- [Case Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseName)
- [Petitioner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitioner)
- [Petitioner State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitionerState)
- [Respondent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondent)
- [Respondent State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondentState)
- [Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=jurisdiction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminAction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminActionState)
- [Three-Judge District Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc)
- [Origin of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOrigin)
- [Origin of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOriginState)
- [Source of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSource)
- [Source of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSourceState)
- [Lower Court Disagreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisagreement)
- [Reason for Granting Cert](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=certReason)
- [Lower Court Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisposition)
- [Lower Court Disposition Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDispositionDirection)
 Chronological Variables

- [Date of Decision](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateDecision)
- [Term of Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=term)
- [Natural Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=naturalCourt)
- [Chief Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=chief)
- [Date of Oral Argument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateArgument)
- [Date of Reargument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateRearg)
 Substantive Variables

- [Issue](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issue)
- [Issue Area](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issueArea)
- [Decision Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirection)
- [Decision Direction Dissent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirectionDissent)
- [Authority for Decision 1](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision1)
- [Authority for Decision 2](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision2)
- [Legal Provisions Considered by the Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawType)
- [Legal Provision Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawSupp)
- [Legal Provision Minor Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawMinor)
 Outcome Variables

- [Decision Type](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionType)
- [Declaration of Unconstitutionality](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=declarationUncon)
- [Disposition of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDisposition)
- [Unusual Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDispositionUnusual)
- [Winning Party](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=partyWinning)
- [Formal Alteration of Precedent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=precedentAlteration)
 Voting & Opinion Variables

- [Vote Not Clearly Specified](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteUnclear)
- [Majority Opinion Writer](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinWriter)
- [Majority Opinion Assigner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinAssigner)
- [Split Vote](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=splitVote)
- [Majority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majVotes)
- [Minority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=minVotes)
- [Justice ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice)
- [Justice Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justiceName)
- [The Vote in the Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=vote)
- [Opinion](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=opinion)
- [Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=direction)
- [Majority and Minority Voting by Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majority)
- [First Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=firstAgreement)
- [Second Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=secondAgreement)
- | | [CONTACT](http://scdb.wustl.edu/contact.php) | | [TOP](#top) |
| --- | ---------------------- | --- | ----------- |
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- image The Supreme Court Database has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. [Creative Commons License](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/)

| ![washu_logo](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/washu_logo.png) |
| ------------------------------------ |

---
meta-description: The Supreme Court Database is the definitive source for researchers, students, journalists, and citizens interested in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Database contains over two hundred pieces of information about each case decided by the Court between the 1946 and 2012 terms. Examples include the identity of the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed, the parties to the suit, the legal provisions considered in the case, and the votes of the Justices.
meta-generator: Coda
meta-keywords: supreme court, spaeth, database
title: The Supreme Court Database
---

| [![wulaw](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/wulaw.png)](http://law.wustl.edu) |  |
| -------------------------------------------------- | --- |

- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/index.php) image image image image
- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/about.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/analysis.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php)
- image
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- Online Code Book

- Justice ID

| **Variable Name** justice | **Spaeth Name** HAR-BRY | **Normalizations** [118 [ view ]](#norms) |
| --------------------------- | ------------------------- | -------------------------------------------- |

This variable provides a unique identification number for each of the justices. Even though several justices served as both associate and chief justice they receive only one identification number.

This variable appears in the Justice Centered Datasets only.

Some notes about the organization of the justice ids.


1. The numeric value on the left is the unique identifier.
2. The shortened name to the right of the numeric (e.g. JJay) is for readability. Astute eyes will observe that these text descriptors are not always unique, as in the case of JRutledge (ids 2 and 9). The reason for this is id's 2 and 9 reference the same individual. The source of the two ids is the justice served a split term.
3. In situations where two different individuals would share a short name, the short descriptor will be incremented with a numeral on the end as in the case of JHalan1 (id 45) and JHarlan2 (id 91). These descriptors were made unique because they reference different individuals.


*Please note that release SCDB_2012_01 saw a renormalization to the justice ids. This was to correct an exclusion of an early justice. Below you will find the current listing. The original variable assignments may be seen [here](http://scdb.wustl.edu/_media/scdbJusticesIdsLegacy.csv.zip). If you perform a search based on early database releases (prior to SCDB_2012_01) all justice references have been updated to ensure fidelity.*


**Values:**

| 1 | JJay | *Jay, John ( 10/19/1789 - 06/29/1795 )* |
| --- | ------------ | -------------------------------------------------- |
| 2 | JRutledge1 | *Rutledge, John ( 02/15/1790 - 03/05/1791 )* |
| 3 | WCushing | *Cushing, William ( 02/02/1790 - 09/13/1810 )* |
| 4 | JWilson | *Wilson, James ( 10/05/1789 - 08/21/1798 )* |
| 5 | JBlair | *Blair, John ( 02/02/1790 - 01/27/1796 )* |
| 6 | JIredell | *Iredell, James ( 05/12/1790 - 10/20/1799 )* |
| 7 | TJohnson | *Johnson, Thomas ( 09/19/1791 - 02/22/1793 )* |
| 8 | WPaterson | *Paterson, William ( 03/11/1793 - 09/09/1806 )* |
| 9 | JRutledge2 | *Rutledge, John ( 08/12/1795 - 12/15/1795 )* |
| 10 | SChase | *Chase, Samuel ( 02/04/1796 - 06/19/1811 )* |
| 11 | OEllsworth | *Ellsworth, Oliver ( 03/08/1796 - 12/15/1800 )* |
| 12 | BWashington | *Washington, Bushrod ( 11/09/1798 - 11/26/1829 )* |
| 13 | AMoore | *Moore, Alfred ( 04/21/1800 - 01/26/1804 )* |
| 14 | JMarshall | *Marshall, John ( 02/04/1801 - 07/06/1835 )* |
| 15 | WJohnson | *Johnson, William ( 05/07/1804 - 08/04/1834 )* |
| 16 | HBLivingston | *Livingston, Henry ( 01/20/1807 - 03/18/1823 )* |
| 17 | TTodd | *Todd, Thomas ( 05/04/1807 - 02/07/1826 )* |
| 18 | GDuvall | *Duvall, Gabriel ( 11/23/1811 - 01/14/1835 )* |
| 19 | JStory | *Story, Joseph ( 02/03/1812 - 09/10/1845 )* |
| 20 | SThompson | *Thompson, Smith ( 09/01/1823 - 12/18/1843 )* |
| 21 | RTrimble | *Trimble, Robert ( 06/16/1826 - 08/25/1828 )* |
| 22 | JMcLean | *McLean, John ( 01/11/1830 - 04/04/1861 )* |
| 23 | HBaldwin | *Baldwin, Henry ( 01/18/1830 - 04/21/1844 )* |
| 24 | JMWayne | *Wayne, James ( 01/14/1835 - 07/05/1867 )* |
| 25 | RBTaney | *Taney, Roger ( 03/28/1836 - 10/12/1864 )* |
| 26 | PPBarbour | *Barbour, Philip ( 05/12/1836 - 02/25/1841 )* |
| 27 | JCatron | *Catron, John ( 05/01/1837 - 05/30/1865 )* |
| 28 | JMcKinley | *McKinley, John ( 04/22/1837 - 07/19/1852 )* |
| 29 | PVDaniel | *Daniel, Peter ( 01/10/1842 - 05/31/1860 )* |
| 30 | SNelson | *Nelson, Samuel ( 02/27/1845 - 11/28/1872 )* |
| 31 | LWoodbury | *Woodbury, Levi ( 09/23/1845 - 09/04/1851 )* |
| 32 | RCGrier | *Grier, Robert ( 08/10/1846 - 01/31/1870 )* |
| 33 | BRCurtis | *Curtis, Benjamin ( 10/10/1851 - 09/30/1857 )* |
| 34 | JACampbell | *Campbell, John ( 04/11/1853 - 04/30/1861 )* |
| 35 | NClifford | *Clifford, Nathan ( 01/21/1858 - 07/25/1881 )* |
| 36 | NHSwayne | *Swayne, Noah ( 01/27/1862 - 01/24/1881 )* |
| 37 | SFMiller | *Miller, Samuel ( 07/21/1862 - 10/13/1890 )* |
| 38 | DDavis | *Davis, David ( 10/17/1862 - 03/04/1877 )* |
| 39 | SJField | *Field, Stephen ( 05/20/1863 - 12/01/1897 )* |
| 40 | SPChase | *Chase, Salmon ( 12/15/1864 - 05/07/1873 )* |
| 41 | WStrong | *Strong, William ( 03/14/1870 - 12/14/1880 )* |
| 42 | JPBradley | *Bradley, Joseph ( 03/21/1870 - 01/22/1892 )* |
| 43 | WHunt | *Hunt, Ward ( 01/09/1873 - 01/27/1882 )* |
| 44 | MRWaite | *Waite, Morrison ( 03/04/1874 - 04/03/1888 )* |
| 45 | JHarlan1 | *Harlan, John ( 12/10/1877 - 10/14/1911 )* |
| 46 | WBWoods | *Woods, William ( 01/05/1881 - 05/14/1887 )* |
| 47 | SMatthews | *Matthews, Stanley ( 05/17/1881 - 03/22/1889 )* |
| 48 | HGray | *Gray, Horace ( 01/09/1882 - 09/15/1902 )* |
| 49 | SBlatchford | *Blatchford, Samuel ( 04/03/1882 - 07/07/1893 )* |
| 50 | LQLamar | *Lamar, Lucius ( 01/18/1888 - 01/23/1893 )* |
| 51 | MWFuller | *Fuller, Melville ( 10/08/1888 - 07/04/1910 )* |
| 52 | DJBrewer | *Brewer, David ( 01/06/1890 - 03/28/1910 )* |
| 53 | HBBrown | *Brown, Henry ( 01/05/1891 - 05/28/1906 )* |
| 54 | GShiras | *Shiras, George ( 10/10/1892 - 02/23/1903 )* |
| 55 | HEJackson | *Jackson, Howell ( 03/04/1893 - 08/08/1895 )* |
| 56 | EDEWhite | *White, Edward ( 03/12/1894 - 05/19/1921 )* |
| 57 | RWPeckham | *Peckham, Rufus ( 01/06/1896 - 10/24/1909 )* |
| 58 | JMcKenna | *McKenna, Joseph ( 01/26/1898 - 01/05/1925 )* |
| 59 | OWHolmes | *Holmes, Oliver ( 08/11/1902 - 01/12/1932 )* |
| 60 | WRDay | *Day, William ( 03/02/1903 - 11/13/1922 )* |
| 61 | WHMoody | *Moody, William ( 12/17/1906 - 11/20/1910 )* |
| 62 | HHLurton | *Lurton, Horace ( 01/03/1910 - 07/12/1914 )* |
| 63 | CEHughes1 | *Hughes, Charles ( 10/10/1910 - 06/10/1916 )* |
| 64 | WVanDevanter | *Van Devanter, Willis ( 01/03/1911 - 06/02/1937 )* |
| 65 | JRLamar | *Lamar, Joseph ( 01/03/1911 - 01/02/1916 )* |
| 66 | MPitney | *Pitney, Mahlon ( 03/18/1912 - 12/31/1922 )* |
| 67 | JCMcReynolds | *McReynolds, James ( 10/12/1914 - 01/31/1941 )* |
| 68 | LDBrandeis | *Brandeis, Louis ( 06/05/1916 - 02/13/1939 )* |
| 69 | JHClarke | *Clarke, John ( 10/09/1916 - 09/18/1922 )* |
| 70 | WHTaft | *Taft, William ( 07/11/1921 - 02/03/1930 )* |
| 71 | GSutherland | *Sutherland, George ( 10/02/1922 - 01/17/1938 )* |
| 72 | PButler | *Butler, Pierce ( 01/02/1923 - 11/16/1939 )* |
| 73 | ETSanford | *Sanford, Edward ( 02/19/1923 - 03/08/1930 )* |
| 74 | HFStone | *Stone, Harlan ( 03/02/1925 - 04/22/1946 )* |
| 75 | CEHughes2 | *Hughes, Charles ( 02/24/1930 - 07/01/1941 )* |
| 76 | OJRoberts | *Roberts, Owen ( 06/02/1930 - 07/31/1945 )* |
| 77 | BNCardozo | *Cardozo, Benjamin ( 03/14/1932 - 07/09/1938 )* |
| 78 | HLBlack | *Black, Hugo ( 08/19/1937 - 09/17/1971 )* |
| 79 | SFReed | *Reed, Stanley ( 01/31/1938 - 02/25/1957 )* |
| 80 | FFrankfurter | *Frankfurter, Felix ( 01/30/1939 - 08/28/1962 )* |
| 81 | WODouglas | *Douglas, William ( 04/17/1939 - 11/12/1975 )* |
| 82 | FMurphy | *Murphy, Francis ( 02/05/1940 - 07/19/1949 )* |
| 83 | JFByrnes | *Byrnes, James ( 07/08/1941 - 10/03/1942 )* |
| 84 | RHJackson | *Jackson, Robert ( 07/11/1941 - 10/09/1954 )* |
| 85 | WBRutledge | *Rutledge, Wiley ( 02/15/1943 - 09/10/1949 )* |
| 86 | HHBurton | *Burton, Harold ( 10/01/1945 - 10/13/1958 )* |
| 87 | FMVinson | *Vinson, Fred ( 06/24/1946 - 09/08/1953 )* |
| 88 | TCClark | *Clark, Tom ( 08/24/1949 - 06/12/1967 )* |
| 89 | SMinton | *Minton, Sherman ( 10/12/1949 - 10/15/1956 )* |
| 90 | EWarren | *Warren, Earl ( 10/05/1953 - 06/23/1969 )* |
| 91 | JHarlan2 | *Harlan, John ( 03/28/1955 - 09/23/1971 )* |
| 92 | WJBrennan | *Brennan, William ( 10/16/1956 - 07/20/1990 )* |
| 93 | CEWhittaker | *Whittaker, Charles ( 03/25/1957 - 03/31/1962 )* |
| 94 | PStewart | *Stewart, Potter ( 10/14/1958 - 07/03/1981 )* |
| 95 | BRWhite | *White, Byron ( 04/16/1962 - 06/28/1993 )* |
| 96 | AJGoldberg | *Goldberg, Arthur ( 10/01/1962 - 07/25/1965 )* |
| 97 | AFortas | *Fortas, Abe ( 10/04/1965 - 05/14/1969 )* |
| 98 | TMarshall | *Marshall, Thurgood ( 10/02/1967 - 10/01/1991 )* |
| 99 | WEBurger | *Burger, Warren ( 06/23/1969 - 09/26/1986 )* |
| 100 | HABlackmun | *Blackmun, Harry ( 06/09/1970 - 08/03/1994 )* |
| 101 | LFPowell | *Powell, Lewis ( 01/07/1972 - 06/26/1987 )* |
| 102 | WHRehnquist | *Rehnquist, William ( 01/07/1972 - 09/03/2005 )* |
| 103 | JPStevens | *Stevens, John ( 12/19/1975 - 06/29/2010 )* |
| 104 | SDOConnor | *O'Connor, Sandra ( 09/25/1981 - 01/31/2006 )* |
| 105 | AScalia | *Scalia, Antonin ( 09/26/1986 - 02/13/2016 )* |
| 106 | AMKennedy | *Kennedy, Anthony ( 02/18/1988 - 07/31/2018 )* |
| 107 | DHSouter | *Souter, David ( 10/09/1990 - 06/29/2009 )* |
| 108 | CThomas | *Thomas, Clarence ( 10/23/1991 - 00/00/0000 )* |
| 109 | RBGinsburg | *Ginsburg, Ruth ( 08/10/1993 - 09/18/2020 )* |
| 110 | SGBreyer | *Breyer, Stephen ( 08/03/1994 - 06/30/2022 )* |
| 111 | JGRoberts | *Roberts, John ( 09/29/2005 - 00/00/0000 )* |
| 112 | SAAlito | *Alito, Samuel ( 01/31/2006 - 00/00/0000 )* |
| 113 | SSotomayor | *Sotomayor, Sonia ( 08/08/2009 - 00/00/0000 )* |
| 114 | EKagan | *Kagan, Elena ( 08/07/2010 - 00/00/0000 )* |
| 115 | NMGorsuch | *Gorsuch, Neil ( 04/08/2017 - 00/00/0000 )* |
| 116 | BMKavanaugh | *Kavanaugh, Brett ( 10/06/2018 - 00/00/0000 )* |
| 117 | ACBarrett | *Barrett, Amy ( 10/27/2020 - 00/00/0000 )* |
| 118 | KBJackson | *Jackson, Ketanji ( 06/30/2022 - 00/00/0000 )* | Introductory

- [Introduction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=intro)
- [Citing to the SCDB](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=cite)
 Identification Variables

- [SCDB Case ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseId)
- [SCDB Docket ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docketId)
- [SCDB Issues ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId)
- [SCDB Vote ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteId)
- [U.S. Reporter Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=usCite)
- [Supreme Court Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=sctCite)
- [Lawyers Edition Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=ledCite)
- [LEXIS Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lexisCite)
- [Docket Number](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docket)
 Background Variables

- [Case Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseName)
- [Petitioner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitioner)
- [Petitioner State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitionerState)
- [Respondent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondent)
- [Respondent State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondentState)
- [Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=jurisdiction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminAction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminActionState)
- [Three-Judge District Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc)
- [Origin of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOrigin)
- [Origin of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOriginState)
- [Source of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSource)
- [Source of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSourceState)
- [Lower Court Disagreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisagreement)
- [Reason for Granting Cert](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=certReason)
- [Lower Court Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisposition)
- [Lower Court Disposition Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDispositionDirection)
 Chronological Variables

- [Date of Decision](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateDecision)
- [Term of Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=term)
- [Natural Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=naturalCourt)
- [Chief Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=chief)
- [Date of Oral Argument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateArgument)
- [Date of Reargument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateRearg)
 Substantive Variables

- [Issue](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issue)
- [Issue Area](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issueArea)
- [Decision Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirection)
- [Decision Direction Dissent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirectionDissent)
- [Authority for Decision 1](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision1)
- [Authority for Decision 2](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision2)
- [Legal Provisions Considered by the Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawType)
- [Legal Provision Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawSupp)
- [Legal Provision Minor Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawMinor)
 Outcome Variables

- [Decision Type](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionType)
- [Declaration of Unconstitutionality](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=declarationUncon)
- [Disposition of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDisposition)
- [Unusual Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDispositionUnusual)
- [Winning Party](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=partyWinning)
- [Formal Alteration of Precedent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=precedentAlteration)
 Voting & Opinion Variables

- [Vote Not Clearly Specified](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteUnclear)
- [Majority Opinion Writer](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinWriter)
- [Majority Opinion Assigner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinAssigner)
- [Split Vote](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=splitVote)
- [Majority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majVotes)
- [Minority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=minVotes)
- [Justice ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice)
- [Justice Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justiceName)
- [The Vote in the Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=vote)
- [Opinion](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=opinion)
- [Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=direction)
- [Majority and Minority Voting by Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majority)
- [First Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=firstAgreement)
- [Second Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=secondAgreement)
- | | [CONTACT](http://scdb.wustl.edu/contact.php) | | [TOP](#top) |
| --- | ---------------------- | --- | ----------- |
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- image The Supreme Court Database has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. [Creative Commons License](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/)

| ![washu_logo](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/washu_logo.png) |
| ------------------------------------ |

---
meta-description: The Supreme Court Database is the definitive source for researchers, students, journalists, and citizens interested in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Database contains over two hundred pieces of information about each case decided by the Court between the 1946 and 2012 terms. Examples include the identity of the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed, the parties to the suit, the legal provisions considered in the case, and the votes of the Justices.
meta-generator: Coda
meta-keywords: supreme court, spaeth, database
title: The Supreme Court Database
---

| [![wulaw](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/wulaw.png)](http://law.wustl.edu) |  |
| -------------------------------------------------- | --- |

- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/index.php) image image image image
- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/about.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/analysis.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php)
- image
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- Online Code Book

- Lower Court Disagreement

| **Variable Name** lcDisagreement | **Spaeth Name** DISS | **Normalizations** [2 [ view ]](#norms) |
| ---------------------------------- | ---------------------- | ------------------------------------------ |

An entry in this variable indicates that the Supreme Court's majority opinion mentioned that one or more of the members of the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed dissented. The presence of such disagreement is limited to a statement to this effect somewhere in the majority opinion. I.e, "divided," "dissented,"
"disagreed," "split." A reference, without more, to the "majority" or "plurality" does not necessarily evidence dissent. The other judges may have concurred.

If a case arose on habeas corpus, a dissent will be indicated if either the last federal court or the last state court to review the case contained one. E.g., Townsend v. Sain, 9 Led 2d 770 (1963). A dissent will also be indicated if the highest court with jurisdiction to hear the case declines to do so by a divided vote. E.g., Simpson v. Florida, 29 L ed 2d 549 (1971).

Note that the focus of this variable tends to be a statement that a dissent occurred rather than the fact of such an occurrence. The fact of a dissent is not always mentioned in the majority opinion. It may be irrelevant. See, for example, McNally v. United States, 483 U.S. 350 (1987), and United States v. Gray and McNally, 790 F.2d 1290 (1986).

If the lower court denies an en banc petition by a divided vote and the Supreme Court discusses same, lower court disagreement exists.

If the lower court denies an en banc petition by a divided vote and the Supreme Court's opinion discusses same, a dissent occurs.

**Values:**

| 0 | no mention that dissent occurred |
| --- | ---------------------------------------- |
| 1 | dissent in ct whose dec the sct reviewed | Introductory

- [Introduction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=intro)
- [Citing to the SCDB](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=cite)
 Identification Variables

- [SCDB Case ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseId)
- [SCDB Docket ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docketId)
- [SCDB Issues ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId)
- [SCDB Vote ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteId)
- [U.S. Reporter Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=usCite)
- [Supreme Court Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=sctCite)
- [Lawyers Edition Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=ledCite)
- [LEXIS Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lexisCite)
- [Docket Number](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docket)
 Background Variables

- [Case Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseName)
- [Petitioner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitioner)
- [Petitioner State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitionerState)
- [Respondent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondent)
- [Respondent State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondentState)
- [Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=jurisdiction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminAction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminActionState)
- [Three-Judge District Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc)
- [Origin of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOrigin)
- [Origin of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOriginState)
- [Source of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSource)
- [Source of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSourceState)
- [Lower Court Disagreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisagreement)
- [Reason for Granting Cert](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=certReason)
- [Lower Court Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisposition)
- [Lower Court Disposition Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDispositionDirection)
 Chronological Variables

- [Date of Decision](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateDecision)
- [Term of Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=term)
- [Natural Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=naturalCourt)
- [Chief Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=chief)
- [Date of Oral Argument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateArgument)
- [Date of Reargument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateRearg)
 Substantive Variables

- [Issue](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issue)
- [Issue Area](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issueArea)
- [Decision Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirection)
- [Decision Direction Dissent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirectionDissent)
- [Authority for Decision 1](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision1)
- [Authority for Decision 2](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision2)
- [Legal Provisions Considered by the Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawType)
- [Legal Provision Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawSupp)
- [Legal Provision Minor Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawMinor)
 Outcome Variables

- [Decision Type](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionType)
- [Declaration of Unconstitutionality](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=declarationUncon)
- [Disposition of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDisposition)
- [Unusual Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDispositionUnusual)
- [Winning Party](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=partyWinning)
- [Formal Alteration of Precedent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=precedentAlteration)
 Voting & Opinion Variables

- [Vote Not Clearly Specified](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteUnclear)
- [Majority Opinion Writer](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinWriter)
- [Majority Opinion Assigner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinAssigner)
- [Split Vote](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=splitVote)
- [Majority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majVotes)
- [Minority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=minVotes)
- [Justice ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice)
- [Justice Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justiceName)
- [The Vote in the Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=vote)
- [Opinion](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=opinion)
- [Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=direction)
- [Majority and Minority Voting by Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majority)
- [First Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=firstAgreement)
- [Second Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=secondAgreement)
- | | [CONTACT](http://scdb.wustl.edu/contact.php) | | [TOP](#top) |
| --- | ---------------------- | --- | ----------- |
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- image The Supreme Court Database has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. [Creative Commons License](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/)

| ![washu_logo](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/washu_logo.png) |
| ------------------------------------ |

---
meta-description: The Supreme Court Database is the definitive source for researchers, students, journalists, and citizens interested in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Database contains over two hundred pieces of information about each case decided by the Court between the 1946 and 2012 terms. Examples include the identity of the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed, the parties to the suit, the legal provisions considered in the case, and the votes of the Justices.
meta-generator: Coda
meta-keywords: supreme court, spaeth, database
title: The Supreme Court Database
---

| [![wulaw](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/wulaw.png)](http://law.wustl.edu) |  |
| -------------------------------------------------- | --- |

- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/index.php) image image image image
- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/about.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/analysis.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php)
- image
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- Online Code Book

- Legal Provision Minor Supplement

| **Variable Name** lawMinor | **Spaeth Name** LAW | **Normalizations** n/a |
| ---------------------------- | --------------------- | ------------------------ |

This variable, lawMinor, is reserved for infrequently litigated statutes. Statutes substantially absent from the decision making of the modern Courts will be found in this variable. For these, lawMinor identifies the law at issue. Note: This is a string variable. Introductory

- [Introduction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=intro)
- [Citing to the SCDB](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=cite)
 Identification Variables

- [SCDB Case ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseId)
- [SCDB Docket ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docketId)
- [SCDB Issues ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId)
- [SCDB Vote ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteId)
- [U.S. Reporter Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=usCite)
- [Supreme Court Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=sctCite)
- [Lawyers Edition Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=ledCite)
- [LEXIS Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lexisCite)
- [Docket Number](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docket)
 Background Variables

- [Case Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseName)
- [Petitioner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitioner)
- [Petitioner State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitionerState)
- [Respondent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondent)
- [Respondent State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondentState)
- [Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=jurisdiction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminAction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminActionState)
- [Three-Judge District Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc)
- [Origin of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOrigin)
- [Origin of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOriginState)
- [Source of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSource)
- [Source of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSourceState)
- [Lower Court Disagreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisagreement)
- [Reason for Granting Cert](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=certReason)
- [Lower Court Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisposition)
- [Lower Court Disposition Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDispositionDirection)
 Chronological Variables

- [Date of Decision](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateDecision)
- [Term of Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=term)
- [Natural Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=naturalCourt)
- [Chief Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=chief)
- [Date of Oral Argument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateArgument)
- [Date of Reargument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateRearg)
 Substantive Variables

- [Issue](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issue)
- [Issue Area](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issueArea)
- [Decision Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirection)
- [Decision Direction Dissent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirectionDissent)
- [Authority for Decision 1](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision1)
- [Authority for Decision 2](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision2)
- [Legal Provisions Considered by the Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawType)
- [Legal Provision Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawSupp)
- [Legal Provision Minor Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawMinor)
 Outcome Variables

- [Decision Type](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionType)
- [Declaration of Unconstitutionality](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=declarationUncon)
- [Disposition of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDisposition)
- [Unusual Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDispositionUnusual)
- [Winning Party](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=partyWinning)
- [Formal Alteration of Precedent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=precedentAlteration)
 Voting & Opinion Variables

- [Vote Not Clearly Specified](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteUnclear)
- [Majority Opinion Writer](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinWriter)
- [Majority Opinion Assigner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinAssigner)
- [Split Vote](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=splitVote)
- [Majority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majVotes)
- [Minority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=minVotes)
- [Justice ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice)
- [Justice Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justiceName)
- [The Vote in the Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=vote)
- [Opinion](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=opinion)
- [Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=direction)
- [Majority and Minority Voting by Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majority)
- [First Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=firstAgreement)
- [Second Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=secondAgreement)
- | | [CONTACT](http://scdb.wustl.edu/contact.php) | | [TOP](#top) |
| --- | ---------------------- | --- | ----------- |
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- image The Supreme Court Database has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. [Creative Commons License](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/)

| ![washu_logo](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/washu_logo.png) |
| ------------------------------------ |

---
meta-description: The Supreme Court Database is the definitive source for researchers, students, journalists, and citizens interested in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Database contains over two hundred pieces of information about each case decided by the Court between the 1946 and 2012 terms. Examples include the identity of the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed, the parties to the suit, the legal provisions considered in the case, and the votes of the Justices.
meta-generator: Coda
meta-keywords: supreme court, spaeth, database
title: The Supreme Court Database
---

| [![wulaw](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/wulaw.png)](http://law.wustl.edu) |  |
| -------------------------------------------------- | --- |

- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/index.php) image image image image
- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/about.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/analysis.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php)
- image
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- Online Code Book

- Origin of Case

| **Variable Name** caseOrigin | **Spaeth Name** ORIGIN | **Normalizations** [211 [ view ]](#norms) |
| ------------------------------ | ------------------------ | -------------------------------------------- |

The focus of this variable is the court in which the case originated, not the administrative agency (see adminAction and adminActionState). For this reason a number of cases show a state or federal appellate court as the one in which the case originated rather than a court of first instance (trial court). This variable has no entry for cases that originated in the United States Supreme Court. Note too that caseOrigin does not identify the name of the state if the case originated in a state court. For the state name, see variable caseOriginState.

The courts in the District of Columbia present a special case in part because of their complex history. (The Federal Judicial Center's website provides a succinct description, at: http://www.fjc.gov/history/home.nsf/page/courts_special_dc.html). Below there is a separate code for the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia, which at times had the powers of a circuit court and at others was a trial court. The current federal courts, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia (previously known as the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia) and the District Court for the District of Columbia) and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (a successor to the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia) also, of course, have their own separate codes. Local trial (including today's superior court) and appellate courts (including today's District of Columbia Court of Appeals, the highest court in the District of Columbia) are treated as state courts here and as District of Columbia under the caseOriginState variable.

Other general coding notes:

- Cases that arise on a petition of habeas corpus and those removed to the federal courts from a state court are defined as originating in the federal, rather than a state, court system.

- This variable has no entry if the case arose under the Supreme Court's original jurisdiction and in other proceedings with which no other court was involved.

- A petition for a writ of habeas corpus begins in the federal district court, not the state trial court.

- Cases removed to a federal court originate there.


Coding notes with special relevance to the legacy database:

- The originating (caseOrigin) and source (caseSource) court is often the same because many cases went from trial directly to the Supreme Court. For these cases, lcDisposition (how the source court treated the originating court’s decision) will be empty. An exception is the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia, which had a trial and general session. See, e.g., Thaw v. Ritchie, 136 U.S. 519 (1890), in which the court in general term reversed the trial court.

- We identify courts based on the naming conventions of the day. In the legacy data, users will see that many source and origin courts are “United States Circuit Court for the ___ District of ___. Because of the plethora of districts (and changes in districts), we do not, however, differentiate among districts in a state. E.g., New York U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of New York includes all the districts in New York. For concise histories of the circuit and district courts, see the Federal Judicial Center’s website at: http://www.fjc.gov/history/home.nsf/page/index.html.


Also see source of case (caseSource).

**Values:**

| 1 | U.S. Court of Customs and Patent Appeals |
| --- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| 2 | U.S. Court of International Trade |
| 3 | U.S. Court of Claims, Court of Federal Claims |
| 4 | U.S. Court of Military Appeals, renamed as Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces |
| 5 | U.S. Court of Military Review |
| 6 | U.S. Court of Veterans Appeals |
| 7 | U.S. Customs Court |
| 8 | U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit |
| 9 | U.S. Tax Court |
| 10 | Temporary Emergency U.S. Court of Appeals |
| 12 | U.S. Court for China |
| 13 | U.S. Consular Courts |
| 14 | U.S. Commerce Court |
| 15 | Territorial Supreme Court |
| 16 | Territorial Appellate Court |
| 17 | Territorial Trial Court |
| 18 | Emergency Court of Appeals |
| 19 | Supreme Court of the District of Columbia |
| 20 | Bankruptcy Court |
| 21 | U.S. Court of Appeals, First Circuit |
| 22 | U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit |
| 23 | U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit |
| 24 | U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit |
| 25 | U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit |
| 26 | U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit |
| 27 | U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit |
| 28 | U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit |
| 29 | U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit |
| 30 | U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit |
| 31 | U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit |
| 32 | U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit (includes the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia but not the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, which has local jurisdiction) |
| 41 | Alabama Middle U.S. District Court |
| 42 | Alabama Northern U.S. District Court |
| 43 | Alabama Southern U.S. District Court |
| 44 | Alaska U.S. District Court |
| 45 | Arizona U.S. District Court |
| 46 | Arkansas Eastern U.S. District Court |
| 47 | Arkansas Western U.S. District Court |
| 48 | California Central U.S. District Court |
| 49 | California Eastern U.S. District Court |
| 50 | California Northern U.S. District Court |
| 51 | California Southern U.S. District Court |
| 52 | Colorado U.S. District Court |
| 53 | Connecticut U.S. District Court |
| 54 | Delaware U.S. District Court |
| 55 | District Of Columbia U.S. District Court |
| 56 | Florida Middle U.S. District Court |
| 57 | Florida Northern U.S. District Court |
| 58 | Florida Southern U.S. District Court |
| 59 | Georgia Middle U.S. District Court |
| 60 | Georgia Northern U.S. District Court |
| 61 | Georgia Southern U.S. District Court |
| 62 | Guam U.S. District Court |
| 63 | Hawaii U.S. District Court |
| 64 | Idaho U.S. District Court |
| 65 | Illinois Central U.S. District Court |
| 66 | Illinois Northern U.S. District Court |
| 67 | Illinois Southern U.S. District Court |
| 68 | Indiana Northern U.S. District Court |
| 69 | Indiana Southern U.S. District Court |
| 70 | Iowa Northern U.S. District Court |
| 71 | Iowa Southern U.S. District Court |
| 72 | Kansas U.S. District Court |
| 73 | Kentucky Eastern U.S. District Court |
| 74 | Kentucky Western U.S. District Court |
| 75 | Louisiana Eastern U.S. District Court |
| 76 | Louisiana Middle U.S. District Court |
| 77 | Louisiana Western U.S. District Court |
| 78 | Maine U.S. District Court |
| 79 | Maryland U.S. District Court |
| 80 | Massachusetts U.S. District Court |
| 81 | Michigan Eastern U.S. District Court |
| 82 | Michigan Western U.S. District Court |
| 83 | Minnesota U.S. District Court |
| 84 | Mississippi Northern U.S. District Court |
| 85 | Mississippi Southern U.S. District Court |
| 86 | Missouri Eastern U.S. District Court |
| 87 | Missouri Western U.S. District Court |
| 88 | Montana U.S. District Court |
| 89 | Nebraska U.S. District Court |
| 90 | Nevada U.S. District Court |
| 91 | New Hampshire U.S. District Court |
| 92 | New Jersey U.S. District Court |
| 93 | New Mexico U.S. District Court |
| 94 | New York Eastern U.S. District Court |
| 95 | New York Northern U.S. District Court |
| 96 | New York Southern U.S. District Court |
| 97 | New York Western U.S. District Court |
| 98 | North Carolina Eastern U.S. District Court |
| 99 | North Carolina Middle U.S. District Court |
| 100 | North Carolina Western U.S. District Court |
| 101 | North Dakota U.S. District Court |
| 102 | Northern Mariana Islands U.S. District Court |
| 103 | Ohio Northern U.S. District Court |
| 104 | Ohio Southern U.S. District Court |
| 105 | Oklahoma Eastern U.S. District Court |
| 106 | Oklahoma Northern U.S. District Court |
| 107 | Oklahoma Western U.S. District Court |
| 108 | Oregon U.S. District Court |
| 109 | Pennsylvania Eastern U.S. District Court |
| 110 | Pennsylvania Middle U.S. District Court |
| 111 | Pennsylvania Western U.S. District Court |
| 112 | Puerto Rico U.S. District Court |
| 113 | Rhode Island U.S. District Court |
| 114 | South Carolina U.S. District Court |
| 115 | South Dakota U.S. District Court |
| 116 | Tennessee Eastern U.S. District Court |
| 117 | Tennessee Middle U.S. District Court |
| 118 | Tennessee Western U.S. District Court |
| 119 | Texas Eastern U.S. District Court |
| 120 | Texas Northern U.S. District Court |
| 121 | Texas Southern U.S. District Court |
| 122 | Texas Western U.S. District Court |
| 123 | Utah U.S. District Court |
| 124 | Vermont U.S. District Court |
| 125 | Virgin Islands U.S. District Court |
| 126 | Virginia Eastern U.S. District Court |
| 127 | Virginia Western U.S. District Court |
| 128 | Washington Eastern U.S. District Court |
| 129 | Washington Western U.S. District Court |
| 130 | West Virginia Northern U.S. District Court |
| 131 | West Virginia Southern U.S. District Court |
| 132 | Wisconsin Eastern U.S. District Court |
| 133 | Wisconsin Western U.S. District Court |
| 134 | Wyoming U.S. District Court |
| 150 | Louisiana U.S. District Court |
| 151 | Washington U.S. District Court |
| 152 | West Virginia U.S. District Court |
| 153 | Illinois Eastern U.S. District Court |
| 155 | South Carolina Eastern U.S. District Court |
| 160 | South Carolina Western U.S. District Court |
| 162 | Alabama U.S. District Court |
| 163 | U.S. District Court for the Canal Zone |
| 164 | Georgia U.S. District Court |
| 165 | Illinois U.S. District Court |
| 166 | Indiana U.S. District Court |
| 167 | Iowa U.S. District Court |
| 168 | Michigan U.S. District Court |
| 169 | Mississippi U.S. District Court |
| 170 | Missouri U.S. District Court |
| 171 | New Jersey Eastern U.S. District Court (East Jersey U.S. District Court) |
| 172 | New Jersey Western U.S. District Court (West Jersey U.S. District Court) |
| 173 | New York U.S. District Court |
| 174 | North Carolina U.S. District Court |
| 175 | Ohio U.S. District Court |
| 176 | Pennsylvania U.S. District Court |
| 177 | Tennessee U.S. District Court |
| 178 | Texas U.S. District Court |
| 179 | Virginia U.S. District Court |
| 180 | Norfolk U.S. District Court |
| 181 | Wisconsin U.S. District Court |
| 182 | Kentucky U.S. Distrcrict Court |
| 183 | New Jersey U.S. District Court |
| 184 | California U.S. District Court |
| 185 | Florida U.S. District Court |
| 186 | Arkansas U.S. District Court |
| 187 | District of Orleans U.S. District Court |
| 300 | State Supreme Court |
| 301 | State Appellate Court |
| 302 | State Trial Court |
| 400 | Eastern Circuit (of the United States) |
| 401 | Middle Circuit (of the United States) |
| 402 | Southern Circuit (of the United States) |
| 403 | Alabama U.S. Circuit Court for (all) District(s) of Alabama |
| 404 | Arkansas U.S. Circuit Court for (all) District(s) of Arkansas |
| 405 | California U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of California |
| 406 | Connecticut U.S. Circuit for the District of Connecticut |
| 407 | Delaware U.S. Circuit for the District of Delaware |
| 408 | Florida U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of Florida |
| 409 | Georgia U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of Georgia |
| 410 | Illinois U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of Illinois |
| 411 | Indiana U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of Indiana |
| 412 | Iowa U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of Iowa |
| 413 | Kansas U.S. Circuit for the District of Kansas |
| 414 | Kentucky U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of Kentucky |
| 415 | Louisiana U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of Louisiana |
| 416 | Maine U.S. Circuit for the District of Maine |
| 417 | Maryland U.S. Circuit for the District of Maryland |
| 418 | Massachusetts U.S. Circuit for the District of Massachusetts |
| 419 | Michigan U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of Michigan |
| 420 | Minnesota U.S. Circuit for the District of Minnesota |
| 421 | Mississippi U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of Mississippi |
| 422 | Missouri U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of Missouri |
| 423 | Nevada U.S. Circuit for the District of Nevada |
| 424 | New Hampshire U.S. Circuit for the District of New Hampshire |
| 425 | New Jersey U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of New Jersey |
| 426 | New York U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of New York |
| 427 | North Carolina U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of North Carolina |
| 428 | Ohio U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of Ohio |
| 429 | Oregon U.S. Circuit for the District of Oregon |
| 430 | Pennsylvania U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of Pennsylvania |
| 431 | Rhode Island U.S. Circuit for the District of Rhode Island |
| 432 | South Carolina U.S. Circuit for the District of South Carolina |
| 433 | Tennessee U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of Tennessee |
| 434 | Texas U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of Texas |
| 435 | Vermont U.S. Circuit for the District of Vermont |
| 436 | Virginia U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of Virginia |
| 437 | West Virginia U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of West Virginia |
| 438 | Wisconsin U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of Wisconsin |
| 439 | Wyoming U.S. Circuit for the District of Wyoming |
| 440 | Circuit Court of the District of Columbia |
| 441 | Nebraska U.S. Circuit for the District of Nebraska |
| 442 | Colorado U.S. Circuit for the District of Colorado |
| 443 | Washington U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of Washington |
| 444 | Idaho U.S. Circuit Court for (all) District(s) of Idaho |
| 445 | Montana U.S. Circuit Court for (all) District(s) of Montana |
| 446 | Utah U.S. Circuit Court for (all) District(s) of Utah |
| 447 | South Dakota U.S. Circuit Court for (all) District(s) of South Dakota |
| 448 | North Dakota U.S. Circuit Court for (all) District(s) of North Dakota |
| 449 | Oklahoma U.S. Circuit Court for (all) District(s) of Oklahoma |
| 601 | Court of Private Land Claims | Introductory

- [Introduction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=intro)
- [Citing to the SCDB](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=cite)
 Identification Variables

- [SCDB Case ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseId)
- [SCDB Docket ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docketId)
- [SCDB Issues ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId)
- [SCDB Vote ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteId)
- [U.S. Reporter Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=usCite)
- [Supreme Court Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=sctCite)
- [Lawyers Edition Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=ledCite)
- [LEXIS Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lexisCite)
- [Docket Number](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docket)
 Background Variables

- [Case Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseName)
- [Petitioner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitioner)
- [Petitioner State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitionerState)
- [Respondent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondent)
- [Respondent State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondentState)
- [Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=jurisdiction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminAction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminActionState)
- [Three-Judge District Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc)
- [Origin of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOrigin)
- [Origin of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOriginState)
- [Source of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSource)
- [Source of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSourceState)
- [Lower Court Disagreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisagreement)
- [Reason for Granting Cert](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=certReason)
- [Lower Court Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisposition)
- [Lower Court Disposition Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDispositionDirection)
 Chronological Variables

- [Date of Decision](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateDecision)
- [Term of Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=term)
- [Natural Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=naturalCourt)
- [Chief Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=chief)
- [Date of Oral Argument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateArgument)
- [Date of Reargument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateRearg)
 Substantive Variables

- [Issue](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issue)
- [Issue Area](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issueArea)
- [Decision Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirection)
- [Decision Direction Dissent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirectionDissent)
- [Authority for Decision 1](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision1)
- [Authority for Decision 2](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision2)
- [Legal Provisions Considered by the Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawType)
- [Legal Provision Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawSupp)
- [Legal Provision Minor Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawMinor)
 Outcome Variables

- [Decision Type](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionType)
- [Declaration of Unconstitutionality](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=declarationUncon)
- [Disposition of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDisposition)
- [Unusual Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDispositionUnusual)
- [Winning Party](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=partyWinning)
- [Formal Alteration of Precedent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=precedentAlteration)
 Voting & Opinion Variables

- [Vote Not Clearly Specified](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteUnclear)
- [Majority Opinion Writer](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinWriter)
- [Majority Opinion Assigner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinAssigner)
- [Split Vote](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=splitVote)
- [Majority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majVotes)
- [Minority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=minVotes)
- [Justice ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice)
- [Justice Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justiceName)
- [The Vote in the Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=vote)
- [Opinion](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=opinion)
- [Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=direction)
- [Majority and Minority Voting by Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majority)
- [First Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=firstAgreement)
- [Second Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=secondAgreement)
- | | [CONTACT](http://scdb.wustl.edu/contact.php) | | [TOP](#top) |
| --- | ---------------------- | --- | ----------- |
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- image The Supreme Court Database has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. [Creative Commons License](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/)

| ![washu_logo](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/washu_logo.png) |
| ------------------------------------ |

---
meta-description: The Supreme Court Database is the definitive source for researchers, students, journalists, and citizens interested in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Database contains over two hundred pieces of information about each case decided by the Court between the 1946 and 2012 terms. Examples include the identity of the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed, the parties to the suit, the legal provisions considered in the case, and the votes of the Justices.
meta-generator: Coda
meta-keywords: supreme court, spaeth, database
title: The Supreme Court Database
---

| [![wulaw](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/wulaw.png)](http://law.wustl.edu) |  |
| -------------------------------------------------- | --- |

- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/index.php) image image image image
- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/about.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/analysis.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php)
- image
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- Online Code Book

- Issue Area

| **Variable Name** issueArea | **Spaeth Name** VALUE | **Normalizations** [14 [ view ]](#norms) |
| ----------------------------- | ----------------------- | ------------------------------------------- |

This variable simply separates the issues identified in the preceding variable (issue) into the following larger categories: criminal procedure (issues 10010-10600), civil rights (issues 20010-20410), First Amendment (issues 30010-30020), due process (issues 40010-40070), privacy (issues 50010-50040), attorneys' or governmental officials' fees or compensation (issues 60010-60040), unions (issues 70010-70210), economic activity (issues 80010-80350), judicial power (issues 90010-90520), federalism (issues 100010-100130), interstate relation (issues 110010-110030), federal taxation (issues 120010-120040), miscellaneous (issues 130010-130020), and private law (issues 140010-140080).

The contents of these issue areas are both over- and under-specfied; especially those of largest size: criminal procedure, civil rights,and economic ativity. In the interests of precision, users focusing on this variable would be wise to specify the components of a specific issue area that their analyses include or exclude.

Note that some of the issues in an issue area will have a distinctive direction at variance from the issue area's overal direction. E.g., the liability variables 80060, 80070, and 80080. See decision direction.

**Values:**

| 1 | Criminal Procedure |
| --- | -------------------- |
| 2 | Civil Rights |
| 3 | First Amendment |
| 4 | Due Process |
| 5 | Privacy |
| 6 | Attorneys |
| 7 | Unions |
| 8 | Economic Activity |
| 9 | Judicial Power |
| 10 | Federalism |
| 11 | Interstate Relations |
| 12 | Federal Taxation |
| 13 | Miscellaneous |
| 14 | Private Action | Introductory

- [Introduction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=intro)
- [Citing to the SCDB](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=cite)
 Identification Variables

- [SCDB Case ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseId)
- [SCDB Docket ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docketId)
- [SCDB Issues ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId)
- [SCDB Vote ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteId)
- [U.S. Reporter Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=usCite)
- [Supreme Court Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=sctCite)
- [Lawyers Edition Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=ledCite)
- [LEXIS Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lexisCite)
- [Docket Number](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docket)
 Background Variables

- [Case Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseName)
- [Petitioner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitioner)
- [Petitioner State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitionerState)
- [Respondent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondent)
- [Respondent State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondentState)
- [Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=jurisdiction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminAction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminActionState)
- [Three-Judge District Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc)
- [Origin of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOrigin)
- [Origin of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOriginState)
- [Source of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSource)
- [Source of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSourceState)
- [Lower Court Disagreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisagreement)
- [Reason for Granting Cert](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=certReason)
- [Lower Court Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisposition)
- [Lower Court Disposition Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDispositionDirection)
 Chronological Variables

- [Date of Decision](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateDecision)
- [Term of Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=term)
- [Natural Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=naturalCourt)
- [Chief Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=chief)
- [Date of Oral Argument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateArgument)
- [Date of Reargument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateRearg)
 Substantive Variables

- [Issue](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issue)
- [Issue Area](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issueArea)
- [Decision Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirection)
- [Decision Direction Dissent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirectionDissent)
- [Authority for Decision 1](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision1)
- [Authority for Decision 2](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision2)
- [Legal Provisions Considered by the Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawType)
- [Legal Provision Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawSupp)
- [Legal Provision Minor Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawMinor)
 Outcome Variables

- [Decision Type](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionType)
- [Declaration of Unconstitutionality](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=declarationUncon)
- [Disposition of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDisposition)
- [Unusual Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDispositionUnusual)
- [Winning Party](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=partyWinning)
- [Formal Alteration of Precedent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=precedentAlteration)
 Voting & Opinion Variables

- [Vote Not Clearly Specified](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteUnclear)
- [Majority Opinion Writer](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinWriter)
- [Majority Opinion Assigner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinAssigner)
- [Split Vote](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=splitVote)
- [Majority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majVotes)
- [Minority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=minVotes)
- [Justice ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice)
- [Justice Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justiceName)
- [The Vote in the Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=vote)
- [Opinion](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=opinion)
- [Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=direction)
- [Majority and Minority Voting by Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majority)
- [First Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=firstAgreement)
- [Second Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=secondAgreement)
- | | [CONTACT](http://scdb.wustl.edu/contact.php) | | [TOP](#top) |
| --- | ---------------------- | --- | ----------- |
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- image The Supreme Court Database has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. [Creative Commons License](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/)

| ![washu_logo](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/washu_logo.png) |
| ------------------------------------ |

---
meta-description: The Supreme Court Database is the definitive source for researchers, students, journalists, and citizens interested in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Database contains over two hundred pieces of information about each case decided by the Court between the 1946 and 2012 terms. Examples include the identity of the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed, the parties to the suit, the legal provisions considered in the case, and the votes of the Justices.
meta-generator: Coda
meta-keywords: supreme court, spaeth, database
title: The Supreme Court Database
---

| [![wulaw](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/wulaw.png)](http://law.wustl.edu) |  |
| -------------------------------------------------- | --- |

- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/index.php) image image image image
- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/about.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/analysis.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php)
- image
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- Online Code Book

- Majority Opinion Writer

| **Variable Name** majOpinWriter | **Spaeth Name** MOW | **Normalizations** [118 [ view ]](#norms) |
| --------------------------------- | --------------------- | -------------------------------------------- |

This variable identifies the author of the Court's opinion or judgment, as the case may be.

*Note: This variable relies on the Justices ID for its values. For a more detailed description of these identifiers, please visit the [detail page for the Justices variable](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice). Note that the justice normalizations changed with the SCDB_2012_01 release of the database.***Values:**

| 1 | JJay | *Jay, John ( 10/19/1789 - 06/29/1795 )* |
| --- | ------------ | -------------------------------------------------- |
| 2 | JRutledge1 | *Rutledge, John ( 02/15/1790 - 03/05/1791 )* |
| 3 | WCushing | *Cushing, William ( 02/02/1790 - 09/13/1810 )* |
| 4 | JWilson | *Wilson, James ( 10/05/1789 - 08/21/1798 )* |
| 5 | JBlair | *Blair, John ( 02/02/1790 - 01/27/1796 )* |
| 6 | JIredell | *Iredell, James ( 05/12/1790 - 10/20/1799 )* |
| 7 | TJohnson | *Johnson, Thomas ( 09/19/1791 - 02/22/1793 )* |
| 8 | WPaterson | *Paterson, William ( 03/11/1793 - 09/09/1806 )* |
| 9 | JRutledge2 | *Rutledge, John ( 08/12/1795 - 12/15/1795 )* |
| 10 | SChase | *Chase, Samuel ( 02/04/1796 - 06/19/1811 )* |
| 11 | OEllsworth | *Ellsworth, Oliver ( 03/08/1796 - 12/15/1800 )* |
| 12 | BWashington | *Washington, Bushrod ( 11/09/1798 - 11/26/1829 )* |
| 13 | AMoore | *Moore, Alfred ( 04/21/1800 - 01/26/1804 )* |
| 14 | JMarshall | *Marshall, John ( 02/04/1801 - 07/06/1835 )* |
| 15 | WJohnson | *Johnson, William ( 05/07/1804 - 08/04/1834 )* |
| 16 | HBLivingston | *Livingston, Henry ( 01/20/1807 - 03/18/1823 )* |
| 17 | TTodd | *Todd, Thomas ( 05/04/1807 - 02/07/1826 )* |
| 18 | GDuvall | *Duvall, Gabriel ( 11/23/1811 - 01/14/1835 )* |
| 19 | JStory | *Story, Joseph ( 02/03/1812 - 09/10/1845 )* |
| 20 | SThompson | *Thompson, Smith ( 09/01/1823 - 12/18/1843 )* |
| 21 | RTrimble | *Trimble, Robert ( 06/16/1826 - 08/25/1828 )* |
| 22 | JMcLean | *McLean, John ( 01/11/1830 - 04/04/1861 )* |
| 23 | HBaldwin | *Baldwin, Henry ( 01/18/1830 - 04/21/1844 )* |
| 24 | JMWayne | *Wayne, James ( 01/14/1835 - 07/05/1867 )* |
| 25 | RBTaney | *Taney, Roger ( 03/28/1836 - 10/12/1864 )* |
| 26 | PPBarbour | *Barbour, Philip ( 05/12/1836 - 02/25/1841 )* |
| 27 | JCatron | *Catron, John ( 05/01/1837 - 05/30/1865 )* |
| 28 | JMcKinley | *McKinley, John ( 04/22/1837 - 07/19/1852 )* |
| 29 | PVDaniel | *Daniel, Peter ( 01/10/1842 - 05/31/1860 )* |
| 30 | SNelson | *Nelson, Samuel ( 02/27/1845 - 11/28/1872 )* |
| 31 | LWoodbury | *Woodbury, Levi ( 09/23/1845 - 09/04/1851 )* |
| 32 | RCGrier | *Grier, Robert ( 08/10/1846 - 01/31/1870 )* |
| 33 | BRCurtis | *Curtis, Benjamin ( 10/10/1851 - 09/30/1857 )* |
| 34 | JACampbell | *Campbell, John ( 04/11/1853 - 04/30/1861 )* |
| 35 | NClifford | *Clifford, Nathan ( 01/21/1858 - 07/25/1881 )* |
| 36 | NHSwayne | *Swayne, Noah ( 01/27/1862 - 01/24/1881 )* |
| 37 | SFMiller | *Miller, Samuel ( 07/21/1862 - 10/13/1890 )* |
| 38 | DDavis | *Davis, David ( 10/17/1862 - 03/04/1877 )* |
| 39 | SJField | *Field, Stephen ( 05/20/1863 - 12/01/1897 )* |
| 40 | SPChase | *Chase, Salmon ( 12/15/1864 - 05/07/1873 )* |
| 41 | WStrong | *Strong, William ( 03/14/1870 - 12/14/1880 )* |
| 42 | JPBradley | *Bradley, Joseph ( 03/21/1870 - 01/22/1892 )* |
| 43 | WHunt | *Hunt, Ward ( 01/09/1873 - 01/27/1882 )* |
| 44 | MRWaite | *Waite, Morrison ( 03/04/1874 - 04/03/1888 )* |
| 45 | JHarlan1 | *Harlan, John ( 12/10/1877 - 10/14/1911 )* |
| 46 | WBWoods | *Woods, William ( 01/05/1881 - 05/14/1887 )* |
| 47 | SMatthews | *Matthews, Stanley ( 05/17/1881 - 03/22/1889 )* |
| 48 | HGray | *Gray, Horace ( 01/09/1882 - 09/15/1902 )* |
| 49 | SBlatchford | *Blatchford, Samuel ( 04/03/1882 - 07/07/1893 )* |
| 50 | LQLamar | *Lamar, Lucius ( 01/18/1888 - 01/23/1893 )* |
| 51 | MWFuller | *Fuller, Melville ( 10/08/1888 - 07/04/1910 )* |
| 52 | DJBrewer | *Brewer, David ( 01/06/1890 - 03/28/1910 )* |
| 53 | HBBrown | *Brown, Henry ( 01/05/1891 - 05/28/1906 )* |
| 54 | GShiras | *Shiras, George ( 10/10/1892 - 02/23/1903 )* |
| 55 | HEJackson | *Jackson, Howell ( 03/04/1893 - 08/08/1895 )* |
| 56 | EDEWhite | *White, Edward ( 03/12/1894 - 05/19/1921 )* |
| 57 | RWPeckham | *Peckham, Rufus ( 01/06/1896 - 10/24/1909 )* |
| 58 | JMcKenna | *McKenna, Joseph ( 01/26/1898 - 01/05/1925 )* |
| 59 | OWHolmes | *Holmes, Oliver ( 08/11/1902 - 01/12/1932 )* |
| 60 | WRDay | *Day, William ( 03/02/1903 - 11/13/1922 )* |
| 61 | WHMoody | *Moody, William ( 12/17/1906 - 11/20/1910 )* |
| 62 | HHLurton | *Lurton, Horace ( 01/03/1910 - 07/12/1914 )* |
| 63 | CEHughes1 | *Hughes, Charles ( 10/10/1910 - 06/10/1916 )* |
| 64 | WVanDevanter | *Van Devanter, Willis ( 01/03/1911 - 06/02/1937 )* |
| 65 | JRLamar | *Lamar, Joseph ( 01/03/1911 - 01/02/1916 )* |
| 66 | MPitney | *Pitney, Mahlon ( 03/18/1912 - 12/31/1922 )* |
| 67 | JCMcReynolds | *McReynolds, James ( 10/12/1914 - 01/31/1941 )* |
| 68 | LDBrandeis | *Brandeis, Louis ( 06/05/1916 - 02/13/1939 )* |
| 69 | JHClarke | *Clarke, John ( 10/09/1916 - 09/18/1922 )* |
| 70 | WHTaft | *Taft, William ( 07/11/1921 - 02/03/1930 )* |
| 71 | GSutherland | *Sutherland, George ( 10/02/1922 - 01/17/1938 )* |
| 72 | PButler | *Butler, Pierce ( 01/02/1923 - 11/16/1939 )* |
| 73 | ETSanford | *Sanford, Edward ( 02/19/1923 - 03/08/1930 )* |
| 74 | HFStone | *Stone, Harlan ( 03/02/1925 - 04/22/1946 )* |
| 75 | CEHughes2 | *Hughes, Charles ( 02/24/1930 - 07/01/1941 )* |
| 76 | OJRoberts | *Roberts, Owen ( 06/02/1930 - 07/31/1945 )* |
| 77 | BNCardozo | *Cardozo, Benjamin ( 03/14/1932 - 07/09/1938 )* |
| 78 | HLBlack | *Black, Hugo ( 08/19/1937 - 09/17/1971 )* |
| 79 | SFReed | *Reed, Stanley ( 01/31/1938 - 02/25/1957 )* |
| 80 | FFrankfurter | *Frankfurter, Felix ( 01/30/1939 - 08/28/1962 )* |
| 81 | WODouglas | *Douglas, William ( 04/17/1939 - 11/12/1975 )* |
| 82 | FMurphy | *Murphy, Francis ( 02/05/1940 - 07/19/1949 )* |
| 83 | JFByrnes | *Byrnes, James ( 07/08/1941 - 10/03/1942 )* |
| 84 | RHJackson | *Jackson, Robert ( 07/11/1941 - 10/09/1954 )* |
| 85 | WBRutledge | *Rutledge, Wiley ( 02/15/1943 - 09/10/1949 )* |
| 86 | HHBurton | *Burton, Harold ( 10/01/1945 - 10/13/1958 )* |
| 87 | FMVinson | *Vinson, Fred ( 06/24/1946 - 09/08/1953 )* |
| 88 | TCClark | *Clark, Tom ( 08/24/1949 - 06/12/1967 )* |
| 89 | SMinton | *Minton, Sherman ( 10/12/1949 - 10/15/1956 )* |
| 90 | EWarren | *Warren, Earl ( 10/05/1953 - 06/23/1969 )* |
| 91 | JHarlan2 | *Harlan, John ( 03/28/1955 - 09/23/1971 )* |
| 92 | WJBrennan | *Brennan, William ( 10/16/1956 - 07/20/1990 )* |
| 93 | CEWhittaker | *Whittaker, Charles ( 03/25/1957 - 03/31/1962 )* |
| 94 | PStewart | *Stewart, Potter ( 10/14/1958 - 07/03/1981 )* |
| 95 | BRWhite | *White, Byron ( 04/16/1962 - 06/28/1993 )* |
| 96 | AJGoldberg | *Goldberg, Arthur ( 10/01/1962 - 07/25/1965 )* |
| 97 | AFortas | *Fortas, Abe ( 10/04/1965 - 05/14/1969 )* |
| 98 | TMarshall | *Marshall, Thurgood ( 10/02/1967 - 10/01/1991 )* |
| 99 | WEBurger | *Burger, Warren ( 06/23/1969 - 09/26/1986 )* |
| 100 | HABlackmun | *Blackmun, Harry ( 06/09/1970 - 08/03/1994 )* |
| 101 | LFPowell | *Powell, Lewis ( 01/07/1972 - 06/26/1987 )* |
| 102 | WHRehnquist | *Rehnquist, William ( 01/07/1972 - 09/03/2005 )* |
| 103 | JPStevens | *Stevens, John ( 12/19/1975 - 06/29/2010 )* |
| 104 | SDOConnor | *O'Connor, Sandra ( 09/25/1981 - 01/31/2006 )* |
| 105 | AScalia | *Scalia, Antonin ( 09/26/1986 - 02/13/2016 )* |
| 106 | AMKennedy | *Kennedy, Anthony ( 02/18/1988 - 07/31/2018 )* |
| 107 | DHSouter | *Souter, David ( 10/09/1990 - 06/29/2009 )* |
| 108 | CThomas | *Thomas, Clarence ( 10/23/1991 - 00/00/0000 )* |
| 109 | RBGinsburg | *Ginsburg, Ruth ( 08/10/1993 - 09/18/2020 )* |
| 110 | SGBreyer | *Breyer, Stephen ( 08/03/1994 - 06/30/2022 )* |
| 111 | JGRoberts | *Roberts, John ( 09/29/2005 - 00/00/0000 )* |
| 112 | SAAlito | *Alito, Samuel ( 01/31/2006 - 00/00/0000 )* |
| 113 | SSotomayor | *Sotomayor, Sonia ( 08/08/2009 - 00/00/0000 )* |
| 114 | EKagan | *Kagan, Elena ( 08/07/2010 - 00/00/0000 )* |
| 115 | NMGorsuch | *Gorsuch, Neil ( 04/08/2017 - 00/00/0000 )* |
| 116 | BMKavanaugh | *Kavanaugh, Brett ( 10/06/2018 - 00/00/0000 )* |
| 117 | ACBarrett | *Barrett, Amy ( 10/27/2020 - 00/00/0000 )* |
| 118 | KBJackson | *Jackson, Ketanji ( 06/30/2022 - 00/00/0000 )* |** Introductory

- [Introduction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=intro)
- [Citing to the SCDB](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=cite)
 Identification Variables

- [SCDB Case ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseId)
- [SCDB Docket ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docketId)
- [SCDB Issues ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId)
- [SCDB Vote ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteId)
- [U.S. Reporter Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=usCite)
- [Supreme Court Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=sctCite)
- [Lawyers Edition Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=ledCite)
- [LEXIS Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lexisCite)
- [Docket Number](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docket)
 Background Variables

- [Case Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseName)
- [Petitioner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitioner)
- [Petitioner State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitionerState)
- [Respondent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondent)
- [Respondent State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondentState)
- [Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=jurisdiction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminAction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminActionState)
- [Three-Judge District Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc)
- [Origin of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOrigin)
- [Origin of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOriginState)
- [Source of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSource)
- [Source of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSourceState)
- [Lower Court Disagreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisagreement)
- [Reason for Granting Cert](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=certReason)
- [Lower Court Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisposition)
- [Lower Court Disposition Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDispositionDirection)
 Chronological Variables

- [Date of Decision](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateDecision)
- [Term of Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=term)
- [Natural Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=naturalCourt)
- [Chief Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=chief)
- [Date of Oral Argument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateArgument)
- [Date of Reargument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateRearg)
 Substantive Variables

- [Issue](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issue)
- [Issue Area](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issueArea)
- [Decision Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirection)
- [Decision Direction Dissent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirectionDissent)
- [Authority for Decision 1](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision1)
- [Authority for Decision 2](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision2)
- [Legal Provisions Considered by the Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawType)
- [Legal Provision Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawSupp)
- [Legal Provision Minor Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawMinor)
 Outcome Variables

- [Decision Type](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionType)
- [Declaration of Unconstitutionality](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=declarationUncon)
- [Disposition of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDisposition)
- [Unusual Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDispositionUnusual)
- [Winning Party](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=partyWinning)
- [Formal Alteration of Precedent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=precedentAlteration)
 Voting & Opinion Variables

- [Vote Not Clearly Specified](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteUnclear)
- [Majority Opinion Writer](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinWriter)
- [Majority Opinion Assigner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinAssigner)
- [Split Vote](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=splitVote)
- [Majority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majVotes)
- [Minority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=minVotes)
- [Justice ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice)
- [Justice Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justiceName)
- [The Vote in the Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=vote)
- [Opinion](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=opinion)
- [Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=direction)
- [Majority and Minority Voting by Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majority)
- [First Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=firstAgreement)
- [Second Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=secondAgreement)
- | | [CONTACT](http://scdb.wustl.edu/contact.php) | | [TOP](#top) |
| --- | ---------------------- | --- | ----------- |
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- image The Supreme Court Database has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. [Creative Commons License](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/)

| ![washu_logo](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/washu_logo.png) |
| ------------------------------------ |

---
meta-description: The Supreme Court Database is the definitive source for researchers, students, journalists, and citizens interested in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Database contains over two hundred pieces of information about each case decided by the Court between the 1946 and 2012 terms. Examples include the identity of the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed, the parties to the suit, the legal provisions considered in the case, and the votes of the Justices.
meta-generator: Coda
meta-keywords: supreme court, spaeth, database
title: The Supreme Court Database
---

| [![wulaw](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/wulaw.png)](http://law.wustl.edu) |  |
| -------------------------------------------------- | --- |

- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/index.php) image image image image
- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/about.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/analysis.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php)
- image
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- Online Code Book

- SCDB Issues ID

| **Variable Name** caseIssuesId | **Spaeth Name** n/a | **Normalizations** n/a |
| -------------------------------- | --------------------- | ------------------------ |

This is the third of four unique internal identification numbers.

The first four digits are the term. The next four are the case within the term (starting at 001 and counting up). The next two are the number of dockets consolidated under the U.S. Reports citation (starting at 01 and counting up). The last two are the number of issues and legal provisions within the case (starting at 01 and counting up). Introductory

- [Introduction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=intro)
- [Citing to the SCDB](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=cite)
 Identification Variables

- [SCDB Case ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseId)
- [SCDB Docket ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docketId)
- [SCDB Issues ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId)
- [SCDB Vote ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteId)
- [U.S. Reporter Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=usCite)
- [Supreme Court Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=sctCite)
- [Lawyers Edition Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=ledCite)
- [LEXIS Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lexisCite)
- [Docket Number](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docket)
 Background Variables

- [Case Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseName)
- [Petitioner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitioner)
- [Petitioner State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitionerState)
- [Respondent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondent)
- [Respondent State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondentState)
- [Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=jurisdiction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminAction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminActionState)
- [Three-Judge District Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc)
- [Origin of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOrigin)
- [Origin of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOriginState)
- [Source of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSource)
- [Source of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSourceState)
- [Lower Court Disagreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisagreement)
- [Reason for Granting Cert](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=certReason)
- [Lower Court Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisposition)
- [Lower Court Disposition Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDispositionDirection)
 Chronological Variables

- [Date of Decision](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateDecision)
- [Term of Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=term)
- [Natural Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=naturalCourt)
- [Chief Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=chief)
- [Date of Oral Argument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateArgument)
- [Date of Reargument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateRearg)
 Substantive Variables

- [Issue](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issue)
- [Issue Area](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issueArea)
- [Decision Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirection)
- [Decision Direction Dissent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirectionDissent)
- [Authority for Decision 1](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision1)
- [Authority for Decision 2](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision2)
- [Legal Provisions Considered by the Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawType)
- [Legal Provision Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawSupp)
- [Legal Provision Minor Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawMinor)
 Outcome Variables

- [Decision Type](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionType)
- [Declaration of Unconstitutionality](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=declarationUncon)
- [Disposition of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDisposition)
- [Unusual Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDispositionUnusual)
- [Winning Party](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=partyWinning)
- [Formal Alteration of Precedent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=precedentAlteration)
 Voting & Opinion Variables

- [Vote Not Clearly Specified](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteUnclear)
- [Majority Opinion Writer](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinWriter)
- [Majority Opinion Assigner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinAssigner)
- [Split Vote](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=splitVote)
- [Majority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majVotes)
- [Minority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=minVotes)
- [Justice ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice)
- [Justice Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justiceName)
- [The Vote in the Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=vote)
- [Opinion](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=opinion)
- [Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=direction)
- [Majority and Minority Voting by Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majority)
- [First Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=firstAgreement)
- [Second Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=secondAgreement)
- | | [CONTACT](http://scdb.wustl.edu/contact.php) | | [TOP](#top) |
| --- | ---------------------- | --- | ----------- |
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- image The Supreme Court Database has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. [Creative Commons License](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/)

| ![washu_logo](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/washu_logo.png) |
| ------------------------------------ |

---
meta-description: The Supreme Court Database is the definitive source for researchers, students, journalists, and citizens interested in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Database contains over two hundred pieces of information about each case decided by the Court between the 1946 and 2012 terms. Examples include the identity of the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed, the parties to the suit, the legal provisions considered in the case, and the votes of the Justices.
meta-generator: Coda
meta-keywords: supreme court, spaeth, database
title: The Supreme Court Database
---

| [![wulaw](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/wulaw.png)](http://law.wustl.edu) |  |
| -------------------------------------------------- | --- |

- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/index.php) image image image image
- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/about.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/analysis.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php)
- image
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- Online Code Book

- Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State

| **Variable Name** adminActionState | **Spaeth Name** ADMIN | **Normalizations** [64 [ view ]](#norms) |
| ------------------------------------ | ----------------------- | ------------------------------------------- |

Administrative action may be either state or federal. If administrative action was taken by a state or a subdivision thereof, this variable identifies the state. See adminAction for federal agencies and for the coding rules.

When a state agency or official acts as an agent of a federal agency, it is identified as such.

**Values:**

| 1 | Alabama |
| --- | ------------------------------ |
| 2 | Alaska |
| 3 | American Samoa |
| 4 | Arizona |
| 5 | Arkansas |
| 6 | California |
| 7 | Colorado |
| 8 | Connecticut |
| 9 | Delaware |
| 10 | District of Columbia |
| 11 | Federated States of Micronesia |
| 12 | Florida |
| 13 | Georgia |
| 14 | Guam |
| 15 | Hawaii |
| 16 | Idaho |
| 17 | Illinois |
| 18 | Indiana |
| 19 | Iowa |
| 20 | Kansas |
| 21 | Kentucky |
| 22 | Louisiana |
| 23 | Maine |
| 24 | Marshall Islands |
| 25 | Maryland |
| 26 | Massachusetts |
| 27 | Michigan |
| 28 | Minnesota |
| 29 | Mississippi |
| 30 | Missouri |
| 31 | Montana |
| 32 | Nebraska |
| 33 | Nevada |
| 34 | New Hampshire |
| 35 | New Jersey |
| 36 | New Mexico |
| 37 | New York |
| 38 | North Carolina |
| 39 | North Dakota |
| 40 | Northern Mariana Islands |
| 41 | Ohio |
| 42 | Oklahoma |
| 43 | Oregon |
| 44 | Palau |
| 45 | Pennsylvania |
| 46 | Puerto Rico |
| 47 | Rhode Island |
| 48 | South Carolina |
| 49 | South Dakota |
| 50 | Tennessee |
| 51 | Texas |
| 52 | Utah |
| 53 | Vermont |
| 54 | Virgin Islands |
| 55 | Virginia |
| 56 | Washington |
| 57 | West Virginia |
| 58 | Wisconsin |
| 59 | Wyoming |
| 60 | United States |
| 61 | Interstate Compact |
| 62 | Philippines |
| 63 | Indian |
| 64 | Dakota | Introductory

- [Introduction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=intro)
- [Citing to the SCDB](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=cite)
 Identification Variables

- [SCDB Case ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseId)
- [SCDB Docket ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docketId)
- [SCDB Issues ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId)
- [SCDB Vote ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteId)
- [U.S. Reporter Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=usCite)
- [Supreme Court Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=sctCite)
- [Lawyers Edition Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=ledCite)
- [LEXIS Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lexisCite)
- [Docket Number](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docket)
 Background Variables

- [Case Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseName)
- [Petitioner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitioner)
- [Petitioner State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitionerState)
- [Respondent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondent)
- [Respondent State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondentState)
- [Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=jurisdiction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminAction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminActionState)
- [Three-Judge District Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc)
- [Origin of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOrigin)
- [Origin of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOriginState)
- [Source of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSource)
- [Source of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSourceState)
- [Lower Court Disagreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisagreement)
- [Reason for Granting Cert](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=certReason)
- [Lower Court Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisposition)
- [Lower Court Disposition Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDispositionDirection)
 Chronological Variables

- [Date of Decision](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateDecision)
- [Term of Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=term)
- [Natural Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=naturalCourt)
- [Chief Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=chief)
- [Date of Oral Argument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateArgument)
- [Date of Reargument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateRearg)
 Substantive Variables

- [Issue](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issue)
- [Issue Area](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issueArea)
- [Decision Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirection)
- [Decision Direction Dissent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirectionDissent)
- [Authority for Decision 1](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision1)
- [Authority for Decision 2](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision2)
- [Legal Provisions Considered by the Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawType)
- [Legal Provision Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawSupp)
- [Legal Provision Minor Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawMinor)
 Outcome Variables

- [Decision Type](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionType)
- [Declaration of Unconstitutionality](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=declarationUncon)
- [Disposition of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDisposition)
- [Unusual Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDispositionUnusual)
- [Winning Party](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=partyWinning)
- [Formal Alteration of Precedent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=precedentAlteration)
 Voting & Opinion Variables

- [Vote Not Clearly Specified](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteUnclear)
- [Majority Opinion Writer](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinWriter)
- [Majority Opinion Assigner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinAssigner)
- [Split Vote](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=splitVote)
- [Majority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majVotes)
- [Minority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=minVotes)
- [Justice ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice)
- [Justice Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justiceName)
- [The Vote in the Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=vote)
- [Opinion](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=opinion)
- [Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=direction)
- [Majority and Minority Voting by Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majority)
- [First Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=firstAgreement)
- [Second Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=secondAgreement)
- | | [CONTACT](http://scdb.wustl.edu/contact.php) | | [TOP](#top) |
| --- | ---------------------- | --- | ----------- |
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- image The Supreme Court Database has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. [Creative Commons License](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/)

| ![washu_logo](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/washu_logo.png) |
| ------------------------------------ |

image image image image image
Online Code Book Downloadable Code Book Code Repository SCDB Web 101
Online Code Book

Authority for Decision 1
Variable Name
Spaeth Name
7 [ view ]

This variable and the next one (authorityDecision2) specify the bases on which the Supreme Court rested its decision with regard to each legal provision that the Court considered in the case (see variable lawType).

Neither of them lends itself to objectivity. Many cases arguably rest on more than two bases for decision. Given
that the Court's citation of its precedents also qualifies as a common law decision and that most every case can be considered as at least partially based thereon, common law is the default basis for the Court's decisions. With the exception of decrees and brief non-orally argued decisions you may safely add common law to those cases lacking a second basis for decision.

Because one of these bases commonly occurs conjoined with another, the interpretation of the substantive provisions of a federal statute and the Supreme Court's exercise of its supervisory power over the lower federal courts; two separate variables (authorityDecision1, authorityDecision2) follow. The coding is the same in both. In the foregoing example, the first variable will contain a "4," the second a "3." In a case involving congressional acquiescence to longstanding administrative construction of a statute, these variables should appear as "5" and "4." If two bases are identified, and if one is more heavily emphasized, it should appear in the first of the two variables.

Considerable congruence should obtain between the entry in these variables and the code that appears in the lawType variable. Thus, if a constitutional provision appears in the lawType variable, a "1" or a "2" will typically appear in either authorityDecision1 or authorityDecision2. Similarly, if lawType displays a statute, either authorityDecision1 or authorityDecision2 will likely show a "4."

A common exception is where the Court determines the constitutionality of a federal statute, or where judge-made rules are applied to determine liability under various federal statutes, including civil rights acts (e.g., Pulliam v. Allen, 466 U.S. 522), or the propriety of the federal courts' use of state statutes of limitations to adjudicate federal statutory claims (e.g., Burnett v. Grattan, 468 U.S. 42).

The decision rules governing each of the authority for decision codes are as follows:

For a code of 1: The majority determined the constitutionality of some action taken by some unit or official of the federal government, including an interstate compact.

Enter a "1" if 139 appears in the lawSupp variable.

Enter a "1" if 111 appears in the lawSupp variable.

For a code of 2: Did the majority determine the constitutionality of some action taken by some unit or official of a state or local government? If so, enter a "2."

For a code of 3: If the rules governing codes "1-2," "4-7" are answered negatively or do not apply, enter a "3." A "3," then, serves as the residual code for these variables.

Enter a "3" if 508 appears in the lawSupp variable.

Non-statutorily based Judicial Power topics in the issue variable generally warrant a "3."

Most cases arising under the Court's original jurisdiction should receive a "3."

All cases containing a "4" in the type of decision variable = 3.

Enter a "3" in cases in which the Court denied or dismissed the petition for review or where the decision of a lower court is affirmed by a tie vote.

For a code of 4: Did the majority interpret a federal statute, treaty, or court rule? If so, enter a "4."

Enter a "4" rather than a "3" if the Court interprets a federal statute governing the powers or jurisdiction of a federal court. In other words, a statutory basis for a court's exercise of power or jurisdiction does not require that a "3" supplement a "4"; the latter alone suffices.

Enter a "4" rather than a "2" where the Court construes a state law as incompatible with a federal law.

Do not enter only a "4" where an administrative agency or official acts "pursuant to" a statute. All agency action is purportedly done pursuant to legislative authorization of one sort or another. A "4" may be coupled to a "5" (see below) only if the Court interprets the statute to determine if administrative action is proper.

In workers' compensation litigation involving statutory interpretation and, in addition, a discussion of jury determination and/or the sufficiency of the evidence, enter either a "4" and a "3" or a "3" and a "4." If no statute is identified in the syllabus, only enter a "3."

For a code of 5: Did the majority treats federal administrative action in arriving at its decision? If so, enter a "5."

Enter a "5' and a "4," but not a "5" alone, where an administrative official interprets a federal statute.

Enter a "5" if the issue = 90120.

For a code of 6: Did the majority say in approximately so many words that under its diversity jurisdiction it is interpreting state law? If so, enter a "6."

For a code of 7: Did the majority indicate that it used a judge-made "doctrine" or "rule?" If so, enter a "7." Where such is used in conjunction with a federal law or enacted rule, a "7" and "4" should appear in the two variables of this record.

Enter a "7" if the Court without more merely specifies the disposition the Court has made of the case and cites one or more of its own previously decided cases; but enter a "3" if the citation is qualified by the word, "see."

Enter a "7" if the case concerns admiralty or maritime law, or some other aspect of the law of nations other than a treaty, which qualifies as a "4."

Enter a "7" if the case concerns the retroactive application of a constitutional provision or a previous decision of the Court.

Enter a "7" if the case concerns an exclusionary rule, the harmless error rule (though not the statute), the abstention doctrine, comity, res judicata, or collateral estoppel. Note that some of these, especially comity issues, likely warrant an entry in both authorityDecision variables: a "7" as well as a "3."

Enter a "7" if the case concerns a "rule" or "doctrine" that is not specified as related to or connected with a constitutional or statutory provision (e.g., 376 U.S. 398).
1 judicial review (national level)
2 judicial review (state level)
3 Supreme Court supervision of lower federal or state courts or original jurisdiction
4 statutory construction
5 interpretation of administrative regulation or rule, or executive order
6 diversity jurisdiction
7 federal common law
Identification Variables
Background Variables
Chronological Variables
Substantive Variables
Outcome Variables
Voting & Opinion Variables

Online Code Book Downloadable Code Book Code Repository SCDB Web 101
image The Supreme Court Database has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. Creative Commons License

---
meta-description: The Supreme Court Database is the definitive source for researchers, students, journalists, and citizens interested in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Database contains over two hundred pieces of information about each case decided by the Court between the 1946 and 2012 terms. Examples include the identity of the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed, the parties to the suit, the legal provisions considered in the case, and the votes of the Justices.
meta-generator: Coda
meta-keywords: supreme court, spaeth, database
title: The Supreme Court Database
---

| [![wulaw](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/wulaw.png)](http://law.wustl.edu) |  |
| -------------------------------------------------- | --- |

- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/index.php) image image image image
- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/about.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/analysis.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php)
- image
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- Online Code Book

- Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction

| **Variable Name** jurisdiction | **Spaeth Name** JUR | **Normalizations** [14 [ view ]](#norms) |
| -------------------------------- | --------------------- | ------------------------------------------- |

The Court uses a variety of means whereby it undertakes to consider cases that it has been petitioned to review. These are listed below. The most important ones are the writ of certiorari, the writ of appeal, and for legacy cases the writ of error, appeal, and certification.

A few notes are in order. First, there are handful of cases that fall into more than one category. Marbury v. Madison, 5 U.S. 137 (1803), for example, was an original jurisdiction and a mandamus case. We code these cases on the basis of the writ. So Marbury is a coded as mandamus, not original jurisdiction.

Second, some legacy cases are "original" motions or requests for the Court to take jurisdiction but were heard or filed in another court. See, for example, Ex parte Matthew Addy S.S. & Commerce Corp., 256 U.S. 417 (1921), asking the Court to issue a writ of mandamus to a federal judge. Again, we do not code these as "original" jurisdiction cases but rather on the basis of the writ.

**Values:**

| 1 | cert |
| --- | ------------------------------------------------ |
| 2 | appeal |
| 3 | bail |
| 4 | certification |
| 5 | docketing fee |
| 6 | rehearing or restored to calendar for reargument |
| 7 | injunction |
| 8 | mandamus |
| 9 | original |
| 10 | prohibition |
| 12 | stay |
| 13 | writ of error |
| 14 | writ of habeas corpus |
| 15 | unspecified, other | Introductory

- [Introduction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=intro)
- [Citing to the SCDB](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=cite)
 Identification Variables

- [SCDB Case ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseId)
- [SCDB Docket ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docketId)
- [SCDB Issues ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId)
- [SCDB Vote ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteId)
- [U.S. Reporter Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=usCite)
- [Supreme Court Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=sctCite)
- [Lawyers Edition Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=ledCite)
- [LEXIS Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lexisCite)
- [Docket Number](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docket)
 Background Variables

- [Case Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseName)
- [Petitioner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitioner)
- [Petitioner State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitionerState)
- [Respondent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondent)
- [Respondent State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondentState)
- [Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=jurisdiction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminAction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminActionState)
- [Three-Judge District Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc)
- [Origin of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOrigin)
- [Origin of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOriginState)
- [Source of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSource)
- [Source of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSourceState)
- [Lower Court Disagreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisagreement)
- [Reason for Granting Cert](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=certReason)
- [Lower Court Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisposition)
- [Lower Court Disposition Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDispositionDirection)
 Chronological Variables

- [Date of Decision](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateDecision)
- [Term of Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=term)
- [Natural Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=naturalCourt)
- [Chief Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=chief)
- [Date of Oral Argument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateArgument)
- [Date of Reargument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateRearg)
 Substantive Variables

- [Issue](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issue)
- [Issue Area](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issueArea)
- [Decision Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirection)
- [Decision Direction Dissent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirectionDissent)
- [Authority for Decision 1](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision1)
- [Authority for Decision 2](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision2)
- [Legal Provisions Considered by the Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawType)
- [Legal Provision Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawSupp)
- [Legal Provision Minor Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawMinor)
 Outcome Variables

- [Decision Type](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionType)
- [Declaration of Unconstitutionality](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=declarationUncon)
- [Disposition of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDisposition)
- [Unusual Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDispositionUnusual)
- [Winning Party](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=partyWinning)
- [Formal Alteration of Precedent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=precedentAlteration)
 Voting & Opinion Variables

- [Vote Not Clearly Specified](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteUnclear)
- [Majority Opinion Writer](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinWriter)
- [Majority Opinion Assigner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinAssigner)
- [Split Vote](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=splitVote)
- [Majority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majVotes)
- [Minority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=minVotes)
- [Justice ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice)
- [Justice Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justiceName)
- [The Vote in the Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=vote)
- [Opinion](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=opinion)
- [Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=direction)
- [Majority and Minority Voting by Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majority)
- [First Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=firstAgreement)
- [Second Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=secondAgreement)
- | | [CONTACT](http://scdb.wustl.edu/contact.php) | | [TOP](#top) |
| --- | ---------------------- | --- | ----------- |
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- image The Supreme Court Database has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. [Creative Commons License](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/)

| ![washu_logo](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/washu_logo.png) |
| ------------------------------------ |

The Supreme Court Database




|  |  |
| --- | --- |
| [wulaw](http://law.wustl.edu) |  |

|  |  |  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/index.php) | image | image | image | image |
| [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/about.php) | [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) | [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) | [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/analysis.php) | [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php) |
| image | | | | |
| |  |  |  |  | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) | [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) | [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) | [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php) | | | | | |
| Online Code Book    |  |  |  |  |  | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | SCDB Case ID   |  |  |  | | --- | --- | --- | | **Variable Name** caseId | **Spaeth Name** n/a | **Normalizations** n/a |    This is the first of four unique internal identification numbers.    The first four digits are the term. The next four are the case within the term (starting at 001 and counting up). | Introductory   * [Introduction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=intro) * [Citing to the SCDB](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=cite)   Identification Variables   * [SCDB Case ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseId) * [SCDB Docket ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docketId) * [SCDB Issues ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId) * [SCDB Vote ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteId) * [U.S. Reporter Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=usCite) * [Supreme Court Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=sctCite) * [Lawyers Edition Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=ledCite) * [LEXIS Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lexisCite) * [Docket Number](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docket)   Background Variables   * [Case Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseName) * [Petitioner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitioner) * [Petitioner State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitionerState) * [Respondent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondent) * [Respondent State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondentState) * [Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=jurisdiction) * [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminAction) * [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminActionState) * [Three-Judge District Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc) * [Origin of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOrigin) * [Origin of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOriginState) * [Source of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSource) * [Source of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSourceState) * [Lower Court Disagreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisagreement) * [Reason for Granting Cert](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=certReason) * [Lower Court Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisposition) * [Lower Court Disposition Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDispositionDirection)   Chronological Variables   * [Date of Decision](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateDecision) * [Term of Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=term) * [Natural Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=naturalCourt) * [Chief Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=chief) * [Date of Oral Argument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateArgument) * [Date of Reargument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateRearg)   Substantive Variables   * [Issue](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issue) * [Issue Area](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issueArea) * [Decision Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirection) * [Decision Direction Dissent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirectionDissent) * [Authority for Decision 1](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision1) * [Authority for Decision 2](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision2) * [Legal Provisions Considered by the Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawType) * [Legal Provision Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawSupp) * [Legal Provision Minor Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawMinor)   Outcome Variables   * [Decision Type](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionType) * [Declaration of Unconstitutionality](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=declarationUncon) * [Disposition of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDisposition) * [Unusual Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDispositionUnusual) * [Winning Party](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=partyWinning) * [Formal Alteration of Precedent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=precedentAlteration)   Voting & Opinion Variables   * [Vote Not Clearly Specified](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteUnclear) * [Majority Opinion Writer](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinWriter) * [Majority Opinion Assigner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinAssigner) * [Split Vote](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=splitVote) * [Majority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majVotes) * [Minority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=minVotes) * [Justice ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice) * [Justice Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justiceName) * [The Vote in the Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=vote) * [Opinion](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=opinion) * [Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=direction) * [Majority and Minority Voting by Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majority) * [First Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=firstAgreement) * [Second Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=secondAgreement) | | | | | |
| |  |  |  |  | | --- | --- | --- | --- | |  | [CONTACT](http://scdb.wustl.edu/contact.php) |  |  [TOP](#top) | | | | | |
| |  |  |  |  | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) | [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) | [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) | [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php) | | | | | |
| image | The Supreme Court Database has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. | | | [Creative Commons License](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/) |

|  |
| --- |
| washu_logo |

---
meta-description: The Supreme Court Database is the definitive source for researchers, students, journalists, and citizens interested in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Database contains over two hundred pieces of information about each case decided by the Court between the 1946 and 2012 terms. Examples include the identity of the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed, the parties to the suit, the legal provisions considered in the case, and the votes of the Justices.
meta-generator: Coda
meta-keywords: supreme court, spaeth, database
title: The Supreme Court Database
---

| [![wulaw](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/wulaw.png)](http://law.wustl.edu) |  |
| -------------------------------------------------- | --- |

- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/index.php) image image image image
- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/about.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/analysis.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php)
- image
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- Online Code Book

- Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation

| **Variable Name** adminAction | **Spaeth Name** ADMIN | **Normalizations** [125 [ view ]](#norms) |
| ------------------------------- | ----------------------- | -------------------------------------------- |

This variable pertains to administrative agency activity occurring prior to the onset of litigation. Note that the activity may involve an administrative official as well as that of an agency. The general rule for an entry in this variable is whether administrative action occurred in the context of the case. Note too that this variable identifies the specific federal agency. If the action occurred in a state agency, adminAction is coded as 117 (State Agency). See the variable adminActionState for the identity of the state.

Determination of whether administration action occurred in the context of the case was made by reading the material which appears in the summary of the case (the material preceding the Court's opinion) and, if necessary, those portions of the prevailing opinion headed by a I or II.

Action by an agency official is considered to be administrative action except when such an official acts to enforce criminal law.

If an agency or agency official "denies" a "request" that action be taken, such denials are considered agency action.

If two federal agencies are mentioned (e.g., INS and BIA), the one whose action more directly bears on the dispute will appear; otherwise the agency that acted more recently. If a state and federal agency are mentioned, the federal agency will appear.

Excluded from entry in this variable are:



- A "challenge" to an unapplied agency rule, regulation, etc.
A request for an injunction or a declaratory judgment against agency action which, though anticipated, has not yet occurred.

- A mere request for an agency to take action when there is no evidence that the agency did so.

- Agency or official action to enforce criminal law.
The hiring and firing of political appointees or the procedures whereby public officials are appointed to office.

- Attorney general preclearance actions pertaining to voting.
Filing fees or nominating petitions required for access to the ballot.

- Actions of courts martial.

- Land condemnation suits and quiet title actions instituted in a court.

- Federally funded private nonprofit organizations.


Nite that the following list of agencies amy also be found as a petitoner or respondent variable.

**Values:**

| 1 | Army and Air Force Exchange Service |
| --- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| 2 | Atomic Energy Commission |
| 3 | Secretary or administrative unit or personnel of the U.S. Air Force |
| 4 | Department or Secretary of Agriculture |
| 5 | Alien Property Custodian |
| 6 | Secretary or administrative unit or personnel of the U.S. Army |
| 7 | Board of Immigration Appeals |
| 8 | Bureau of Indian Affairs |
| 9 | Bureau of Prisons |
| 10 | Bonneville Power Administration |
| 11 | Benefits Review Board |
| 12 | Civil Aeronautics Board |
| 13 | Bureau of the Census |
| 14 | Central Intelligence Agency |
| 15 | Commodity Futures Trading Commission |
| 16 | Department or Secretary of Commerce |
| 17 | Comptroller of Currency |
| 18 | Consumer Product Safety Commission |
| 19 | Civil Rights Commission |
| 20 | Civil Service Commission, U.S. |
| 21 | Customs Service or Commissioner or Collector of Customs |
| 22 | Defense Base Closure and REalignment Commission |
| 23 | Drug Enforcement Agency |
| 24 | Department or Secretary of Defense (and Department or Secretary of War) |
| 25 | Department or Secretary of Energy |
| 26 | Department or Secretary of the Interior |
| 27 | Department of Justice or Attorney General |
| 28 | Department or Secretary of State |
| 29 | Department or Secretary of Transportation |
| 30 | Department or Secretary of Education |
| 31 | U.S. Employees' Compensation Commission, or Commissioner |
| 32 | Equal Employment Opportunity Commission |
| 33 | Environmental Protection Agency or Administrator |
| 34 | Federal Aviation Agency or Administration |
| 35 | Federal Bureau of Investigation or Director |
| 36 | Federal Bureau of Prisons |
| 37 | Farm Credit Administration |
| 38 | Federal Communications Commission (including a predecessor, Federal Radio Commission) |
| 39 | Federal Credit Union Administration |
| 40 | Food and Drug Administration |
| 41 | Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation |
| 42 | Federal Energy Administration |
| 43 | Federal Election Commission |
| 44 | Federal Energy Regulatory Commission |
| 45 | Federal Housing Administration |
| 46 | Federal Home Loan Bank Board |
| 47 | Federal Labor Relations Authority |
| 48 | Federal Maritime Board |
| 49 | Federal Maritime Commission |
| 50 | Farmers Home Administration |
| 51 | Federal Parole Board |
| 52 | Federal Power Commission |
| 53 | Federal Railroad Administration |
| 54 | Federal Reserve Board of Governors |
| 55 | Federal Reserve System |
| 56 | Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation |
| 57 | Federal Trade Commission |
| 58 | Federal Works Administration, or Administrator |
| 59 | General Accounting Office |
| 60 | Comptroller General |
| 61 | General Services Administration |
| 62 | Department or Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare |
| 63 | Department or Secretary of Health and Human Services |
| 64 | Department or Secretary of Housing and Urban Development |
| 65 | Administrative agency established under an interstate compact (except for the MTC) |
| 66 | Interstate Commerce Commission |
| 67 | Indian Claims Commission |
| 68 | Immigration and Naturalization Service, or Director of, or District Director of, or Immigration and Naturalization Enforcement |
| 69 | Internal Revenue Service, Collector, Commissioner, or District Director of |
| 70 | Information Security Oversight Office |
| 71 | Department or Secretary of Labor |
| 72 | Loyalty Review Board |
| 73 | Legal Services Corporation |
| 74 | Merit Systems Protection Board |
| 75 | Multistate Tax Commission |
| 76 | National Aeronautics and Space Administration |
| 77 | Secretary or administrative unit or personnel of the U.S. Navy |
| 78 | National Credit Union Administration |
| 79 | National Endowment for the Arts |
| 80 | National Enforcement Commission |
| 81 | National Highway Traffic Safety Administration |
| 82 | National Labor Relations Board, or regional office or officer |
| 83 | National Mediation Board |
| 84 | National Railroad Adjustment Board |
| 85 | Nuclear Regulatory Commission |
| 86 | National Security Agency |
| 87 | Office of Economic Opportunity |
| 88 | Office of Management and Budget |
| 89 | Office of Price Administration, or Price Administrator |
| 90 | Office of Personnel Management |
| 91 | Occupational Safety and Health Administration |
| 92 | Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission |
| 93 | Office of Workers' Compensation Programs |
| 94 | Patent Office, or Commissioner of, or Board of Appeals of |
| 95 | Pay Board (established under the Economic Stabilization Act of 1970) |
| 96 | Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation |
| 97 | U.S. Public Health Service |
| 98 | Postal Rate Commission |
| 99 | Provider Reimbursement Review Board |
| 100 | Renegotiation Board |
| 101 | Railroad Adjustment Board |
| 102 | Railroad Retirement Board |
| 103 | Subversive Activities Control Board |
| 104 | Small Business Administration |
| 105 | Securities and Exchange Commission |
| 106 | Social Security Administration or Commissioner |
| 107 | Selective Service System |
| 108 | Department or Secretary of the Treasury |
| 109 | Tennessee Valley Authority |
| 110 | United States Forest Service |
| 111 | United States Parole Commission |
| 112 | Postal Service and Post Office, or Postmaster General, or Postmaster |
| 113 | United States Sentencing Commission |
| 114 | Veterans' Administration or Board of Veterans' Appeals |
| 115 | War Production Board |
| 116 | Wage Stabilization Board |
| 117 | State Agency |
| 118 | Unidentifiable |
| 119 | Office of Thrift Supervision |
| 120 | Department of Homeland Security |
| 121 | Board of General Appraisers |
| 122 | Board of Tax Appeals |
| 123 | General Land Office or Commissioners |
| 124 | NO Admin Action |
| 125 | Processing Tax Board of Review | Introductory

- [Introduction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=intro)
- [Citing to the SCDB](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=cite)
 Identification Variables

- [SCDB Case ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseId)
- [SCDB Docket ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docketId)
- [SCDB Issues ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId)
- [SCDB Vote ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteId)
- [U.S. Reporter Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=usCite)
- [Supreme Court Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=sctCite)
- [Lawyers Edition Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=ledCite)
- [LEXIS Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lexisCite)
- [Docket Number](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docket)
 Background Variables

- [Case Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseName)
- [Petitioner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitioner)
- [Petitioner State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitionerState)
- [Respondent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondent)
- [Respondent State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondentState)
- [Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=jurisdiction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminAction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminActionState)
- [Three-Judge District Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc)
- [Origin of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOrigin)
- [Origin of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOriginState)
- [Source of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSource)
- [Source of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSourceState)
- [Lower Court Disagreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisagreement)
- [Reason for Granting Cert](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=certReason)
- [Lower Court Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisposition)
- [Lower Court Disposition Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDispositionDirection)
 Chronological Variables

- [Date of Decision](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateDecision)
- [Term of Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=term)
- [Natural Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=naturalCourt)
- [Chief Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=chief)
- [Date of Oral Argument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateArgument)
- [Date of Reargument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateRearg)
 Substantive Variables

- [Issue](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issue)
- [Issue Area](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issueArea)
- [Decision Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirection)
- [Decision Direction Dissent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirectionDissent)
- [Authority for Decision 1](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision1)
- [Authority for Decision 2](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision2)
- [Legal Provisions Considered by the Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawType)
- [Legal Provision Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawSupp)
- [Legal Provision Minor Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawMinor)
 Outcome Variables

- [Decision Type](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionType)
- [Declaration of Unconstitutionality](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=declarationUncon)
- [Disposition of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDisposition)
- [Unusual Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDispositionUnusual)
- [Winning Party](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=partyWinning)
- [Formal Alteration of Precedent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=precedentAlteration)
 Voting & Opinion Variables

- [Vote Not Clearly Specified](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteUnclear)
- [Majority Opinion Writer](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinWriter)
- [Majority Opinion Assigner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinAssigner)
- [Split Vote](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=splitVote)
- [Majority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majVotes)
- [Minority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=minVotes)
- [Justice ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice)
- [Justice Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justiceName)
- [The Vote in the Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=vote)
- [Opinion](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=opinion)
- [Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=direction)
- [Majority and Minority Voting by Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majority)
- [First Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=firstAgreement)
- [Second Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=secondAgreement)
- | | [CONTACT](http://scdb.wustl.edu/contact.php) | | [TOP](#top) |
| --- | ---------------------- | --- | ----------- |
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- image The Supreme Court Database has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. [Creative Commons License](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/)

| ![washu_logo](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/washu_logo.png) |
| ------------------------------------ |

---
meta-description: The Supreme Court Database is the definitive source for researchers, students, journalists, and citizens interested in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Database contains over two hundred pieces of information about each case decided by the Court between the 1946 and 2012 terms. Examples include the identity of the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed, the parties to the suit, the legal provisions considered in the case, and the votes of the Justices.
meta-generator: Coda
meta-keywords: supreme court, spaeth, database
title: The Supreme Court Database
---

| [![wulaw](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/wulaw.png)](http://law.wustl.edu) |  |
| -------------------------------------------------- | --- |

- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/index.php) image image image image
- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/about.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/analysis.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php)
- image
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- Online Code Book

- Three-Judge District Court

| **Variable Name** threeJudgeFdc | **Spaeth Name** J3 | **Normalizations** [2 [ view ]](#norms) |
| --------------------------------- | -------------------- | ------------------------------------------ |

This variable will be checked if the case was heard by a three-judge federal district court (occasionally called “as specially constituted district court”). Beginning in the early 1900s, Congress required three-judge district courts to hear certain kinds of cases. More modern-day legislation has reduced the kinds of lawsuits that must be heard by such a court. As a result, the frequency is less for the Burger Court than for the Warren Court, and all but nonexistent for the Rehnquist and Roberts Courts.

**Values:**

| 0 | no mention that a 3-judge ct heard case |
| --- | --------------------------------------- |
| 1 | 3-judge district ct heard case | Introductory

- [Introduction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=intro)
- [Citing to the SCDB](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=cite)
 Identification Variables

- [SCDB Case ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseId)
- [SCDB Docket ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docketId)
- [SCDB Issues ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId)
- [SCDB Vote ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteId)
- [U.S. Reporter Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=usCite)
- [Supreme Court Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=sctCite)
- [Lawyers Edition Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=ledCite)
- [LEXIS Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lexisCite)
- [Docket Number](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docket)
 Background Variables

- [Case Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseName)
- [Petitioner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitioner)
- [Petitioner State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitionerState)
- [Respondent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondent)
- [Respondent State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondentState)
- [Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=jurisdiction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminAction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminActionState)
- [Three-Judge District Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc)
- [Origin of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOrigin)
- [Origin of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOriginState)
- [Source of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSource)
- [Source of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSourceState)
- [Lower Court Disagreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisagreement)
- [Reason for Granting Cert](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=certReason)
- [Lower Court Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisposition)
- [Lower Court Disposition Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDispositionDirection)
 Chronological Variables

- [Date of Decision](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateDecision)
- [Term of Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=term)
- [Natural Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=naturalCourt)
- [Chief Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=chief)
- [Date of Oral Argument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateArgument)
- [Date of Reargument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateRearg)
 Substantive Variables

- [Issue](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issue)
- [Issue Area](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issueArea)
- [Decision Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirection)
- [Decision Direction Dissent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirectionDissent)
- [Authority for Decision 1](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision1)
- [Authority for Decision 2](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision2)
- [Legal Provisions Considered by the Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawType)
- [Legal Provision Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawSupp)
- [Legal Provision Minor Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawMinor)
 Outcome Variables

- [Decision Type](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionType)
- [Declaration of Unconstitutionality](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=declarationUncon)
- [Disposition of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDisposition)
- [Unusual Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDispositionUnusual)
- [Winning Party](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=partyWinning)
- [Formal Alteration of Precedent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=precedentAlteration)
 Voting & Opinion Variables

- [Vote Not Clearly Specified](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteUnclear)
- [Majority Opinion Writer](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinWriter)
- [Majority Opinion Assigner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinAssigner)
- [Split Vote](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=splitVote)
- [Majority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majVotes)
- [Minority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=minVotes)
- [Justice ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice)
- [Justice Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justiceName)
- [The Vote in the Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=vote)
- [Opinion](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=opinion)
- [Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=direction)
- [Majority and Minority Voting by Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majority)
- [First Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=firstAgreement)
- [Second Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=secondAgreement)
- | | [CONTACT](http://scdb.wustl.edu/contact.php) | | [TOP](#top) |
| --- | ---------------------- | --- | ----------- |
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- image The Supreme Court Database has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. [Creative Commons License](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/)

| ![washu_logo](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/washu_logo.png) |
| ------------------------------------ |

The Supreme Court Database




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If the case originated in the same court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed, the entry in the caseOrigin should be the same as here. This variable has no entry if the case arose under the Supreme Court's original jurisdiction.    If caseSource is a state court, the value of this variable will be 300 (State Supreme Court), 302 (State Appellate Court) or 303 (State Trial Court). Variable caseSourceState identifies the name of the state.     **Values:**   |  |  | | --- | --- | | 1 | U.S. Court of Customs and Patent Appeals | | 2 | U.S. Court of International Trade | | 3 | U.S. Court of Claims, Court of Federal Claims | | 4 | U.S. Court of Military Appeals, renamed as Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces | | 5 | U.S. Court of Military Review | | 6 | U.S. Court of Veterans Appeals | | 7 | U.S. Customs Court | | 8 | U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit | | 9 | U.S. Tax Court | | 10 | Temporary Emergency U.S. Court of Appeals | | 12 | U.S. Court for China | | 13 | U.S. Consular Courts | | 14 | U.S. Commerce Court | | 15 | Territorial Supreme Court | | 16 | Territorial Appellate Court | | 17 | Territorial Trial Court | | 18 | Emergency Court of Appeals | | 19 | Supreme Court of the District of Columbia | | 20 | Bankruptcy Court | | 21 | U.S. Court of Appeals, First Circuit | | 22 | U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit | | 23 | U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit | | 24 | U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit | | 25 | U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit | | 26 | U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit | | 27 | U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit | | 28 | U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit | | 29 | U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit | | 30 | U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit | | 31 | U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit | | 32 | U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit (includes the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia but not the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, which has local jurisdiction) | | 41 | Alabama Middle U.S. District Court | | 42 | Alabama Northern U.S. District Court | | 43 | Alabama Southern U.S. District Court | | 44 | Alaska U.S. District Court | | 45 | Arizona U.S. District Court | | 46 | Arkansas Eastern U.S. District Court | | 47 | Arkansas Western U.S. District Court | | 48 | California Central U.S. District Court | | 49 | California Eastern U.S. District Court | | 50 | California Northern U.S. District Court | | 51 | California Southern U.S. District Court | | 52 | Colorado U.S. District Court | | 53 | Connecticut U.S. District Court | | 54 | Delaware U.S. District Court | | 55 | District Of Columbia U.S. District Court | | 56 | Florida Middle U.S. District Court | | 57 | Florida Northern U.S. District Court | | 58 | Florida Southern U.S. District Court | | 59 | Georgia Middle U.S. District Court | | 60 | Georgia Northern U.S. District Court | | 61 | Georgia Southern U.S. District Court | | 62 | Guam U.S. District Court | | 63 | Hawaii U.S. District Court | | 64 | Idaho U.S. District Court | | 65 | Illinois Central U.S. District Court | | 66 | Illinois Northern U.S. District Court | | 67 | Illinois Southern U.S. District Court | | 68 | Indiana Northern U.S. District Court | | 69 | Indiana Southern U.S. District Court | | 70 | Iowa Northern U.S. District Court | | 71 | Iowa Southern U.S. District Court | | 72 | Kansas U.S. District Court | | 73 | Kentucky Eastern U.S. District Court | | 74 | Kentucky Western U.S. District Court | | 75 | Louisiana Eastern U.S. District Court | | 76 | Louisiana Middle U.S. District Court | | 77 | Louisiana Western U.S. District Court | | 78 | Maine U.S. District Court | | 79 | Maryland U.S. District Court | | 80 | Massachusetts U.S. District Court | | 81 | Michigan Eastern U.S. District Court | | 82 | Michigan Western U.S. District Court | | 83 | Minnesota U.S. District Court | | 84 | Mississippi Northern U.S. District Court | | 85 | Mississippi Southern U.S. District Court | | 86 | Missouri Eastern U.S. District Court | | 87 | Missouri Western U.S. District Court | | 88 | Montana U.S. District Court | | 89 | Nebraska U.S. District Court | | 90 | Nevada U.S. District Court | | 91 | New Hampshire U.S. District Court | | 92 | New Jersey U.S. District Court | | 93 | New Mexico U.S. District Court | | 94 | New York Eastern U.S. District Court | | 95 | New York Northern U.S. District Court | | 96 | New York Southern U.S. District Court | | 97 | New York Western U.S. District Court | | 98 | North Carolina Eastern U.S. District Court | | 99 | North Carolina Middle U.S. District Court | | 100 | North Carolina Western U.S. District Court | | 101 | North Dakota U.S. District Court | | 102 | Northern Mariana Islands U.S. District Court | | 103 | Ohio Northern U.S. District Court | | 104 | Ohio Southern U.S. District Court | | 105 | Oklahoma Eastern U.S. District Court | | 106 | Oklahoma Northern U.S. District Court | | 107 | Oklahoma Western U.S. District Court | | 108 | Oregon U.S. District Court | | 109 | Pennsylvania Eastern U.S. District Court | | 110 | Pennsylvania Middle U.S. District Court | | 111 | Pennsylvania Western U.S. District Court | | 112 | Puerto Rico U.S. District Court | | 113 | Rhode Island U.S. District Court | | 114 | South Carolina U.S. District Court | | 115 | South Dakota U.S. District Court | | 116 | Tennessee Eastern U.S. District Court | | 117 | Tennessee Middle U.S. District Court | | 118 | Tennessee Western U.S. District Court | | 119 | Texas Eastern U.S. District Court | | 120 | Texas Northern U.S. District Court | | 121 | Texas Southern U.S. District Court | | 122 | Texas Western U.S. District Court | | 123 | Utah U.S. District Court | | 124 | Vermont U.S. District Court | | 125 | Virgin Islands U.S. District Court | | 126 | Virginia Eastern U.S. District Court | | 127 | Virginia Western U.S. District Court | | 128 | Washington Eastern U.S. District Court | | 129 | Washington Western U.S. District Court | | 130 | West Virginia Northern U.S. District Court | | 131 | West Virginia Southern U.S. District Court | | 132 | Wisconsin Eastern U.S. District Court | | 133 | Wisconsin Western U.S. District Court | | 134 | Wyoming U.S. District Court | | 150 | Louisiana U.S. District Court | | 151 | Washington U.S. District Court | | 152 | West Virginia U.S. District Court | | 153 | Illinois Eastern U.S. District Court | | 155 | South Carolina Eastern U.S. District Court | | 160 | South Carolina Western U.S. District Court | | 162 | Alabama U.S. District Court | | 163 | U.S. District Court for the Canal Zone | | 164 | Georgia U.S. District Court | | 165 | Illinois U.S. District Court | | 166 | Indiana U.S. District Court | | 167 | Iowa U.S. District Court | | 168 | Michigan U.S. District Court | | 169 | Mississippi U.S. District Court | | 170 | Missouri U.S. District Court | | 171 | New Jersey Eastern U.S. District Court (East Jersey U.S. District Court) | | 172 | New Jersey Western U.S. District Court (West Jersey U.S. District Court) | | 173 | New York U.S. District Court | | 174 | North Carolina U.S. District Court | | 175 | Ohio U.S. District Court | | 176 | Pennsylvania U.S. District Court | | 177 | Tennessee U.S. District Court | | 178 | Texas U.S. District Court | | 179 | Virginia U.S. District Court | | 180 | Norfolk U.S. District Court | | 181 | Wisconsin U.S. District Court | | 182 | Kentucky U.S. Distrcrict Court | | 183 | New Jersey U.S. District Court | | 184 | California U.S. District Court | | 185 | Florida U.S. District Court | | 186 | Arkansas U.S. District Court | | 187 | District of Orleans U.S. District Court | | 300 | State Supreme Court | | 301 | State Appellate Court | | 302 | State Trial Court | | 400 | Eastern Circuit (of the United States) | | 401 | Middle Circuit (of the United States) | | 402 | Southern Circuit (of the United States) | | 403 | Alabama U.S. Circuit Court for (all) District(s) of Alabama | | 404 | Arkansas U.S. Circuit Court for (all) District(s) of Arkansas | | 405 | California U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of California | | 406 | Connecticut U.S. Circuit for the District of Connecticut | | 407 | Delaware U.S. Circuit for the District of Delaware | | 408 | Florida U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of Florida | | 409 | Georgia U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of Georgia | | 410 | Illinois U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of Illinois | | 411 | Indiana U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of Indiana | | 412 | Iowa U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of Iowa | | 413 | Kansas U.S. Circuit for the District of Kansas | | 414 | Kentucky U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of Kentucky | | 415 | Louisiana U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of Louisiana | | 416 | Maine U.S. Circuit for the District of Maine | | 417 | Maryland U.S. Circuit for the District of Maryland | | 418 | Massachusetts U.S. Circuit for the District of Massachusetts | | 419 | Michigan U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of Michigan | | 420 | Minnesota U.S. Circuit for the District of Minnesota | | 421 | Mississippi U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of Mississippi | | 422 | Missouri U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of Missouri | | 423 | Nevada U.S. Circuit for the District of Nevada | | 424 | New Hampshire U.S. Circuit for the District of New Hampshire | | 425 | New Jersey U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of New Jersey | | 426 | New York U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of New York | | 427 | North Carolina U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of North Carolina | | 428 | Ohio U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of Ohio | | 429 | Oregon U.S. Circuit for the District of Oregon | | 430 | Pennsylvania U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of Pennsylvania | | 431 | Rhode Island U.S. Circuit for the District of Rhode Island | | 432 | South Carolina U.S. Circuit for the District of South Carolina | | 433 | Tennessee U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of Tennessee | | 434 | Texas U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of Texas | | 435 | Vermont U.S. Circuit for the District of Vermont | | 436 | Virginia U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of Virginia | | 437 | West Virginia U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of West Virginia | | 438 | Wisconsin U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of Wisconsin | | 439 | Wyoming U.S. Circuit for the District of Wyoming | | 440 | Circuit Court of the District of Columbia | | 441 | Nebraska U.S. Circuit for the District of Nebraska | | 442 | Colorado U.S. Circuit for the District of Colorado | | 443 | Washington U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of Washington | | 444 | Idaho U.S. Circuit Court for (all) District(s) of Idaho | | 445 | Montana U.S. Circuit Court for (all) District(s) of Montana | | 446 | Utah U.S. Circuit Court for (all) District(s) of Utah | | 447 | South Dakota U.S. Circuit Court for (all) District(s) of South Dakota | | 448 | North Dakota U.S. Circuit Court for (all) District(s) of North Dakota | | 449 | Oklahoma U.S. Circuit Court for (all) District(s) of Oklahoma | | 601 | Court of Private Land Claims | | Introductory   * [Introduction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=intro) * [Citing to the SCDB](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=cite)   Identification Variables   * [SCDB Case ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseId) * [SCDB Docket ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docketId) * [SCDB Issues ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId) * [SCDB Vote ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteId) * [U.S. Reporter Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=usCite) * [Supreme Court Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=sctCite) * [Lawyers Edition Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=ledCite) * [LEXIS Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lexisCite) * [Docket Number](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docket)   Background Variables   * [Case Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseName) * [Petitioner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitioner) * [Petitioner State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitionerState) * [Respondent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondent) * [Respondent State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondentState) * [Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=jurisdiction) * [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminAction) * [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminActionState) * [Three-Judge District Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc) * [Origin of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOrigin) * [Origin of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOriginState) * [Source of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSource) * [Source of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSourceState) * [Lower Court Disagreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisagreement) * [Reason for Granting Cert](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=certReason) * [Lower Court Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisposition) * [Lower Court Disposition Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDispositionDirection)   Chronological Variables   * [Date of Decision](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateDecision) * [Term of Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=term) * [Natural Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=naturalCourt) * [Chief Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=chief) * [Date of Oral Argument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateArgument) * [Date of Reargument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateRearg)   Substantive Variables   * [Issue](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issue) * [Issue Area](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issueArea) * [Decision Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirection) * [Decision Direction Dissent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirectionDissent) * [Authority for Decision 1](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision1) * [Authority for Decision 2](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision2) * [Legal Provisions Considered by the Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawType) * [Legal Provision Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawSupp) * [Legal Provision Minor Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawMinor)   Outcome Variables   * [Decision Type](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionType) * [Declaration of Unconstitutionality](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=declarationUncon) * [Disposition of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDisposition) * [Unusual Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDispositionUnusual) * [Winning Party](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=partyWinning) * [Formal Alteration of Precedent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=precedentAlteration)   Voting & Opinion Variables   * [Vote Not Clearly Specified](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteUnclear) * [Majority Opinion Writer](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinWriter) * [Majority Opinion Assigner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinAssigner) * [Split Vote](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=splitVote) * [Majority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majVotes) * [Minority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=minVotes) * [Justice ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice) * [Justice Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justiceName) * [The Vote in the Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=vote) * [Opinion](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=opinion) * [Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=direction) * [Majority and Minority Voting by Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majority) * [First Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=firstAgreement) * [Second Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=secondAgreement) | | | | | |
| |  |  |  |  | | --- | --- | --- | --- | |  | [CONTACT](http://scdb.wustl.edu/contact.php) |  |  [TOP](#top) | | | | | |
| |  |  |  |  | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) | [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) | [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) | [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php) | | | | | |
| image | The Supreme Court Database has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. | | | [Creative Commons License](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/) |

|  |
| --- |
| washu_logo |

---
meta-description: The Supreme Court Database is the definitive source for researchers, students, journalists, and citizens interested in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Database contains over two hundred pieces of information about each case decided by the Court between the 1946 and 2012 terms. Examples include the identity of the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed, the parties to the suit, the legal provisions considered in the case, and the votes of the Justices.
meta-generator: Coda
meta-keywords: supreme court, spaeth, database
title: The Supreme Court Database
---

| [![wulaw](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/wulaw.png)](http://law.wustl.edu) |  |
| -------------------------------------------------- | --- |

- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/index.php) image image image image
- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/about.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/analysis.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php)
- image
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- Online Code Book

- Minority Votes

| **Variable Name** minVotes | **Spaeth Name** n/a | **Normalizations** n/a |
| ---------------------------- | --------------------- | ------------------------ |

This variable specifies the number of votes in dissent. Only dissents on the merits are specified in this variable.
Justices who dissent from a denial or dismissal of certiorari or who disagree with the Court's assertion of jurisdiction count as not participating in the decision.

For more details, see the variable Majority Votes (majVotes). Introductory

- [Introduction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=intro)
- [Citing to the SCDB](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=cite)
 Identification Variables

- [SCDB Case ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseId)
- [SCDB Docket ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docketId)
- [SCDB Issues ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId)
- [SCDB Vote ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteId)
- [U.S. Reporter Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=usCite)
- [Supreme Court Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=sctCite)
- [Lawyers Edition Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=ledCite)
- [LEXIS Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lexisCite)
- [Docket Number](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docket)
 Background Variables

- [Case Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseName)
- [Petitioner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitioner)
- [Petitioner State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitionerState)
- [Respondent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondent)
- [Respondent State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondentState)
- [Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=jurisdiction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminAction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminActionState)
- [Three-Judge District Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc)
- [Origin of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOrigin)
- [Origin of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOriginState)
- [Source of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSource)
- [Source of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSourceState)
- [Lower Court Disagreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisagreement)
- [Reason for Granting Cert](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=certReason)
- [Lower Court Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisposition)
- [Lower Court Disposition Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDispositionDirection)
 Chronological Variables

- [Date of Decision](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateDecision)
- [Term of Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=term)
- [Natural Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=naturalCourt)
- [Chief Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=chief)
- [Date of Oral Argument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateArgument)
- [Date of Reargument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateRearg)
 Substantive Variables

- [Issue](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issue)
- [Issue Area](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issueArea)
- [Decision Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirection)
- [Decision Direction Dissent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirectionDissent)
- [Authority for Decision 1](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision1)
- [Authority for Decision 2](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision2)
- [Legal Provisions Considered by the Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawType)
- [Legal Provision Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawSupp)
- [Legal Provision Minor Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawMinor)
 Outcome Variables

- [Decision Type](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionType)
- [Declaration of Unconstitutionality](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=declarationUncon)
- [Disposition of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDisposition)
- [Unusual Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDispositionUnusual)
- [Winning Party](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=partyWinning)
- [Formal Alteration of Precedent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=precedentAlteration)
 Voting & Opinion Variables

- [Vote Not Clearly Specified](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteUnclear)
- [Majority Opinion Writer](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinWriter)
- [Majority Opinion Assigner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinAssigner)
- [Split Vote](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=splitVote)
- [Majority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majVotes)
- [Minority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=minVotes)
- [Justice ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice)
- [Justice Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justiceName)
- [The Vote in the Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=vote)
- [Opinion](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=opinion)
- [Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=direction)
- [Majority and Minority Voting by Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majority)
- [First Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=firstAgreement)
- [Second Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=secondAgreement)
- | | [CONTACT](http://scdb.wustl.edu/contact.php) | | [TOP](#top) |
| --- | ---------------------- | --- | ----------- |
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- image The Supreme Court Database has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. [Creative Commons License](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/)

| ![washu_logo](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/washu_logo.png) |
| ------------------------------------ |

---
meta-description: The Supreme Court Database is the definitive source for researchers, students, journalists, and citizens interested in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Database contains over two hundred pieces of information about each case decided by the Court between the 1946 and 2012 terms. Examples include the identity of the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed, the parties to the suit, the legal provisions considered in the case, and the votes of the Justices.
meta-generator: Coda
meta-keywords: supreme court, spaeth, database
title: The Supreme Court Database
---

| [![wulaw](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/wulaw.png)](http://law.wustl.edu) |  |
| -------------------------------------------------- | --- |

- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/index.php) image image image image
- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/about.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/analysis.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php)
- image
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- Online Code Book

- Decision Direction Dissent

| **Variable Name** decisionDirectionDissent | **Spaeth Name** DIRD | **Normalizations** [2 [ view ]](#norms) |
| -------------------------------------------- | ---------------------- | ------------------------------------------ |

Once in a great while the majority as well as the dissenting opinion in a case will both support or, conversely, oppose the issue to which the case pertains. For example, the majority and the dissent may both assert that the rights of a person accused of crime have been violated. The only difference between them is that the majority votes to reverse the accused's conviction and remand the case for a new trial, while the dissent holds that the accused's conviction should be reversed, period. In such cases, the entry in the decisionDirection variable should be determined relative to whether the majority or the dissent more substantially supported the issue to which the case pertains, and an entry should appear in this variable. In the foregoing example, the direction of decision variable (decisionDirection) should show a 0(conservative) because the majority provided the person accused of crime with less relief than does the dissent, and direction based on dissent should show a 1 (liberal) The person accused of crime actually won the case, but won less of a victory than the dissent would have provided.

**Values:**

| 0 | dissent in opposite direction |
| --- | -------------------------------------- |
| 1 | majority and dissent in same direction | Introductory

- [Introduction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=intro)
- [Citing to the SCDB](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=cite)
 Identification Variables

- [SCDB Case ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseId)
- [SCDB Docket ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docketId)
- [SCDB Issues ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId)
- [SCDB Vote ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteId)
- [U.S. Reporter Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=usCite)
- [Supreme Court Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=sctCite)
- [Lawyers Edition Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=ledCite)
- [LEXIS Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lexisCite)
- [Docket Number](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docket)
 Background Variables

- [Case Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseName)
- [Petitioner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitioner)
- [Petitioner State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitionerState)
- [Respondent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondent)
- [Respondent State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondentState)
- [Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=jurisdiction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminAction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminActionState)
- [Three-Judge District Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc)
- [Origin of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOrigin)
- [Origin of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOriginState)
- [Source of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSource)
- [Source of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSourceState)
- [Lower Court Disagreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisagreement)
- [Reason for Granting Cert](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=certReason)
- [Lower Court Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisposition)
- [Lower Court Disposition Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDispositionDirection)
 Chronological Variables

- [Date of Decision](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateDecision)
- [Term of Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=term)
- [Natural Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=naturalCourt)
- [Chief Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=chief)
- [Date of Oral Argument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateArgument)
- [Date of Reargument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateRearg)
 Substantive Variables

- [Issue](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issue)
- [Issue Area](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issueArea)
- [Decision Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirection)
- [Decision Direction Dissent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirectionDissent)
- [Authority for Decision 1](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision1)
- [Authority for Decision 2](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision2)
- [Legal Provisions Considered by the Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawType)
- [Legal Provision Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawSupp)
- [Legal Provision Minor Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawMinor)
 Outcome Variables

- [Decision Type](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionType)
- [Declaration of Unconstitutionality](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=declarationUncon)
- [Disposition of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDisposition)
- [Unusual Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDispositionUnusual)
- [Winning Party](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=partyWinning)
- [Formal Alteration of Precedent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=precedentAlteration)
 Voting & Opinion Variables

- [Vote Not Clearly Specified](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteUnclear)
- [Majority Opinion Writer](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinWriter)
- [Majority Opinion Assigner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinAssigner)
- [Split Vote](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=splitVote)
- [Majority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majVotes)
- [Minority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=minVotes)
- [Justice ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice)
- [Justice Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justiceName)
- [The Vote in the Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=vote)
- [Opinion](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=opinion)
- [Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=direction)
- [Majority and Minority Voting by Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majority)
- [First Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=firstAgreement)
- [Second Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=secondAgreement)
- | | [CONTACT](http://scdb.wustl.edu/contact.php) | | [TOP](#top) |
| --- | ---------------------- | --- | ----------- |
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- image The Supreme Court Database has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. [Creative Commons License](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/)

| ![washu_logo](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/washu_logo.png) |
| ------------------------------------ |

---
meta-description: The Supreme Court Database is the definitive source for researchers, students, journalists, and citizens interested in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Database contains over two hundred pieces of information about each case decided by the Court between the 1946 and 2012 terms. Examples include the identity of the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed, the parties to the suit, the legal provisions considered in the case, and the votes of the Justices.
meta-generator: Coda
meta-keywords: supreme court, spaeth, database
title: The Supreme Court Database
---

| [![wulaw](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/wulaw.png)](http://law.wustl.edu) |  |
| -------------------------------------------------- | --- |

- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/index.php) image image image image
- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/about.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/analysis.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php)
- image
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- Online Code Book

- Majority Votes

| **Variable Name** majVotes | **Spaeth Name** n/a | **Normalizations** n/a |
| ---------------------------- | --------------------- | ------------------------ |

This variable specifies the number of justices voting in the majority; minVotes indicates the number of justices voting in dissent.

In non-legacy cases, a quorum requires the participation of six justices for a decision on the merits.

The number that appears in this variable pertains to the number of justices who agree with the disposition made by the majority (see caseDisposition) and not to the justices' vote on any particular issue in the case. Thus, for example, in Bates v. Arizona State Bar, 433 U.S. 350 (1977), the vote in the case was 5 to 4, even though all participants agreed that the disciplinary rule prohibiting attorney advertising did not violate the Sherman Act. Unlike the majority, the dissenters disagreed that the rule violated the First Amendment.

Please note: Because the early reporters did not always note whether a Justice was absent for a particular case, we consulted the front matter to each volume of the U.S. Reports. For example, volume 77 states: "The Chief Justice did not participate in any of the judgments reported in this volume after page 151. Nor did Mr. Justice Nelson participate in those reported between pages 141 and 410." Sometimes it was simply impossible determine non-participation. E.g., from the January Term 1834: Justice Duvall "was prevented from attending the Court until some time after the commencement of the term."


See also Minority Votes (minVotes) and Vote Not Clearly Specified (voteUnclear). Introductory

- [Introduction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=intro)
- [Citing to the SCDB](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=cite)
 Identification Variables

- [SCDB Case ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseId)
- [SCDB Docket ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docketId)
- [SCDB Issues ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId)
- [SCDB Vote ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteId)
- [U.S. Reporter Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=usCite)
- [Supreme Court Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=sctCite)
- [Lawyers Edition Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=ledCite)
- [LEXIS Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lexisCite)
- [Docket Number](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docket)
 Background Variables

- [Case Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseName)
- [Petitioner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitioner)
- [Petitioner State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitionerState)
- [Respondent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondent)
- [Respondent State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondentState)
- [Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=jurisdiction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminAction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminActionState)
- [Three-Judge District Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc)
- [Origin of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOrigin)
- [Origin of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOriginState)
- [Source of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSource)
- [Source of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSourceState)
- [Lower Court Disagreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisagreement)
- [Reason for Granting Cert](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=certReason)
- [Lower Court Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisposition)
- [Lower Court Disposition Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDispositionDirection)
 Chronological Variables

- [Date of Decision](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateDecision)
- [Term of Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=term)
- [Natural Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=naturalCourt)
- [Chief Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=chief)
- [Date of Oral Argument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateArgument)
- [Date of Reargument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateRearg)
 Substantive Variables

- [Issue](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issue)
- [Issue Area](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issueArea)
- [Decision Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirection)
- [Decision Direction Dissent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirectionDissent)
- [Authority for Decision 1](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision1)
- [Authority for Decision 2](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision2)
- [Legal Provisions Considered by the Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawType)
- [Legal Provision Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawSupp)
- [Legal Provision Minor Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawMinor)
 Outcome Variables

- [Decision Type](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionType)
- [Declaration of Unconstitutionality](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=declarationUncon)
- [Disposition of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDisposition)
- [Unusual Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDispositionUnusual)
- [Winning Party](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=partyWinning)
- [Formal Alteration of Precedent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=precedentAlteration)
 Voting & Opinion Variables

- [Vote Not Clearly Specified](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteUnclear)
- [Majority Opinion Writer](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinWriter)
- [Majority Opinion Assigner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinAssigner)
- [Split Vote](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=splitVote)
- [Majority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majVotes)
- [Minority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=minVotes)
- [Justice ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice)
- [Justice Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justiceName)
- [The Vote in the Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=vote)
- [Opinion](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=opinion)
- [Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=direction)
- [Majority and Minority Voting by Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majority)
- [First Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=firstAgreement)
- [Second Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=secondAgreement)
- | | [CONTACT](http://scdb.wustl.edu/contact.php) | | [TOP](#top) |
| --- | ---------------------- | --- | ----------- |
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- image The Supreme Court Database has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. [Creative Commons License](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/)

| ![washu_logo](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/washu_logo.png) |
| ------------------------------------ |

---
meta-description: The Supreme Court Database is the definitive source for researchers, students, journalists, and citizens interested in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Database contains over two hundred pieces of information about each case decided by the Court between the 1946 and 2012 terms. Examples include the identity of the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed, the parties to the suit, the legal provisions considered in the case, and the votes of the Justices.
meta-generator: Coda
meta-keywords: supreme court, spaeth, database
title: The Supreme Court Database
---

| [![wulaw](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/wulaw.png)](http://law.wustl.edu) |  |
| -------------------------------------------------- | --- |

- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/index.php) image image image image
- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/about.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/analysis.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php)
- image
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- Online Code Book

- Lawyers Edition Citation

| **Variable Name** ledCite | **Spaeth Name** LED | **Normalizations** n/a |
| --------------------------- | --------------------- | ------------------------ |

See variable U.S. Reporter Citation. Introductory

- [Introduction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=intro)
- [Citing to the SCDB](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=cite)
 Identification Variables

- [SCDB Case ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseId)
- [SCDB Docket ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docketId)
- [SCDB Issues ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId)
- [SCDB Vote ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteId)
- [U.S. Reporter Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=usCite)
- [Supreme Court Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=sctCite)
- [Lawyers Edition Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=ledCite)
- [LEXIS Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lexisCite)
- [Docket Number](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docket)
 Background Variables

- [Case Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseName)
- [Petitioner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitioner)
- [Petitioner State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitionerState)
- [Respondent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondent)
- [Respondent State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondentState)
- [Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=jurisdiction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminAction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminActionState)
- [Three-Judge District Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc)
- [Origin of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOrigin)
- [Origin of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOriginState)
- [Source of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSource)
- [Source of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSourceState)
- [Lower Court Disagreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisagreement)
- [Reason for Granting Cert](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=certReason)
- [Lower Court Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisposition)
- [Lower Court Disposition Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDispositionDirection)
 Chronological Variables

- [Date of Decision](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateDecision)
- [Term of Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=term)
- [Natural Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=naturalCourt)
- [Chief Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=chief)
- [Date of Oral Argument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateArgument)
- [Date of Reargument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateRearg)
 Substantive Variables

- [Issue](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issue)
- [Issue Area](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issueArea)
- [Decision Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirection)
- [Decision Direction Dissent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirectionDissent)
- [Authority for Decision 1](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision1)
- [Authority for Decision 2](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision2)
- [Legal Provisions Considered by the Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawType)
- [Legal Provision Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawSupp)
- [Legal Provision Minor Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawMinor)
 Outcome Variables

- [Decision Type](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionType)
- [Declaration of Unconstitutionality](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=declarationUncon)
- [Disposition of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDisposition)
- [Unusual Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDispositionUnusual)
- [Winning Party](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=partyWinning)
- [Formal Alteration of Precedent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=precedentAlteration)
 Voting & Opinion Variables

- [Vote Not Clearly Specified](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteUnclear)
- [Majority Opinion Writer](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinWriter)
- [Majority Opinion Assigner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinAssigner)
- [Split Vote](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=splitVote)
- [Majority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majVotes)
- [Minority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=minVotes)
- [Justice ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice)
- [Justice Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justiceName)
- [The Vote in the Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=vote)
- [Opinion](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=opinion)
- [Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=direction)
- [Majority and Minority Voting by Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majority)
- [First Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=firstAgreement)
- [Second Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=secondAgreement)
- | | [CONTACT](http://scdb.wustl.edu/contact.php) | | [TOP](#top) |
| --- | ---------------------- | --- | ----------- |
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- image The Supreme Court Database has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. [Creative Commons License](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/)

| ![washu_logo](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/washu_logo.png) |
| ------------------------------------ |

---
meta-description: The Supreme Court Database is the definitive source for researchers, students, journalists, and citizens interested in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Database contains over two hundred pieces of information about each case decided by the Court between the 1946 and 2012 terms. Examples include the identity of the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed, the parties to the suit, the legal provisions considered in the case, and the votes of the Justices.
meta-generator: Coda
meta-keywords: supreme court, spaeth, database
title: The Supreme Court Database
---

| [![wulaw](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/wulaw.png)](http://law.wustl.edu) |  |
| -------------------------------------------------- | --- |

- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/index.php) image image image image
- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/about.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/analysis.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php)
- image
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- Online Code Book

- Second Agreement

| **Variable Name** secondAgreement | **Spaeth Name** HARA2 - BRYA2 | **Normalizations** [118 [ view ]](#norms) |
| ----------------------------------- | ------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------- |

See variable First Agreement (firstAgreement).

This variable appears in the Justice Centered Datasets only.

*Note: This variable relies on the Justices ID for its values. For a more detailed description of these identifiers, please visit the [detail page for the Justices variable](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice). Note that the justice normalizations changed with the SCDB_2012_01 release of the database.***Values:**

| 1 | JJay | *Jay, John ( 10/19/1789 - 06/29/1795 )* |
| --- | ------------ | -------------------------------------------------- |
| 2 | JRutledge1 | *Rutledge, John ( 02/15/1790 - 03/05/1791 )* |
| 3 | WCushing | *Cushing, William ( 02/02/1790 - 09/13/1810 )* |
| 4 | JWilson | *Wilson, James ( 10/05/1789 - 08/21/1798 )* |
| 5 | JBlair | *Blair, John ( 02/02/1790 - 01/27/1796 )* |
| 6 | JIredell | *Iredell, James ( 05/12/1790 - 10/20/1799 )* |
| 7 | TJohnson | *Johnson, Thomas ( 09/19/1791 - 02/22/1793 )* |
| 8 | WPaterson | *Paterson, William ( 03/11/1793 - 09/09/1806 )* |
| 9 | JRutledge2 | *Rutledge, John ( 08/12/1795 - 12/15/1795 )* |
| 10 | SChase | *Chase, Samuel ( 02/04/1796 - 06/19/1811 )* |
| 11 | OEllsworth | *Ellsworth, Oliver ( 03/08/1796 - 12/15/1800 )* |
| 12 | BWashington | *Washington, Bushrod ( 11/09/1798 - 11/26/1829 )* |
| 13 | AMoore | *Moore, Alfred ( 04/21/1800 - 01/26/1804 )* |
| 14 | JMarshall | *Marshall, John ( 02/04/1801 - 07/06/1835 )* |
| 15 | WJohnson | *Johnson, William ( 05/07/1804 - 08/04/1834 )* |
| 16 | HBLivingston | *Livingston, Henry ( 01/20/1807 - 03/18/1823 )* |
| 17 | TTodd | *Todd, Thomas ( 05/04/1807 - 02/07/1826 )* |
| 18 | GDuvall | *Duvall, Gabriel ( 11/23/1811 - 01/14/1835 )* |
| 19 | JStory | *Story, Joseph ( 02/03/1812 - 09/10/1845 )* |
| 20 | SThompson | *Thompson, Smith ( 09/01/1823 - 12/18/1843 )* |
| 21 | RTrimble | *Trimble, Robert ( 06/16/1826 - 08/25/1828 )* |
| 22 | JMcLean | *McLean, John ( 01/11/1830 - 04/04/1861 )* |
| 23 | HBaldwin | *Baldwin, Henry ( 01/18/1830 - 04/21/1844 )* |
| 24 | JMWayne | *Wayne, James ( 01/14/1835 - 07/05/1867 )* |
| 25 | RBTaney | *Taney, Roger ( 03/28/1836 - 10/12/1864 )* |
| 26 | PPBarbour | *Barbour, Philip ( 05/12/1836 - 02/25/1841 )* |
| 27 | JCatron | *Catron, John ( 05/01/1837 - 05/30/1865 )* |
| 28 | JMcKinley | *McKinley, John ( 04/22/1837 - 07/19/1852 )* |
| 29 | PVDaniel | *Daniel, Peter ( 01/10/1842 - 05/31/1860 )* |
| 30 | SNelson | *Nelson, Samuel ( 02/27/1845 - 11/28/1872 )* |
| 31 | LWoodbury | *Woodbury, Levi ( 09/23/1845 - 09/04/1851 )* |
| 32 | RCGrier | *Grier, Robert ( 08/10/1846 - 01/31/1870 )* |
| 33 | BRCurtis | *Curtis, Benjamin ( 10/10/1851 - 09/30/1857 )* |
| 34 | JACampbell | *Campbell, John ( 04/11/1853 - 04/30/1861 )* |
| 35 | NClifford | *Clifford, Nathan ( 01/21/1858 - 07/25/1881 )* |
| 36 | NHSwayne | *Swayne, Noah ( 01/27/1862 - 01/24/1881 )* |
| 37 | SFMiller | *Miller, Samuel ( 07/21/1862 - 10/13/1890 )* |
| 38 | DDavis | *Davis, David ( 10/17/1862 - 03/04/1877 )* |
| 39 | SJField | *Field, Stephen ( 05/20/1863 - 12/01/1897 )* |
| 40 | SPChase | *Chase, Salmon ( 12/15/1864 - 05/07/1873 )* |
| 41 | WStrong | *Strong, William ( 03/14/1870 - 12/14/1880 )* |
| 42 | JPBradley | *Bradley, Joseph ( 03/21/1870 - 01/22/1892 )* |
| 43 | WHunt | *Hunt, Ward ( 01/09/1873 - 01/27/1882 )* |
| 44 | MRWaite | *Waite, Morrison ( 03/04/1874 - 04/03/1888 )* |
| 45 | JHarlan1 | *Harlan, John ( 12/10/1877 - 10/14/1911 )* |
| 46 | WBWoods | *Woods, William ( 01/05/1881 - 05/14/1887 )* |
| 47 | SMatthews | *Matthews, Stanley ( 05/17/1881 - 03/22/1889 )* |
| 48 | HGray | *Gray, Horace ( 01/09/1882 - 09/15/1902 )* |
| 49 | SBlatchford | *Blatchford, Samuel ( 04/03/1882 - 07/07/1893 )* |
| 50 | LQLamar | *Lamar, Lucius ( 01/18/1888 - 01/23/1893 )* |
| 51 | MWFuller | *Fuller, Melville ( 10/08/1888 - 07/04/1910 )* |
| 52 | DJBrewer | *Brewer, David ( 01/06/1890 - 03/28/1910 )* |
| 53 | HBBrown | *Brown, Henry ( 01/05/1891 - 05/28/1906 )* |
| 54 | GShiras | *Shiras, George ( 10/10/1892 - 02/23/1903 )* |
| 55 | HEJackson | *Jackson, Howell ( 03/04/1893 - 08/08/1895 )* |
| 56 | EDEWhite | *White, Edward ( 03/12/1894 - 05/19/1921 )* |
| 57 | RWPeckham | *Peckham, Rufus ( 01/06/1896 - 10/24/1909 )* |
| 58 | JMcKenna | *McKenna, Joseph ( 01/26/1898 - 01/05/1925 )* |
| 59 | OWHolmes | *Holmes, Oliver ( 08/11/1902 - 01/12/1932 )* |
| 60 | WRDay | *Day, William ( 03/02/1903 - 11/13/1922 )* |
| 61 | WHMoody | *Moody, William ( 12/17/1906 - 11/20/1910 )* |
| 62 | HHLurton | *Lurton, Horace ( 01/03/1910 - 07/12/1914 )* |
| 63 | CEHughes1 | *Hughes, Charles ( 10/10/1910 - 06/10/1916 )* |
| 64 | WVanDevanter | *Van Devanter, Willis ( 01/03/1911 - 06/02/1937 )* |
| 65 | JRLamar | *Lamar, Joseph ( 01/03/1911 - 01/02/1916 )* |
| 66 | MPitney | *Pitney, Mahlon ( 03/18/1912 - 12/31/1922 )* |
| 67 | JCMcReynolds | *McReynolds, James ( 10/12/1914 - 01/31/1941 )* |
| 68 | LDBrandeis | *Brandeis, Louis ( 06/05/1916 - 02/13/1939 )* |
| 69 | JHClarke | *Clarke, John ( 10/09/1916 - 09/18/1922 )* |
| 70 | WHTaft | *Taft, William ( 07/11/1921 - 02/03/1930 )* |
| 71 | GSutherland | *Sutherland, George ( 10/02/1922 - 01/17/1938 )* |
| 72 | PButler | *Butler, Pierce ( 01/02/1923 - 11/16/1939 )* |
| 73 | ETSanford | *Sanford, Edward ( 02/19/1923 - 03/08/1930 )* |
| 74 | HFStone | *Stone, Harlan ( 03/02/1925 - 04/22/1946 )* |
| 75 | CEHughes2 | *Hughes, Charles ( 02/24/1930 - 07/01/1941 )* |
| 76 | OJRoberts | *Roberts, Owen ( 06/02/1930 - 07/31/1945 )* |
| 77 | BNCardozo | *Cardozo, Benjamin ( 03/14/1932 - 07/09/1938 )* |
| 78 | HLBlack | *Black, Hugo ( 08/19/1937 - 09/17/1971 )* |
| 79 | SFReed | *Reed, Stanley ( 01/31/1938 - 02/25/1957 )* |
| 80 | FFrankfurter | *Frankfurter, Felix ( 01/30/1939 - 08/28/1962 )* |
| 81 | WODouglas | *Douglas, William ( 04/17/1939 - 11/12/1975 )* |
| 82 | FMurphy | *Murphy, Francis ( 02/05/1940 - 07/19/1949 )* |
| 83 | JFByrnes | *Byrnes, James ( 07/08/1941 - 10/03/1942 )* |
| 84 | RHJackson | *Jackson, Robert ( 07/11/1941 - 10/09/1954 )* |
| 85 | WBRutledge | *Rutledge, Wiley ( 02/15/1943 - 09/10/1949 )* |
| 86 | HHBurton | *Burton, Harold ( 10/01/1945 - 10/13/1958 )* |
| 87 | FMVinson | *Vinson, Fred ( 06/24/1946 - 09/08/1953 )* |
| 88 | TCClark | *Clark, Tom ( 08/24/1949 - 06/12/1967 )* |
| 89 | SMinton | *Minton, Sherman ( 10/12/1949 - 10/15/1956 )* |
| 90 | EWarren | *Warren, Earl ( 10/05/1953 - 06/23/1969 )* |
| 91 | JHarlan2 | *Harlan, John ( 03/28/1955 - 09/23/1971 )* |
| 92 | WJBrennan | *Brennan, William ( 10/16/1956 - 07/20/1990 )* |
| 93 | CEWhittaker | *Whittaker, Charles ( 03/25/1957 - 03/31/1962 )* |
| 94 | PStewart | *Stewart, Potter ( 10/14/1958 - 07/03/1981 )* |
| 95 | BRWhite | *White, Byron ( 04/16/1962 - 06/28/1993 )* |
| 96 | AJGoldberg | *Goldberg, Arthur ( 10/01/1962 - 07/25/1965 )* |
| 97 | AFortas | *Fortas, Abe ( 10/04/1965 - 05/14/1969 )* |
| 98 | TMarshall | *Marshall, Thurgood ( 10/02/1967 - 10/01/1991 )* |
| 99 | WEBurger | *Burger, Warren ( 06/23/1969 - 09/26/1986 )* |
| 100 | HABlackmun | *Blackmun, Harry ( 06/09/1970 - 08/03/1994 )* |
| 101 | LFPowell | *Powell, Lewis ( 01/07/1972 - 06/26/1987 )* |
| 102 | WHRehnquist | *Rehnquist, William ( 01/07/1972 - 09/03/2005 )* |
| 103 | JPStevens | *Stevens, John ( 12/19/1975 - 06/29/2010 )* |
| 104 | SDOConnor | *O'Connor, Sandra ( 09/25/1981 - 01/31/2006 )* |
| 105 | AScalia | *Scalia, Antonin ( 09/26/1986 - 02/13/2016 )* |
| 106 | AMKennedy | *Kennedy, Anthony ( 02/18/1988 - 07/31/2018 )* |
| 107 | DHSouter | *Souter, David ( 10/09/1990 - 06/29/2009 )* |
| 108 | CThomas | *Thomas, Clarence ( 10/23/1991 - 00/00/0000 )* |
| 109 | RBGinsburg | *Ginsburg, Ruth ( 08/10/1993 - 09/18/2020 )* |
| 110 | SGBreyer | *Breyer, Stephen ( 08/03/1994 - 06/30/2022 )* |
| 111 | JGRoberts | *Roberts, John ( 09/29/2005 - 00/00/0000 )* |
| 112 | SAAlito | *Alito, Samuel ( 01/31/2006 - 00/00/0000 )* |
| 113 | SSotomayor | *Sotomayor, Sonia ( 08/08/2009 - 00/00/0000 )* |
| 114 | EKagan | *Kagan, Elena ( 08/07/2010 - 00/00/0000 )* |
| 115 | NMGorsuch | *Gorsuch, Neil ( 04/08/2017 - 00/00/0000 )* |
| 116 | BMKavanaugh | *Kavanaugh, Brett ( 10/06/2018 - 00/00/0000 )* |
| 117 | ACBarrett | *Barrett, Amy ( 10/27/2020 - 00/00/0000 )* |
| 118 | KBJackson | *Jackson, Ketanji ( 06/30/2022 - 00/00/0000 )* |** Introductory

- [Introduction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=intro)
- [Citing to the SCDB](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=cite)
 Identification Variables

- [SCDB Case ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseId)
- [SCDB Docket ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docketId)
- [SCDB Issues ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId)
- [SCDB Vote ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteId)
- [U.S. Reporter Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=usCite)
- [Supreme Court Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=sctCite)
- [Lawyers Edition Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=ledCite)
- [LEXIS Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lexisCite)
- [Docket Number](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docket)
 Background Variables

- [Case Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseName)
- [Petitioner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitioner)
- [Petitioner State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitionerState)
- [Respondent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondent)
- [Respondent State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondentState)
- [Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=jurisdiction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminAction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminActionState)
- [Three-Judge District Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc)
- [Origin of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOrigin)
- [Origin of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOriginState)
- [Source of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSource)
- [Source of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSourceState)
- [Lower Court Disagreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisagreement)
- [Reason for Granting Cert](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=certReason)
- [Lower Court Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisposition)
- [Lower Court Disposition Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDispositionDirection)
 Chronological Variables

- [Date of Decision](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateDecision)
- [Term of Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=term)
- [Natural Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=naturalCourt)
- [Chief Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=chief)
- [Date of Oral Argument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateArgument)
- [Date of Reargument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateRearg)
 Substantive Variables

- [Issue](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issue)
- [Issue Area](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issueArea)
- [Decision Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirection)
- [Decision Direction Dissent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirectionDissent)
- [Authority for Decision 1](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision1)
- [Authority for Decision 2](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision2)
- [Legal Provisions Considered by the Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawType)
- [Legal Provision Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawSupp)
- [Legal Provision Minor Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawMinor)
 Outcome Variables

- [Decision Type](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionType)
- [Declaration of Unconstitutionality](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=declarationUncon)
- [Disposition of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDisposition)
- [Unusual Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDispositionUnusual)
- [Winning Party](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=partyWinning)
- [Formal Alteration of Precedent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=precedentAlteration)
 Voting & Opinion Variables

- [Vote Not Clearly Specified](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteUnclear)
- [Majority Opinion Writer](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinWriter)
- [Majority Opinion Assigner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinAssigner)
- [Split Vote](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=splitVote)
- [Majority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majVotes)
- [Minority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=minVotes)
- [Justice ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice)
- [Justice Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justiceName)
- [The Vote in the Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=vote)
- [Opinion](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=opinion)
- [Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=direction)
- [Majority and Minority Voting by Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majority)
- [First Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=firstAgreement)
- [Second Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=secondAgreement)
- | | [CONTACT](http://scdb.wustl.edu/contact.php) | | [TOP](#top) |
| --- | ---------------------- | --- | ----------- |
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- image The Supreme Court Database has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. [Creative Commons License](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/)

| ![washu_logo](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/washu_logo.png) |
| ------------------------------------ |

---
meta-description: The Supreme Court Database is the definitive source for researchers, students, journalists, and citizens interested in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Database contains over two hundred pieces of information about each case decided by the Court between the 1946 and 2012 terms. Examples include the identity of the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed, the parties to the suit, the legal provisions considered in the case, and the votes of the Justices.
meta-generator: Coda
meta-keywords: supreme court, spaeth, database
title: The Supreme Court Database
---

| [![wulaw](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/wulaw.png)](http://law.wustl.edu) |  |
| -------------------------------------------------- | --- |

- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/index.php) image image image image
- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/about.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/analysis.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php)
- image
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- Online Code Book

- Formal Alteration of Precedent

| **Variable Name** precedentAlteration | **Spaeth Name** ALT\_PREC | **Normalizations** [2 [ view ]](#norms) |
| --------------------------------------- | --------------------------- | ------------------------------------------ |

A "1" will appear in this variable if the majority opinion effectively says that the decision in this case "overruled" one or more of the Court's own precedents. Occasionally, in the absence of language in the prevailing opinion, the dissent will state clearly and persuasively that precedents have been formally altered: e.g., the two landmark reapportionment cases: Baker v. Carr, 369 U.S. 186 (1962), and Gray v. Sanders, 372 U.S. 368 (1963). Once in a great while the majority opinion will state--again in so many words--that an earlier decision overruled one of the Court's own precedents, even though that earlier decision nowhere says so. E.g, Patterson v. McLean Credit Union, 485 U.S. 617 (1988), in which the majority said that Braden v. 30th Judicial Circuit of Kentucky, 410 U.S. 484, 35 L Ed 2d 443 (1973) overruled a 1948 decision. On the basis of this later language, the earlier decision will contain a "1" in this variable. Alteration also extends to language in the majority opinion that states that a precedent of the Supreme Court has been "disapproved," or is "no longer good law."

Note, however, that alteration does not apply to cases in which the Court "distinguishes" a precedent. Such language in no way changes the scope of the precedent contained in the case that has been distinguished.

In addition to following these rules, we consulted several sources. Again, the Congressional Research Service's Constitution of the United States of America: Analysis and Interpretation (CONAN) (https://www.congress.gov/constitution-annotated) was most helpful.

Do not assume that each record of a given case indicates the formal alteration of a separate precedent. A given citation may have several docket numbers, each of which is governed by a single opinion in which only one precedent was altered. Conversely, an opinion in a citation with a single docket number may alter a whole series of Supreme Court precedents. To determine the number of altered precedents, carefully read the prevailing opinion in each citation that has an entry in this variable.

**Values:**

| 0 | no determinable alteration of precedent |
| --- | --------------------------------------- |
| 1 | precedent altered | Introductory

- [Introduction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=intro)
- [Citing to the SCDB](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=cite)
 Identification Variables

- [SCDB Case ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseId)
- [SCDB Docket ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docketId)
- [SCDB Issues ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId)
- [SCDB Vote ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteId)
- [U.S. Reporter Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=usCite)
- [Supreme Court Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=sctCite)
- [Lawyers Edition Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=ledCite)
- [LEXIS Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lexisCite)
- [Docket Number](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docket)
 Background Variables

- [Case Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseName)
- [Petitioner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitioner)
- [Petitioner State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitionerState)
- [Respondent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondent)
- [Respondent State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondentState)
- [Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=jurisdiction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminAction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminActionState)
- [Three-Judge District Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc)
- [Origin of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOrigin)
- [Origin of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOriginState)
- [Source of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSource)
- [Source of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSourceState)
- [Lower Court Disagreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisagreement)
- [Reason for Granting Cert](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=certReason)
- [Lower Court Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisposition)
- [Lower Court Disposition Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDispositionDirection)
 Chronological Variables

- [Date of Decision](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateDecision)
- [Term of Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=term)
- [Natural Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=naturalCourt)
- [Chief Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=chief)
- [Date of Oral Argument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateArgument)
- [Date of Reargument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateRearg)
 Substantive Variables

- [Issue](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issue)
- [Issue Area](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issueArea)
- [Decision Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirection)
- [Decision Direction Dissent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirectionDissent)
- [Authority for Decision 1](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision1)
- [Authority for Decision 2](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision2)
- [Legal Provisions Considered by the Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawType)
- [Legal Provision Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawSupp)
- [Legal Provision Minor Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawMinor)
 Outcome Variables

- [Decision Type](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionType)
- [Declaration of Unconstitutionality](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=declarationUncon)
- [Disposition of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDisposition)
- [Unusual Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDispositionUnusual)
- [Winning Party](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=partyWinning)
- [Formal Alteration of Precedent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=precedentAlteration)
 Voting & Opinion Variables

- [Vote Not Clearly Specified](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteUnclear)
- [Majority Opinion Writer](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinWriter)
- [Majority Opinion Assigner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinAssigner)
- [Split Vote](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=splitVote)
- [Majority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majVotes)
- [Minority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=minVotes)
- [Justice ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice)
- [Justice Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justiceName)
- [The Vote in the Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=vote)
- [Opinion](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=opinion)
- [Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=direction)
- [Majority and Minority Voting by Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majority)
- [First Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=firstAgreement)
- [Second Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=secondAgreement)
- | | [CONTACT](http://scdb.wustl.edu/contact.php) | | [TOP](#top) |
| --- | ---------------------- | --- | ----------- |
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- image The Supreme Court Database has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. [Creative Commons License](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/)

| ![washu_logo](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/washu_logo.png) |
| ------------------------------------ |

---
meta-description: The Supreme Court Database is the definitive source for researchers, students, journalists, and citizens interested in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Database contains over two hundred pieces of information about each case decided by the Court between the 1946 and 2012 terms. Examples include the identity of the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed, the parties to the suit, the legal provisions considered in the case, and the votes of the Justices.
meta-generator: Coda
meta-keywords: supreme court, spaeth, database
title: The Supreme Court Database
---

| [![wulaw](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/wulaw.png)](http://law.wustl.edu) |  |
| -------------------------------------------------- | --- |

- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/index.php) image image image image
- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/about.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/analysis.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php)
- image
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- Online Code Book

- Legal Provisions Considered by the Court

| **Variable Name** lawType | **Spaeth Name** LAW | **Normalizations** [8 [ view ]](#norms) |
| --------------------------- | --------------------- | ------------------------------------------ |

This variable and its components (lawSupp and lawMinor) identify the constitutional provision(s), statute(s), or court rule(s) that the Court considered in the case. The difference between them is that lawSupp and lawMinor are coded finely; they identify the specific law, constitutional provision or rule at issue (e.g., Article I, Section 1; the Federal Election Campaign Act; the Federal Rules of Evidence). lawType is coded more broadly (e.g., constitution, federal statute, court rules). Do not assume that these three legal provisions are ordinally ordered. They are not. Any one of them can be considered more important to the Court's decision than either of the others. And that also applies to the issue and issue area of the case. Importance is a matter to be determined by the user's objectives.

Because of our ignorance of the overall contents of the pre-1946 decision making, we simply adhered to the structure and distinctive characteristics of the modern Court. Accordingly, we created a modernized interface that did not adequately comport with the distinctive features of the heritage cases. Not only did they treat distinctive constitutional provisions as one (e.g., upholding or voiding governmental action on the combined basis of due process and equal protection), with the interstate commerce clause thrown in for good measure. Furthermore, these early Courts also created a much used non-textual constitutional provision: freedom of contract, which was treated independently of the Constitution's contract clause.

Relatedly, we mistakenly allowed for only one type 0f legal provision (i.e. Constitution, constitutional amendment, federal statute, court rules, other, infrequently litigated statutes, and state or local law) per case record.) If a second or third legal provision warranted inclusion into the case record, entirely new and separate records needed to be created. This is not a serious problem with the post-1946 Courts, but it definitely is with the preceding ones.

At the other extreme, this database does allow for the inclusion of infrequently litigated federal statutes, but not those of the state and local governments. Users interested in the Court's treatment of the states are likely interested in the sort of state laws at issue and the result of Supreme Court action. E.g., did the Court treat all morals legislation the same; i.e., temperance, prostitution, obscenity, gambling, regardless of states or human litigants? Consult the variables 'origin of case State' and 'source of case State.' To determine the specifics of state or local law, consult the opinion of the case itself. Although a major objective of this database was to make it self-standing, we were not able to achieve this objective because of inadequate oversight and limited resources. To have included this datum would have been a counsel of perfection. Unfortunately, the other principle investigators and I are incapable of attaining such a status.

The basic criterion to determine the legal provision(s) is the "summary" in the Lawyers' Edition. Supplementary is a reference to it in at least one of the numbered holdings in the summary of the United States Reports. This summary, which the Lawyers' Edition of the U.S. Reports labels "Syllabus By Reporter Of Decisions," appears in the official Reports immediately after the date of decision and before the main opinion in the case. Where this summary lacks numbered holdings, it is treated as though it has but one number.

Be aware that the Reports do not cite a given statute the same in every case. Hence, the total number of cases in which a case is the legal provision considered by the Court may be higher than the database reports.

Observe that where a state or local government allegedly abridges a provision of the Bill of Rights even though it has not been made binding on the states because it has not been "incorporated" into the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, identification is to the specific guarantee rather than to the Fourteenth Amendment.

The legal basis for decision need not be formally stated. For example, a reference in the summary to the appointment of counsel under the Constitution or to the self-incrimination clause warrants entry of the appropriate code. (E.g., United States v. Knox, 396 U.S. 77; Lassiter v. Department of Social Services, 452 U.S. 18).

Also note that occasionally a holding may pertain to more than one legal basis for decision. In such cases, the additional basis or bases are specified as though they are numbered holdings, or as though they are a holding without numbers.

By no means does every record have an entry in the lawType variable. Only constitutional provisions, federal statutes, and court rules are entered here. This variable typically will have no entry in cases that concern the Supreme Court's supervisory authority over the lower federal courts; those where the Supreme Court's decision does not rest on a constitutional provision, federal statute, or court rule; provisions of the common law; decrees; and nonstatutory cases arising under the Court's original jurisdiction.

In cases where the Court considers multiple legal provisions no attempt is made to order their appearance. Where the constitutionality of a federal law is challenged, to give either the constitutional provision or the statute primacy would be arbitrary. To the extent that any order characterizes these lawType entries, it likely is the sequence in which they appear in the summary.

Beyond the foregoing, observe that an entry should appear in this variable only when the summary indicates that the majority opinion discusses the legal provision at issue. The mere fact that the Court exercises a certain power (e.g., its original jurisdiction, as in Arkansas v. Tennessee, 397 U.S. 91), or makes reference in its majority opinion rather than in the summary that a certain constitutional provision, statute, or frequently used common law rule applies (e.g., the "equal footing" principle which pertains to the admission of new states under Article IV, section 3, clause 2 of the Constitution, as Utah v. United States, 403 U.S. 9, illustrates) provides no warrant for any entry.

There are three exceptions to this "discussion" requirement, the first of which dismisses the writ of certiorari as "improvidently granted" either in so many words (e.g., Johnson v. United States, 401 U.S. 846) or dismisses it on this basis implicitly (e.g., Baldonado v. California, 366 U.S. 417). In such cases, the code 508 should appear. More often than not, these cases have no summary. Note that the phrase is a term of art: 1) it overrides any substantive provision that the summary may mention (e.g., Conway v. California Adult Authority, 396 U.S. 107); 2) it does not apply where the Supreme Court takes jurisdiction on appeal.

In the second exception the Court, without discussion, remands a case to a lower court for consideration in light of an earlier decision. The summary of the earlier case is then consulted and the instant case coded with the entry that appeared there (e.g., Wheaton v. California, 386 U.S. 267). If a discussion in the summary precedes the remand, this variable should be governed by that discussion as well as the basis for decision in the case that the lower court is instructed to consider. Usually these bases will be identical (e.g., Maxwell v. Bishop, 398 U.S. 262).

The third exception to the "discussion" criterion involves the legality of administrative agency action without specific reference to the statute under which the agency acted. Inasmuch as administrative agencies may only act pursuant to statute, the majority opinion was consulted to determine the statute in question (e.g., National Labor Relations Board v. United Insurance Co. of America, 390 U.S. 254). The same situation may characterize the statute under which a court exercises jurisdiction (e.g., the Court of Claims in United States v. King, 395 U.S. 1).

As indicated, this variable should usually lack an entry if the numbered holding(s) indicates that the Court's decision rests on its supervisory authority over the federal judiciary, the common law, or diversity jurisdiction.

Note that where a state or local government allegedly abridges a provision of the Bill of Rights that has been made binding on the states because it has been incorporated into the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, identification is to the specific guarantee rather than to the Fourteenth Amendment Due Process Clause.

International treaties and conventions, which rarely serve as the basis for the Court's decision, are identified (in the lawSupp variable) as a treaty (509), an interstate compact as Interstate Compact (510), an executive order as Executive Order (511), and a statute of a territory of the U.S., which is not in the U.S. Code or the Statutes at Large, as Territory Statute (512).

A case that challenges the constitutionality of a federal statute, court or common law rule will usually contain at least two legal bases for decision: the constitutional provision as well as the challenged statute or rule.

Where a heading concerns the review of agency action under a statute, but the statute is not identified, it is ascertained from the opinion (e.g., National Labor Relations Board v. United Insurance Co. of America, 390 U.S. 254). So also where the decision turns on the statutory jurisdiction of a federal court, and the holding does not specify it (e.g., United States v. King, 395 U.S. 1).

**Values:**

| 1 | Constitution |
| --- | -------------------------------- |
| 2 | Constitutional Amendment |
| 3 | Federal Statute |
| 4 | Court Rules |
| 5 | Other |
| 6 | Infrequently litigated statutes |
| 8 | State or local law or regulation |
| 9 | No Legal Provision | Introductory

- [Introduction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=intro)
- [Citing to the SCDB](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=cite)
 Identification Variables

- [SCDB Case ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseId)
- [SCDB Docket ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docketId)
- [SCDB Issues ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId)
- [SCDB Vote ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteId)
- [U.S. Reporter Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=usCite)
- [Supreme Court Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=sctCite)
- [Lawyers Edition Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=ledCite)
- [LEXIS Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lexisCite)
- [Docket Number](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docket)
 Background Variables

- [Case Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseName)
- [Petitioner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitioner)
- [Petitioner State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitionerState)
- [Respondent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondent)
- [Respondent State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondentState)
- [Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=jurisdiction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminAction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminActionState)
- [Three-Judge District Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc)
- [Origin of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOrigin)
- [Origin of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOriginState)
- [Source of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSource)
- [Source of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSourceState)
- [Lower Court Disagreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisagreement)
- [Reason for Granting Cert](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=certReason)
- [Lower Court Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisposition)
- [Lower Court Disposition Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDispositionDirection)
 Chronological Variables

- [Date of Decision](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateDecision)
- [Term of Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=term)
- [Natural Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=naturalCourt)
- [Chief Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=chief)
- [Date of Oral Argument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateArgument)
- [Date of Reargument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateRearg)
 Substantive Variables

- [Issue](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issue)
- [Issue Area](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issueArea)
- [Decision Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirection)
- [Decision Direction Dissent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirectionDissent)
- [Authority for Decision 1](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision1)
- [Authority for Decision 2](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision2)
- [Legal Provisions Considered by the Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawType)
- [Legal Provision Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawSupp)
- [Legal Provision Minor Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawMinor)
 Outcome Variables

- [Decision Type](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionType)
- [Declaration of Unconstitutionality](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=declarationUncon)
- [Disposition of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDisposition)
- [Unusual Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDispositionUnusual)
- [Winning Party](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=partyWinning)
- [Formal Alteration of Precedent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=precedentAlteration)
 Voting & Opinion Variables

- [Vote Not Clearly Specified](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteUnclear)
- [Majority Opinion Writer](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinWriter)
- [Majority Opinion Assigner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinAssigner)
- [Split Vote](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=splitVote)
- [Majority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majVotes)
- [Minority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=minVotes)
- [Justice ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice)
- [Justice Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justiceName)
- [The Vote in the Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=vote)
- [Opinion](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=opinion)
- [Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=direction)
- [Majority and Minority Voting by Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majority)
- [First Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=firstAgreement)
- [Second Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=secondAgreement)
- | | [CONTACT](http://scdb.wustl.edu/contact.php) | | [TOP](#top) |
| --- | ---------------------- | --- | ----------- |
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- image The Supreme Court Database has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. [Creative Commons License](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/)

| ![washu_logo](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/washu_logo.png) |
| ------------------------------------ |

---
meta-description: The Supreme Court Database is the definitive source for researchers, students, journalists, and citizens interested in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Database contains over two hundred pieces of information about each case decided by the Court between the 1946 and 2012 terms. Examples include the identity of the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed, the parties to the suit, the legal provisions considered in the case, and the votes of the Justices.
meta-generator: Coda
meta-keywords: supreme court, spaeth, database
title: The Supreme Court Database
---

| [![wulaw](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/wulaw.png)](http://law.wustl.edu) |  |
| -------------------------------------------------- | --- |

- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/index.php) image image image image
- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/about.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/analysis.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php)
- image
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- Online Code Book

- The Vote in the Case

| **Variable Name** vote | **Spaeth Name** HARV to BRYV | **Normalizations** [8 [ view ]](#norms) |
| ------------------------ | ------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------ |

This variable provides information about each justice's vote in the case. It appears in the Justice Centered Datasets only. A regular concurrence is when the justice agrees with the Court's opinion as well as its disposition. A special concurence (i.e., a concurence in the judgment) is when the justice agrees with the Court's disposition but not its opinion. A jurisdictional dissent is when the justice disagrees with the Court's assertion or denial of jurisdiction. Such votes are counted as nonparticipations.

Determination of how a given justice voted is by no means a simple matter of culling the Reports. The justices do not always make their options clear.

Two problems, in particular, afflict efforts to specify votes: 1) whether the vote is a regular or a special concurrence, and 2) the treatment to be accorded a vote "concurring in part and dissenting in part."

The first typically manifests itself when a justice joins the opinion of the Court "except for . . ." Because such exceptions typically tend to approach de minimis status, these are coded as regular concurrences. For example, Chief Justice Burger concurred in the opinion of the Court in New York Gaslight Club, Inc. v. Carey, except for "footnote 6 thereof." 447 U.S. 54, at 71. Similarly, Blackmun's agreement with the Court in Pruneyard Shopping Center v. Robins, except for "that sentence thereof . . ." 447 U.S. 74, at 88. Where the Reports identify a justice as "concurring" or "concurring in part" said justice is treated as a member of the majority opinion coalition (i.e., as = 3), rather than a merely concurring in the result (i.e., as = 4).

Whereas the preceding problem pertains to determining which type of concurrence a vote is, the problem with votes concurring and dissenting in part is whether they are special concurrences (= 4) or dissents (= 2). This matter was addressed previously in connection with the variable voteUnclear (vote not clearly specified). A vote concurring and dissenting in part is listed as a special concurrence if the justice(s) doing so does not disagree with the majority's disposition of the case. This may occur when: 1) the justice concurring and dissenting in part only voices disagreement with some or all of the majority's reasoning; 2) when said justice disapproves of the majority's deciding or refusing to decide additional issues involved in the case; or 3) when in a case in which dissent has been voiced, the justice(s) concurring and dissenting in part votes to dispose of the case in a manner more closely approximating that of the majority than that of the dissenter(s).

In cases where determination of whether a vote concurring and dissenting in part is the former or the latter is not beyond cavil, an entry will appear in the voteUnclear variable of the affected case to allow users to make an independent judgment, if they are so minded. Note, however, that listing such votes as dissents (= 2) or special concurrences (= 4) has no effect on whether or not an opinion is written (the opinion variable).

See also notes under the majority vote (majVote) variable.

**Values:**

| 1 | voted with majority or plurality |
| --- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| 2 | dissent |
| 3 | regular concurrence |
| 4 | special concurrence |
| 5 | judgment of the Court |
| 6 | dissent from a denial or dismissal of certiorari , or dissent from summary affirmation of an appeal |
| 7 | jurisdictional dissent |
| 8 | justice participated in an equally divided vote | Introductory

- [Introduction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=intro)
- [Citing to the SCDB](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=cite)
 Identification Variables

- [SCDB Case ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseId)
- [SCDB Docket ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docketId)
- [SCDB Issues ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId)
- [SCDB Vote ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteId)
- [U.S. Reporter Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=usCite)
- [Supreme Court Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=sctCite)
- [Lawyers Edition Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=ledCite)
- [LEXIS Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lexisCite)
- [Docket Number](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docket)
 Background Variables

- [Case Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseName)
- [Petitioner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitioner)
- [Petitioner State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitionerState)
- [Respondent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondent)
- [Respondent State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondentState)
- [Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=jurisdiction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminAction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminActionState)
- [Three-Judge District Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc)
- [Origin of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOrigin)
- [Origin of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOriginState)
- [Source of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSource)
- [Source of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSourceState)
- [Lower Court Disagreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisagreement)
- [Reason for Granting Cert](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=certReason)
- [Lower Court Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisposition)
- [Lower Court Disposition Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDispositionDirection)
 Chronological Variables

- [Date of Decision](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateDecision)
- [Term of Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=term)
- [Natural Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=naturalCourt)
- [Chief Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=chief)
- [Date of Oral Argument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateArgument)
- [Date of Reargument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateRearg)
 Substantive Variables

- [Issue](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issue)
- [Issue Area](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issueArea)
- [Decision Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirection)
- [Decision Direction Dissent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirectionDissent)
- [Authority for Decision 1](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision1)
- [Authority for Decision 2](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision2)
- [Legal Provisions Considered by the Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawType)
- [Legal Provision Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawSupp)
- [Legal Provision Minor Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawMinor)
 Outcome Variables

- [Decision Type](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionType)
- [Declaration of Unconstitutionality](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=declarationUncon)
- [Disposition of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDisposition)
- [Unusual Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDispositionUnusual)
- [Winning Party](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=partyWinning)
- [Formal Alteration of Precedent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=precedentAlteration)
 Voting & Opinion Variables

- [Vote Not Clearly Specified](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteUnclear)
- [Majority Opinion Writer](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinWriter)
- [Majority Opinion Assigner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinAssigner)
- [Split Vote](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=splitVote)
- [Majority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majVotes)
- [Minority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=minVotes)
- [Justice ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice)
- [Justice Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justiceName)
- [The Vote in the Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=vote)
- [Opinion](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=opinion)
- [Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=direction)
- [Majority and Minority Voting by Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majority)
- [First Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=firstAgreement)
- [Second Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=secondAgreement)
- | | [CONTACT](http://scdb.wustl.edu/contact.php) | | [TOP](#top) |
| --- | ---------------------- | --- | ----------- |
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- image The Supreme Court Database has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. [Creative Commons License](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/)

| ![washu_logo](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/washu_logo.png) |
| ------------------------------------ |

{
  "type": "web_fetch_tool_result_error",
  "error_code": "too_many_requests"
}

---
meta-description: The Supreme Court Database is the definitive source for researchers, students, journalists, and citizens interested in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Database contains over two hundred pieces of information about each case decided by the Court between the 1946 and 2012 terms. Examples include the identity of the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed, the parties to the suit, the legal provisions considered in the case, and the votes of the Justices.
meta-generator: Coda
meta-keywords: supreme court, spaeth, database
title: The Supreme Court Database
---

| [![wulaw](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/wulaw.png)](http://law.wustl.edu) |  |
| -------------------------------------------------- | --- |

- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/index.php) image image image image
- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/about.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/analysis.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php)
- image
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- Online Code Book

- Vote Not Clearly Specified

| **Variable Name** voteUnclear | **Spaeth Name** VOTEQ | **Normalizations** [2 [ view ]](#norms) |
| ------------------------------- | ----------------------- | ------------------------------------------ |

The votes in a case are those specified in the opinions.
Do note, however, that the majority opinion in a number of Marshall Court decisions reports that unnamed justices were in disagreement about the resolution of the case. These do not identify who the dissenters were. We, therefore, look to the majority opinion itself to specify who voted how.

In the vast majority of cases, the individual justices clearly indicate whether or not they agree with the disposition made by the majority. For a small number of cases clarity may be lacking, as when a justice concurs in part and dissents in part. A justice will typically use this or equivalent language to indicate agreement with the reasoning in a portion of the majority opinion while disagreeing with the majority's disposition of the case, or vice-versa.

A close reading of the justice's opinion usually indicates whether he or she has concurred (i.e., agreed with the majority's disposition) or dissented from the disposition made by the majority. But in the rare case where a justice does not clearly indicate which it is, this variable will so indicate.

**Values:**

| 0 | vote clearly specified |
| --- | ------------------------------ |
| 1 | the vote in the case not clear | Introductory

- [Introduction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=intro)
- [Citing to the SCDB](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=cite)
 Identification Variables

- [SCDB Case ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseId)
- [SCDB Docket ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docketId)
- [SCDB Issues ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId)
- [SCDB Vote ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteId)
- [U.S. Reporter Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=usCite)
- [Supreme Court Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=sctCite)
- [Lawyers Edition Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=ledCite)
- [LEXIS Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lexisCite)
- [Docket Number](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docket)
 Background Variables

- [Case Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseName)
- [Petitioner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitioner)
- [Petitioner State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitionerState)
- [Respondent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondent)
- [Respondent State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondentState)
- [Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=jurisdiction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminAction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminActionState)
- [Three-Judge District Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc)
- [Origin of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOrigin)
- [Origin of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOriginState)
- [Source of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSource)
- [Source of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSourceState)
- [Lower Court Disagreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisagreement)
- [Reason for Granting Cert](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=certReason)
- [Lower Court Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisposition)
- [Lower Court Disposition Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDispositionDirection)
 Chronological Variables

- [Date of Decision](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateDecision)
- [Term of Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=term)
- [Natural Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=naturalCourt)
- [Chief Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=chief)
- [Date of Oral Argument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateArgument)
- [Date of Reargument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateRearg)
 Substantive Variables

- [Issue](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issue)
- [Issue Area](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issueArea)
- [Decision Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirection)
- [Decision Direction Dissent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirectionDissent)
- [Authority for Decision 1](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision1)
- [Authority for Decision 2](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision2)
- [Legal Provisions Considered by the Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawType)
- [Legal Provision Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawSupp)
- [Legal Provision Minor Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawMinor)
 Outcome Variables

- [Decision Type](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionType)
- [Declaration of Unconstitutionality](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=declarationUncon)
- [Disposition of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDisposition)
- [Unusual Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDispositionUnusual)
- [Winning Party](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=partyWinning)
- [Formal Alteration of Precedent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=precedentAlteration)
 Voting & Opinion Variables

- [Vote Not Clearly Specified](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteUnclear)
- [Majority Opinion Writer](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinWriter)
- [Majority Opinion Assigner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinAssigner)
- [Split Vote](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=splitVote)
- [Majority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majVotes)
- [Minority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=minVotes)
- [Justice ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice)
- [Justice Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justiceName)
- [The Vote in the Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=vote)
- [Opinion](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=opinion)
- [Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=direction)
- [Majority and Minority Voting by Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majority)
- [First Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=firstAgreement)
- [Second Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=secondAgreement)
- | | [CONTACT](http://scdb.wustl.edu/contact.php) | | [TOP](#top) |
| --- | ---------------------- | --- | ----------- |
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- image The Supreme Court Database has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. [Creative Commons License](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/)

| ![washu_logo](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/washu_logo.png) |
| ------------------------------------ |

---
meta-description: The Supreme Court Database is the definitive source for researchers, students, journalists, and citizens interested in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Database contains over two hundred pieces of information about each case decided by the Court between the 1946 and 2012 terms. Examples include the identity of the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed, the parties to the suit, the legal provisions considered in the case, and the votes of the Justices.
meta-generator: Coda
meta-keywords: supreme court, spaeth, database
title: The Supreme Court Database
---

| [![wulaw](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/wulaw.png)](http://law.wustl.edu) |  |
| -------------------------------------------------- | --- |

- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/index.php) image image image image
- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/about.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/analysis.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php)
- image
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- Online Code Book

- U.S. Reporter Citation

| **Variable Name** usCite | **Spaeth Name** US | **Normalizations** n/a |
| -------------------------- | -------------------- | ------------------------ |

The next four variables provide the citation to each case from the official United States Reports (US) and the three major unofficial Reports, the Supreme Court Reporter (S.CT), the Lawyers' Edition of the United States Reports(LEd), and the LEXIS cite.

Especially note that these four Reporters are not identical in the cases they report. Slight differences exist among the per curiam and non-orally argued decisions and whether or not multiple citations accompany the lead decision under the original citation. Our listing derives primarily from that of the Lawyer's Edition, supplemented by the US Reports.

Except for memorandum decisions at the back of each volume, we include virtually every decision the Court has made during its four centuries of existence.

Also note that LEXIS cites have the advantage of being unique; the other reporters can have multiple cases on the same page.

Further note that pagination does not invariably proceed chronologically throughout the volumes. Hence, do not assume that because a given citation has a higher page number than that of another case it was decided on the same or a later date as the other case. The only accurate way to sequence the cases chronologically is by indexing or otherwise sequencing each case's date of decision (date of decision). Introductory

- [Introduction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=intro)
- [Citing to the SCDB](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=cite)
 Identification Variables

- [SCDB Case ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseId)
- [SCDB Docket ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docketId)
- [SCDB Issues ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId)
- [SCDB Vote ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteId)
- [U.S. Reporter Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=usCite)
- [Supreme Court Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=sctCite)
- [Lawyers Edition Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=ledCite)
- [LEXIS Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lexisCite)
- [Docket Number](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docket)
 Background Variables

- [Case Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseName)
- [Petitioner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitioner)
- [Petitioner State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitionerState)
- [Respondent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondent)
- [Respondent State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondentState)
- [Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=jurisdiction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminAction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminActionState)
- [Three-Judge District Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc)
- [Origin of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOrigin)
- [Origin of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOriginState)
- [Source of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSource)
- [Source of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSourceState)
- [Lower Court Disagreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisagreement)
- [Reason for Granting Cert](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=certReason)
- [Lower Court Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisposition)
- [Lower Court Disposition Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDispositionDirection)
 Chronological Variables

- [Date of Decision](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateDecision)
- [Term of Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=term)
- [Natural Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=naturalCourt)
- [Chief Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=chief)
- [Date of Oral Argument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateArgument)
- [Date of Reargument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateRearg)
 Substantive Variables

- [Issue](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issue)
- [Issue Area](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issueArea)
- [Decision Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirection)
- [Decision Direction Dissent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirectionDissent)
- [Authority for Decision 1](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision1)
- [Authority for Decision 2](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision2)
- [Legal Provisions Considered by the Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawType)
- [Legal Provision Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawSupp)
- [Legal Provision Minor Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawMinor)
 Outcome Variables

- [Decision Type](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionType)
- [Declaration of Unconstitutionality](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=declarationUncon)
- [Disposition of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDisposition)
- [Unusual Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDispositionUnusual)
- [Winning Party](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=partyWinning)
- [Formal Alteration of Precedent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=precedentAlteration)
 Voting & Opinion Variables

- [Vote Not Clearly Specified](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteUnclear)
- [Majority Opinion Writer](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinWriter)
- [Majority Opinion Assigner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinAssigner)
- [Split Vote](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=splitVote)
- [Majority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majVotes)
- [Minority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=minVotes)
- [Justice ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice)
- [Justice Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justiceName)
- [The Vote in the Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=vote)
- [Opinion](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=opinion)
- [Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=direction)
- [Majority and Minority Voting by Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majority)
- [First Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=firstAgreement)
- [Second Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=secondAgreement)
- | | [CONTACT](http://scdb.wustl.edu/contact.php) | | [TOP](#top) |
| --- | ---------------------- | --- | ----------- |
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- image The Supreme Court Database has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. [Creative Commons License](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/)

| ![washu_logo](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/washu_logo.png) |
| ------------------------------------ |

---
meta-description: The Supreme Court Database is the definitive source for researchers, students, journalists, and citizens interested in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Database contains over two hundred pieces of information about each case decided by the Court between the 1946 and 2012 terms. Examples include the identity of the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed, the parties to the suit, the legal provisions considered in the case, and the votes of the Justices.
meta-generator: Coda
meta-keywords: supreme court, spaeth, database
title: The Supreme Court Database
---

| [![wulaw](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/wulaw.png)](http://law.wustl.edu) |  |
| -------------------------------------------------- | --- |

- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/index.php) image image image image
- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/about.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/analysis.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php)
- image
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- Online Code Book

- First Agreement

| **Variable Name** firstAgreement | **Spaeth Name** HARA1 - BRYA1 | **Normalizations** [118 [ view ]](#norms) |
| ---------------------------------- | ------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------- |

This variable (and Second Agreement) denotes whether the justice agreed with a dissent or concurrence written by another justice (indicated by the justice's id number). Two agreements are coded---one in this variable and the second in secondAgreement. For more details, see the opinion variable.

This variable appears in the Justice Centered Datasets only.

*Note: This variable relies on the Justices ID for its values. For a more detailed description of these identifiers, please visit the [detail page for the Justices variable](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice). Note that the justice normalizations changed with the SCDB_2012_01 release of the database.***Values:**

| 1 | JJay | *Jay, John ( 10/19/1789 - 06/29/1795 )* |
| --- | ------------ | -------------------------------------------------- |
| 2 | JRutledge1 | *Rutledge, John ( 02/15/1790 - 03/05/1791 )* |
| 3 | WCushing | *Cushing, William ( 02/02/1790 - 09/13/1810 )* |
| 4 | JWilson | *Wilson, James ( 10/05/1789 - 08/21/1798 )* |
| 5 | JBlair | *Blair, John ( 02/02/1790 - 01/27/1796 )* |
| 6 | JIredell | *Iredell, James ( 05/12/1790 - 10/20/1799 )* |
| 7 | TJohnson | *Johnson, Thomas ( 09/19/1791 - 02/22/1793 )* |
| 8 | WPaterson | *Paterson, William ( 03/11/1793 - 09/09/1806 )* |
| 9 | JRutledge2 | *Rutledge, John ( 08/12/1795 - 12/15/1795 )* |
| 10 | SChase | *Chase, Samuel ( 02/04/1796 - 06/19/1811 )* |
| 11 | OEllsworth | *Ellsworth, Oliver ( 03/08/1796 - 12/15/1800 )* |
| 12 | BWashington | *Washington, Bushrod ( 11/09/1798 - 11/26/1829 )* |
| 13 | AMoore | *Moore, Alfred ( 04/21/1800 - 01/26/1804 )* |
| 14 | JMarshall | *Marshall, John ( 02/04/1801 - 07/06/1835 )* |
| 15 | WJohnson | *Johnson, William ( 05/07/1804 - 08/04/1834 )* |
| 16 | HBLivingston | *Livingston, Henry ( 01/20/1807 - 03/18/1823 )* |
| 17 | TTodd | *Todd, Thomas ( 05/04/1807 - 02/07/1826 )* |
| 18 | GDuvall | *Duvall, Gabriel ( 11/23/1811 - 01/14/1835 )* |
| 19 | JStory | *Story, Joseph ( 02/03/1812 - 09/10/1845 )* |
| 20 | SThompson | *Thompson, Smith ( 09/01/1823 - 12/18/1843 )* |
| 21 | RTrimble | *Trimble, Robert ( 06/16/1826 - 08/25/1828 )* |
| 22 | JMcLean | *McLean, John ( 01/11/1830 - 04/04/1861 )* |
| 23 | HBaldwin | *Baldwin, Henry ( 01/18/1830 - 04/21/1844 )* |
| 24 | JMWayne | *Wayne, James ( 01/14/1835 - 07/05/1867 )* |
| 25 | RBTaney | *Taney, Roger ( 03/28/1836 - 10/12/1864 )* |
| 26 | PPBarbour | *Barbour, Philip ( 05/12/1836 - 02/25/1841 )* |
| 27 | JCatron | *Catron, John ( 05/01/1837 - 05/30/1865 )* |
| 28 | JMcKinley | *McKinley, John ( 04/22/1837 - 07/19/1852 )* |
| 29 | PVDaniel | *Daniel, Peter ( 01/10/1842 - 05/31/1860 )* |
| 30 | SNelson | *Nelson, Samuel ( 02/27/1845 - 11/28/1872 )* |
| 31 | LWoodbury | *Woodbury, Levi ( 09/23/1845 - 09/04/1851 )* |
| 32 | RCGrier | *Grier, Robert ( 08/10/1846 - 01/31/1870 )* |
| 33 | BRCurtis | *Curtis, Benjamin ( 10/10/1851 - 09/30/1857 )* |
| 34 | JACampbell | *Campbell, John ( 04/11/1853 - 04/30/1861 )* |
| 35 | NClifford | *Clifford, Nathan ( 01/21/1858 - 07/25/1881 )* |
| 36 | NHSwayne | *Swayne, Noah ( 01/27/1862 - 01/24/1881 )* |
| 37 | SFMiller | *Miller, Samuel ( 07/21/1862 - 10/13/1890 )* |
| 38 | DDavis | *Davis, David ( 10/17/1862 - 03/04/1877 )* |
| 39 | SJField | *Field, Stephen ( 05/20/1863 - 12/01/1897 )* |
| 40 | SPChase | *Chase, Salmon ( 12/15/1864 - 05/07/1873 )* |
| 41 | WStrong | *Strong, William ( 03/14/1870 - 12/14/1880 )* |
| 42 | JPBradley | *Bradley, Joseph ( 03/21/1870 - 01/22/1892 )* |
| 43 | WHunt | *Hunt, Ward ( 01/09/1873 - 01/27/1882 )* |
| 44 | MRWaite | *Waite, Morrison ( 03/04/1874 - 04/03/1888 )* |
| 45 | JHarlan1 | *Harlan, John ( 12/10/1877 - 10/14/1911 )* |
| 46 | WBWoods | *Woods, William ( 01/05/1881 - 05/14/1887 )* |
| 47 | SMatthews | *Matthews, Stanley ( 05/17/1881 - 03/22/1889 )* |
| 48 | HGray | *Gray, Horace ( 01/09/1882 - 09/15/1902 )* |
| 49 | SBlatchford | *Blatchford, Samuel ( 04/03/1882 - 07/07/1893 )* |
| 50 | LQLamar | *Lamar, Lucius ( 01/18/1888 - 01/23/1893 )* |
| 51 | MWFuller | *Fuller, Melville ( 10/08/1888 - 07/04/1910 )* |
| 52 | DJBrewer | *Brewer, David ( 01/06/1890 - 03/28/1910 )* |
| 53 | HBBrown | *Brown, Henry ( 01/05/1891 - 05/28/1906 )* |
| 54 | GShiras | *Shiras, George ( 10/10/1892 - 02/23/1903 )* |
| 55 | HEJackson | *Jackson, Howell ( 03/04/1893 - 08/08/1895 )* |
| 56 | EDEWhite | *White, Edward ( 03/12/1894 - 05/19/1921 )* |
| 57 | RWPeckham | *Peckham, Rufus ( 01/06/1896 - 10/24/1909 )* |
| 58 | JMcKenna | *McKenna, Joseph ( 01/26/1898 - 01/05/1925 )* |
| 59 | OWHolmes | *Holmes, Oliver ( 08/11/1902 - 01/12/1932 )* |
| 60 | WRDay | *Day, William ( 03/02/1903 - 11/13/1922 )* |
| 61 | WHMoody | *Moody, William ( 12/17/1906 - 11/20/1910 )* |
| 62 | HHLurton | *Lurton, Horace ( 01/03/1910 - 07/12/1914 )* |
| 63 | CEHughes1 | *Hughes, Charles ( 10/10/1910 - 06/10/1916 )* |
| 64 | WVanDevanter | *Van Devanter, Willis ( 01/03/1911 - 06/02/1937 )* |
| 65 | JRLamar | *Lamar, Joseph ( 01/03/1911 - 01/02/1916 )* |
| 66 | MPitney | *Pitney, Mahlon ( 03/18/1912 - 12/31/1922 )* |
| 67 | JCMcReynolds | *McReynolds, James ( 10/12/1914 - 01/31/1941 )* |
| 68 | LDBrandeis | *Brandeis, Louis ( 06/05/1916 - 02/13/1939 )* |
| 69 | JHClarke | *Clarke, John ( 10/09/1916 - 09/18/1922 )* |
| 70 | WHTaft | *Taft, William ( 07/11/1921 - 02/03/1930 )* |
| 71 | GSutherland | *Sutherland, George ( 10/02/1922 - 01/17/1938 )* |
| 72 | PButler | *Butler, Pierce ( 01/02/1923 - 11/16/1939 )* |
| 73 | ETSanford | *Sanford, Edward ( 02/19/1923 - 03/08/1930 )* |
| 74 | HFStone | *Stone, Harlan ( 03/02/1925 - 04/22/1946 )* |
| 75 | CEHughes2 | *Hughes, Charles ( 02/24/1930 - 07/01/1941 )* |
| 76 | OJRoberts | *Roberts, Owen ( 06/02/1930 - 07/31/1945 )* |
| 77 | BNCardozo | *Cardozo, Benjamin ( 03/14/1932 - 07/09/1938 )* |
| 78 | HLBlack | *Black, Hugo ( 08/19/1937 - 09/17/1971 )* |
| 79 | SFReed | *Reed, Stanley ( 01/31/1938 - 02/25/1957 )* |
| 80 | FFrankfurter | *Frankfurter, Felix ( 01/30/1939 - 08/28/1962 )* |
| 81 | WODouglas | *Douglas, William ( 04/17/1939 - 11/12/1975 )* |
| 82 | FMurphy | *Murphy, Francis ( 02/05/1940 - 07/19/1949 )* |
| 83 | JFByrnes | *Byrnes, James ( 07/08/1941 - 10/03/1942 )* |
| 84 | RHJackson | *Jackson, Robert ( 07/11/1941 - 10/09/1954 )* |
| 85 | WBRutledge | *Rutledge, Wiley ( 02/15/1943 - 09/10/1949 )* |
| 86 | HHBurton | *Burton, Harold ( 10/01/1945 - 10/13/1958 )* |
| 87 | FMVinson | *Vinson, Fred ( 06/24/1946 - 09/08/1953 )* |
| 88 | TCClark | *Clark, Tom ( 08/24/1949 - 06/12/1967 )* |
| 89 | SMinton | *Minton, Sherman ( 10/12/1949 - 10/15/1956 )* |
| 90 | EWarren | *Warren, Earl ( 10/05/1953 - 06/23/1969 )* |
| 91 | JHarlan2 | *Harlan, John ( 03/28/1955 - 09/23/1971 )* |
| 92 | WJBrennan | *Brennan, William ( 10/16/1956 - 07/20/1990 )* |
| 93 | CEWhittaker | *Whittaker, Charles ( 03/25/1957 - 03/31/1962 )* |
| 94 | PStewart | *Stewart, Potter ( 10/14/1958 - 07/03/1981 )* |
| 95 | BRWhite | *White, Byron ( 04/16/1962 - 06/28/1993 )* |
| 96 | AJGoldberg | *Goldberg, Arthur ( 10/01/1962 - 07/25/1965 )* |
| 97 | AFortas | *Fortas, Abe ( 10/04/1965 - 05/14/1969 )* |
| 98 | TMarshall | *Marshall, Thurgood ( 10/02/1967 - 10/01/1991 )* |
| 99 | WEBurger | *Burger, Warren ( 06/23/1969 - 09/26/1986 )* |
| 100 | HABlackmun | *Blackmun, Harry ( 06/09/1970 - 08/03/1994 )* |
| 101 | LFPowell | *Powell, Lewis ( 01/07/1972 - 06/26/1987 )* |
| 102 | WHRehnquist | *Rehnquist, William ( 01/07/1972 - 09/03/2005 )* |
| 103 | JPStevens | *Stevens, John ( 12/19/1975 - 06/29/2010 )* |
| 104 | SDOConnor | *O'Connor, Sandra ( 09/25/1981 - 01/31/2006 )* |
| 105 | AScalia | *Scalia, Antonin ( 09/26/1986 - 02/13/2016 )* |
| 106 | AMKennedy | *Kennedy, Anthony ( 02/18/1988 - 07/31/2018 )* |
| 107 | DHSouter | *Souter, David ( 10/09/1990 - 06/29/2009 )* |
| 108 | CThomas | *Thomas, Clarence ( 10/23/1991 - 00/00/0000 )* |
| 109 | RBGinsburg | *Ginsburg, Ruth ( 08/10/1993 - 09/18/2020 )* |
| 110 | SGBreyer | *Breyer, Stephen ( 08/03/1994 - 06/30/2022 )* |
| 111 | JGRoberts | *Roberts, John ( 09/29/2005 - 00/00/0000 )* |
| 112 | SAAlito | *Alito, Samuel ( 01/31/2006 - 00/00/0000 )* |
| 113 | SSotomayor | *Sotomayor, Sonia ( 08/08/2009 - 00/00/0000 )* |
| 114 | EKagan | *Kagan, Elena ( 08/07/2010 - 00/00/0000 )* |
| 115 | NMGorsuch | *Gorsuch, Neil ( 04/08/2017 - 00/00/0000 )* |
| 116 | BMKavanaugh | *Kavanaugh, Brett ( 10/06/2018 - 00/00/0000 )* |
| 117 | ACBarrett | *Barrett, Amy ( 10/27/2020 - 00/00/0000 )* |
| 118 | KBJackson | *Jackson, Ketanji ( 06/30/2022 - 00/00/0000 )* |** Introductory

- [Introduction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=intro)
- [Citing to the SCDB](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=cite)
 Identification Variables

- [SCDB Case ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseId)
- [SCDB Docket ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docketId)
- [SCDB Issues ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId)
- [SCDB Vote ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteId)
- [U.S. Reporter Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=usCite)
- [Supreme Court Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=sctCite)
- [Lawyers Edition Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=ledCite)
- [LEXIS Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lexisCite)
- [Docket Number](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docket)
 Background Variables

- [Case Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseName)
- [Petitioner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitioner)
- [Petitioner State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitionerState)
- [Respondent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondent)
- [Respondent State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondentState)
- [Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=jurisdiction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminAction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminActionState)
- [Three-Judge District Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc)
- [Origin of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOrigin)
- [Origin of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOriginState)
- [Source of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSource)
- [Source of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSourceState)
- [Lower Court Disagreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisagreement)
- [Reason for Granting Cert](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=certReason)
- [Lower Court Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisposition)
- [Lower Court Disposition Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDispositionDirection)
 Chronological Variables

- [Date of Decision](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateDecision)
- [Term of Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=term)
- [Natural Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=naturalCourt)
- [Chief Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=chief)
- [Date of Oral Argument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateArgument)
- [Date of Reargument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateRearg)
 Substantive Variables

- [Issue](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issue)
- [Issue Area](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issueArea)
- [Decision Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirection)
- [Decision Direction Dissent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirectionDissent)
- [Authority for Decision 1](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision1)
- [Authority for Decision 2](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision2)
- [Legal Provisions Considered by the Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawType)
- [Legal Provision Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawSupp)
- [Legal Provision Minor Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawMinor)
 Outcome Variables

- [Decision Type](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionType)
- [Declaration of Unconstitutionality](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=declarationUncon)
- [Disposition of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDisposition)
- [Unusual Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDispositionUnusual)
- [Winning Party](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=partyWinning)
- [Formal Alteration of Precedent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=precedentAlteration)
 Voting & Opinion Variables

- [Vote Not Clearly Specified](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteUnclear)
- [Majority Opinion Writer](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinWriter)
- [Majority Opinion Assigner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinAssigner)
- [Split Vote](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=splitVote)
- [Majority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majVotes)
- [Minority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=minVotes)
- [Justice ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice)
- [Justice Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justiceName)
- [The Vote in the Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=vote)
- [Opinion](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=opinion)
- [Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=direction)
- [Majority and Minority Voting by Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majority)
- [First Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=firstAgreement)
- [Second Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=secondAgreement)
- | | [CONTACT](http://scdb.wustl.edu/contact.php) | | [TOP](#top) |
| --- | ---------------------- | --- | ----------- |
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- image The Supreme Court Database has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. [Creative Commons License](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/)

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| ------------------------------------ |

The Supreme Court Database




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| Online Code Book    |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Natural Court   |  |  |  | | --- | --- | --- | | **Variable Name** naturalCourt | **Spaeth Name** NATCT | **Normalizations**  [116 [ view ]](#norms) |    Although most judicial research is chronologically organized by the term of the Court or by chief justice, many users employ "natural courts" as their analytical frame of reference.    A natural court is a period during which no personnel change occurs. Scholars have subdivided them into "strong" and "weak" natural courts, but no convention exists as to the dates on which they begin and end. Options include 1) date of confirmation, 2) date of seating, 3) cases decided after seating, and 4) cases argued and decided after seating. A strong natural court is delineated by the addition of a new justice or the departure of an incumbent. A weak natural court, by comparison, is any group of sitting justices even if lengthy vacancies occurred.    The values below divide the Courts into strong natural courts, each of which begins when the Reports first specify that the new justice is present but not necessarily participating in the reported case. Similarly, a natural court ends on the date when the Reports state that an incumbent justice has died, retired, or resigned. The courts are numbered consecutively by chief justice as the code at the left-hand margin indicates.    Note, especially, that the Court was without a chief justice during the 1836 term. This was the period between Marshall's death and Taney's confirmation.    For more on delineating natural courts, see See Edward V. Heck, "Justice Brennan and the Heyday of Warren Court Liberalism," 20 Santa Clara Law Review 841 (1980) 842-843 and "Changing Voting Patterns in the Burger Court: The Impact of Personnel Change," 17 San Diego Law Review 1021 (1980) 1038; Harold J. Spaeth and Michael F. Altfeld, "Measuring Power on the Supreme Court: An Alternative to the Power Index," 26 Jurimetrics 48 (1985) 55.     **Values:**   |  |  |  | | --- | --- | --- | | 101 | Jay 1 | *October 05, 1789 - May 11, 1790* | | 102 | Jay 2 | *May 12, 1790 - August 05, 1792* | | 103 | Jay 3 | *August 06, 1792 - March 10, 1793* | | 104 | Jay 4 | *March 11, 1793 - August 11, 1795* | | 201 | Rutledge 1 | *August 12, 1795 - December 15, 1795* | | 202 | No Chief (Post-Rutledge) | *February 04, 1796 - March 07, 1796* | | 301 | Ellsworth 1 | *March 08, 1796 - November 08, 1798* | | 302 | Ellsworth 2 | *November 09, 1798 - April 20, 1800* | | 303 | Ellsworth 3 | *April 21, 1800 - February 03, 1801* | | 401 | Marshall 1 | *February 04, 1801 - May 06, 1804* | | 402 | Marshall 2 | *May 07, 1804 - January 19, 1807* | | 403 | Marshall 3 | *January 20, 1807 - May 03, 1807* | | 404 | Marshall 4 | *May 04, 1807 - November 22, 1811* | | 405 | Marshall 5 | *November 23, 1811 - February 02, 1812* | | 406 | Marshall 6 | *February 03, 1812 - August 31, 1823* | | 407 | Marshall 7 | *September 01, 1823 - June 15, 1826* | | 408 | Marshall 8 | *June 16, 1826 - January 10, 1830* | | 409 | Marshall 9 | *January 11, 1830 - January 13, 1835* | | 410 | Marshall 10 | *January 14, 1835 - March 27, 1836* | | 501 | Taney 1 | *March 28, 1836 - May 11, 1836* | | 502 | Taney 2 | *May 12, 1836 - April 30, 1837* | | 503 | Taney 3 | *May 01, 1837 - January 08, 1838* | | 504 | Taney 4 | *January 09, 1838 - January 09, 1842* | | 505 | Taney 5 | *January 10, 1842 - February 26, 1845* | | 506 | Taney 6 | *February 27, 1845 - September 22, 1845* | | 507 | Taney 7 | *September 23, 1845 - August 09, 1846* | | 508 | Taney 8 | *August 10, 1846 - October 09, 1851* | | 509 | Taney 9 | *October 10, 1851 - April 10, 1853* | | 510 | Taney 10 | *April 11, 1853 - January 20, 1858* | | 511 | Taney 11 | *January 21, 1858 - January 26, 1862* | | 512 | Taney 12 | *January 27, 1862 - July 20, 1862* | | 513 | Taney 13 | *July 21, 1862 - December 09, 1862* | | 514 | Taney 14 | *December 10, 1862 - May 19, 1863* | | 515 | Taney 15 | *May 20, 1863 - December 14, 1864* | | 601 | Chase 1 | *December 15, 1864 - March 13, 1870* | | 602 | Chase 2 | *March 14, 1870 - January 08, 1873* | | 603 | Chase 3 | *January 09, 1873 - March 03, 1874* | | 701 | Waite 1 | *March 04, 1874 - December 09, 1877* | | 702 | Waite 2 | *December 10, 1877 - January 04, 1881* | | 703 | Waite 3 | *January 05, 1881 - May 16, 1881* | | 704 | Waite 4 | *May 17, 1881 - January 08, 1882* | | 705 | Waite 5 | *January 09, 1882 - April 02, 1882* | | 706 | Waite 6 | *April 03, 1882 - January 17, 1888* | | 707 | Waite 7 | *January 18, 1888 - October 07, 1888* | | 801 | Fuller 1 | *October 08, 1888 - January 05, 1890* | | 802 | Fuller 2 | *January 06, 1890 - January 04, 1891* | | 803 | Fuller 3 | *January 05, 1891 - October 09, 1892* | | 804 | Fuller 4 | *October 10, 1892 - March 03, 1893* | | 805 | Fuller 5 | *March 04, 1893 - March 11, 1894* | | 806 | Fuller 6 | *March 12, 1894 - January 05, 1896* | | 807 | Fuller 7 | *January 06, 1896 - January 25, 1898* | | 808 | Fuller 8 | *January 26, 1898 - December 07, 1902* | | 809 | Fuller 9 | *December 08, 1902 - March 01, 1903* | | 810 | Fuller 10 | *March 02, 1903 - December 16, 1906* | | 811 | Fuller 11 | *December 17, 1906 - January 02, 1910* | | 812 | Fuller 12 | *January 03, 1910 - October 09, 1910* | | 813 | No Chief (Post-Fuller) | *October 10, 1910 - December 18, 1910* | | 901 | White 1 | *December 19, 1910 - March 17, 1912* | | 902 | White 2 | *March 18, 1912 - October 11, 1914* | | 903 | White 3 | *October 12, 1914 - June 04, 1916* | | 904 | White 4 | *June 05, 1916 - October 08, 1916* | | 905 | White 5 | *October 09, 1916 - July 10, 1921* | | 1001 | Taft 1 | *July 11, 1921 - October 01, 1922* | | 1002 | Taft 2 | *October 02, 1922 - January 01, 1923* | | 1003 | Taft 3 | *January 02, 1923 - February 18, 1923* | | 1004 | Taft 4 | *February 19, 1923 - March 01, 1925* | | 1005 | Taft 5 | *March 02, 1925 - February 23, 1930* | | 1101 | Hughes 1 | *February 24, 1930 - June 01, 1930* | | 1102 | Hughes 2 | *June 02, 1930 - March 13, 1932* | | 1103 | Hughes 3 | *March 14, 1932 - August 18, 1937* | | 1104 | Hughes 4 | *August 19, 1937 - January 30, 1938* | | 1105 | Hughes 5 | *January 31, 1938 - January 29, 1939* | | 1106 | Hughes 6 | *January 30, 1939 - April 16, 1939* | | 1107 | Hughes 7 | *April 17, 1939 - February 04, 1940* | | 1108 | Hughes 8 | *February 05, 1940 - July 02, 1941* | | 1201 | Stone 1 | *July 03, 1941 - February 15, 1943* | | 1202 | Stone 2 | *February 16, 1943 - September 30, 1945* | | 1203 | Stone 3 | *October 01, 1945 - June 23, 1946* | | 1301 | Vinson 1 | *June 24, 1946 - August 23, 1949* | | 1302 | Vinson 2 | *August 24, 1949 - October 11, 1949* | | 1303 | Vinson 3 | *October 12, 1949 - October 04, 1953* | | 1401 | Warren 1 | *October 05, 1953 - October 08, 1954* | | 1402 | Warren 2 | *October 09, 1954 - March 27, 1955* | | 1403 | Warren 3 | *March 28, 1955 - October 15, 1956* | | 1404 | Warren 4 | *October 16, 1956 - February 24, 1957* | | 1405 | Warren 5 | *February 25, 1957 - October 13, 1958* | | 1406 | Warren 6 | *October 14, 1958 - March 24, 1962* | | 1407 | Warren 7 | *March 25, 1962 - September 30, 1962* | | 1408 | Warren 8 | *October 01, 1962 - October 03, 1965* | | 1409 | Warren 9 | *October 04, 1965 - October 01, 1967* | | 1410 | Warren 10 | *October 02, 1967 - May 13, 1969* | | 1411 | Warren 11 | *May 14, 1969 - June 22, 1969* | | 1501 | Burger 1 | *June 23, 1969 - June 08, 1970* | | 1502 | Burger 2 | *June 09, 1970 - September 22, 1971* | | 1503 | Burger 3 | *September 23, 1971 - January 06, 1972* | | 1504 | Burger 4 | *January 07, 1972 - November 11, 1975* | | 1505 | Burger 5 | *November 12, 1975 - December 18, 1975* | | 1506 | Burger 6 | *December 19, 1975 - September 24, 1981* | | 1507 | Burger 7 | *September 25, 1981 - September 25, 1986* | | 1601 | Rehnquist 1 | *September 26, 1986 - June 25, 1987* | | 1602 | Rehnquist 2 | *June 26, 1987 - February 17, 1988* | | 1603 | Rehnquist 3 | *February 18, 1988 - September 30, 1990* | | 1604 | Rehnquist 4 | *October 01, 1990 - October 06, 1991* | | 1605 | Rehnquist 5 | *October 07, 1991 - August 09, 1993* | | 1606 | Rehnquist 6 | *August 10, 1993 - August 02, 1994* | | 1607 | Rehnquist 7 | *August 03, 1994 - September 28, 2005* | | 1701 | Roberts 1 | *September 29, 2005 - January 30, 2006* | | 1702 | Roberts 2 | *January 31, 2006 - August 08, 2009* | | 1703 | Roberts 3 | *August 09, 2009 - August 06, 2010* | | 1704 | Roberts 4 | *August 07, 2010 - February 13, 2016* | | 1705 | Roberts 5 | *February 14, 2016 - April 09, 2017* | | 1706 | Roberts 6 | *April 10, 2017 - October 05, 2018* | | 1707 | Roberts 7 | *October 06, 2018 - September 18, 2020* | | 1708 | Roberts 8 | *September 19, 2020 - October 26, 2020* | | 1709 | Roberts 9 | *October 27, 2020 - June 29, 2022* | | 1710 | Roberts 10 | *June 30, 2022 -* | | Introductory   * [Introduction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=intro) * [Citing to the SCDB](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=cite)   Identification Variables   * [SCDB Case ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseId) * [SCDB Docket ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docketId) * [SCDB Issues ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId) * [SCDB Vote ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteId) * [U.S. Reporter Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=usCite) * [Supreme Court Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=sctCite) * [Lawyers Edition Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=ledCite) * [LEXIS Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lexisCite) * [Docket Number](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docket)   Background Variables   * [Case Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseName) * [Petitioner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitioner) * [Petitioner State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitionerState) * [Respondent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondent) * [Respondent State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondentState) * [Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=jurisdiction) * [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminAction) * [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminActionState) * [Three-Judge District Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc) * [Origin of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOrigin) * [Origin of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOriginState) * [Source of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSource) * [Source of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSourceState) * [Lower Court Disagreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisagreement) * [Reason for Granting Cert](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=certReason) * [Lower Court Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisposition) * [Lower Court Disposition Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDispositionDirection)   Chronological Variables   * [Date of Decision](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateDecision) * [Term of Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=term) * [Natural Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=naturalCourt) * [Chief Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=chief) * [Date of Oral Argument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateArgument) * [Date of Reargument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateRearg)   Substantive Variables   * [Issue](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issue) * [Issue Area](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issueArea) * [Decision Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirection) * [Decision Direction Dissent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirectionDissent) * [Authority for Decision 1](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision1) * [Authority for Decision 2](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision2) * [Legal Provisions Considered by the Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawType) * [Legal Provision Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawSupp) * [Legal Provision Minor Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawMinor)   Outcome Variables   * [Decision Type](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionType) * [Declaration of Unconstitutionality](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=declarationUncon) * [Disposition of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDisposition) * [Unusual Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDispositionUnusual) * [Winning Party](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=partyWinning) * [Formal Alteration of Precedent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=precedentAlteration)   Voting & Opinion Variables   * [Vote Not Clearly Specified](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteUnclear) * [Majority Opinion Writer](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinWriter) * [Majority Opinion Assigner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinAssigner) * [Split Vote](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=splitVote) * [Majority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majVotes) * [Minority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=minVotes) * [Justice ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice) * [Justice Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justiceName) * [The Vote in the Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=vote) * [Opinion](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=opinion) * [Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=direction) * [Majority and Minority Voting by Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majority) * [First Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=firstAgreement) * [Second Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=secondAgreement) | | | | | |
| |  |  |  |  | | --- | --- | --- | --- | |  | [CONTACT](http://scdb.wustl.edu/contact.php) |  |  [TOP](#top) | | | | | |
| |  |  |  |  | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) | [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) | [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) | [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php) | | | | | |
| image | The Supreme Court Database has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. | | | [Creative Commons License](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/) |

|  |
| --- |
| washu_logo |

---
meta-description: The Supreme Court Database is the definitive source for researchers, students, journalists, and citizens interested in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Database contains over two hundred pieces of information about each case decided by the Court between the 1946 and 2012 terms. Examples include the identity of the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed, the parties to the suit, the legal provisions considered in the case, and the votes of the Justices.
meta-generator: Coda
meta-keywords: supreme court, spaeth, database
title: The Supreme Court Database
---

| [![wulaw](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/wulaw.png)](http://law.wustl.edu) |  |
| -------------------------------------------------- | --- |

- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/index.php) image image image image
- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/about.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/analysis.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php)
- image
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- Online Code Book

- Opinion

| **Variable Name** opinion | **Spaeth Name** HARO to BRYO | **Normalizations** [3 [ view ]](#norms) |
| --------------------------- | ------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------ |

This variable indicates the opinion, if any, that the justice wrote. It appears in the Justice Centered Datasets only.

Because determination of whether a justice wrote an opinion is no simple matter, rules must be formulated.

1. A justice authors no opinion unless he or she specifies a reason for his or her vote. A bare citation to a previously decided case or a simple statement that the author concurs or dissents because of agreement with a lower court's opinion suffices as an opinion

2. Where a justice specifies that the opinion applies to an additional case or cases, the opinion is counted as so many separate ones. Thus, the opinions of Brennan and Marshall in Mobile v. Bolden, 446 U.S. 55, also apply to Williams v. Brown, 446 U.S. 236. Hence, each of these opinions is counted as though it were two separate opinions.

3. When a justice joins the substance of another justice's opinion, without any personal expression of views, that justice is listed as joining the other's opinion (see variables firstAgreement and secondAgreement) and not as an author unless he or she also writes an opinion.

Thus, in United States v. Havens, 446 U.S. 620, Justices Stewart and Stevens are listed as joining Brennan's dissenting opinion notwithstanding that the pertinent language reads: "Mr. Justice Brennan, joined by Mr. Justice Marshall and joined in Part I by Mr. Justice Stewart and Mr. Justice Stevens, dissenting." 446 U.S. at 629. The opinion contains two parts of roughly equal length. Failure to list the latter pair as joiners would have required that they appear as dissenting without opinion, a manifestly inaccurate result. Similarly, Justice White's language in Parratt v. Taylor, 451 U.S. 527, at 545: "I join the opinion of the Court but with the reservations stated by my Brother Blackmun in his concurring opinion," is not listed as as opinion by White. He rather appears as joining Blackmun's concurrence. Conversely, where a justice, in his or her own words only partially agrees with one or more opinions authored by others, he or she is listed as an author. Two examples of Justice Stewart illustrate: "Mr. Justice Stewart dissents for the reasons expressed in Part I of the dissenting opinion of Mr. Justice Powell." (Dougherty County Board of Education v. White, 439 U.S. 32, at 47) "Mr. Justice Stewart concurs in the judgment, agreeing with all but Part II of the opinion of the Court, and with Part I of the concurring opinion of Mr. Justice Stevens." (Jenkins v. Anderson, 447 U.S. 231, at 241).

4. When two or more justices jointly author an opinion, an entry will so indicate. Joint authorship, however, does not include per curiam opinions.

**Values:**

| 1 | justice wrote no opinion |
| --- | ------------------------------ |
| 2 | justice wrote an opinion |
| 3 | justice co-authored an opinion | Introductory

- [Introduction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=intro)
- [Citing to the SCDB](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=cite)
 Identification Variables

- [SCDB Case ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseId)
- [SCDB Docket ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docketId)
- [SCDB Issues ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId)
- [SCDB Vote ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteId)
- [U.S. Reporter Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=usCite)
- [Supreme Court Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=sctCite)
- [Lawyers Edition Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=ledCite)
- [LEXIS Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lexisCite)
- [Docket Number](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docket)
 Background Variables

- [Case Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseName)
- [Petitioner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitioner)
- [Petitioner State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitionerState)
- [Respondent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondent)
- [Respondent State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondentState)
- [Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=jurisdiction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminAction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminActionState)
- [Three-Judge District Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc)
- [Origin of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOrigin)
- [Origin of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOriginState)
- [Source of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSource)
- [Source of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSourceState)
- [Lower Court Disagreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisagreement)
- [Reason for Granting Cert](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=certReason)
- [Lower Court Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisposition)
- [Lower Court Disposition Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDispositionDirection)
 Chronological Variables

- [Date of Decision](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateDecision)
- [Term of Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=term)
- [Natural Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=naturalCourt)
- [Chief Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=chief)
- [Date of Oral Argument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateArgument)
- [Date of Reargument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateRearg)
 Substantive Variables

- [Issue](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issue)
- [Issue Area](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issueArea)
- [Decision Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirection)
- [Decision Direction Dissent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirectionDissent)
- [Authority for Decision 1](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision1)
- [Authority for Decision 2](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision2)
- [Legal Provisions Considered by the Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawType)
- [Legal Provision Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawSupp)
- [Legal Provision Minor Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawMinor)
 Outcome Variables

- [Decision Type](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionType)
- [Declaration of Unconstitutionality](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=declarationUncon)
- [Disposition of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDisposition)
- [Unusual Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDispositionUnusual)
- [Winning Party](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=partyWinning)
- [Formal Alteration of Precedent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=precedentAlteration)
 Voting & Opinion Variables

- [Vote Not Clearly Specified](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteUnclear)
- [Majority Opinion Writer](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinWriter)
- [Majority Opinion Assigner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinAssigner)
- [Split Vote](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=splitVote)
- [Majority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majVotes)
- [Minority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=minVotes)
- [Justice ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice)
- [Justice Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justiceName)
- [The Vote in the Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=vote)
- [Opinion](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=opinion)
- [Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=direction)
- [Majority and Minority Voting by Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majority)
- [First Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=firstAgreement)
- [Second Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=secondAgreement)
- | | [CONTACT](http://scdb.wustl.edu/contact.php) | | [TOP](#top) |
| --- | ---------------------- | --- | ----------- |
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- image The Supreme Court Database has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. [Creative Commons License](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/)

| ![washu_logo](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/washu_logo.png) |
| ------------------------------------ |

---
meta-description: The Supreme Court Database is the definitive source for researchers, students, journalists, and citizens interested in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Database contains over two hundred pieces of information about each case decided by the Court between the 1946 and 2012 terms. Examples include the identity of the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed, the parties to the suit, the legal provisions considered in the case, and the votes of the Justices.
meta-generator: Coda
meta-keywords: supreme court, spaeth, database
title: The Supreme Court Database
---

| [![wulaw](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/wulaw.png)](http://law.wustl.edu) |  |
| -------------------------------------------------- | --- |

- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/index.php) image image image image
- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/about.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/analysis.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php)
- image
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- Online Code Book

- Legal Provision Supplement

| **Variable Name** lawSupp | **Spaeth Name** LAW | **Normalizations** [206 [ view ]](#norms) |
| --------------------------- | --------------------- | -------------------------------------------- |

See variable Legal Provisions Considered by the Court.

**Values:**

| 100 | Article I, Section 1 (delegation of powers) |
| --- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| 101 | Article I, Section 10 (state bill of attainder, ex post facto law, or bills of credit) |
| 102 | Article I, Section 2, Paragraph 1 (composition of the House of Representatives) |
| 103 | Article I, Section 2, Paragraph 3 (apportionment of Representatives) |
| 104 | Article I, Section 4, Paragraph 1 (elections clause) |
| 105 | Article I, Section 5, Paragraph 1 (congressional qualifications) |
| 106 | Article I, Section 6, Paragraph 1 (speech or debate clause) |
| 107 | Article I, Section 6, Paragraph 2 (civil appointments) |
| 108 | Article I, Section 7, Paragraph 1 (origination clause) |
| 109 | Article I, Section 7, Paragraph 2 (separation of powers) |
| 110 | Article I, Section 8, Paragraph 1 (taxing, spending, general welfare, or uniformity clause) |
| 111 | Article I, Section 8, Paragraph 3 (interstate commerce clause) |
| 112 | Article I, Section 8, Paragraph 4 (bankruptcy clause) |
| 113 | Article I, Section 8, Paragraph 7 (postal power) |
| 114 | Article I, Section 8, Paragraph 8 (patent and copyright clause) |
| 115 | Article I, Section 8, Paragraph 11 (war power) |
| 116 | Article I, Section 8, Paragraph 14 (governance of the armed forces) |
| 117 | Article I, Section 8, Paragraph 15 (call-up of militia) |
| 118 | Article I, Section 8, Paragraph 16 (organizing the militia) |
| 119 | Article I, Section 8, Paragraph 17 (governance of the District of Columbia and lands purchased from the states) |
| 120 | Article I, Section 8, Paragraph 18 (necessary and proper clause) |
| 121 | Article I, Section 9, Paragraph 2 (suspension of the writ of habeas corpus) |
| 122 | Article I, Section 9, Paragraph 3 (bill of attainder or ex post facto law) |
| 123 | Article I, Section 9, Paragraph 4 (direct tax) |
| 124 | Article I, Section 9, Paragraph 5 (export clause) |
| 125 | Article I, Section 9, Paragraph 6 (preference to ports) |
| 126 | Article I, Section 9, Paragraph 7 (appropriations clause) |
| 127 | Article I, Section 10 (state bill of attainder or ex post facto law) |
| 128 | Article I, Section 10, Paragraph 1 (contract clause) |
| 129 | Article I, Section 10, Paragraph 2 (export-import clause) |
| 130 | Article I, Section 10, Paragraph 3 (compact clause) |
| 131 | Article II, Section 1 (executive power) |
| 132 | Article II, Section 1, Paragraph 8 (oath provision) |
| 133 | Article II, Section 2 (commander-in-chief) |
| 134 | Article II, Section 2, Paragraph 1 (presidential pardoning power) |
| 135 | Article II, Section 2, Paragraph 2 (appointments clause) |
| 136 | Article III, Section 1, Paragraph 1 (judicial power) |
| 137 | Article III, Section 1, Paragraph 2 (good behavior and compensation clause of federal judges) |
| 138 | Article III, Section 2 (extent of judicial power) |
| 139 | Article III, Section 2, Paragraph 1 (case or controversy requirement) |
| 140 | Article III, Section 2, Paragraph 2 (original jurisdiction) |
| 141 | Article III, Section 2, Paragraph 3 (vicinage requirement) |
| 142 | Article III, Section 3 (treason clause) |
| 143 | Article IV, Section 1 (full faith and credit clause) |
| 144 | Article IV, Section 2, Paragraph 1 (privileges and immunities clause) |
| 145 | Article IV, Section 2, Paragraph 2 (extradition clause) |
| 146 | Article IV, Section 3, Paragraph 2 (property clause) |
| 147 | Article IV, Section 4 (guarantee clause) |
| 148 | Article VI, Section 2 (supremacy clause) |
| 149 | Article VI, Section 3 (oath provision) |
| 150 | Amendment Clause |
| 151 | Article V, Section 1 (courts) |
| 152 | 'contract clause' (No Article to be added) |
| 153 | 'freedom of contract' (Again, no article) |
| 200 | First Amendment (speech, press, and assembly) |
| 201 | First Amendment (association) |
| 202 | First Amendment (free exercise of religion) |
| 203 | First Amendment (establishment of religion) |
| 204 | First Amendment (petition clause) |
| 205 | Fourth Amendment |
| 206 | Fifth Amendment (double jeopardy) |
| 207 | Fifth Amendment (due process) |
| 208 | Fifth Amendment (grand jury) |
| 209 | Fifth Amendment (Miranda warnings) |
| 210 | Fifth Amendment (self-incrimination) |
| 211 | Fifth Amendment (takings clause) |
| 212 | Fifth Amendment (equal protection) |
| 213 | Sixth Amendment (right to confront and cross-examine, compulsory process) |
| 214 | Sixth Amendment (right to counsel) |
| 215 | Sixth Amendment (right to trial by jury) |
| 216 | Sixth Amendment (speedy trial) |
| 217 | Sixth Amendment (other provisions) |
| 218 | Seventh Amendment |
| 219 | Eighth Amendment (prohibition of excessive bail) |
| 220 | Eighth Amendment (prohibition of excessive fines) |
| 221 | Eighth Amendment (cruel and unusual punishment) |
| 222 | Ninth Amendment |
| 223 | Tenth Amendment |
| 224 | Eleventh Amendment |
| 225 | Twelfth Amendment |
| 226 | Thirteenth Amendment (both sections 1 and 2) |
| 227 | Fourteenth Amendment (privileges and immunities clause) |
| 228 | Fourteenth Amendment (reduction in representation clause) |
| 229 | Fourteenth Amendment (citizenship clause) |
| 230 | Fourteenth Amendment (due process) |
| 231 | Fourteenth Amendment (equal protection) |
| 232 | Fourteenth Amendment (enforcement clause) |
| 233 | Fifteenth Amendment (other provisions) |
| 234 | Fifteenth Amendment (enforcement clause) |
| 235 | Sixteenth Amendment |
| 236 | Seventeenth Amendment |
| 237 | Twenty-First Amendment |
| 238 | Twenty-Fourth Amendment |
| 239 | Second Amendment |
| 240 | Fourteenth Amendment (due process and equal protection) |
| 241 | Fourteenth Amendment (takings clause) |
| 300 | Americans with Disabilities Act |
| 302 | Age Discrimination in Employment |
| 303 | Aid to Families with Dependent Children provisions of the Social Security Act, plus amendments |
| 304 | Clean Air, plus amendments |
| 305 | Administrative Procedure, or Administrative Orders Review |
| 306 | Atomic Energy |
| 307 | Bankruptcy Code, Bankruptcy Act or Rules, or Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978 |
| 308 | Medicaid provisions of the Social Security Act |
| 309 | Medicare provisions of the Social Security Act |
| 310 | Clayton |
| 311 | Reconstruction Civil Rights Acts (42 U.S.C. § 1978) |
| 312 | Reconstruction Civil Rights Acts (42 U.S.C. § 1981) |
| 313 | Reconstruction Civil Rights Acts (42 U.S.C. § 1982) |
| 314 | Reconstruction Civil Rights Acts (42 U.S.C. § 1983) |
| 315 | Reconstruction Civil Rights Acts (42 U.S.C. § 1985) |
| 316 | Reconstruction Civil Rights Acts (42 U.S.C. § 1986) |
| 317 | Civil Rights Act of 1964 (public accommodations) |
| 318 | Civil Rights Act of 1957 |
| 319 | Civil Rights Act of 1991 |
| 320 | Statutory provisions of the District of Columbia |
| 321 | Equal Access to Justice |
| 322 | Education Amendments of 1972 |
| 323 | Employee Retirement Income Security, as amended |
| 324 | Elementary and Secondary Education |
| 325 | Federal False Claims |
| 326 | Communication Act of 1934, as amended |
| 327 | Federal Employees' Compensation |
| 328 | Civil Rights Attorney's Fees Awards |
| 329 | Federal Employers' Liability, as amended |
| 330 | Federal Election Campaign |
| 331 | Family Educational Rights and Privacy (Buckley Amendment) |
| 332 | Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic, and related statutes |
| 333 | Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide |
| 334 | Fair Labor Standards |
| 335 | Freedom of Information, Sunshine, or Privacy Act |
| 336 | Federal Power |
| 337 | Federal Trade Commission |
| 338 | Federal Water Pollution Control (Clean Water), plus amendments |
| 339 | Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets, National Firearms, Organized Crime Control, Comprehensive Crime Control, or Gun Control Acts |
| 340 | Education of the Handicapped, Education for All Handicapped Children, or Individuals with Disabilities Education Acts, or related statutes, as amended |
| 341 | 28 U.S.C. § 2241-2255 (habeas corpus) |
| 342 | Fair Housing |
| 343 | Interstate Commerce, as amended |
| 344 | Immigration and Naturalization, Immigration, Nationality, or Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Acts, as amended |
| 345 | Internal Revenue Code and pre-IRC revenue acts |
| 346 | Internal Security (also see 369) |
| 347 | Jencks |
| 348 | Jones, or Death on the High Seas |
| 349 | Longshoremen and Harbor Workers' Compensation |
| 350 | Labor-Management Relations |
| 351 | Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure |
| 352 | Motor Carrier |
| 353 | Miller |
| 354 | National Environmental Policy |
| 355 | Natural Gas, or Natural Gas Policy Acts |
| 356 | National Labor Relations, as amended |
| 357 | Norris-LaGuardia |
| 358 | Occupational Safety and Health |
| 359 | Public Utility Regulatory Policy |
| 360 | Rehabilitation |
| 361 | Religious Freedom Restoration |
| 362 | Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations |
| 363 | Railway Labor |
| 364 | Robinson-Patman |
| 365 | Securities Act of 1933, the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, or the Williams Act |
| 366 | Selective Service, Military Selective Service, or Universal Military Service and Training Acts |
| 367 | Sherman |
| 368 | Submerged Lands Acts |
| 369 | Smith, Subversive Activities Control, Communist Control, or other similar federal legislation (also see 346) |
| 370 | Social Security, as amended, including Social Security Disability Benefits Reform Act |
| 371 | Supplemental Security Income |
| 372 | State Law |
| 373 | Truth in Lending |
| 374 | Federal Tort Claims, or Alien Tort Statute |
| 375 | Tucker |
| 376 | Trading with the Enemy Act, as amended |
| 377 | Universal Code of Military Justice |
| 378 | Voting Rights Act of 1965, plus amendments |
| 379 | Reconstruction Civil Rights Acts (42 U.S.C. § 1971) |
| 380 | Reconstruction Civil Rights Acts (42 U.S.C. § 1999) |
| 381 | Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title II) |
| 382 | Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title IV) |
| 383 | Civil Rights Act of 1964 (other) |
| 384 | Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII) |
| 385 | Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title IX) |
| 387 | Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI) |
| 388 | Federal Arbitration Act |
| 389 | Judiciary Act of 1789 |
| 400 | Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, including Appellate Procedure, or relevant rules of a circuit court Judicial Code, and admiralty rules |
| 401 | Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, or relevant rules of a circuit court |
| 402 | Federal Rules of Evidence |
| 403 | Supreme Court Rules |
| 500 | Abstention Doctrine |
| 501 | Retroactive application of a constitutional right |
| 502 | Exclusionary Rule (Fourth Amendment) |
| 503 | Exclusionary Rule (Right to Counsel) |
| 504 | Exclusionary Rule (Miranda warnings) |
| 505 | Harmless Error |
| 506 | Res Judicata |
| 507 | Estoppel |
| 508 | Writ Improvidently Granted |
| 509 | Treaty |
| 510 | Interstate Compact |
| 511 | Executive Order |
| 512 | Territory Statute |
| 513 | International Law |
| 514 | Emergency Price Control |
| 600 | Infrequently litigated statutes |
| 800 | State or Local Law Regulation |
| 900 | No Legal Provision | Introductory

- [Introduction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=intro)
- [Citing to the SCDB](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=cite)
 Identification Variables

- [SCDB Case ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseId)
- [SCDB Docket ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docketId)
- [SCDB Issues ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId)
- [SCDB Vote ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteId)
- [U.S. Reporter Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=usCite)
- [Supreme Court Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=sctCite)
- [Lawyers Edition Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=ledCite)
- [LEXIS Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lexisCite)
- [Docket Number](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docket)
 Background Variables

- [Case Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseName)
- [Petitioner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitioner)
- [Petitioner State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitionerState)
- [Respondent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondent)
- [Respondent State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondentState)
- [Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=jurisdiction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminAction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminActionState)
- [Three-Judge District Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc)
- [Origin of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOrigin)
- [Origin of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOriginState)
- [Source of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSource)
- [Source of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSourceState)
- [Lower Court Disagreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisagreement)
- [Reason for Granting Cert](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=certReason)
- [Lower Court Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisposition)
- [Lower Court Disposition Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDispositionDirection)
 Chronological Variables

- [Date of Decision](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateDecision)
- [Term of Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=term)
- [Natural Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=naturalCourt)
- [Chief Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=chief)
- [Date of Oral Argument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateArgument)
- [Date of Reargument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateRearg)
 Substantive Variables

- [Issue](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issue)
- [Issue Area](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issueArea)
- [Decision Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirection)
- [Decision Direction Dissent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirectionDissent)
- [Authority for Decision 1](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision1)
- [Authority for Decision 2](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision2)
- [Legal Provisions Considered by the Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawType)
- [Legal Provision Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawSupp)
- [Legal Provision Minor Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawMinor)
 Outcome Variables

- [Decision Type](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionType)
- [Declaration of Unconstitutionality](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=declarationUncon)
- [Disposition of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDisposition)
- [Unusual Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDispositionUnusual)
- [Winning Party](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=partyWinning)
- [Formal Alteration of Precedent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=precedentAlteration)
 Voting & Opinion Variables

- [Vote Not Clearly Specified](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteUnclear)
- [Majority Opinion Writer](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinWriter)
- [Majority Opinion Assigner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinAssigner)
- [Split Vote](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=splitVote)
- [Majority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majVotes)
- [Minority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=minVotes)
- [Justice ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice)
- [Justice Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justiceName)
- [The Vote in the Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=vote)
- [Opinion](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=opinion)
- [Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=direction)
- [Majority and Minority Voting by Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majority)
- [First Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=firstAgreement)
- [Second Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=secondAgreement)
- | | [CONTACT](http://scdb.wustl.edu/contact.php) | | [TOP](#top) |
| --- | ---------------------- | --- | ----------- |
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- image The Supreme Court Database has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. [Creative Commons License](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/)

| ![washu_logo](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/washu_logo.png) |
| ------------------------------------ |

---
meta-description: The Supreme Court Database is the definitive source for researchers, students, journalists, and citizens interested in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Database contains over two hundred pieces of information about each case decided by the Court between the 1946 and 2012 terms. Examples include the identity of the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed, the parties to the suit, the legal provisions considered in the case, and the votes of the Justices.
meta-generator: Coda
meta-keywords: supreme court, spaeth, database
title: The Supreme Court Database
---

| [![wulaw](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/wulaw.png)](http://law.wustl.edu) |  |
| -------------------------------------------------- | --- |

- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/index.php) image image image image
- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/about.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/analysis.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php)
- image
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- Online Code Book

- Chief Justice

| **Variable Name** chief | **Spaeth Name** CHIEF | **Normalizations** [17 [ view ]](#norms) |
| ------------------------- | ----------------------- | ------------------------------------------- |

This variable identifies the chief justice during whose tenure the case was decided.

**Values:**

| 1 | Jay |
| --- | --------- |
| 2 | Rutledge |
| 3 | Ellsworth |
| 4 | Marshall |
| 5 | Taney |
| 6 | Chase |
| 7 | Waite |
| 8 | Fuller |
| 9 | White |
| 10 | Taft |
| 11 | Hughes |
| 12 | Stone |
| 13 | Vinson |
| 14 | Warren |
| 15 | Burger |
| 16 | Rehnquist |
| 17 | Roberts | Introductory

- [Introduction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=intro)
- [Citing to the SCDB](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=cite)
 Identification Variables

- [SCDB Case ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseId)
- [SCDB Docket ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docketId)
- [SCDB Issues ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId)
- [SCDB Vote ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteId)
- [U.S. Reporter Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=usCite)
- [Supreme Court Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=sctCite)
- [Lawyers Edition Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=ledCite)
- [LEXIS Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lexisCite)
- [Docket Number](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docket)
 Background Variables

- [Case Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseName)
- [Petitioner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitioner)
- [Petitioner State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitionerState)
- [Respondent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondent)
- [Respondent State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondentState)
- [Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=jurisdiction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminAction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminActionState)
- [Three-Judge District Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc)
- [Origin of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOrigin)
- [Origin of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOriginState)
- [Source of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSource)
- [Source of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSourceState)
- [Lower Court Disagreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisagreement)
- [Reason for Granting Cert](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=certReason)
- [Lower Court Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisposition)
- [Lower Court Disposition Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDispositionDirection)
 Chronological Variables

- [Date of Decision](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateDecision)
- [Term of Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=term)
- [Natural Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=naturalCourt)
- [Chief Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=chief)
- [Date of Oral Argument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateArgument)
- [Date of Reargument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateRearg)
 Substantive Variables

- [Issue](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issue)
- [Issue Area](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issueArea)
- [Decision Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirection)
- [Decision Direction Dissent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirectionDissent)
- [Authority for Decision 1](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision1)
- [Authority for Decision 2](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision2)
- [Legal Provisions Considered by the Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawType)
- [Legal Provision Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawSupp)
- [Legal Provision Minor Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawMinor)
 Outcome Variables

- [Decision Type](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionType)
- [Declaration of Unconstitutionality](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=declarationUncon)
- [Disposition of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDisposition)
- [Unusual Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDispositionUnusual)
- [Winning Party](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=partyWinning)
- [Formal Alteration of Precedent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=precedentAlteration)
 Voting & Opinion Variables

- [Vote Not Clearly Specified](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteUnclear)
- [Majority Opinion Writer](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinWriter)
- [Majority Opinion Assigner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinAssigner)
- [Split Vote](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=splitVote)
- [Majority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majVotes)
- [Minority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=minVotes)
- [Justice ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice)
- [Justice Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justiceName)
- [The Vote in the Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=vote)
- [Opinion](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=opinion)
- [Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=direction)
- [Majority and Minority Voting by Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majority)
- [First Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=firstAgreement)
- [Second Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=secondAgreement)
- | | [CONTACT](http://scdb.wustl.edu/contact.php) | | [TOP](#top) |
| --- | ---------------------- | --- | ----------- |
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- image The Supreme Court Database has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. [Creative Commons License](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/)

| ![washu_logo](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/washu_logo.png) |
| ------------------------------------ |

---
meta-description: The Supreme Court Database is the definitive source for researchers, students, journalists, and citizens interested in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Database contains over two hundred pieces of information about each case decided by the Court between the 1946 and 2012 terms. Examples include the identity of the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed, the parties to the suit, the legal provisions considered in the case, and the votes of the Justices.
meta-generator: Coda
meta-keywords: supreme court, spaeth, database
title: The Supreme Court Database
---

| [![wulaw](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/wulaw.png)](http://law.wustl.edu) |  |
| -------------------------------------------------- | --- |

- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/index.php) image image image image
- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/about.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/analysis.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php)
- image
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- Online Code Book

- Respondent

| **Variable Name** respondent | **Spaeth Name** PARTY\_2 | **Normalizations** [311 [ view ]](#norms) |
| ------------------------------ | -------------------------- | -------------------------------------------- |

See Petitioner variable.

**Values:**

| 1 | attorney general of the United States, or his office |
| --- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| 2 | specified state board or department of education |
| 3 | city, town, township, village, or borough government or governmental unit |
| 4 | state commission, board, committee, or authority |
| 5 | county government or county governmental unit, except school district |
| 6 | court or judicial district |
| 7 | state department or agency |
| 8 | governmental employee or job applicant |
| 9 | female governmental employee or job applicant |
| 10 | minority governmental employee or job applicant |
| 11 | minority female governmental employee or job applicant |
| 12 | not listed among agencies in the first Administrative Action variable |
| 13 | retired or former governmental employee |
| 14 | U.S. House of Representatives |
| 15 | interstate compact |
| 16 | judge |
| 17 | state legislature, house, or committee |
| 18 | local governmental unit other than a county, city, town, township, village, or borough |
| 19 | governmental official, or an official of an agency established under an interstate compact |
| 20 | state or U.S. supreme court |
| 21 | local school district or board of education |
| 22 | U.S. Senate |
| 23 | U.S. senator |
| 24 | foreign nation or instrumentality |
| 25 | state or local governmental taxpayer, or executor of the estate of |
| 26 | state college or university |
| 27 | United States |
| 28 | State |
| 100 | person accused, indicted, or suspected of crime |
| 101 | advertising business or agency |
| 102 | agent, fiduciary, trustee, or executor |
| 103 | airplane manufacturer, or manufacturer of parts of airplanes |
| 104 | airline |
| 105 | distributor, importer, or exporter of alcoholic beverages |
| 106 | alien, person subject to a denaturalization proceeding, or one whose citizenship is revoked |
| 107 | American Medical Association |
| 108 | National Railroad Passenger Corp. |
| 109 | amusement establishment, or recreational facility |
| 110 | arrested person, or pretrial detainee |
| 111 | attorney, or person acting as such;includes bar applicant or law student, or law firm or bar association |
| 112 | author, copyright holder |
| 113 | bank, savings and loan, credit union, investment company |
| 114 | bankrupt person or business, or business in reorganization |
| 115 | establishment serving liquor by the glass, or package liquor store |
| 116 | water transportation, stevedore |
| 117 | bookstore, newsstand, printer, bindery, purveyor or distributor of books or magazines |
| 118 | brewery, distillery |
| 119 | broker, stock exchange, investment or securities firm |
| 120 | construction industry |
| 121 | bus or motorized passenger transportation vehicle |
| 122 | business, corporation |
| 123 | buyer, purchaser |
| 124 | cable TV |
| 125 | car dealer |
| 126 | person convicted of crime |
| 127 | tangible property, other than real estate, including contraband |
| 128 | chemical company |
| 129 | child, children, including adopted or illegitimate |
| 130 | religious organization, institution, or person |
| 131 | private club or facility |
| 132 | coal company or coal mine operator |
| 133 | computer business or manufacturer, hardware or software |
| 134 | consumer, consumer organization |
| 135 | creditor, including institution appearing as such; e.g., a finance company |
| 136 | person allegedly criminally insane or mentally incompetent to stand trial |
| 137 | defendant |
| 138 | debtor |
| 139 | real estate developer |
| 140 | disabled person or disability benefit claimant |
| 141 | distributor |
| 142 | person subject to selective service, including conscientious objector |
| 143 | drug manufacturer |
| 144 | druggist, pharmacist, pharmacy |
| 145 | employee, or job applicant, including beneficiaries of |
| 146 | employer-employee trust agreement, employee health and welfare fund, or multi-employer pension plan |
| 147 | electric equipment manufacturer |
| 148 | electric or hydroelectric power utility, power cooperative, or gas and electric company |
| 149 | eleemosynary institution or person |
| 150 | environmental organization |
| 151 | employer. If employer's relations with employees are governed by the nature of the employer's business (e.g., railroad, boat), rather than labor law generally, the more specific designation is used in place of Employer. |
| 152 | farmer, farm worker, or farm organization |
| 153 | father |
| 154 | female employee or job applicant |
| 155 | female |
| 156 | movie, play, pictorial representation, theatrical production, actor, or exhibitor or distributor of |
| 157 | fisherman or fishing company |
| 158 | food, meat packing, or processing company, stockyard |
| 159 | foreign (non-American) nongovernmental entity |
| 160 | franchiser |
| 161 | franchisee |
| 162 | lesbian, gay, bisexual, transexual person or organization |
| 163 | person who guarantees another's obligations |
| 164 | handicapped individual, or organization of devoted to |
| 165 | health organization or person, nursing home, medical clinic or laboratory, chiropractor |
| 166 | heir, or beneficiary, or person so claiming to be |
| 167 | hospital, medical center |
| 168 | husband, or ex-husband |
| 169 | involuntarily committed mental patient |
| 170 | Indian, including Indian tribe or nation |
| 171 | insurance company, or surety |
| 172 | inventor, patent assigner, trademark owner or holder |
| 173 | investor |
| 174 | injured person or legal entity, nonphysically and non-employment related |
| 175 | juvenile |
| 176 | government contractor |
| 177 | holder of a license or permit, or applicant therefor |
| 178 | magazine |
| 179 | male |
| 180 | medical or Medicaid claimant |
| 181 | medical supply or manufacturing co. |
| 182 | racial or ethnic minority employee or job applicant |
| 183 | minority female employee or job applicant |
| 184 | manufacturer |
| 185 | management, executive officer, or director, of business entity |
| 186 | military personnel, or dependent of, including reservist |
| 187 | mining company or miner, excluding coal, oil, or pipeline company |
| 188 | mother |
| 189 | auto manufacturer |
| 190 | newspaper, newsletter, journal of opinion, news service |
| 191 | radio and television network, except cable tv |
| 192 | nonprofit organization or business |
| 193 | nonresident |
| 194 | nuclear power plant or facility |
| 195 | owner, landlord, or claimant to ownership, fee interest, or possession of land as well as chattels |
| 196 | shareholders to whom a tender offer is made |
| 197 | tender offer |
| 198 | oil company, or natural gas producer |
| 199 | elderly person, or organization dedicated to the elderly |
| 200 | out of state noncriminal defendant |
| 201 | political action committee |
| 202 | parent or parents |
| 203 | parking lot or service |
| 204 | patient of a health professional |
| 205 | telephone, telecommunications, or telegraph company |
| 206 | physician, MD or DO, dentist, or medical society |
| 207 | public interest organization |
| 208 | physically injured person, including wrongful death, who is not an employee |
| 209 | pipe line company |
| 210 | package, luggage, container |
| 211 | political candidate, activist, committee, party, party member, organization, or elected official |
| 212 | indigent, needy, welfare recipient |
| 213 | indigent defendant |
| 214 | private person |
| 215 | prisoner, inmate of penal institution |
| 216 | professional organization, business, or person |
| 217 | probationer, or parolee |
| 218 | protester, demonstrator, picketer or pamphleteer (non-employment related), or non-indigent loiterer |
| 219 | public utility |
| 220 | publisher, publishing company |
| 221 | radio station |
| 222 | racial or ethnic minority |
| 223 | person or organization protesting racial or ethnic segregation or discrimination |
| 224 | racial or ethnic minority student or applicant for admission to an educational institution |
| 225 | realtor |
| 226 | journalist, columnist, member of the news media |
| 227 | resident |
| 228 | restaurant, food vendor |
| 229 | retarded person, or mental incompetent |
| 230 | retired or former employee |
| 231 | railroad |
| 232 | private school, college, or university |
| 233 | seller or vendor |
| 234 | shipper, including importer and exporter |
| 235 | shopping center, mall |
| 236 | spouse, or former spouse |
| 237 | stockholder, shareholder, or bondholder |
| 238 | retail business or outlet |
| 239 | student, or applicant for admission to an educational institution |
| 240 | taxpayer or executor of taxpayer's estate, federal only |
| 241 | tenant or lessee |
| 242 | theater, studio |
| 243 | forest products, lumber, or logging company |
| 244 | person traveling or wishing to travel abroad, or overseas travel agent |
| 245 | trucking company, or motor carrier |
| 246 | television station |
| 247 | union member |
| 248 | unemployed person or unemployment compensation applicant or claimant |
| 249 | union, labor organization, or official of |
| 250 | veteran |
| 251 | voter, prospective voter, elector, or a nonelective official seeking reapportionment or redistricting of legislative districts (POL) |
| 252 | wholesale trade |
| 253 | wife, or ex-wife |
| 254 | witness, or person under subpoena |
| 255 | network |
| 256 | slave |
| 257 | slave-owner |
| 258 | bank of the united states |
| 259 | timber company |
| 260 | u.s. job applicants or employees |
| 301 | Army and Air Force Exchange Service |
| 302 | Atomic Energy Commission |
| 303 | Secretary or administrative unit or personnel of the U.S. Air Force |
| 304 | Department or Secretary of Agriculture |
| 305 | Alien Property Custodian |
| 306 | Secretary or administrative unit or personnel of the U.S. Army |
| 307 | Board of Immigration Appeals |
| 308 | Bureau of Indian Affairs |
| 310 | Bonneville Power Administration |
| 311 | Benefits Review Board |
| 312 | Civil Aeronautics Board |
| 313 | Bureau of the Census |
| 314 | Central Intelligence Agency |
| 315 | Commodity Futures Trading Commission |
| 316 | Department or Secretary of Commerce |
| 317 | Comptroller of Currency |
| 318 | Consumer Product Safety Commission |
| 319 | Civil Rights Commission |
| 320 | Civil Service Commission, U.S. |
| 321 | Customs Service or Commissioner of Customs |
| 322 | Defense Base Closure and REalignment Commission |
| 323 | Drug Enforcement Agency |
| 324 | Department or Secretary of Defense (and Department or Secretary of War) |
| 325 | Department or Secretary of Energy |
| 326 | Department or Secretary of the Interior |
| 327 | Department of Justice or Attorney General |
| 328 | Department or Secretary of State |
| 329 | Department or Secretary of Transportation |
| 330 | Department or Secretary of Education |
| 331 | U.S. Employees' Compensation Commission, or Commissioner |
| 332 | Equal Employment Opportunity Commission |
| 333 | Environmental Protection Agency or Administrator |
| 334 | Federal Aviation Agency or Administration |
| 335 | Federal Bureau of Investigation or Director |
| 336 | Federal Bureau of Prisons |
| 337 | Farm Credit Administration |
| 338 | Federal Communications Commission (including a predecessor, Federal Radio Commission) |
| 339 | Federal Credit Union Administration |
| 340 | Food and Drug Administration |
| 341 | Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation |
| 342 | Federal Energy Administration |
| 343 | Federal Election Commission |
| 344 | Federal Energy Regulatory Commission |
| 345 | Federal Housing Administration |
| 346 | Federal Home Loan Bank Board |
| 347 | Federal Labor Relations Authority |
| 348 | Federal Maritime Board |
| 349 | Federal Maritime Commission |
| 350 | Farmers Home Administration |
| 351 | Federal Parole Board |
| 352 | Federal Power Commission |
| 353 | Federal Railroad Administration |
| 354 | Federal Reserve Board of Governors |
| 355 | Federal Reserve System |
| 356 | Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation |
| 357 | Federal Trade Commission |
| 358 | Federal Works Administration, or Administrator |
| 359 | General Accounting Office |
| 360 | Comptroller General |
| 361 | General Services Administration |
| 362 | Department or Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare |
| 363 | Department or Secretary of Health and Human Services |
| 364 | Department or Secretary of Housing and Urban Development |
| 366 | Interstate Commerce Commission |
| 367 | Indian Claims Commission |
| 368 | Immigration and Naturalization Service, or Director of, or District Director of, or Immigration and Naturalization Enforcement |
| 369 | Internal Revenue Service, Collector, Commissioner, or District Director of |
| 370 | Information Security Oversight Office |
| 371 | Department or Secretary of Labor |
| 372 | Loyalty Review Board |
| 373 | Legal Services Corporation |
| 374 | Merit Systems Protection Board |
| 375 | Multistate Tax Commission |
| 376 | National Aeronautics and Space Administration |
| 377 | Secretary or administrative unit of the U.S. Navy |
| 378 | National Credit Union Administration |
| 379 | National Endowment for the Arts |
| 380 | National Enforcement Commission |
| 381 | National Highway Traffic Safety Administration |
| 382 | National Labor Relations Board, or regional office or officer |
| 383 | National Mediation Board |
| 384 | National Railroad Adjustment Board |
| 385 | Nuclear Regulatory Commission |
| 386 | National Security Agency |
| 387 | Office of Economic Opportunity |
| 388 | Office of Management and Budget |
| 389 | Office of Price Administration, or Price Administrator |
| 390 | Office of Personnel Management |
| 391 | Occupational Safety and Health Administration |
| 392 | Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission |
| 393 | Office of Workers' Compensation Programs |
| 394 | Patent Office, or Commissioner of, or Board of Appeals of |
| 395 | Pay Board (established under the Economic Stabilization Act of 1970) |
| 396 | Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation |
| 397 | U.S. Public Health Service |
| 398 | Postal Rate Commission |
| 399 | Provider Reimbursement Review Board |
| 400 | Renegotiation Board |
| 401 | Railroad Adjustment Board |
| 402 | Railroad Retirement Board |
| 403 | Subversive Activities Control Board |
| 404 | Small Business Administration |
| 405 | Securities and Exchange Commission |
| 406 | Social Security Administration or Commissioner |
| 407 | Selective Service System |
| 408 | Department or Secretary of the Treasury |
| 409 | Tennessee Valley Authority |
| 410 | United States Forest Service |
| 411 | United States Parole Commission |
| 412 | Postal Service and Post Office, or Postmaster General, or Postmaster |
| 413 | United States Sentencing Commission |
| 414 | Veterans' Administration |
| 415 | War Production Board |
| 416 | Wage Stabilization Board |
| 417 | General Land Office of Commissioners |
| 418 | Transportation Security Administration |
| 419 | Surface Transportation Board |
| 420 | U.S. Shipping Board Emergency Fleet Corp. |
| 421 | Reconstruction Finance Corp. |
| 422 | Department or Secretary of Homeland Security |
| 501 | Unidentifiable |
| 600 | International Entity | Introductory

- [Introduction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=intro)
- [Citing to the SCDB](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=cite)
 Identification Variables

- [SCDB Case ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseId)
- [SCDB Docket ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docketId)
- [SCDB Issues ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId)
- [SCDB Vote ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteId)
- [U.S. Reporter Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=usCite)
- [Supreme Court Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=sctCite)
- [Lawyers Edition Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=ledCite)
- [LEXIS Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lexisCite)
- [Docket Number](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docket)
 Background Variables

- [Case Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseName)
- [Petitioner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitioner)
- [Petitioner State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitionerState)
- [Respondent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondent)
- [Respondent State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondentState)
- [Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=jurisdiction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminAction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminActionState)
- [Three-Judge District Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc)
- [Origin of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOrigin)
- [Origin of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOriginState)
- [Source of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSource)
- [Source of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSourceState)
- [Lower Court Disagreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisagreement)
- [Reason for Granting Cert](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=certReason)
- [Lower Court Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisposition)
- [Lower Court Disposition Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDispositionDirection)
 Chronological Variables

- [Date of Decision](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateDecision)
- [Term of Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=term)
- [Natural Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=naturalCourt)
- [Chief Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=chief)
- [Date of Oral Argument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateArgument)
- [Date of Reargument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateRearg)
 Substantive Variables

- [Issue](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issue)
- [Issue Area](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issueArea)
- [Decision Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirection)
- [Decision Direction Dissent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirectionDissent)
- [Authority for Decision 1](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision1)
- [Authority for Decision 2](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision2)
- [Legal Provisions Considered by the Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawType)
- [Legal Provision Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawSupp)
- [Legal Provision Minor Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawMinor)
 Outcome Variables

- [Decision Type](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionType)
- [Declaration of Unconstitutionality](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=declarationUncon)
- [Disposition of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDisposition)
- [Unusual Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDispositionUnusual)
- [Winning Party](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=partyWinning)
- [Formal Alteration of Precedent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=precedentAlteration)
 Voting & Opinion Variables

- [Vote Not Clearly Specified](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteUnclear)
- [Majority Opinion Writer](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinWriter)
- [Majority Opinion Assigner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinAssigner)
- [Split Vote](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=splitVote)
- [Majority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majVotes)
- [Minority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=minVotes)
- [Justice ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice)
- [Justice Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justiceName)
- [The Vote in the Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=vote)
- [Opinion](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=opinion)
- [Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=direction)
- [Majority and Minority Voting by Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majority)
- [First Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=firstAgreement)
- [Second Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=secondAgreement)
- | | [CONTACT](http://scdb.wustl.edu/contact.php) | | [TOP](#top) |
| --- | ---------------------- | --- | ----------- |
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- image The Supreme Court Database has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. [Creative Commons License](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/)

| ![washu_logo](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/washu_logo.png) |
| ------------------------------------ |

The Supreme Court Database




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| [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/index.php) | image | image | image | image |
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| |  |  |  |  | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) | [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) | [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) | [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php) | | | | | |
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| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Issue   |  |  |  | | --- | --- | --- | | **Variable Name** issue | **Spaeth Name** ISSUE | **Normalizations**  [278 [ view ]](#norms) |    This variable identifies the issue for each decision. Although criteria for the identification of issues are hard to articulate, the focus here is on the subject matter of the controversy (e.g., sex discrimination, state tax, affirmative action) rather than its legal basis (e.g., the equal protection clause) (see the variable lawType).    This variable and its counterpart, issue area, cover the waterfront of the Court's decisions. However, neither of them provide the specificity that users commonly want. The three legal provision variables reduce the generic quality of issue and issue area to a more specific level. They are discussed in the first of the legal provisions below.    Because the database extends over four centuries of the Court's decisions during which time the Court's jurisdiction changed drastically, the description of many specific variables does not provide a good fit. Thus, for example, 'debtors' rights,' which locates in the civil rights issue area, contains many nineteenth century cases that have little, if anything, to do with civil rights as understood today. Nor do a vast majority of early takings cases have any reference to due process, and many of the early criminal procedure cases don't involve crimes at all. Conversely, to have lumped all railroad cases, bar none, into one variable would have erased the many types of situations in which nineteenth and early twentieth century railroads found themselves.    This situation results because the original (Spaeth) database began with the Warren Court, followed by its predecessor, the Vinson Court. We made a decision to retain the twentieth century listing and apply it as best we could to the eighteenth and nineteenth century decisions. We found it possible with the addition of only the seven common law law decisions (variables 140010-140070), plus a couple of others. Obviously, this decision produced definitonal stretching. Users, of course, may redefine issues to suit themselves    This variable identifies issues on the basis of the Court's own statements as to what the case is about. The objective is to categorize the case from a public policy standpoint, a perspective that the legal basis for decision (lawType) commonly disregards.    A few issues pertain only to the heritage (legacy) cases; those decided between 1791 and 1946. These include the private action category, typically common law issues: real property, personal property, contracts, evidence, civil procedure, wills and trusts, and commercial transactions. Others pertain to slavery, land claims (mostly state and territorial), executive authority vis-a-vis congress or the states, and incorporation of foreign territories.    Unlike the lawType variable where the number of legal provisions at issue has no preordained upper bound, each legal provision should generally not have more than a single issue applied to it. A second issue should apply only when a preference for one rather than the other cannot readily be made. Of the many thousand records in the database, few have a legal basis for decision that applies to a second issue. (If you are interested in decisions with more than one issue or legal provision, use one of the datasets organized by issue/legal provision.)    Because the database spans the entire four-century history of the Supreme Court, It is desirable that the list of modern issues be related to those of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Thus, in specifying the issue in a legacy case, the one that best accords with what today's Court would consider it to be is chosen. This produces a bit of tension, most all of which only requires a broadening of the scope of the relevant issues, rather than the creation of new time-specific ones. Thus, although state and local governments were not bound to adhere to the provisions of the Bill of Rights until well after the passage of the Fourteenth Amendment, many cases did arise involving aspects of the First Amendment, search and seizure, notice and hearing, etc. These are treated compatibly with the modern use of the relevant provision of the Bill of Rights.    The same rule applies to statutory issues, such as rules of procedure. Although their legal provision is Supreme Court Rules, they are coded as issues of civil (90110) or criminal (10370) procedure even though they antedate the relevant Rules of Civil and Criminal Procedure.    Prize cases in which vessels on the high seas are captured and brought into American ports and the confiscation acts resulting from the Civil War and World War I are treated either as due process takings clause cases (40070) or as cases involving the jurisdiction of the federal courts (90320 or 90330) to decide the legality of the capture or confiscation.    The variable codes 260 issues, each of which has an identifying number. They are ordered below by their larger issue area: criminal procedure (10010-10600), civil rights (20010-20410), First Amendment (30010-30020), due process (40010-40070), privacy (50010-50040), attorneys (60010-60040), unions (70010-70210), economic activity (80010-80350), judicial power (90010-90520), federalism (100010-100130), interstate relation (110010-110030), federal taxation (120010-120040), miscellaneous (130010-130020), and private law (140010-140080). These comprise the codes for a separate variable, Issue Area, that is described immediately following this one.    The scope of these categories is as follows: criminal procedure encompasses the rights of persons accused of crime, except for the due process rights of prisoners (issue 40040).    Civil rights includes non-First Amendment freedom cases which pertain to classifications based on race (including American Indians), age, indigency, voting, residency, military or handicapped status, gender, and alienage. Purists may wish to treat the military issues (20230, 20240, 20250) and Indian cases (20150, 20160) as economic activity, while others may wish to include the privacy category as a subset of civil rights.    First Amendment encompasses the scope of this constitutional provision, but do note that not every case in the First Amendment group directly involves the interpretation and application of a provision of the First Amendment. Some, for example, may only construe a precedent, or the reviewability of a claim based on the First Amendment, or the scope of an administrative rule or regulation that impacts the exercise of First Amendment freedoms. In other words, not every record that displays a First Amendment issue will correspondingly display a provision of the First Amendment in its legal provision variable (lawType).    Due process is limited to non-criminal guarantees and, like First Amendment issues, need not show 207 (Fifth Amendment Due Process) or 230 (Fourteenth Amendment Due Process) in the lawType variable. Some of you may wish to include state court assertion of jurisdiction over nonresident defendants and the takings clause as part of judicial power and economic activity, respectively, rather than due process.    The four issues comprising privacy may be treated as a subset of civil rights.    Because of their peculiar role in the judicial process, a separate attorney category has been created, which also includes their compensation and licenses, along with trhose of governmental officials and employees. You may wish to include these issues with economic activity, however.    Unions encompass those issues involving labor union activity. You may wish to redefine this category for yourself or combine it, in whole or in part, with economic activity.    Economic activity is largely commercial and business related; it includes tort actions and employee actions vis-a-vis employers. Issues 80140 (government corruption)and 80150 (zoning) are only tangential to the other issues located in economic activity.    Judicial power concerns the exercise of the judiciary's own power. To the extent that a number of these issues concern federal-state court relationships, you may wish to include them in the federalism category.    Federalism pertains to conflicts and other relationships between the federal government and the states, except for those between the federal and state courts. Interstate relations contain three types of disputes which occur between or among states.    Federal taxation concerns the Internal Revenue Code and related statutes. Miscellaneous contains three groups of cases that do not fit into any other category.    Private law relates to disputes between private persons involving real and personal property, contracts, evidence, civil procedure, torts, wills and trusts, and commercial transactions. Prior to the passage of the Judges' Bill of 1925 much -- arguably most -- of the Court's cases concerned such issues. The Judges' Bill gave the Court control of its docket, as a result of which such cases have disappeared from the Court's docket in preference to litigation of more general applicability.    If interest lies in a particular issue that has a specific legal or constitutional component, comprehensive coverage may be insured by listing not only the issue(s) that bear thereon, but also the appropriate code(s) from the lawType variable. Thus, if the right to counsel is the focus, issues 10120, 20320, and 20330 will fall within its scope, as will code 214 (Sixth Amendment Right to Counsel) from the lawType variable. Also recognize that the party variables (petitioner, petitionerState, respondent,  respondentState) may also help locate the cases of interest.    Note that jury instructions (10220) need not necessarily occur in the context of criminal action. This is especially so in heritage cases.    Issue 80110 (state regulation of business) also includes that of local governments. These are combined with state regulation because many heritage cases involve both.    Issue 90110 (federal rules of civil procedure) includes Supreme Court Rules, the Federal Rules of Evidence, the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure in civil litigation, Circuit Court Rules, state rules, and admiralty rules.    Natonal supremacy cases, in the context of federal-state conflicts (10050-100120)involve the general welfare, contract, supremacy, or interstate commerce causes, or the enforcement clause of the 14th Amendment. These cases are distinguishable from the pre-empton cases (100020 abd 100030) because they have a constitutional basis for decision.    Note that the legal provision variable and the first five background variables may supplement specification of case issue. Thus, for example, if you are interested in the huge mass of railroad cases generally that prevailed in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century decisions, case name will be of more help than the issues pertaining to railroad litigation.     **Values:**   |  |  | | --- | --- | | 10010 | involuntary confession | | 10020 | habeas corpus | | 10030 | plea bargaining: the constitutionality of and/or the circumstances of its exercise | | 10040 | retroactivity (of newly announced or newly enacted constitutional or statutory rights) | | 10050 | search and seizure (other than as pertains to vehicles or Crime Control Act) | | 10060 | search and seizure, vehicles | | 10070 | search and seizure, Crime Control Act | | 10080 | contempt of court or congress | | 10090 | self-incrimination (other than as pertains to Miranda or immunity from prosecution) | | 10100 | Miranda warnings | | 10110 | self-incrimination, immunity from prosecution | | 10120 | right to counsel (cf. indigents appointment of counsel or inadequate representation) | | 10130 | cruel and unusual punishment, death penalty (cf. extra legal jury influence, death penalty) | | 10140 | cruel and unusual punishment, non-death penalty (cf. liability, civil rights acts) | | 10150 | line-up  *Note: admissibility into evidence of identification obtained after accused was taken into custody, or after indictment or information* | | 10160 | discovery and inspection (in the context of criminal litigation only, otherwise Freedom of Information Act and related federal or state statutes or regulations) | | 10170 | double jeopardy | | 10180 | ex post facto (state) | | 10190 | extra-legal jury influences: miscellaneous  *Note: no question regarding the right to a jury trial or to a speedy trial (these belong in jury trial and speedy trial, respectively); the focus, rather, is on the fairness to the accused when jurors are exposed to the influences specified* | | 10200 | extra-legal jury influences: prejudicial statements or evidence | | 10210 | extra-legal jury influences: contact with jurors outside courtroom | | 10220 | extra-legal jury influences: jury instructions (not necessarily in criminal cases) | | 10230 | extra-legal jury influences: voir dire (not necessarily a criminal case) | | 10240 | extra-legal jury influences: prison garb or appearance | | 10250 | extra-legal jury influences: jurors and death penalty (cf. cruel and unusual punishment) | | 10260 | extra-legal jury influences: pretrial publicity | | 10270 | confrontation (right to confront accuser, call and cross-examine witnesses) | | 10280 | subconstitutional fair procedure: confession of error  *Note: nonsubstantive rules and procedures pertaining to the administration of justice that do not rise to the level of a constitutional matter. This is the residual category insofar as criminal procedure is concerned. Note that this issue need not necessarily pertain to a criminal action. If the case involves an indigent, consider indigent categories.* | | 10290 | subconstitutional fair procedure: conspiracy (cf. Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure: conspiracy)  *Note: nonsubstantive rules and procedures pertaining to the administration of justice that do not rise to the level of a constitutional matter. This is the residual category insofar as criminal procedure is concerned. Note that this issue need not necessarily pertain to a criminal action. If the case involves an indigent, consider indigent categories.* | | 10300 | subconstitutional fair procedure: entrapment  *Note: nonsubstantive rules and procedures pertaining to the administration of justice that do not rise to the level of a constitutional matter. This is the residual category insofar as criminal procedure is concerned. Note that this issue need not necessarily pertain to a criminal action. If the case involves an indigent, consider indigent categories.* | | 10310 | subconstitutional fair procedure: exhaustion of remedies  *Note: nonsubstantive rules and procedures pertaining to the administration of justice that do not rise to the level of a constitutional matter. This is the residual category insofar as criminal procedure is concerned. Note that this issue need not necessarily pertain to a criminal action. If the case involves an indigent, consider indigent categories.* | | 10320 | subconstitutional fair procedure: fugitive from justice  *Note: nonsubstantive rules and procedures pertaining to the administration of justice that do not rise to the level of a constitutional matter. This is the residual category insofar as criminal procedure is concerned. Note that this issue need not necessarily pertain to a criminal action. If the case involves an indigent, consider indigent categories.* | | 10330 | subconstitutional fair procedure: presentation, admissibility, or sufficiency of evidence (not necessarily a criminal case)  *Note: nonsubstantive rules and procedures pertaining to the administration of justice that do not rise to the level of a constitutional matter. This is the residual category insofar as criminal procedure is concerned. Note that this issue need not necessarily pertain to a criminal action. If the case involves an indigent, consider indigent categories.* | | 10340 | subconstitutional fair procedure: stay of execution  *Note: nonsubstantive rules and procedures pertaining to the administration of justice that do not rise to the level of a constitutional matter. This is the residual category insofar as criminal procedure is concerned. Note that this issue need not necessarily pertain to a criminal action. If the case involves an indigent, consider indigent categories.* | | 10350 | subconstitutional fair procedure: timeliness  *Note: nonsubstantive rules and procedures pertaining to the administration of justice that do not rise to the level of a constitutional matter. This is the residual category insofar as criminal procedure is concerned. Note that this issue need not necessarily pertain to a criminal action. If the case involves an indigent, consider indigent categories.* | | 10360 | subconstitutional fair procedure: miscellaneous  *Note: nonsubstantive rules and procedures pertaining to the administration of justice that do not rise to the level of a constitutional matter. This is the residual category insofar as criminal procedure is concerned. Note that this issue need not necessarily pertain to a criminal action. If the case involves an indigent, consider indigent categories.* | | 10370 | Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure  *Note: including application of the Federal Rules of Evidence in criminal proceedings and criminal rules of a court of appeals or state supreme court* | | 10380 | statutory construction of criminal laws: assault  *Note: these codes, by definition exclude the constitutionality of these laws* | | 10390 | statutory construction of criminal laws: bank robbery  *Note: these codes, by definition exclude the constitutionality of these laws* | | 10400 | statutory construction of criminal laws: conspiracy (cf. subconstitutional fair procedure: conspiracy)  *Note: these codes, by definition exclude the constitutionality of these laws* | | 10410 | statutory construction of criminal laws: escape from custody  *Note: these codes, by definition exclude the constitutionality of these laws* | | 10420 | statutory construction of criminal laws: false statements (cf. statutory construction of criminal laws: perjury)  *Note: these codes, by definition exclude the constitutionality of these laws* | | 10430 | statutory construction of criminal laws: financial (other than in fraud or internal revenue)  *Note: these codes, by definition exclude the constitutionality of these laws* | | 10440 | statutory construction of criminal laws: firearms  *Note: these codes, by definition exclude the constitutionality of these laws* | | 10450 | statutory construction of criminal laws: fraud  *Note: these codes, by definition exclude the constitutionality of these laws* | | 10460 | statutory construction of criminal laws: gambling  *Note: these codes, by definition exclude the constitutionality of these laws* | | 10470 | statutory construction of criminal laws: Hobbs Act; i.e., 18 USC 1951  *Note: these codes, by definition exclude the constitutionality of these laws; not 28 USC 2341, the Administrative Orders Review Act* | | 10480 | statutory construction of criminal laws: immigration (cf. immigration and naturalization)  *Note: these codes, by definition exclude the constitutionality of these laws* | | 10490 | statutory construction of criminal laws: internal revenue (cf. Federal Taxation)  *Note: these codes, by definition exclude the constitutionality of these laws* | | 10500 | statutory construction of criminal laws: Mann Act and related statutes  *Note: these codes, by definition exclude the constitutionality of these laws* | | 10510 | statutory construction of criminal laws: narcotics includes regulation and prohibition of alcohol  *Note: these codes, by definition exclude the constitutionality of these laws* | | 10520 | statutory construction of criminal laws: obstruction of justice  *Note: these codes, by definition exclude the constitutionality of these laws* | | 10530 | statutory construction of criminal laws: perjury (other than as pertains to statutory construction of criminal laws: false statements)  *Note: these codes, by definition exclude the constitutionality of these laws* | | 10540 | statutory construction of criminal laws: Travel Act, 18 USC 1952  *Note: these codes, by definition exclude the constitutionality of these laws* | | 10550 | statutory construction of criminal laws: war crimes  *Note: these codes, by definition exclude the constitutionality of these laws* | | 10560 | statutory construction of criminal laws: sentencing guidelines  *Note: these codes, by definition exclude the constitutionality of these laws* | | 10570 | statutory construction of criminal laws: miscellaneous  *Note: these codes, by definition exclude the constitutionality of these laws* | | 10580 | jury trial (right to, as distinct from extra-legal jury influences) | | 10590 | speedy trial | | 10600 | miscellaneous criminal procedure (cf. due process, prisoners' rights, comity: criminal procedure) | | 20010 | voting | | 20020 | Voting Rights Act of 1965, plus amendments | | 20030 | ballot access (of candidates and political parties) | | 20040 | desegregation (other than as pertains to school desegregation, employment discrimination, and affirmative action) | | 20050 | desegregation, schools | | 20060 | employment discrimination: on basis of race, age, religion, illegitimacy, national origin, or working conditions.  *Note: Not alienage, which is employability of aliens, or gender, which is sex discrimination in employment.* | | 20070 | affirmative action | | 20075 | slavery or indenture | | 20080 | sit-in demonstrations (protests against racial discrimination in places of public accommodation)  *Note: To be sharply distinguished from protests not involving racial discrimination. The latter are coded as protest demonstrations.* | | 20090 | reapportionment: other than plans governed by the Voting Rights Act | | 20100 | debtors' rights | | 20110 | deportation (cf. immigration and naturalization) | | 20120 | employability of aliens (cf. immigration and naturalization) | | 20130 | sex discrimination (excluding sex discrimination in employment) | | 20140 | sex discrimination in employment (cf. sex discrimination) | | 20150 | Indians (other than pertains to state jurisdiction over) | | 20160 | Indians, state jurisdiction over | | 20170 | juveniles (cf. rights of illegitimates) | | 20180 | poverty law, constitutional  *Note: typically equal protection challenges over welfare benefits, including pension and medical benefits* | | 20190 | poverty law, statutory: welfare benefits, typically under some Social Security Act provision.  *Note: Excludes rights of illegitimates and rights of handicapped* | | 20200 | illegitimates, rights of (cf. juveniles): typically inheritance and survivor's benefits, and paternity suits | | 20210 | handicapped, rights of: under Rehabilitation, Americans with Disabilities Act, and related statutes | | 20220 | residency requirements: durational, plus discrimination against nonresidents | | 20230 | military: draftee, or person subject to induction  *Note: cf. conscientious objectors and comity: military* | | 20240 | military: active duty  *Note: cf. conscientious objectors and comity: military* | | 20250 | military: veteran  *Note: cf. conscientious objectors and comity: military* | | 20260 | immigration and naturalization: permanent residence  *Note: cf. statutory construction of criminal laws: immigration, deportation, and employability of aliens* | | 20270 | immigration and naturalization: citizenship  *Note: cf. statutory construction of criminal laws: immigration, deportation, and employability of aliens* | | 20280 | immigration and naturalization: loss of citizenship, denaturalization  *Note: cf. statutory construction of criminal laws: immigration, deportation, and employability of aliens* | | 20290 | immigration and naturalization: access to public education  *Note: cf. statutory construction of criminal laws: immigration, deportation, and employability of aliens* | | 20300 | immigration and naturalization: welfare benefits  *Note: cf. statutory construction of criminal laws: immigration, deportation, and employability of aliens* | | 20310 | immigration and naturalization: miscellaneous  *Note: cf. statutory construction of criminal laws: immigration, deportation, and employability of aliens* | | 20320 | indigents: appointment of counsel (cf. right to counsel)  *Note: procedural protections for indigents because of their indigency. Typically in matters pertaining to criminal justice. cf. poverty law, constitutional and poverty law, statutory.* | | 20330 | indigents: inadequate representation by counsel (cf. right to counsel)  *Note: procedural protections for indigents because of their indigency. Typically in matters pertaining to criminal justice. cf. poverty law, constitutional and poverty law, statutory.* | | 20340 | indigents: payment of fine  *Note: procedural protections for indigents because of their indigency. Typically in matters pertaining to criminal justice. cf. poverty law, constitutional and poverty law, statutory.* | | 20350 | indigents: costs or filing fees  *Note: procedural protections for indigents because of their indigency. Typically in matters pertaining to criminal justice. cf. poverty law, constitutional and poverty law, statutory.* | | 20360 | indigents: U.S. Supreme Court docketing fee  *Note: procedural protections for indigents because of their indigency. Typically in matters pertaining to criminal justice. cf. poverty law, constitutional and poverty law, statutory.* | | 20370 | indigents: transcript  *Note: procedural protections for indigents because of their indigency. Typically in matters pertaining to criminal justice. cf. poverty law, constitutional and poverty law, statutory.* | | 20380 | indigents: assistance of psychiatrist  *Note: procedural protections for indigents because of their indigency. Typically in matters pertaining to criminal justice. cf. poverty law, constitutional and poverty law, statutory.* | | 20390 | indigents: miscellaneous  *Note: procedural protections for indigents because of their indigency. Typically in matters pertaining to criminal justice. cf. poverty law, constitutional and poverty law, statutory.* | | 20400 | liability, civil rights acts (cf. liability, governmental and liability, nongovernmental; cruel and unusual punishment, non-death penalty)  *Note: tort actions involving liability that are based on a civil rights act* | | 20410 | miscellaneous civil rights (cf. comity: civil rights) | | 30010 | First Amendment, miscellaneous (cf. comity: First Amendment) | | 30020 | commercial speech, excluding attorneys | | 30030 | libel, defamation: defamation of public officials and public and private persons | | 30040 | libel, privacy: true and false light invasions of privacy | | 30050 | legislative investigations: concerning internal security only | | 30060 | federal or state internal security legislation: Smith, Internal Security, and related federal statutes | | 30070 | loyalty oath or non-Communist affidavit (other than bar applicants, government employees, political party, or teacher) | | 30080 | loyalty oath: bar applicants (cf. admission to bar, state or federal or U.S. Supreme Court) | | 30090 | loyalty oath: government employees | | 30100 | loyalty oath: political party | | 30110 | loyalty oath: teachers | | 30120 | security risks: denial of benefits or dismissal of employees for reasons other than failure to meet loyalty oath requirements | | 30130 | conscientious objectors (cf. military draftee or military active duty) to military service | | 30140 | campaign spending (cf. governmental corruption):  *Note: financing electoral costs other than as regulated by the Taft-Hartley Act. Typically involves the Federal Election Campaign Act* | | 30150 | protest demonstrations (other than as pertains to sit-in demonstrations): demonstrations and other forms of protest based on First Amendment guarantees | | 30160 | free exercise of religion | | 30170 | establishment of religion (other than as pertains to parochiaid:) | | 30180 | parochiaid: government aid to religious schools, or religious requirements in public schools | | 30190 | obscenity, state (cf. comity: privacy): including the regulation of sexually explicit material under the 21st Amendment | | 30200 | obscenity, federal | | 40010 | due process: miscellaneous (cf. loyalty oath), the residual code | | 40020 | due process: hearing or notice (other than as pertains to government employees or prisoners' rights)  *Note: hearing may be statutorily based* | | 40030 | due process: hearing, government employees | | 40040 | due process: prisoners' rights and defendants' rights | | 40050 | due process: impartial decision maker | | 40060 | due process: jurisdiction (jurisdiction over non-resident litigants) | | 40070 | due process: takings clause, or other non-constitutional governmental taking of property | | 50010 | privacy (cf. libel, comity: privacy) | | 50020 | abortion: including contraceptives | | 50030 | right to die | | 50040 | Freedom of Information Act and related federal or state statutes or regulations | | 60010 | attorneys' and governmental employees' or officials' fees or compensation or licenses | | 60020 | commercial speech, attorneys (cf. commercial speech) | | 60030 | admission to a state or federal bar, disbarment, and attorney discipline (cf. loyalty oath: bar applicants) | | 60040 | admission to, or disbarment from, Bar of the U.S. Supreme Court | | 70010 | arbitration (in the context of labor-management or employer-employee relations) (cf. arbitration) | | 70020 | union antitrust: legality of anticompetitive union activity | | 70030 | union or closed shop: includes agency shop litigation | | 70040 | Fair Labor Standards Act | | 70050 | Occupational Safety and Health Act | | 70060 | union-union member dispute (except as pertains to union or closed shop) | | 70070 | labor-management disputes: bargaining | | 70080 | labor-management disputes: employee discharge | | 70090 | labor-management disputes: distribution of union literature | | 70100 | labor-management disputes: representative election | | 70110 | labor-management disputes: antistrike injunction | | 70120 | labor-management disputes: jurisdictional dispute | | 70130 | labor-management disputes: right to organize | | 70140 | labor-management disputes: picketing | | 70150 | labor-management disputes: secondary activity | | 70160 | labor-management disputes: no-strike clause | | 70170 | labor-management disputes: union representatives | | 70180 | labor-management disputes: union trust funds (cf. ERISA) | | 70190 | labor-management disputes: working conditions | | 70200 | labor-management disputes: miscellaneous dispute | | 70210 | miscellaneous union | | 80010 | antitrust (except in the context of mergers and union antitrust) | | 80020 | mergers | | 80030 | bankruptcy (except in the context of priority of federal fiscal claims) | | 80040 | sufficiency of evidence: typically in the context of a jury's determination of compensation for injury or death | | 80050 | election of remedies: legal remedies available to injured persons or things | | 80060 | liability, governmental: tort or contract actions by or against government or governmental officials other than defense of criminal actions brought under a civil rights action. | | 80070 | liability, other than as in sufficiency of evidence, election of remedies, punitive damages | | 80080 | liability, punitive damages | | 80090 | Employee Retirement Income Security Act (cf. union trust funds) | | 80100 | state or local government tax  *Note: those challenged on the basis of the supremacy clause and the 21st Amendment may also locate in national supremacy: intergovernmental tax immunity or national supremacy: state tax* | | 80105 | state and territorial land claims  *Note: those challenged on the basis of the supremacy clause and the 21st Amendment may also locate in national supremacy: intergovernmental tax immunity or national supremacy: state tax* | | 80110 | state or local government regulation, especially of business (cf. federal pre-emption of state court jurisdiction, federal pre-emption of state legislation or regulation) | | 80120 | federal or state regulation of securities | | 80130 | natural resources - environmental protection (cf. national supremacy: natural resources, national supremacy: pollution) | | 80140 | corruption, governmental or governmental regulation of other than as in campaign spending | | 80150 | zoning: constitutionality of such ordinances, or restrictions on owners' or lessors' use of real property | | 80160 | arbitration (other than as pertains to labor-management or employer-employee relations (cf. union arbitration) | | 80170 | federal or state consumer protection: typically under the Truth in Lending; Food, Drug and Cosmetic; and Consumer Protection Credit Acts | | 80180 | patents and copyrights: patent | | 80190 | patents and copyrights: copyright | | 80200 | patents and copyrights: trademark | | 80210 | patents and copyrights: patentability of computer processes | | 80220 | federal or state regulation of transportation regulation: railroad | | 80230 | federal and some few state regulations of transportation regulation: boat | | 80240 | federal and some few state regulation of transportation regulation:truck, or motor carrier | | 80250 | federal and some few state regulation of transportation regulation: pipeline (cf. federal public utilities regulation: gas pipeline) | | 80260 | federal and some few state regulation of transportation regulation: airline | | 80270 | federal and some few state regulation of public utilities regulation: electric power | | 80280 | federal and some few state regulation of public utilities regulation: nuclear power | | 80290 | federal and some few state regulation of public utilities regulation: oil producer | | 80300 | federal and some few state regulation of public utilities regulation: gas producer | | 80310 | federal and some few state regulation of public utilities regulation: gas pipeline (cf. federal transportation regulation: pipeline) | | 80320 | federal and some few state regulation of public utilities regulation: radio and television (cf. cable television) | | 80330 | federal and some few state regulation of public utilities regulation: cable television (cf. radio and television) | | 80340 | federal and some few state regulations of public utilities regulation: telephone or telegraph company | | 80350 | miscellaneous economic regulation | | 90010 | comity: civil rights  *Note: propriety of federal court deference to ongoing state judicial or state or federal quasi-judicial proceedings, the abstention doctrine, exhaustion of state provided remedies* | | 90020 | comity: criminal procedure  *Note: propriety of federal court deference to ongoing state judicial or state or federal quasi-judicial proceedings, the abstention doctrine, exhaustion of state provided remedies* | | 90030 | comity: First Amendment  *Note: propriety of federal court deference to ongoing state judicial or state or federal quasi-judicial proceedings, the abstention doctrine, exhaustion of state provided remedies* | | 90040 | comity: habeas corpus  *Note: propriety of federal court deference to ongoing state judicial or state or federal quasi-judicial proceedings, the abstention doctrine, exhaustion of state provided remedies* | | 90050 | comity: military  *Note: propriety of federal court deference to ongoing state judicial or state or federal quasi-judicial proceedings, the abstention doctrine, exhaustion of state provided remedies* | | 90060 | comity: obscenity  *Note: propriety of federal court deference to ongoing state judicial or state or federal quasi-judicial proceedings, the abstention doctrine, exhaustion of state provided remedies* | | 90070 | comity: privacy  *Note: propriety of federal court deference to ongoing state judicial or state or federal quasi-judicial proceedings, the abstention doctrine, exhaustion of state provided remedies* | | 90080 | comity: miscellaneous  *Note: propriety of federal court deference to ongoing state judicial or state or federal quasi-judicial proceedings, the abstention doctrine, exhaustion of state provided remedies* | | 90090 | comity primarily removal cases, civil procedure (cf. comity, criminal and First Amendment); deference to foreign judicial tribunals  *Note: propriety of federal court deference to ongoing state judicial or state or federal quasi-judicial proceedings, the abstention doctrine, exhaustion of state provided remedies* | | 90100 | assessment of costs or damages: as part of a court order | | 90110 | Federal Rules of Civil Procedure including Supreme Court Rules, application of the Federal Rules of Evidence, Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure in civil litigation, Circuit Court Rules, and state rules and admiralty rules | | 90120 | judicial review of administrative agency's or administrative official's actions and procedures | | 90130 | mootness (cf. standing to sue: live dispute) | | 90140 | venue | | 90150 | no merits: writ improvidently granted  *Note: use only if the syllabus or the summary holding specifies one of the following bases.* | | 90160 | no merits: dismissed or affirmed for want of a substantial or properly presented federal question, or a nonsuit  *Note: use only if the syllabus or the summary holding specifies one of the following bases.* | | 90170 | no merits: dismissed or affirmed for want of jurisdiction (cf. judicial administration: Supreme Court jurisdiction or authority on appeal from federal district courts or courts of appeals)  *Note: use only if the syllabus or the summary holding specifies one of the following bases.* | | 90180 | no merits: adequate non-federal grounds for decision  *Note: use only if the syllabus or the summary holding specifies one of the following bases.* | | 90190 | no merits: remand to determine basis of state or federal court decision (cf. judicial administration: state law)  *Note: use only if the syllabus or the summary holding specifies one of the following bases.* | | 90200 | no merits: miscellaneous  *Note: use only if the syllabus or the summary holding specifies one of the following bases.* | | 90210 | standing to sue: adversary parties | | 90220 | standing to sue: direct injury | | 90230 | standing to sue: legal injury | | 90240 | standing to sue: personal injury | | 90250 | standing to sue: justiciable question | | 90260 | standing to sue: live dispute | | 90270 | standing to sue: parens patriae standing | | 90280 | standing to sue: statutory standing | | 90290 | standing to sue: private or implied cause of action | | 90300 | standing to sue: taxpayer's suit | | 90310 | standing to sue: miscellaneous | | 90320 | judicial administration: jurisdiction or authority of federal district courts or territorial courts  *Note: jurisdiction of the federal courts or of the Supreme Court (cf. no merits: dismissed for want of jurisdiction)* | | 90330 | judicial administration: jurisdiction or authority of federal courts of appeals  *Note: jurisdiction of the federal courts or of the Supreme Court* | | 90340 | judicial administration: Supreme Court jurisdiction or authority on appeal or writ of error, from federal district courts or courts of appeals (cf. 753)  *Note: jurisdiction of the federal courts or of the Supreme Court* | | 90350 | judicial administration: Supreme Court jurisdiction or authority on appeal or writ of error, from highest state court  *Note: jurisdiction of the federal courts or of the Supreme Court* | | 90360 | judicial administration: jurisdiction or authority of the Court of Claims  *Note: jurisdiction of the federal courts or of the Supreme Court* | | 90370 | judicial administration: Supreme Court's original jurisdiction  *Note: jurisdiction of the federal courts or of the Supreme Court* | | 90380 | judicial administration: review of non-final order  *Note: jurisdiction of the federal courts or of the Supreme Court* | | 90390 | judicial administration: change in state law (cf. no merits: remand to determine basis of state court decision)  *Note: jurisdiction of the federal courts or of the Supreme Court* | | 90400 | judicial administration: federal question (cf. no merits: dismissed for want of a substantial or properly presented federal question)  *Note: jurisdiction of the federal courts or of the Supreme Court* | | 90410 | judicial administration: ancillary or pendent jurisdiction  *Note: jurisdiction of the federal courts or of the Supreme Court* | | 90420 | judicial administration: extraordinary relief (e.g., mandamus, injunction)  *Note: jurisdiction of the federal courts or of the Supreme Court* | | 90430 | judicial administration: certification (cf. objection to reason for denial of certiorari or appeal)  *Note: jurisdiction of the federal courts or of the Supreme Court* | | 90440 | judicial administration: resolution of circuit conflict, or conflict between or among other courts  *Note: jurisdiction of the federal courts or of the Supreme Court* | | 90450 | judicial administration: objection to reason for denial of certiorari or appeal  *Note: jurisdiction of the federal courts or of the Supreme Court* | | 90460 | judicial administration: collateral estoppel or res judicata  *Note: jurisdiction of the federal courts or of the Supreme Court* | | 90470 | judicial administration: interpleader  *Note: jurisdiction of the federal courts or of the Supreme Court* | | 90480 | judicial administration: untimely filing  *Note: jurisdiction of the federal courts or of the Supreme Court* | | 90490 | judicial administration: Act of State doctrine  *Note: jurisdiction of the federal courts or of the Supreme Court* | | 90500 | judicial administration: miscellaneous  *Note: jurisdiction of the federal courts or of the Supreme Court* | | 90510 | Supreme Court's certiorari, writ of error, or appeals jurisdiction  *Note: jurisdiction of the federal courts or of the Supreme Court* | | 90520 | miscellaneous judicial power, especially diversity jurisdiction | | 100010 | federal-state ownership dispute (cf. Submerged Lands Act) | | 100020 | federal pre-emption of state court jurisdiction  *Note: almost always found in the context of labor union activity. Does not involve constitutional interpretation. Rests rather on a primary jurisdiction rationale* | | 100030 | federal pre-emption of state legislation or regulation. cf. state regulation of business. rarely involves union activity. Does not involve constitutional interpretation unless the Court says it does. | | 100040 | Submerged Lands Act (cf. federal-state ownership dispute) | | 100050 | national supremacy: commodities  *Note: in the context of federal-state conflicts involving the general welfare, supremacy, or interstate commerce clauses, the 11th or 21st Amendments, or the enforcement clause of the 14th Amendment. Distinguishable from federal pre-emption because of a constitutional basis for decision.* | | 100060 | national supremacy: intergovernmental tax immunity  *Note: in the context of federal-state conflicts involving the general welfare, supremacy, or interstate commerce clauses, the 11th or 21st Amendments, or the enforcement clause of the 14th Amendment. Distinguishable from federal pre-emption because of a constitutional basis for decision.* | | 100070 | national supremacy: marital and family relationships and property, including obligation of child support  *Note: in the context of federal-state conflicts involving the general welfare, supremacy, or interstate commerce clauses, the 11th or 21st Amendments, or the enforcement clause of the 14th Amendment. Distinguishable from federal pre-emption because of a constitutional basis for decision.* | | 100080 | national supremacy: natural resources (cf. natural resources - environmental protection)  *Note: in the context of federal-state conflicts involving the general welfare, supremacy, or interstate commerce clauses, the 11th or 21st Amendments, or the enforcement clause of the 14th Amendment. Distinguishable from federal pre-emption because of a constitutional basis for decision.* | | 100090 | national supremacy: pollution, air or water (cf. natural resources - environmental protection)  *Note: in the context of federal-state conflicts involving the general welfare, supremacy, or interstate commerce clauses, the 11th or 21st Amendments, or the enforcement clause of the 14th Amendment. Distinguishable from federal pre-emption because of a constitutional basis for decision.* | | 100100 | national supremacy: public utilities (cf. federal public utilities regulation)  *Note: in the context of federal-state conflicts involving the general welfare, supremacy, or interstate commerce clauses, the 11th or 21st Amendments, or the enforcement clause of the 14th Amendment. Distinguishable from federal pre-emption because of a constitutional basis for decision.* | | 100110 | national supremacy: state tax (cf. state tax)  *Note: in the context of federal-state conflicts involving the general welfare, supremacy, or interstate commerce clauses, the 11th or 21st Amendments, or the enforcement clause of the 14th Amendment. Distinguishable from federal pre-emption because of a constitutional basis for decision.* | | 100120 | national supremacy: miscellaneous  *Note: in the context of federal-state conflicts involving the general welfare, supremacy, or interstate commerce clauses, the 11th or 21st Amendments, or the enforcement clause of the 14th Amendment. Distinguishable from federal pre-emption because of a constitutional basis for decision.* | | 100130 | miscellaneous federalism  *Note: cf. Indians, state jurisdiction over; comity; adequate non-federal grounds for decision; remand to determine basis of state court decision; judicial administration: Supreme Court jurisdiction or authority on appeal from highest state court, change in state law, or ancillary or pendent jurisdiction* | | 110010 | boundary dispute between states | | 110020 | non-real property dispute between states | | 110030 | miscellaneous interstate relations conflict | | 110033 | incorporation of foreign territories  *Note: prior to 2014 Release 01, id = 10595* | | 120010 | federal taxation, typically under provisions of the Internal Revenue Code  *Note: except as pertains to federal taxation of gifts or priority of federal fiscal claims* | | 120020 | federal taxation of gifts, personal, business, or professional expenses | | 120030 | priority of federal fiscal claims: over those of the states or private entities | | 120040 | miscellaneous federal taxation (cf. national supremacy: state tax) | | 130010 | legislative veto | | 130015 | executive authority vis-a-vis congress or the states  *Note: prior to 2014 Release 01, id = 100035* | | 130020 | miscellaneous | | 140010 | real property | | 140020 | personal property | | 140030 | contracts | | 140040 | evidence | | 140050 | civil procedure | | 140060 | torts | | 140070 | wills and trusts | | 140080 | commercial transactions | | Introductory   * [Introduction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=intro) * [Citing to the SCDB](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=cite)   Identification Variables   * [SCDB Case ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseId) * [SCDB Docket ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docketId) * [SCDB Issues ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId) * [SCDB Vote ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteId) * [U.S. Reporter Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=usCite) * [Supreme Court Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=sctCite) * [Lawyers Edition Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=ledCite) * [LEXIS Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lexisCite) * [Docket Number](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docket)   Background Variables   * [Case Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseName) * [Petitioner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitioner) * [Petitioner State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitionerState) * [Respondent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondent) * [Respondent State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondentState) * [Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=jurisdiction) * [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminAction) * [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminActionState) * [Three-Judge District Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc) * [Origin of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOrigin) * [Origin of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOriginState) * [Source of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSource) * [Source of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSourceState) * [Lower Court Disagreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisagreement) * [Reason for Granting Cert](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=certReason) * [Lower Court Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisposition) * [Lower Court Disposition Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDispositionDirection)   Chronological Variables   * [Date of Decision](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateDecision) * [Term of Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=term) * [Natural Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=naturalCourt) * [Chief Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=chief) * [Date of Oral Argument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateArgument) * [Date of Reargument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateRearg)   Substantive Variables   * [Issue](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issue) * [Issue Area](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issueArea) * [Decision Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirection) * [Decision Direction Dissent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirectionDissent) * [Authority for Decision 1](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision1) * [Authority for Decision 2](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision2) * [Legal Provisions Considered by the Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawType) * [Legal Provision Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawSupp) * [Legal Provision Minor Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawMinor)   Outcome Variables   * [Decision Type](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionType) * [Declaration of Unconstitutionality](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=declarationUncon) * [Disposition of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDisposition) * [Unusual Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDispositionUnusual) * [Winning Party](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=partyWinning) * [Formal Alteration of Precedent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=precedentAlteration)   Voting & Opinion Variables   * [Vote Not Clearly Specified](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteUnclear) * [Majority Opinion Writer](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinWriter) * [Majority Opinion Assigner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinAssigner) * [Split Vote](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=splitVote) * [Majority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majVotes) * [Minority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=minVotes) * [Justice ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice) * [Justice Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justiceName) * [The Vote in the Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=vote) * [Opinion](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=opinion) * [Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=direction) * [Majority and Minority Voting by Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majority) * [First Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=firstAgreement) * [Second Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=secondAgreement) | | | | | |
| |  |  |  |  | | --- | --- | --- | --- | |  | [CONTACT](http://scdb.wustl.edu/contact.php) |  |  [TOP](#top) | | | | | |
| |  |  |  |  | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) | [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) | [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) | [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php) | | | | | |
| image | The Supreme Court Database has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. | | | [Creative Commons License](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/) |

|  |
| --- |
| washu_logo |

---
meta-description: The Supreme Court Database is the definitive source for researchers, students, journalists, and citizens interested in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Database contains over two hundred pieces of information about each case decided by the Court between the 1946 and 2012 terms. Examples include the identity of the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed, the parties to the suit, the legal provisions considered in the case, and the votes of the Justices.
meta-generator: Coda
meta-keywords: supreme court, spaeth, database
title: The Supreme Court Database
---

| [![wulaw](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/wulaw.png)](http://law.wustl.edu) |  |
| -------------------------------------------------- | --- |

- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/index.php) image image image image
- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/about.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/analysis.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php)
- image
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- Online Code Book

- Winning Party

| **Variable Name** partyWinning | **Spaeth Name** WIN | **Normalizations** [3 [ view ]](#norms) |
| -------------------------------- | --------------------- | ------------------------------------------ |

This variable indicates whether the petitioning party (i.e., the plaintiff or the appellant) emerged victorious. The victory the Supreme Court provided the petitioning party may not have been total and complete (e.g., by vacating and remanding the matter rather than an unequivocal reversal), but the disposition is nonetheless a favorable one.

With some adjustments, we coded this variable according to the following rules:
- The petitioning party lost if the Supreme Court affirmed (caseDisposition=2) or dismissed the case/denied the petition (caseDisposition=9).
- The petitioning party won in part or in full if the Supreme Court reversed (caseDisposition=3), reversed and remanded (caseDisposition= 4), vacated and remanded (caseDisposition=5), affirmed and reversed in part (caseDisposition=6), affirmed and reverse in part and remanded (caseDisposition=7), or vacated (caseDisposition=8)
- The petitioning party won or lost may be unclear if the Court certified to/from a lower court.

**Values:**
 | 0 | no favorable disposition for petitioning party apparent |
 | --- | ------------------------------------------------------- |
 | 1 | petitioning party received a favorable disposition |
 | 2 | favorable disposition for petitioning party unclear | Introductory

- [Introduction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=intro)
- [Citing to the SCDB](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=cite)
 Identification Variables

- [SCDB Case ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseId)
- [SCDB Docket ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docketId)
- [SCDB Issues ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId)
- [SCDB Vote ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteId)
- [U.S. Reporter Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=usCite)
- [Supreme Court Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=sctCite)
- [Lawyers Edition Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=ledCite)
- [LEXIS Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lexisCite)
- [Docket Number](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docket)
 Background Variables

- [Case Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseName)
- [Petitioner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitioner)
- [Petitioner State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitionerState)
- [Respondent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondent)
- [Respondent State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondentState)
- [Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=jurisdiction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminAction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminActionState)
- [Three-Judge District Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc)
- [Origin of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOrigin)
- [Origin of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOriginState)
- [Source of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSource)
- [Source of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSourceState)
- [Lower Court Disagreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisagreement)
- [Reason for Granting Cert](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=certReason)
- [Lower Court Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisposition)
- [Lower Court Disposition Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDispositionDirection)
 Chronological Variables

- [Date of Decision](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateDecision)
- [Term of Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=term)
- [Natural Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=naturalCourt)
- [Chief Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=chief)
- [Date of Oral Argument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateArgument)
- [Date of Reargument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateRearg)
 Substantive Variables

- [Issue](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issue)
- [Issue Area](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issueArea)
- [Decision Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirection)
- [Decision Direction Dissent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirectionDissent)
- [Authority for Decision 1](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision1)
- [Authority for Decision 2](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision2)
- [Legal Provisions Considered by the Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawType)
- [Legal Provision Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawSupp)
- [Legal Provision Minor Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawMinor)
 Outcome Variables

- [Decision Type](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionType)
- [Declaration of Unconstitutionality](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=declarationUncon)
- [Disposition of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDisposition)
- [Unusual Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDispositionUnusual)
- [Winning Party](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=partyWinning)
- [Formal Alteration of Precedent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=precedentAlteration)
 Voting & Opinion Variables

- [Vote Not Clearly Specified](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteUnclear)
- [Majority Opinion Writer](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinWriter)
- [Majority Opinion Assigner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinAssigner)
- [Split Vote](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=splitVote)
- [Majority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majVotes)
- [Minority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=minVotes)
- [Justice ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice)
- [Justice Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justiceName)
- [The Vote in the Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=vote)
- [Opinion](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=opinion)
- [Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=direction)
- [Majority and Minority Voting by Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majority)
- [First Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=firstAgreement)
- [Second Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=secondAgreement)
- | | [CONTACT](http://scdb.wustl.edu/contact.php) | | [TOP](#top) |
| --- | ---------------------- | --- | ----------- |
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- image The Supreme Court Database has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. [Creative Commons License](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/)

| ![washu_logo](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/washu_logo.png) |
| ------------------------------------ |

{
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  "error_code": "too_many_requests"
}

---
meta-description: The Supreme Court Database is the definitive source for researchers, students, journalists, and citizens interested in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Database contains over two hundred pieces of information about each case decided by the Court between the 1946 and 2012 terms. Examples include the identity of the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed, the parties to the suit, the legal provisions considered in the case, and the votes of the Justices.
meta-generator: Coda
meta-keywords: supreme court, spaeth, database
title: The Supreme Court Database
---

| [![wulaw](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/wulaw.png)](http://law.wustl.edu) |  |
| -------------------------------------------------- | --- |

- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/index.php) image image image image
- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/about.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/analysis.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php)
- image
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- Online Code Book

- Split Vote

| **Variable Name** splitVote | **Spaeth Name** n/a | **Normalizations** [2 [ view ]](#norms) |
| ----------------------------- | --------------------- | ------------------------------------------ |

This variable indicates whether the vote variables (e.g., majVotes, minVotes) pertain to the vote on the first or second issue (or legal provision). Because split votes are so rare over 99 percent of the votes are on the first issue.

Users interested in analyzing cases with split votes should use the dataset that organizes cases by legal provision and split votes.

**Values:**

| 1 | first vote on issue/legal provision |
| --- | ------------------------------------ |
| 2 | second vote on issue/legal provision | Introductory

- [Introduction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=intro)
- [Citing to the SCDB](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=cite)
 Identification Variables

- [SCDB Case ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseId)
- [SCDB Docket ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docketId)
- [SCDB Issues ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId)
- [SCDB Vote ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteId)
- [U.S. Reporter Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=usCite)
- [Supreme Court Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=sctCite)
- [Lawyers Edition Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=ledCite)
- [LEXIS Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lexisCite)
- [Docket Number](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docket)
 Background Variables

- [Case Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseName)
- [Petitioner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitioner)
- [Petitioner State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitionerState)
- [Respondent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondent)
- [Respondent State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondentState)
- [Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=jurisdiction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminAction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminActionState)
- [Three-Judge District Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc)
- [Origin of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOrigin)
- [Origin of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOriginState)
- [Source of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSource)
- [Source of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSourceState)
- [Lower Court Disagreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisagreement)
- [Reason for Granting Cert](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=certReason)
- [Lower Court Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisposition)
- [Lower Court Disposition Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDispositionDirection)
 Chronological Variables

- [Date of Decision](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateDecision)
- [Term of Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=term)
- [Natural Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=naturalCourt)
- [Chief Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=chief)
- [Date of Oral Argument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateArgument)
- [Date of Reargument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateRearg)
 Substantive Variables

- [Issue](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issue)
- [Issue Area](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issueArea)
- [Decision Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirection)
- [Decision Direction Dissent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirectionDissent)
- [Authority for Decision 1](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision1)
- [Authority for Decision 2](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision2)
- [Legal Provisions Considered by the Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawType)
- [Legal Provision Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawSupp)
- [Legal Provision Minor Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawMinor)
 Outcome Variables

- [Decision Type](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionType)
- [Declaration of Unconstitutionality](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=declarationUncon)
- [Disposition of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDisposition)
- [Unusual Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDispositionUnusual)
- [Winning Party](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=partyWinning)
- [Formal Alteration of Precedent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=precedentAlteration)
 Voting & Opinion Variables

- [Vote Not Clearly Specified](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteUnclear)
- [Majority Opinion Writer](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinWriter)
- [Majority Opinion Assigner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinAssigner)
- [Split Vote](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=splitVote)
- [Majority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majVotes)
- [Minority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=minVotes)
- [Justice ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice)
- [Justice Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justiceName)
- [The Vote in the Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=vote)
- [Opinion](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=opinion)
- [Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=direction)
- [Majority and Minority Voting by Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majority)
- [First Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=firstAgreement)
- [Second Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=secondAgreement)
- | | [CONTACT](http://scdb.wustl.edu/contact.php) | | [TOP](#top) |
| --- | ---------------------- | --- | ----------- |
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- image The Supreme Court Database has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. [Creative Commons License](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/)

| ![washu_logo](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/washu_logo.png) |
| ------------------------------------ |

---
meta-description: The Supreme Court Database is the definitive source for researchers, students, journalists, and citizens interested in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Database contains over two hundred pieces of information about each case decided by the Court between the 1946 and 2012 terms. Examples include the identity of the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed, the parties to the suit, the legal provisions considered in the case, and the votes of the Justices.
meta-generator: Coda
meta-keywords: supreme court, spaeth, database
title: The Supreme Court Database
---

| [![wulaw](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/wulaw.png)](http://law.wustl.edu) |  |
| -------------------------------------------------- | --- |

- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/index.php) image image image image
- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/about.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/analysis.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php)
- image
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- Online Code Book

- SCDB Docket ID

| **Variable Name** docketId | **Spaeth Name** n/a | **Normalizations** n/a |
| ---------------------------- | --------------------- | ------------------------ |

This is the second of four unique internal identification numbers.

The first four digits are the term. The next four are the case within the term (starting at 001 and counting up). The last two are the number of dockets consolidated under the U.S. Reports citation (starting at 01 and counting up). Introductory

- [Introduction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=intro)
- [Citing to the SCDB](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=cite)
 Identification Variables

- [SCDB Case ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseId)
- [SCDB Docket ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docketId)
- [SCDB Issues ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId)
- [SCDB Vote ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteId)
- [U.S. Reporter Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=usCite)
- [Supreme Court Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=sctCite)
- [Lawyers Edition Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=ledCite)
- [LEXIS Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lexisCite)
- [Docket Number](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docket)
 Background Variables

- [Case Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseName)
- [Petitioner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitioner)
- [Petitioner State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitionerState)
- [Respondent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondent)
- [Respondent State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondentState)
- [Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=jurisdiction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminAction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminActionState)
- [Three-Judge District Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc)
- [Origin of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOrigin)
- [Origin of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOriginState)
- [Source of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSource)
- [Source of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSourceState)
- [Lower Court Disagreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisagreement)
- [Reason for Granting Cert](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=certReason)
- [Lower Court Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisposition)
- [Lower Court Disposition Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDispositionDirection)
 Chronological Variables

- [Date of Decision](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateDecision)
- [Term of Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=term)
- [Natural Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=naturalCourt)
- [Chief Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=chief)
- [Date of Oral Argument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateArgument)
- [Date of Reargument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateRearg)
 Substantive Variables

- [Issue](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issue)
- [Issue Area](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issueArea)
- [Decision Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirection)
- [Decision Direction Dissent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirectionDissent)
- [Authority for Decision 1](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision1)
- [Authority for Decision 2](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision2)
- [Legal Provisions Considered by the Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawType)
- [Legal Provision Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawSupp)
- [Legal Provision Minor Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawMinor)
 Outcome Variables

- [Decision Type](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionType)
- [Declaration of Unconstitutionality](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=declarationUncon)
- [Disposition of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDisposition)
- [Unusual Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDispositionUnusual)
- [Winning Party](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=partyWinning)
- [Formal Alteration of Precedent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=precedentAlteration)
 Voting & Opinion Variables

- [Vote Not Clearly Specified](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteUnclear)
- [Majority Opinion Writer](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinWriter)
- [Majority Opinion Assigner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinAssigner)
- [Split Vote](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=splitVote)
- [Majority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majVotes)
- [Minority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=minVotes)
- [Justice ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice)
- [Justice Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justiceName)
- [The Vote in the Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=vote)
- [Opinion](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=opinion)
- [Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=direction)
- [Majority and Minority Voting by Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majority)
- [First Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=firstAgreement)
- [Second Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=secondAgreement)
- | | [CONTACT](http://scdb.wustl.edu/contact.php) | | [TOP](#top) |
| --- | ---------------------- | --- | ----------- |
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- image The Supreme Court Database has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. [Creative Commons License](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/)

| ![washu_logo](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/washu_logo.png) |
| ------------------------------------ |

---
meta-description: The Supreme Court Database is the definitive source for researchers, students, journalists, and citizens interested in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Database contains over two hundred pieces of information about each case decided by the Court between the 1946 and 2012 terms. Examples include the identity of the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed, the parties to the suit, the legal provisions considered in the case, and the votes of the Justices.
meta-generator: Coda
meta-keywords: supreme court, spaeth, database
title: The Supreme Court Database
---

| [![wulaw](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/wulaw.png)](http://law.wustl.edu) |  |
| -------------------------------------------------- | --- |

- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/index.php) image image image image
- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/about.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/analysis.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php)
- image
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- Online Code Book

- Lower Court Disposition

| **Variable Name** lcDisposition | **Spaeth Name** LODIS | **Normalizations** [12 [ view ]](#norms) |
| --------------------------------- | ----------------------- | ------------------------------------------- |

This variable specifies the treatment the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed accorded the decision of the court it reviewed; e.g., whether the court below the Supreme Court---typically a federal court of appeals or a state supreme court---affirmed, reversed, remanded, etc. the decision of the court it reviewed---typically a trial court.

lcDisposition will not contain an entry if the decision the Supreme Court reviewed is that of a trial court or if the case arose under the Supreme Court's original jurisdiction (see the jurisdiction variable). The former occurs frequently in the legacy data.

The decision rules governing this information follow:

1. We adhere to the language used in the "holding" in the summary of the case on the title page or prior to Part I of the Court's opinion. Exceptions to the literal language are the following:

2. Where the Court overrules the lower court, we treat this a petition or motion granted.

3. Where the court whose decision the Supreme Court is reviewing refuses to enforce or enjoins the decision of the court, tribunal, or agency which it reviewed, we treat this as reversed.

4. Where the court whose decision the Supreme Court is reviewing enforces the decision of the court, tribunal, or agency which it reviewed, we treat this as affirmed.

5. Where the court whose decision the Supreme Court is reviewing sets aside the decision of the court, tribunal, or agency which it reviewed, we treat this as vacated; if the decision is set aside and remanded, we treat it as vacated and remanded.

Also see disposition of case and direction of the lower court's decision (lcDispositionDirection).

**Values:**

| 1 | stay, petition, or motion granted |
| --- | ------------------------------------------------------- |
| 2 | affirmed |
| 3 | reversed |
| 4 | reversed and remanded |
| 5 | vacated and remanded |
| 6 | affirmed and reversed (or vacated) in part |
| 7 | affirmed and reversed (or vacated) in part and remanded |
| 8 | vacated |
| 9 | petition denied or appeal dismissed |
| 10 | modify |
| 11 | remand |
| 12 | unusual disposition | Introductory

- [Introduction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=intro)
- [Citing to the SCDB](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=cite)
 Identification Variables

- [SCDB Case ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseId)
- [SCDB Docket ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docketId)
- [SCDB Issues ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId)
- [SCDB Vote ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteId)
- [U.S. Reporter Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=usCite)
- [Supreme Court Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=sctCite)
- [Lawyers Edition Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=ledCite)
- [LEXIS Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lexisCite)
- [Docket Number](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docket)
 Background Variables

- [Case Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseName)
- [Petitioner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitioner)
- [Petitioner State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitionerState)
- [Respondent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondent)
- [Respondent State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondentState)
- [Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=jurisdiction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminAction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminActionState)
- [Three-Judge District Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc)
- [Origin of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOrigin)
- [Origin of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOriginState)
- [Source of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSource)
- [Source of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSourceState)
- [Lower Court Disagreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisagreement)
- [Reason for Granting Cert](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=certReason)
- [Lower Court Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisposition)
- [Lower Court Disposition Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDispositionDirection)
 Chronological Variables

- [Date of Decision](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateDecision)
- [Term of Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=term)
- [Natural Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=naturalCourt)
- [Chief Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=chief)
- [Date of Oral Argument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateArgument)
- [Date of Reargument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateRearg)
 Substantive Variables

- [Issue](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issue)
- [Issue Area](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issueArea)
- [Decision Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirection)
- [Decision Direction Dissent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirectionDissent)
- [Authority for Decision 1](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision1)
- [Authority for Decision 2](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision2)
- [Legal Provisions Considered by the Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawType)
- [Legal Provision Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawSupp)
- [Legal Provision Minor Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawMinor)
 Outcome Variables

- [Decision Type](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionType)
- [Declaration of Unconstitutionality](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=declarationUncon)
- [Disposition of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDisposition)
- [Unusual Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDispositionUnusual)
- [Winning Party](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=partyWinning)
- [Formal Alteration of Precedent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=precedentAlteration)
 Voting & Opinion Variables

- [Vote Not Clearly Specified](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteUnclear)
- [Majority Opinion Writer](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinWriter)
- [Majority Opinion Assigner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinAssigner)
- [Split Vote](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=splitVote)
- [Majority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majVotes)
- [Minority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=minVotes)
- [Justice ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice)
- [Justice Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justiceName)
- [The Vote in the Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=vote)
- [Opinion](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=opinion)
- [Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=direction)
- [Majority and Minority Voting by Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majority)
- [First Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=firstAgreement)
- [Second Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=secondAgreement)
- | | [CONTACT](http://scdb.wustl.edu/contact.php) | | [TOP](#top) |
| --- | ---------------------- | --- | ----------- |
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- image The Supreme Court Database has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. [Creative Commons License](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/)

| ![washu_logo](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/washu_logo.png) |
| ------------------------------------ |

{
  "type": "web_fetch_tool_result_error",
  "error_code": "too_many_requests"
}

---
meta-description: The Supreme Court Database is the definitive source for researchers, students, journalists, and citizens interested in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Database contains over two hundred pieces of information about each case decided by the Court between the 1946 and 2012 terms. Examples include the identity of the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed, the parties to the suit, the legal provisions considered in the case, and the votes of the Justices.
meta-generator: Coda
meta-keywords: supreme court, spaeth, database
title: The Supreme Court Database
---

| [![wulaw](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/wulaw.png)](http://law.wustl.edu) |  |
| -------------------------------------------------- | --- |

- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/index.php) image image image image
- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/about.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/analysis.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php)
- image
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- Online Code Book

- Origin of Case State

| **Variable Name** caseOriginState | **Spaeth Name** ORIGIN | **Normalizations** [64 [ view ]](#norms) |
| ----------------------------------- | ------------------------ | ------------------------------------------- |

If the case originated in a state court, this variable identifies the state. For more details, see the variable caseOrigin.

**Values:**

| 1 | Alabama |
| --- | ------------------------------ |
| 2 | Alaska |
| 3 | American Samoa |
| 4 | Arizona |
| 5 | Arkansas |
| 6 | California |
| 7 | Colorado |
| 8 | Connecticut |
| 9 | Delaware |
| 10 | District of Columbia |
| 11 | Federated States of Micronesia |
| 12 | Florida |
| 13 | Georgia |
| 14 | Guam |
| 15 | Hawaii |
| 16 | Idaho |
| 17 | Illinois |
| 18 | Indiana |
| 19 | Iowa |
| 20 | Kansas |
| 21 | Kentucky |
| 22 | Louisiana |
| 23 | Maine |
| 24 | Marshall Islands |
| 25 | Maryland |
| 26 | Massachusetts |
| 27 | Michigan |
| 28 | Minnesota |
| 29 | Mississippi |
| 30 | Missouri |
| 31 | Montana |
| 32 | Nebraska |
| 33 | Nevada |
| 34 | New Hampshire |
| 35 | New Jersey |
| 36 | New Mexico |
| 37 | New York |
| 38 | North Carolina |
| 39 | North Dakota |
| 40 | Northern Mariana Islands |
| 41 | Ohio |
| 42 | Oklahoma |
| 43 | Oregon |
| 44 | Palau |
| 45 | Pennsylvania |
| 46 | Puerto Rico |
| 47 | Rhode Island |
| 48 | South Carolina |
| 49 | South Dakota |
| 50 | Tennessee |
| 51 | Texas |
| 52 | Utah |
| 53 | Vermont |
| 54 | Virgin Islands |
| 55 | Virginia |
| 56 | Washington |
| 57 | West Virginia |
| 58 | Wisconsin |
| 59 | Wyoming |
| 60 | United States |
| 61 | Interstate Compact |
| 62 | Philippines |
| 63 | Indian |
| 64 | Dakota | Introductory

- [Introduction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=intro)
- [Citing to the SCDB](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=cite)
 Identification Variables

- [SCDB Case ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseId)
- [SCDB Docket ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docketId)
- [SCDB Issues ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId)
- [SCDB Vote ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteId)
- [U.S. Reporter Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=usCite)
- [Supreme Court Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=sctCite)
- [Lawyers Edition Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=ledCite)
- [LEXIS Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lexisCite)
- [Docket Number](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docket)
 Background Variables

- [Case Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseName)
- [Petitioner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitioner)
- [Petitioner State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitionerState)
- [Respondent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondent)
- [Respondent State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondentState)
- [Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=jurisdiction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminAction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminActionState)
- [Three-Judge District Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc)
- [Origin of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOrigin)
- [Origin of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOriginState)
- [Source of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSource)
- [Source of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSourceState)
- [Lower Court Disagreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisagreement)
- [Reason for Granting Cert](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=certReason)
- [Lower Court Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisposition)
- [Lower Court Disposition Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDispositionDirection)
 Chronological Variables

- [Date of Decision](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateDecision)
- [Term of Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=term)
- [Natural Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=naturalCourt)
- [Chief Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=chief)
- [Date of Oral Argument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateArgument)
- [Date of Reargument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateRearg)
 Substantive Variables

- [Issue](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issue)
- [Issue Area](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issueArea)
- [Decision Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirection)
- [Decision Direction Dissent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirectionDissent)
- [Authority for Decision 1](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision1)
- [Authority for Decision 2](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision2)
- [Legal Provisions Considered by the Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawType)
- [Legal Provision Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawSupp)
- [Legal Provision Minor Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawMinor)
 Outcome Variables

- [Decision Type](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionType)
- [Declaration of Unconstitutionality](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=declarationUncon)
- [Disposition of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDisposition)
- [Unusual Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDispositionUnusual)
- [Winning Party](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=partyWinning)
- [Formal Alteration of Precedent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=precedentAlteration)
 Voting & Opinion Variables

- [Vote Not Clearly Specified](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteUnclear)
- [Majority Opinion Writer](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinWriter)
- [Majority Opinion Assigner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinAssigner)
- [Split Vote](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=splitVote)
- [Majority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majVotes)
- [Minority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=minVotes)
- [Justice ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice)
- [Justice Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justiceName)
- [The Vote in the Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=vote)
- [Opinion](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=opinion)
- [Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=direction)
- [Majority and Minority Voting by Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majority)
- [First Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=firstAgreement)
- [Second Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=secondAgreement)
- | | [CONTACT](http://scdb.wustl.edu/contact.php) | | [TOP](#top) |
| --- | ---------------------- | --- | ----------- |
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- image The Supreme Court Database has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. [Creative Commons License](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/)

| ![washu_logo](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/washu_logo.png) |
| ------------------------------------ |

The Supreme Court Database




|  |  |
| --- | --- |
| [wulaw](http://law.wustl.edu) |  |

|  |  |  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/index.php) | image | image | image | image |
| [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/about.php) | [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) | [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) | [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/analysis.php) | [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php) |
| image | | | | |
| |  |  |  |  | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) | [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) | [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) | [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php) | | | | | |
| Online Code Book    |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Source of Case State   |  |  |  | | --- | --- | --- | | **Variable Name** caseSourceState | **Spaeth Name** SOURCE | **Normalizations**  [64 [ view ]](#norms) |    If the source of the case (i.e., the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed) is a state court, this variable identifies the state. See also Source of Case (caseSource).     **Values:**   |  |  | | --- | --- | | 1 | Alabama | | 2 | Alaska | | 3 | American Samoa | | 4 | Arizona | | 5 | Arkansas | | 6 | California | | 7 | Colorado | | 8 | Connecticut | | 9 | Delaware | | 10 | District of Columbia | | 11 | Federated States of Micronesia | | 12 | Florida | | 13 | Georgia | | 14 | Guam | | 15 | Hawaii | | 16 | Idaho | | 17 | Illinois | | 18 | Indiana | | 19 | Iowa | | 20 | Kansas | | 21 | Kentucky | | 22 | Louisiana | | 23 | Maine | | 24 | Marshall Islands | | 25 | Maryland | | 26 | Massachusetts | | 27 | Michigan | | 28 | Minnesota | | 29 | Mississippi | | 30 | Missouri | | 31 | Montana | | 32 | Nebraska | | 33 | Nevada | | 34 | New Hampshire | | 35 | New Jersey | | 36 | New Mexico | | 37 | New York | | 38 | North Carolina | | 39 | North Dakota | | 40 | Northern Mariana Islands | | 41 | Ohio | | 42 | Oklahoma | | 43 | Oregon | | 44 | Palau | | 45 | Pennsylvania | | 46 | Puerto Rico | | 47 | Rhode Island | | 48 | South Carolina | | 49 | South Dakota | | 50 | Tennessee | | 51 | Texas | | 52 | Utah | | 53 | Vermont | | 54 | Virgin Islands | | 55 | Virginia | | 56 | Washington | | 57 | West Virginia | | 58 | Wisconsin | | 59 | Wyoming | | 60 | United States | | 61 | Interstate Compact | | 62 | Philippines | | 63 | Indian | | 64 | Dakota | | Introductory   * [Introduction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=intro) * [Citing to the SCDB](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=cite)   Identification Variables   * [SCDB Case ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseId) * [SCDB Docket ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docketId) * [SCDB Issues ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId) * [SCDB Vote ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteId) * [U.S. Reporter Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=usCite) * [Supreme Court Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=sctCite) * [Lawyers Edition Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=ledCite) * [LEXIS Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lexisCite) * [Docket Number](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docket)   Background Variables   * [Case Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseName) * [Petitioner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitioner) * [Petitioner State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitionerState) * [Respondent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondent) * [Respondent State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondentState) * [Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=jurisdiction) * [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminAction) * [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminActionState) * [Three-Judge District Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc) * [Origin of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOrigin) * [Origin of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOriginState) * [Source of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSource) * [Source of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSourceState) * [Lower Court Disagreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisagreement) * [Reason for Granting Cert](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=certReason) * [Lower Court Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisposition) * [Lower Court Disposition Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDispositionDirection)   Chronological Variables   * [Date of Decision](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateDecision) * [Term of Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=term) * [Natural Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=naturalCourt) * [Chief Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=chief) * [Date of Oral Argument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateArgument) * [Date of Reargument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateRearg)   Substantive Variables   * [Issue](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issue) * [Issue Area](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issueArea) * [Decision Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirection) * [Decision Direction Dissent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirectionDissent) * [Authority for Decision 1](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision1) * [Authority for Decision 2](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision2) * [Legal Provisions Considered by the Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawType) * [Legal Provision Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawSupp) * [Legal Provision Minor Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawMinor)   Outcome Variables   * [Decision Type](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionType) * [Declaration of Unconstitutionality](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=declarationUncon) * [Disposition of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDisposition) * [Unusual Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDispositionUnusual) * [Winning Party](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=partyWinning) * [Formal Alteration of Precedent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=precedentAlteration)   Voting & Opinion Variables   * [Vote Not Clearly Specified](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteUnclear) * [Majority Opinion Writer](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinWriter) * [Majority Opinion Assigner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinAssigner) * [Split Vote](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=splitVote) * [Majority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majVotes) * [Minority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=minVotes) * [Justice ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice) * [Justice Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justiceName) * [The Vote in the Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=vote) * [Opinion](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=opinion) * [Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=direction) * [Majority and Minority Voting by Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majority) * [First Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=firstAgreement) * [Second Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=secondAgreement) | | | | | |
| |  |  |  |  | | --- | --- | --- | --- | |  | [CONTACT](http://scdb.wustl.edu/contact.php) |  |  [TOP](#top) | | | | | |
| |  |  |  |  | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) | [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) | [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) | [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php) | | | | | |
| image | The Supreme Court Database has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. | | | [Creative Commons License](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/) |

|  |
| --- |
| washu_logo |

---
meta-description: The Supreme Court Database is the definitive source for researchers, students, journalists, and citizens interested in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Database contains over two hundred pieces of information about each case decided by the Court between the 1946 and 2012 terms. Examples include the identity of the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed, the parties to the suit, the legal provisions considered in the case, and the votes of the Justices.
meta-generator: Coda
meta-keywords: supreme court, spaeth, database
title: The Supreme Court Database
---

| [![wulaw](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/wulaw.png)](http://law.wustl.edu) |  |
| -------------------------------------------------- | --- |

- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/index.php) image image image image
- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/about.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/analysis.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php)
- image
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- Online Code Book

- Majority and Minority Voting by Justice

| **Variable Name** majority | **Spaeth Name** HARM - BRYM | **Normalizations** [2 [ view ]](#norms) |
| ---------------------------- | ----------------------------- | ------------------------------------------ |

Analysts commonly want to know the frequency with which given justices vote with the majority and/or in dissent overall or in certain sets of circumstances. This variable provides that information for each justice.

This variable appears in the Justice Centered Datasets only.

**Values:**

| 1 | dissent |
| --- | -------- |
| 2 | majority | Introductory

- [Introduction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=intro)
- [Citing to the SCDB](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=cite)
 Identification Variables

- [SCDB Case ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseId)
- [SCDB Docket ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docketId)
- [SCDB Issues ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId)
- [SCDB Vote ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteId)
- [U.S. Reporter Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=usCite)
- [Supreme Court Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=sctCite)
- [Lawyers Edition Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=ledCite)
- [LEXIS Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lexisCite)
- [Docket Number](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docket)
 Background Variables

- [Case Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseName)
- [Petitioner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitioner)
- [Petitioner State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitionerState)
- [Respondent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondent)
- [Respondent State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondentState)
- [Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=jurisdiction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminAction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminActionState)
- [Three-Judge District Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc)
- [Origin of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOrigin)
- [Origin of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOriginState)
- [Source of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSource)
- [Source of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSourceState)
- [Lower Court Disagreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisagreement)
- [Reason for Granting Cert](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=certReason)
- [Lower Court Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisposition)
- [Lower Court Disposition Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDispositionDirection)
 Chronological Variables

- [Date of Decision](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateDecision)
- [Term of Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=term)
- [Natural Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=naturalCourt)
- [Chief Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=chief)
- [Date of Oral Argument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateArgument)
- [Date of Reargument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateRearg)
 Substantive Variables

- [Issue](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issue)
- [Issue Area](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issueArea)
- [Decision Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirection)
- [Decision Direction Dissent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirectionDissent)
- [Authority for Decision 1](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision1)
- [Authority for Decision 2](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision2)
- [Legal Provisions Considered by the Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawType)
- [Legal Provision Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawSupp)
- [Legal Provision Minor Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawMinor)
 Outcome Variables

- [Decision Type](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionType)
- [Declaration of Unconstitutionality](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=declarationUncon)
- [Disposition of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDisposition)
- [Unusual Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDispositionUnusual)
- [Winning Party](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=partyWinning)
- [Formal Alteration of Precedent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=precedentAlteration)
 Voting & Opinion Variables

- [Vote Not Clearly Specified](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteUnclear)
- [Majority Opinion Writer](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinWriter)
- [Majority Opinion Assigner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinAssigner)
- [Split Vote](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=splitVote)
- [Majority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majVotes)
- [Minority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=minVotes)
- [Justice ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice)
- [Justice Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justiceName)
- [The Vote in the Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=vote)
- [Opinion](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=opinion)
- [Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=direction)
- [Majority and Minority Voting by Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majority)
- [First Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=firstAgreement)
- [Second Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=secondAgreement)
- | | [CONTACT](http://scdb.wustl.edu/contact.php) | | [TOP](#top) |
| --- | ---------------------- | --- | ----------- |
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- image The Supreme Court Database has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. [Creative Commons License](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/)

| ![washu_logo](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/washu_logo.png) |
| ------------------------------------ |

---
meta-description: The Supreme Court Database is the definitive source for researchers, students, journalists, and citizens interested in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Database contains over two hundred pieces of information about each case decided by the Court between the 1946 and 2012 terms. Examples include the identity of the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed, the parties to the suit, the legal provisions considered in the case, and the votes of the Justices.
meta-generator: Coda
meta-keywords: supreme court, spaeth, database
title: The Supreme Court Database
---

| [![wulaw](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/wulaw.png)](http://law.wustl.edu) |  |
| -------------------------------------------------- | --- |

- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/index.php) image image image image
- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/about.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/analysis.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php)
- image
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- Online Code Book

- Term of Court

| **Variable Name** term | **Spaeth Name** TERM | **Normalizations** n/a |
| ------------------------ | ---------------------- | ------------------------ |

This variable identifies the term in which the Court handed down its decision. For cases argued in one term and reargued and decided in the next, term indicates the latter.

Historically, the nature of how a term is defined has changed. Below is a listing of the more significant changes to the term definitions over time.



- 1791: First Monday in February (second session in August, dispensed with in 1802)
- Starting in 1827: term starts second Monday of January
- Starting in 1844: term starts first Monday of December, still called the 1845 term
- Starting in 1850: court starts calling it the December 1850 term; there are thus two 1850 terms in the dataset. The January 1850 term (50 U.S.) and the December 1850 term (51 U.S.).
- Starting in 1873: second Monday in October
- Starting in 1917: first Monday in October Introductory

- [Introduction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=intro)
- [Citing to the SCDB](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=cite)
 Identification Variables

- [SCDB Case ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseId)
- [SCDB Docket ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docketId)
- [SCDB Issues ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId)
- [SCDB Vote ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteId)
- [U.S. Reporter Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=usCite)
- [Supreme Court Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=sctCite)
- [Lawyers Edition Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=ledCite)
- [LEXIS Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lexisCite)
- [Docket Number](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docket)
 Background Variables

- [Case Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseName)
- [Petitioner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitioner)
- [Petitioner State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitionerState)
- [Respondent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondent)
- [Respondent State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondentState)
- [Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=jurisdiction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminAction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminActionState)
- [Three-Judge District Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc)
- [Origin of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOrigin)
- [Origin of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOriginState)
- [Source of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSource)
- [Source of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSourceState)
- [Lower Court Disagreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisagreement)
- [Reason for Granting Cert](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=certReason)
- [Lower Court Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisposition)
- [Lower Court Disposition Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDispositionDirection)
 Chronological Variables

- [Date of Decision](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateDecision)
- [Term of Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=term)
- [Natural Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=naturalCourt)
- [Chief Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=chief)
- [Date of Oral Argument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateArgument)
- [Date of Reargument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateRearg)
 Substantive Variables

- [Issue](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issue)
- [Issue Area](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issueArea)
- [Decision Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirection)
- [Decision Direction Dissent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirectionDissent)
- [Authority for Decision 1](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision1)
- [Authority for Decision 2](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision2)
- [Legal Provisions Considered by the Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawType)
- [Legal Provision Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawSupp)
- [Legal Provision Minor Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawMinor)
 Outcome Variables

- [Decision Type](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionType)
- [Declaration of Unconstitutionality](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=declarationUncon)
- [Disposition of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDisposition)
- [Unusual Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDispositionUnusual)
- [Winning Party](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=partyWinning)
- [Formal Alteration of Precedent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=precedentAlteration)
 Voting & Opinion Variables

- [Vote Not Clearly Specified](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteUnclear)
- [Majority Opinion Writer](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinWriter)
- [Majority Opinion Assigner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinAssigner)
- [Split Vote](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=splitVote)
- [Majority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majVotes)
- [Minority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=minVotes)
- [Justice ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice)
- [Justice Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justiceName)
- [The Vote in the Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=vote)
- [Opinion](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=opinion)
- [Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=direction)
- [Majority and Minority Voting by Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majority)
- [First Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=firstAgreement)
- [Second Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=secondAgreement)
- | | [CONTACT](http://scdb.wustl.edu/contact.php) | | [TOP](#top) |
| --- | ---------------------- | --- | ----------- |
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- image The Supreme Court Database has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. [Creative Commons License](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/)

| ![washu_logo](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/washu_logo.png) |
| ------------------------------------ |

---
meta-description: The Supreme Court Database is the definitive source for researchers, students, journalists, and citizens interested in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Database contains over two hundred pieces of information about each case decided by the Court between the 1946 and 2012 terms. Examples include the identity of the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed, the parties to the suit, the legal provisions considered in the case, and the votes of the Justices.
meta-generator: Coda
meta-keywords: supreme court, spaeth, database
title: The Supreme Court Database
---

| [![wulaw](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/wulaw.png)](http://law.wustl.edu) |  |
| -------------------------------------------------- | --- |

- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/index.php) image image image image
- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/about.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/analysis.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php)
- image
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- Online Code Book

- Majority Opinion Assigner

| **Variable Name** majOpinAssigner | **Spaeth Name** MOA | **Normalizations** [118 [ view ]](#norms) |
| ----------------------------------- | --------------------- | -------------------------------------------- |

This variable identifies the assigner of the opinion or judgment of the Court, as the case may be. These data are drawn from the membership in the final (report vote) coalition and from the rules governing opinion assignment: If the chief justice is a member of the majority vote coalition at the conference vote, he assigns the opinion; if not, the senior associate justice who is a member of the majority at the conference vote does so. According to several scholarly studies, considerable voting shifts occur between the final conference vote (where the assignment is made) and the vote that appears in the Reports. As a result, in approximately 16 percent of the cases, a person other than the one identified by the database actually assigned the opinion.

To partially overcome this discrepancy, users may consult the expanded versions of the database, available at http://www.cas.sc.edu/poli/juri/, but which include only the Vinson, Warren, and Burger Courts, plus the 1986-1993 terms of the Rehnquist Court. Assigners in these Courts are identified by reference to the justices' docket books.

*Note: This variable relies on the Justices ID for its values. For a more detailed description of these identifiers, please visit the [detail page for the Justices variable](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice). Note that the justice normalizations changed with the SCDB_2012_01 release of the database.***Values:**

| 1 | JJay | *Jay, John ( 10/19/1789 - 06/29/1795 )* |
| --- | ------------ | -------------------------------------------------- |
| 2 | JRutledge1 | *Rutledge, John ( 02/15/1790 - 03/05/1791 )* |
| 3 | WCushing | *Cushing, William ( 02/02/1790 - 09/13/1810 )* |
| 4 | JWilson | *Wilson, James ( 10/05/1789 - 08/21/1798 )* |
| 5 | JBlair | *Blair, John ( 02/02/1790 - 01/27/1796 )* |
| 6 | JIredell | *Iredell, James ( 05/12/1790 - 10/20/1799 )* |
| 7 | TJohnson | *Johnson, Thomas ( 09/19/1791 - 02/22/1793 )* |
| 8 | WPaterson | *Paterson, William ( 03/11/1793 - 09/09/1806 )* |
| 9 | JRutledge2 | *Rutledge, John ( 08/12/1795 - 12/15/1795 )* |
| 10 | SChase | *Chase, Samuel ( 02/04/1796 - 06/19/1811 )* |
| 11 | OEllsworth | *Ellsworth, Oliver ( 03/08/1796 - 12/15/1800 )* |
| 12 | BWashington | *Washington, Bushrod ( 11/09/1798 - 11/26/1829 )* |
| 13 | AMoore | *Moore, Alfred ( 04/21/1800 - 01/26/1804 )* |
| 14 | JMarshall | *Marshall, John ( 02/04/1801 - 07/06/1835 )* |
| 15 | WJohnson | *Johnson, William ( 05/07/1804 - 08/04/1834 )* |
| 16 | HBLivingston | *Livingston, Henry ( 01/20/1807 - 03/18/1823 )* |
| 17 | TTodd | *Todd, Thomas ( 05/04/1807 - 02/07/1826 )* |
| 18 | GDuvall | *Duvall, Gabriel ( 11/23/1811 - 01/14/1835 )* |
| 19 | JStory | *Story, Joseph ( 02/03/1812 - 09/10/1845 )* |
| 20 | SThompson | *Thompson, Smith ( 09/01/1823 - 12/18/1843 )* |
| 21 | RTrimble | *Trimble, Robert ( 06/16/1826 - 08/25/1828 )* |
| 22 | JMcLean | *McLean, John ( 01/11/1830 - 04/04/1861 )* |
| 23 | HBaldwin | *Baldwin, Henry ( 01/18/1830 - 04/21/1844 )* |
| 24 | JMWayne | *Wayne, James ( 01/14/1835 - 07/05/1867 )* |
| 25 | RBTaney | *Taney, Roger ( 03/28/1836 - 10/12/1864 )* |
| 26 | PPBarbour | *Barbour, Philip ( 05/12/1836 - 02/25/1841 )* |
| 27 | JCatron | *Catron, John ( 05/01/1837 - 05/30/1865 )* |
| 28 | JMcKinley | *McKinley, John ( 04/22/1837 - 07/19/1852 )* |
| 29 | PVDaniel | *Daniel, Peter ( 01/10/1842 - 05/31/1860 )* |
| 30 | SNelson | *Nelson, Samuel ( 02/27/1845 - 11/28/1872 )* |
| 31 | LWoodbury | *Woodbury, Levi ( 09/23/1845 - 09/04/1851 )* |
| 32 | RCGrier | *Grier, Robert ( 08/10/1846 - 01/31/1870 )* |
| 33 | BRCurtis | *Curtis, Benjamin ( 10/10/1851 - 09/30/1857 )* |
| 34 | JACampbell | *Campbell, John ( 04/11/1853 - 04/30/1861 )* |
| 35 | NClifford | *Clifford, Nathan ( 01/21/1858 - 07/25/1881 )* |
| 36 | NHSwayne | *Swayne, Noah ( 01/27/1862 - 01/24/1881 )* |
| 37 | SFMiller | *Miller, Samuel ( 07/21/1862 - 10/13/1890 )* |
| 38 | DDavis | *Davis, David ( 10/17/1862 - 03/04/1877 )* |
| 39 | SJField | *Field, Stephen ( 05/20/1863 - 12/01/1897 )* |
| 40 | SPChase | *Chase, Salmon ( 12/15/1864 - 05/07/1873 )* |
| 41 | WStrong | *Strong, William ( 03/14/1870 - 12/14/1880 )* |
| 42 | JPBradley | *Bradley, Joseph ( 03/21/1870 - 01/22/1892 )* |
| 43 | WHunt | *Hunt, Ward ( 01/09/1873 - 01/27/1882 )* |
| 44 | MRWaite | *Waite, Morrison ( 03/04/1874 - 04/03/1888 )* |
| 45 | JHarlan1 | *Harlan, John ( 12/10/1877 - 10/14/1911 )* |
| 46 | WBWoods | *Woods, William ( 01/05/1881 - 05/14/1887 )* |
| 47 | SMatthews | *Matthews, Stanley ( 05/17/1881 - 03/22/1889 )* |
| 48 | HGray | *Gray, Horace ( 01/09/1882 - 09/15/1902 )* |
| 49 | SBlatchford | *Blatchford, Samuel ( 04/03/1882 - 07/07/1893 )* |
| 50 | LQLamar | *Lamar, Lucius ( 01/18/1888 - 01/23/1893 )* |
| 51 | MWFuller | *Fuller, Melville ( 10/08/1888 - 07/04/1910 )* |
| 52 | DJBrewer | *Brewer, David ( 01/06/1890 - 03/28/1910 )* |
| 53 | HBBrown | *Brown, Henry ( 01/05/1891 - 05/28/1906 )* |
| 54 | GShiras | *Shiras, George ( 10/10/1892 - 02/23/1903 )* |
| 55 | HEJackson | *Jackson, Howell ( 03/04/1893 - 08/08/1895 )* |
| 56 | EDEWhite | *White, Edward ( 03/12/1894 - 05/19/1921 )* |
| 57 | RWPeckham | *Peckham, Rufus ( 01/06/1896 - 10/24/1909 )* |
| 58 | JMcKenna | *McKenna, Joseph ( 01/26/1898 - 01/05/1925 )* |
| 59 | OWHolmes | *Holmes, Oliver ( 08/11/1902 - 01/12/1932 )* |
| 60 | WRDay | *Day, William ( 03/02/1903 - 11/13/1922 )* |
| 61 | WHMoody | *Moody, William ( 12/17/1906 - 11/20/1910 )* |
| 62 | HHLurton | *Lurton, Horace ( 01/03/1910 - 07/12/1914 )* |
| 63 | CEHughes1 | *Hughes, Charles ( 10/10/1910 - 06/10/1916 )* |
| 64 | WVanDevanter | *Van Devanter, Willis ( 01/03/1911 - 06/02/1937 )* |
| 65 | JRLamar | *Lamar, Joseph ( 01/03/1911 - 01/02/1916 )* |
| 66 | MPitney | *Pitney, Mahlon ( 03/18/1912 - 12/31/1922 )* |
| 67 | JCMcReynolds | *McReynolds, James ( 10/12/1914 - 01/31/1941 )* |
| 68 | LDBrandeis | *Brandeis, Louis ( 06/05/1916 - 02/13/1939 )* |
| 69 | JHClarke | *Clarke, John ( 10/09/1916 - 09/18/1922 )* |
| 70 | WHTaft | *Taft, William ( 07/11/1921 - 02/03/1930 )* |
| 71 | GSutherland | *Sutherland, George ( 10/02/1922 - 01/17/1938 )* |
| 72 | PButler | *Butler, Pierce ( 01/02/1923 - 11/16/1939 )* |
| 73 | ETSanford | *Sanford, Edward ( 02/19/1923 - 03/08/1930 )* |
| 74 | HFStone | *Stone, Harlan ( 03/02/1925 - 04/22/1946 )* |
| 75 | CEHughes2 | *Hughes, Charles ( 02/24/1930 - 07/01/1941 )* |
| 76 | OJRoberts | *Roberts, Owen ( 06/02/1930 - 07/31/1945 )* |
| 77 | BNCardozo | *Cardozo, Benjamin ( 03/14/1932 - 07/09/1938 )* |
| 78 | HLBlack | *Black, Hugo ( 08/19/1937 - 09/17/1971 )* |
| 79 | SFReed | *Reed, Stanley ( 01/31/1938 - 02/25/1957 )* |
| 80 | FFrankfurter | *Frankfurter, Felix ( 01/30/1939 - 08/28/1962 )* |
| 81 | WODouglas | *Douglas, William ( 04/17/1939 - 11/12/1975 )* |
| 82 | FMurphy | *Murphy, Francis ( 02/05/1940 - 07/19/1949 )* |
| 83 | JFByrnes | *Byrnes, James ( 07/08/1941 - 10/03/1942 )* |
| 84 | RHJackson | *Jackson, Robert ( 07/11/1941 - 10/09/1954 )* |
| 85 | WBRutledge | *Rutledge, Wiley ( 02/15/1943 - 09/10/1949 )* |
| 86 | HHBurton | *Burton, Harold ( 10/01/1945 - 10/13/1958 )* |
| 87 | FMVinson | *Vinson, Fred ( 06/24/1946 - 09/08/1953 )* |
| 88 | TCClark | *Clark, Tom ( 08/24/1949 - 06/12/1967 )* |
| 89 | SMinton | *Minton, Sherman ( 10/12/1949 - 10/15/1956 )* |
| 90 | EWarren | *Warren, Earl ( 10/05/1953 - 06/23/1969 )* |
| 91 | JHarlan2 | *Harlan, John ( 03/28/1955 - 09/23/1971 )* |
| 92 | WJBrennan | *Brennan, William ( 10/16/1956 - 07/20/1990 )* |
| 93 | CEWhittaker | *Whittaker, Charles ( 03/25/1957 - 03/31/1962 )* |
| 94 | PStewart | *Stewart, Potter ( 10/14/1958 - 07/03/1981 )* |
| 95 | BRWhite | *White, Byron ( 04/16/1962 - 06/28/1993 )* |
| 96 | AJGoldberg | *Goldberg, Arthur ( 10/01/1962 - 07/25/1965 )* |
| 97 | AFortas | *Fortas, Abe ( 10/04/1965 - 05/14/1969 )* |
| 98 | TMarshall | *Marshall, Thurgood ( 10/02/1967 - 10/01/1991 )* |
| 99 | WEBurger | *Burger, Warren ( 06/23/1969 - 09/26/1986 )* |
| 100 | HABlackmun | *Blackmun, Harry ( 06/09/1970 - 08/03/1994 )* |
| 101 | LFPowell | *Powell, Lewis ( 01/07/1972 - 06/26/1987 )* |
| 102 | WHRehnquist | *Rehnquist, William ( 01/07/1972 - 09/03/2005 )* |
| 103 | JPStevens | *Stevens, John ( 12/19/1975 - 06/29/2010 )* |
| 104 | SDOConnor | *O'Connor, Sandra ( 09/25/1981 - 01/31/2006 )* |
| 105 | AScalia | *Scalia, Antonin ( 09/26/1986 - 02/13/2016 )* |
| 106 | AMKennedy | *Kennedy, Anthony ( 02/18/1988 - 07/31/2018 )* |
| 107 | DHSouter | *Souter, David ( 10/09/1990 - 06/29/2009 )* |
| 108 | CThomas | *Thomas, Clarence ( 10/23/1991 - 00/00/0000 )* |
| 109 | RBGinsburg | *Ginsburg, Ruth ( 08/10/1993 - 09/18/2020 )* |
| 110 | SGBreyer | *Breyer, Stephen ( 08/03/1994 - 06/30/2022 )* |
| 111 | JGRoberts | *Roberts, John ( 09/29/2005 - 00/00/0000 )* |
| 112 | SAAlito | *Alito, Samuel ( 01/31/2006 - 00/00/0000 )* |
| 113 | SSotomayor | *Sotomayor, Sonia ( 08/08/2009 - 00/00/0000 )* |
| 114 | EKagan | *Kagan, Elena ( 08/07/2010 - 00/00/0000 )* |
| 115 | NMGorsuch | *Gorsuch, Neil ( 04/08/2017 - 00/00/0000 )* |
| 116 | BMKavanaugh | *Kavanaugh, Brett ( 10/06/2018 - 00/00/0000 )* |
| 117 | ACBarrett | *Barrett, Amy ( 10/27/2020 - 00/00/0000 )* |
| 118 | KBJackson | *Jackson, Ketanji ( 06/30/2022 - 00/00/0000 )* |** Introductory

- [Introduction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=intro)
- [Citing to the SCDB](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=cite)
 Identification Variables

- [SCDB Case ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseId)
- [SCDB Docket ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docketId)
- [SCDB Issues ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId)
- [SCDB Vote ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteId)
- [U.S. Reporter Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=usCite)
- [Supreme Court Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=sctCite)
- [Lawyers Edition Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=ledCite)
- [LEXIS Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lexisCite)
- [Docket Number](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docket)
 Background Variables

- [Case Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseName)
- [Petitioner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitioner)
- [Petitioner State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitionerState)
- [Respondent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondent)
- [Respondent State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondentState)
- [Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=jurisdiction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminAction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminActionState)
- [Three-Judge District Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc)
- [Origin of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOrigin)
- [Origin of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOriginState)
- [Source of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSource)
- [Source of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSourceState)
- [Lower Court Disagreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisagreement)
- [Reason for Granting Cert](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=certReason)
- [Lower Court Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisposition)
- [Lower Court Disposition Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDispositionDirection)
 Chronological Variables

- [Date of Decision](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateDecision)
- [Term of Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=term)
- [Natural Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=naturalCourt)
- [Chief Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=chief)
- [Date of Oral Argument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateArgument)
- [Date of Reargument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateRearg)
 Substantive Variables

- [Issue](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issue)
- [Issue Area](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issueArea)
- [Decision Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirection)
- [Decision Direction Dissent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirectionDissent)
- [Authority for Decision 1](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision1)
- [Authority for Decision 2](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision2)
- [Legal Provisions Considered by the Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawType)
- [Legal Provision Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawSupp)
- [Legal Provision Minor Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawMinor)
 Outcome Variables

- [Decision Type](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionType)
- [Declaration of Unconstitutionality](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=declarationUncon)
- [Disposition of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDisposition)
- [Unusual Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDispositionUnusual)
- [Winning Party](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=partyWinning)
- [Formal Alteration of Precedent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=precedentAlteration)
 Voting & Opinion Variables

- [Vote Not Clearly Specified](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteUnclear)
- [Majority Opinion Writer](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinWriter)
- [Majority Opinion Assigner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinAssigner)
- [Split Vote](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=splitVote)
- [Majority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majVotes)
- [Minority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=minVotes)
- [Justice ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice)
- [Justice Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justiceName)
- [The Vote in the Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=vote)
- [Opinion](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=opinion)
- [Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=direction)
- [Majority and Minority Voting by Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majority)
- [First Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=firstAgreement)
- [Second Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=secondAgreement)
- | | [CONTACT](http://scdb.wustl.edu/contact.php) | | [TOP](#top) |
| --- | ---------------------- | --- | ----------- |
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- image The Supreme Court Database has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. [Creative Commons License](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/)

| ![washu_logo](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/washu_logo.png) |
| ------------------------------------ |

{
  "type": "web_fetch_tool_result_error",
  "error_code": "too_many_requests"
}

---
meta-description: The Supreme Court Database is the definitive source for researchers, students, journalists, and citizens interested in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Database contains over two hundred pieces of information about each case decided by the Court between the 1946 and 2012 terms. Examples include the identity of the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed, the parties to the suit, the legal provisions considered in the case, and the votes of the Justices.
meta-generator: Coda
meta-keywords: supreme court, spaeth, database
title: The Supreme Court Database
---

| [![wulaw](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/wulaw.png)](http://law.wustl.edu) |  |
| -------------------------------------------------- | --- |

- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/index.php) image image image image
- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/about.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/analysis.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php)
- image
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- Online Code Book

- Justice Name

| **Variable Name** justiceName | **Spaeth Name** n/a | **Normalizations** [118 [ view ]](#norms) |
| ------------------------------- | --------------------- | -------------------------------------------- |

This is a string variable indicating the first initial for the five justices with a common surname (Harlan, Johnson, Marshall, Roberts, and White) and last name of each justice. This variable appears in the Justice Centered Datasets only.

*Note: This is a denormalized, human-readable version of the justice ID variable. For a more detailed description of these identifiers, please visit the [detail page for the Justices variable](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice). Note that the justice normalizations changed with the SCDB_2012_01 release of the database.***Values:**

| 1 | JJay | *Jay, John ( 10/19/1789 - 06/29/1795 )* |
| --- | ------------ | -------------------------------------------------- |
| 2 | JRutledge1 | *Rutledge, John ( 02/15/1790 - 03/05/1791 )* |
| 3 | WCushing | *Cushing, William ( 02/02/1790 - 09/13/1810 )* |
| 4 | JWilson | *Wilson, James ( 10/05/1789 - 08/21/1798 )* |
| 5 | JBlair | *Blair, John ( 02/02/1790 - 01/27/1796 )* |
| 6 | JIredell | *Iredell, James ( 05/12/1790 - 10/20/1799 )* |
| 7 | TJohnson | *Johnson, Thomas ( 09/19/1791 - 02/22/1793 )* |
| 8 | WPaterson | *Paterson, William ( 03/11/1793 - 09/09/1806 )* |
| 9 | JRutledge2 | *Rutledge, John ( 08/12/1795 - 12/15/1795 )* |
| 10 | SChase | *Chase, Samuel ( 02/04/1796 - 06/19/1811 )* |
| 11 | OEllsworth | *Ellsworth, Oliver ( 03/08/1796 - 12/15/1800 )* |
| 12 | BWashington | *Washington, Bushrod ( 11/09/1798 - 11/26/1829 )* |
| 13 | AMoore | *Moore, Alfred ( 04/21/1800 - 01/26/1804 )* |
| 14 | JMarshall | *Marshall, John ( 02/04/1801 - 07/06/1835 )* |
| 15 | WJohnson | *Johnson, William ( 05/07/1804 - 08/04/1834 )* |
| 16 | HBLivingston | *Livingston, Henry ( 01/20/1807 - 03/18/1823 )* |
| 17 | TTodd | *Todd, Thomas ( 05/04/1807 - 02/07/1826 )* |
| 18 | GDuvall | *Duvall, Gabriel ( 11/23/1811 - 01/14/1835 )* |
| 19 | JStory | *Story, Joseph ( 02/03/1812 - 09/10/1845 )* |
| 20 | SThompson | *Thompson, Smith ( 09/01/1823 - 12/18/1843 )* |
| 21 | RTrimble | *Trimble, Robert ( 06/16/1826 - 08/25/1828 )* |
| 22 | JMcLean | *McLean, John ( 01/11/1830 - 04/04/1861 )* |
| 23 | HBaldwin | *Baldwin, Henry ( 01/18/1830 - 04/21/1844 )* |
| 24 | JMWayne | *Wayne, James ( 01/14/1835 - 07/05/1867 )* |
| 25 | RBTaney | *Taney, Roger ( 03/28/1836 - 10/12/1864 )* |
| 26 | PPBarbour | *Barbour, Philip ( 05/12/1836 - 02/25/1841 )* |
| 27 | JCatron | *Catron, John ( 05/01/1837 - 05/30/1865 )* |
| 28 | JMcKinley | *McKinley, John ( 04/22/1837 - 07/19/1852 )* |
| 29 | PVDaniel | *Daniel, Peter ( 01/10/1842 - 05/31/1860 )* |
| 30 | SNelson | *Nelson, Samuel ( 02/27/1845 - 11/28/1872 )* |
| 31 | LWoodbury | *Woodbury, Levi ( 09/23/1845 - 09/04/1851 )* |
| 32 | RCGrier | *Grier, Robert ( 08/10/1846 - 01/31/1870 )* |
| 33 | BRCurtis | *Curtis, Benjamin ( 10/10/1851 - 09/30/1857 )* |
| 34 | JACampbell | *Campbell, John ( 04/11/1853 - 04/30/1861 )* |
| 35 | NClifford | *Clifford, Nathan ( 01/21/1858 - 07/25/1881 )* |
| 36 | NHSwayne | *Swayne, Noah ( 01/27/1862 - 01/24/1881 )* |
| 37 | SFMiller | *Miller, Samuel ( 07/21/1862 - 10/13/1890 )* |
| 38 | DDavis | *Davis, David ( 10/17/1862 - 03/04/1877 )* |
| 39 | SJField | *Field, Stephen ( 05/20/1863 - 12/01/1897 )* |
| 40 | SPChase | *Chase, Salmon ( 12/15/1864 - 05/07/1873 )* |
| 41 | WStrong | *Strong, William ( 03/14/1870 - 12/14/1880 )* |
| 42 | JPBradley | *Bradley, Joseph ( 03/21/1870 - 01/22/1892 )* |
| 43 | WHunt | *Hunt, Ward ( 01/09/1873 - 01/27/1882 )* |
| 44 | MRWaite | *Waite, Morrison ( 03/04/1874 - 04/03/1888 )* |
| 45 | JHarlan1 | *Harlan, John ( 12/10/1877 - 10/14/1911 )* |
| 46 | WBWoods | *Woods, William ( 01/05/1881 - 05/14/1887 )* |
| 47 | SMatthews | *Matthews, Stanley ( 05/17/1881 - 03/22/1889 )* |
| 48 | HGray | *Gray, Horace ( 01/09/1882 - 09/15/1902 )* |
| 49 | SBlatchford | *Blatchford, Samuel ( 04/03/1882 - 07/07/1893 )* |
| 50 | LQLamar | *Lamar, Lucius ( 01/18/1888 - 01/23/1893 )* |
| 51 | MWFuller | *Fuller, Melville ( 10/08/1888 - 07/04/1910 )* |
| 52 | DJBrewer | *Brewer, David ( 01/06/1890 - 03/28/1910 )* |
| 53 | HBBrown | *Brown, Henry ( 01/05/1891 - 05/28/1906 )* |
| 54 | GShiras | *Shiras, George ( 10/10/1892 - 02/23/1903 )* |
| 55 | HEJackson | *Jackson, Howell ( 03/04/1893 - 08/08/1895 )* |
| 56 | EDEWhite | *White, Edward ( 03/12/1894 - 05/19/1921 )* |
| 57 | RWPeckham | *Peckham, Rufus ( 01/06/1896 - 10/24/1909 )* |
| 58 | JMcKenna | *McKenna, Joseph ( 01/26/1898 - 01/05/1925 )* |
| 59 | OWHolmes | *Holmes, Oliver ( 08/11/1902 - 01/12/1932 )* |
| 60 | WRDay | *Day, William ( 03/02/1903 - 11/13/1922 )* |
| 61 | WHMoody | *Moody, William ( 12/17/1906 - 11/20/1910 )* |
| 62 | HHLurton | *Lurton, Horace ( 01/03/1910 - 07/12/1914 )* |
| 63 | CEHughes1 | *Hughes, Charles ( 10/10/1910 - 06/10/1916 )* |
| 64 | WVanDevanter | *Van Devanter, Willis ( 01/03/1911 - 06/02/1937 )* |
| 65 | JRLamar | *Lamar, Joseph ( 01/03/1911 - 01/02/1916 )* |
| 66 | MPitney | *Pitney, Mahlon ( 03/18/1912 - 12/31/1922 )* |
| 67 | JCMcReynolds | *McReynolds, James ( 10/12/1914 - 01/31/1941 )* |
| 68 | LDBrandeis | *Brandeis, Louis ( 06/05/1916 - 02/13/1939 )* |
| 69 | JHClarke | *Clarke, John ( 10/09/1916 - 09/18/1922 )* |
| 70 | WHTaft | *Taft, William ( 07/11/1921 - 02/03/1930 )* |
| 71 | GSutherland | *Sutherland, George ( 10/02/1922 - 01/17/1938 )* |
| 72 | PButler | *Butler, Pierce ( 01/02/1923 - 11/16/1939 )* |
| 73 | ETSanford | *Sanford, Edward ( 02/19/1923 - 03/08/1930 )* |
| 74 | HFStone | *Stone, Harlan ( 03/02/1925 - 04/22/1946 )* |
| 75 | CEHughes2 | *Hughes, Charles ( 02/24/1930 - 07/01/1941 )* |
| 76 | OJRoberts | *Roberts, Owen ( 06/02/1930 - 07/31/1945 )* |
| 77 | BNCardozo | *Cardozo, Benjamin ( 03/14/1932 - 07/09/1938 )* |
| 78 | HLBlack | *Black, Hugo ( 08/19/1937 - 09/17/1971 )* |
| 79 | SFReed | *Reed, Stanley ( 01/31/1938 - 02/25/1957 )* |
| 80 | FFrankfurter | *Frankfurter, Felix ( 01/30/1939 - 08/28/1962 )* |
| 81 | WODouglas | *Douglas, William ( 04/17/1939 - 11/12/1975 )* |
| 82 | FMurphy | *Murphy, Francis ( 02/05/1940 - 07/19/1949 )* |
| 83 | JFByrnes | *Byrnes, James ( 07/08/1941 - 10/03/1942 )* |
| 84 | RHJackson | *Jackson, Robert ( 07/11/1941 - 10/09/1954 )* |
| 85 | WBRutledge | *Rutledge, Wiley ( 02/15/1943 - 09/10/1949 )* |
| 86 | HHBurton | *Burton, Harold ( 10/01/1945 - 10/13/1958 )* |
| 87 | FMVinson | *Vinson, Fred ( 06/24/1946 - 09/08/1953 )* |
| 88 | TCClark | *Clark, Tom ( 08/24/1949 - 06/12/1967 )* |
| 89 | SMinton | *Minton, Sherman ( 10/12/1949 - 10/15/1956 )* |
| 90 | EWarren | *Warren, Earl ( 10/05/1953 - 06/23/1969 )* |
| 91 | JHarlan2 | *Harlan, John ( 03/28/1955 - 09/23/1971 )* |
| 92 | WJBrennan | *Brennan, William ( 10/16/1956 - 07/20/1990 )* |
| 93 | CEWhittaker | *Whittaker, Charles ( 03/25/1957 - 03/31/1962 )* |
| 94 | PStewart | *Stewart, Potter ( 10/14/1958 - 07/03/1981 )* |
| 95 | BRWhite | *White, Byron ( 04/16/1962 - 06/28/1993 )* |
| 96 | AJGoldberg | *Goldberg, Arthur ( 10/01/1962 - 07/25/1965 )* |
| 97 | AFortas | *Fortas, Abe ( 10/04/1965 - 05/14/1969 )* |
| 98 | TMarshall | *Marshall, Thurgood ( 10/02/1967 - 10/01/1991 )* |
| 99 | WEBurger | *Burger, Warren ( 06/23/1969 - 09/26/1986 )* |
| 100 | HABlackmun | *Blackmun, Harry ( 06/09/1970 - 08/03/1994 )* |
| 101 | LFPowell | *Powell, Lewis ( 01/07/1972 - 06/26/1987 )* |
| 102 | WHRehnquist | *Rehnquist, William ( 01/07/1972 - 09/03/2005 )* |
| 103 | JPStevens | *Stevens, John ( 12/19/1975 - 06/29/2010 )* |
| 104 | SDOConnor | *O'Connor, Sandra ( 09/25/1981 - 01/31/2006 )* |
| 105 | AScalia | *Scalia, Antonin ( 09/26/1986 - 02/13/2016 )* |
| 106 | AMKennedy | *Kennedy, Anthony ( 02/18/1988 - 07/31/2018 )* |
| 107 | DHSouter | *Souter, David ( 10/09/1990 - 06/29/2009 )* |
| 108 | CThomas | *Thomas, Clarence ( 10/23/1991 - 00/00/0000 )* |
| 109 | RBGinsburg | *Ginsburg, Ruth ( 08/10/1993 - 09/18/2020 )* |
| 110 | SGBreyer | *Breyer, Stephen ( 08/03/1994 - 06/30/2022 )* |
| 111 | JGRoberts | *Roberts, John ( 09/29/2005 - 00/00/0000 )* |
| 112 | SAAlito | *Alito, Samuel ( 01/31/2006 - 00/00/0000 )* |
| 113 | SSotomayor | *Sotomayor, Sonia ( 08/08/2009 - 00/00/0000 )* |
| 114 | EKagan | *Kagan, Elena ( 08/07/2010 - 00/00/0000 )* |
| 115 | NMGorsuch | *Gorsuch, Neil ( 04/08/2017 - 00/00/0000 )* |
| 116 | BMKavanaugh | *Kavanaugh, Brett ( 10/06/2018 - 00/00/0000 )* |
| 117 | ACBarrett | *Barrett, Amy ( 10/27/2020 - 00/00/0000 )* |
| 118 | KBJackson | *Jackson, Ketanji ( 06/30/2022 - 00/00/0000 )* |** Introductory

- [Introduction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=intro)
- [Citing to the SCDB](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=cite)
 Identification Variables

- [SCDB Case ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseId)
- [SCDB Docket ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docketId)
- [SCDB Issues ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId)
- [SCDB Vote ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteId)
- [U.S. Reporter Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=usCite)
- [Supreme Court Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=sctCite)
- [Lawyers Edition Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=ledCite)
- [LEXIS Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lexisCite)
- [Docket Number](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docket)
 Background Variables

- [Case Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseName)
- [Petitioner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitioner)
- [Petitioner State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitionerState)
- [Respondent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondent)
- [Respondent State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondentState)
- [Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=jurisdiction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminAction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminActionState)
- [Three-Judge District Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc)
- [Origin of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOrigin)
- [Origin of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOriginState)
- [Source of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSource)
- [Source of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSourceState)
- [Lower Court Disagreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisagreement)
- [Reason for Granting Cert](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=certReason)
- [Lower Court Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisposition)
- [Lower Court Disposition Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDispositionDirection)
 Chronological Variables

- [Date of Decision](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateDecision)
- [Term of Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=term)
- [Natural Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=naturalCourt)
- [Chief Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=chief)
- [Date of Oral Argument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateArgument)
- [Date of Reargument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateRearg)
 Substantive Variables

- [Issue](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issue)
- [Issue Area](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issueArea)
- [Decision Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirection)
- [Decision Direction Dissent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirectionDissent)
- [Authority for Decision 1](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision1)
- [Authority for Decision 2](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision2)
- [Legal Provisions Considered by the Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawType)
- [Legal Provision Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawSupp)
- [Legal Provision Minor Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawMinor)
 Outcome Variables

- [Decision Type](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionType)
- [Declaration of Unconstitutionality](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=declarationUncon)
- [Disposition of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDisposition)
- [Unusual Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDispositionUnusual)
- [Winning Party](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=partyWinning)
- [Formal Alteration of Precedent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=precedentAlteration)
 Voting & Opinion Variables

- [Vote Not Clearly Specified](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteUnclear)
- [Majority Opinion Writer](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinWriter)
- [Majority Opinion Assigner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinAssigner)
- [Split Vote](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=splitVote)
- [Majority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majVotes)
- [Minority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=minVotes)
- [Justice ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice)
- [Justice Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justiceName)
- [The Vote in the Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=vote)
- [Opinion](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=opinion)
- [Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=direction)
- [Majority and Minority Voting by Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majority)
- [First Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=firstAgreement)
- [Second Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=secondAgreement)
- | | [CONTACT](http://scdb.wustl.edu/contact.php) | | [TOP](#top) |
| --- | ---------------------- | --- | ----------- |
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- image The Supreme Court Database has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. [Creative Commons License](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/)

| ![washu_logo](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/washu_logo.png) |
| ------------------------------------ |

image image image image image
Online Code Book Downloadable Code Book Code Repository SCDB Web 101
Online Code Book

Disposition of Case
Variable Name
Spaeth Name
11 [ view ]

The treatment the Supreme Court accorded the court whose decision it reviewed is contained in this variable; e.g., affirmed, vacated, reversed and remanded, etc. The values here are the same as those for lcDisposition (how the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed disposed of the case). For original jurisdiction cases, this variable will be empty unless the Court's disposition falls under 1 or 9 below (stay, petition, or motion granted; petition denied or appeal dismissed). For cases in which the Court granted a motion to dismiss, caseDisposition is coded as 9 (petition denied or appeal dismissed). There is "no disposition" if the Court denied a motion to dismiss.

The information relevant to this variable may be found near the end of the summary that begins on the title page of each case, or preferably at the very end of the opinion of the Court.

As in the lcDisposition variable, the value label pertaining to the specific language used by the Court is entered. If incongruence between the Court's language and the above codes occurs, consult variable caseDispositionUnusual.

In cases containing multiple docket numbers, not every docket number will necessarily receive the same disposition. Hence, in focusing on the outcome of the Court's decisions, users might want to consider the datasets in which cases are organized by docket rather than citation.

Note for users of the Justice Centered Database: The entry in this variable governs whether the individual justices voted with the majority or in dissent.
1 stay, petition, or motion granted
2 affirmed (includes modified)
3 reversed
4 reversed and remanded
5 vacated and remanded
6 affirmed and reversed (or vacated) in part
7 affirmed and reversed (or vacated) in part and remanded
8 vacated
9 petition denied or appeal dismissed
10 certification to or from a lower court
11 no disposition
Identification Variables
Background Variables
Chronological Variables
Substantive Variables
Outcome Variables
Voting & Opinion Variables

Online Code Book Downloadable Code Book Code Repository SCDB Web 101
image The Supreme Court Database has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. Creative Commons License

---
meta-description: The Supreme Court Database is the definitive source for researchers, students, journalists, and citizens interested in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Database contains over two hundred pieces of information about each case decided by the Court between the 1946 and 2012 terms. Examples include the identity of the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed, the parties to the suit, the legal provisions considered in the case, and the votes of the Justices.
meta-generator: Coda
meta-keywords: supreme court, spaeth, database
title: The Supreme Court Database
---

| [![wulaw](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/wulaw.png)](http://law.wustl.edu) |  |
| -------------------------------------------------- | --- |

- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/index.php) image image image image
- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/about.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/analysis.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php)
- image
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- Online Code Book

- Supreme Court Citation

| **Variable Name** sctCite | **Spaeth Name** SCT | **Normalizations** n/a |
| --------------------------- | --------------------- | ------------------------ |

See variable U.S. Reporter Citation (usCite). Introductory

- [Introduction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=intro)
- [Citing to the SCDB](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=cite)
 Identification Variables

- [SCDB Case ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseId)
- [SCDB Docket ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docketId)
- [SCDB Issues ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId)
- [SCDB Vote ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteId)
- [U.S. Reporter Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=usCite)
- [Supreme Court Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=sctCite)
- [Lawyers Edition Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=ledCite)
- [LEXIS Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lexisCite)
- [Docket Number](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docket)
 Background Variables

- [Case Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseName)
- [Petitioner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitioner)
- [Petitioner State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitionerState)
- [Respondent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondent)
- [Respondent State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondentState)
- [Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=jurisdiction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminAction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminActionState)
- [Three-Judge District Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc)
- [Origin of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOrigin)
- [Origin of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOriginState)
- [Source of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSource)
- [Source of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSourceState)
- [Lower Court Disagreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisagreement)
- [Reason for Granting Cert](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=certReason)
- [Lower Court Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisposition)
- [Lower Court Disposition Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDispositionDirection)
 Chronological Variables

- [Date of Decision](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateDecision)
- [Term of Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=term)
- [Natural Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=naturalCourt)
- [Chief Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=chief)
- [Date of Oral Argument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateArgument)
- [Date of Reargument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateRearg)
 Substantive Variables

- [Issue](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issue)
- [Issue Area](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issueArea)
- [Decision Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirection)
- [Decision Direction Dissent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirectionDissent)
- [Authority for Decision 1](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision1)
- [Authority for Decision 2](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision2)
- [Legal Provisions Considered by the Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawType)
- [Legal Provision Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawSupp)
- [Legal Provision Minor Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawMinor)
 Outcome Variables

- [Decision Type](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionType)
- [Declaration of Unconstitutionality](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=declarationUncon)
- [Disposition of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDisposition)
- [Unusual Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDispositionUnusual)
- [Winning Party](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=partyWinning)
- [Formal Alteration of Precedent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=precedentAlteration)
 Voting & Opinion Variables

- [Vote Not Clearly Specified](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteUnclear)
- [Majority Opinion Writer](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinWriter)
- [Majority Opinion Assigner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinAssigner)
- [Split Vote](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=splitVote)
- [Majority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majVotes)
- [Minority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=minVotes)
- [Justice ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice)
- [Justice Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justiceName)
- [The Vote in the Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=vote)
- [Opinion](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=opinion)
- [Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=direction)
- [Majority and Minority Voting by Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majority)
- [First Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=firstAgreement)
- [Second Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=secondAgreement)
- | | [CONTACT](http://scdb.wustl.edu/contact.php) | | [TOP](#top) |
| --- | ---------------------- | --- | ----------- |
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- image The Supreme Court Database has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. [Creative Commons License](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/)

| ![washu_logo](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/washu_logo.png) |
| ------------------------------------ |

---
meta-description: The Supreme Court Database is the definitive source for researchers, students, journalists, and citizens interested in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Database contains over two hundred pieces of information about each case decided by the Court between the 1946 and 2012 terms. Examples include the identity of the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed, the parties to the suit, the legal provisions considered in the case, and the votes of the Justices.
meta-generator: Coda
meta-keywords: supreme court, spaeth, database
title: The Supreme Court Database
---

| [![wulaw](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/wulaw.png)](http://law.wustl.edu) |  |
| -------------------------------------------------- | --- |

- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/index.php) image image image image
- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/about.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/analysis.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php)
- image
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- Online Code Book

- Declaration of Unconstitutionality

| **Variable Name** declarationUncon | **Spaeth Name** UNCON | **Normalizations** [4 [ view ]](#norms) |
| ------------------------------------ | ----------------------- | ------------------------------------------ |

An entry in this variable indicates that the Court either declared unconstitutional an act of Congress; a state or territorial statute, regulation, or constitutional provision; or a municipal or other local ordinance. In coding this variable we consulted several sources. Most helpful was the Congressional Research Service's Constitution of the United States of America: Analysis and Interpretation (CONAN) (https://www.congress.gov/constitution-annotated) and the appendix to volume 131 of the U.S. Reports.

Note that the Court need not necessarily specify in so many words that a law has been declared unconstitutional. That commonly occurred in legacy decisions (pre-1946); e.g., Wllcox v. Consolidted Gas Co. of New York, 53 L Ed 382 (1909).

The summary frequently, though not invariably, will indicate such action in its statement of the Court's holdings. Hence, where such action may have occurred, it may be necessary to read carefully the opinion of the Court to determine whether an entry should be made in this variable.

Where federal law pre-empts a state statute or a local ordinance, unconstitutionality does not result unless the Court's opinion so states. Nor are administrative regulations the subject of declarations of unconstitutionality unless the declaration also applies to the law on which it is based. Also excluded are federal or state court-made rules; e.g., Virginia Supreme Court v. Friedman, 487 U.S. 59 (1988).

**Values:**

| 1 | no declaration of unconstitutionality |
| --- | ------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| 2 | act of congress declared unconstitutional |
| 3 | state or territorial law, reg, or const provision unconstitutional |
| 4 | municipal or other local ordinance unconstitutional | Introductory

- [Introduction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=intro)
- [Citing to the SCDB](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=cite)
 Identification Variables

- [SCDB Case ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseId)
- [SCDB Docket ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docketId)
- [SCDB Issues ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId)
- [SCDB Vote ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteId)
- [U.S. Reporter Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=usCite)
- [Supreme Court Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=sctCite)
- [Lawyers Edition Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=ledCite)
- [LEXIS Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lexisCite)
- [Docket Number](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docket)
 Background Variables

- [Case Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseName)
- [Petitioner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitioner)
- [Petitioner State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitionerState)
- [Respondent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondent)
- [Respondent State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondentState)
- [Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=jurisdiction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminAction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminActionState)
- [Three-Judge District Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc)
- [Origin of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOrigin)
- [Origin of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOriginState)
- [Source of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSource)
- [Source of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSourceState)
- [Lower Court Disagreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisagreement)
- [Reason for Granting Cert](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=certReason)
- [Lower Court Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisposition)
- [Lower Court Disposition Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDispositionDirection)
 Chronological Variables

- [Date of Decision](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateDecision)
- [Term of Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=term)
- [Natural Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=naturalCourt)
- [Chief Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=chief)
- [Date of Oral Argument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateArgument)
- [Date of Reargument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateRearg)
 Substantive Variables

- [Issue](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issue)
- [Issue Area](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issueArea)
- [Decision Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirection)
- [Decision Direction Dissent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirectionDissent)
- [Authority for Decision 1](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision1)
- [Authority for Decision 2](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision2)
- [Legal Provisions Considered by the Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawType)
- [Legal Provision Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawSupp)
- [Legal Provision Minor Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawMinor)
 Outcome Variables

- [Decision Type](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionType)
- [Declaration of Unconstitutionality](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=declarationUncon)
- [Disposition of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDisposition)
- [Unusual Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDispositionUnusual)
- [Winning Party](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=partyWinning)
- [Formal Alteration of Precedent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=precedentAlteration)
 Voting & Opinion Variables

- [Vote Not Clearly Specified](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteUnclear)
- [Majority Opinion Writer](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinWriter)
- [Majority Opinion Assigner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinAssigner)
- [Split Vote](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=splitVote)
- [Majority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majVotes)
- [Minority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=minVotes)
- [Justice ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice)
- [Justice Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justiceName)
- [The Vote in the Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=vote)
- [Opinion](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=opinion)
- [Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=direction)
- [Majority and Minority Voting by Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majority)
- [First Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=firstAgreement)
- [Second Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=secondAgreement)
- | | [CONTACT](http://scdb.wustl.edu/contact.php) | | [TOP](#top) |
| --- | ---------------------- | --- | ----------- |
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- image The Supreme Court Database has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. [Creative Commons License](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/)

| ![washu_logo](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/washu_logo.png) |
| ------------------------------------ |

---
meta-description: The Supreme Court Database is the definitive source for researchers, students, journalists, and citizens interested in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Database contains over two hundred pieces of information about each case decided by the Court between the 1946 and 2012 terms. Examples include the identity of the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed, the parties to the suit, the legal provisions considered in the case, and the votes of the Justices.
meta-generator: Coda
meta-keywords: supreme court, spaeth, database
title: The Supreme Court Database
---

| [![wulaw](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/wulaw.png)](http://law.wustl.edu) |  |
| -------------------------------------------------- | --- |

- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/index.php) image image image image
- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/about.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/analysis.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php)
- image
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- Online Code Book

- Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes

| **Variable Name** direction | **Spaeth Name** HARDIR-BRYDIR | **Normalizations** [2 [ view ]](#norms) |
| ----------------------------- | ------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------ |

This variable indicates whether the justice cast a liberal or conservative vote. For the definitions of liberal and conservative, see variable decisionDirection. A missing value code indicates that the decisionDirection was unspecifiable or that that justice did not participate.

This variable appears in the Justice Centered Datasets only.

**Values:**

| 1 | conservative |
| --- | ------------ |
| 2 | liberal | Introductory

- [Introduction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=intro)
- [Citing to the SCDB](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=cite)
 Identification Variables

- [SCDB Case ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseId)
- [SCDB Docket ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docketId)
- [SCDB Issues ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId)
- [SCDB Vote ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteId)
- [U.S. Reporter Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=usCite)
- [Supreme Court Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=sctCite)
- [Lawyers Edition Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=ledCite)
- [LEXIS Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lexisCite)
- [Docket Number](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docket)
 Background Variables

- [Case Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseName)
- [Petitioner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitioner)
- [Petitioner State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitionerState)
- [Respondent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondent)
- [Respondent State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondentState)
- [Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=jurisdiction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminAction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminActionState)
- [Three-Judge District Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc)
- [Origin of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOrigin)
- [Origin of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOriginState)
- [Source of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSource)
- [Source of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSourceState)
- [Lower Court Disagreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisagreement)
- [Reason for Granting Cert](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=certReason)
- [Lower Court Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisposition)
- [Lower Court Disposition Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDispositionDirection)
 Chronological Variables

- [Date of Decision](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateDecision)
- [Term of Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=term)
- [Natural Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=naturalCourt)
- [Chief Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=chief)
- [Date of Oral Argument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateArgument)
- [Date of Reargument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateRearg)
 Substantive Variables

- [Issue](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issue)
- [Issue Area](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issueArea)
- [Decision Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirection)
- [Decision Direction Dissent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirectionDissent)
- [Authority for Decision 1](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision1)
- [Authority for Decision 2](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision2)
- [Legal Provisions Considered by the Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawType)
- [Legal Provision Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawSupp)
- [Legal Provision Minor Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawMinor)
 Outcome Variables

- [Decision Type](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionType)
- [Declaration of Unconstitutionality](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=declarationUncon)
- [Disposition of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDisposition)
- [Unusual Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDispositionUnusual)
- [Winning Party](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=partyWinning)
- [Formal Alteration of Precedent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=precedentAlteration)
 Voting & Opinion Variables

- [Vote Not Clearly Specified](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteUnclear)
- [Majority Opinion Writer](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinWriter)
- [Majority Opinion Assigner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinAssigner)
- [Split Vote](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=splitVote)
- [Majority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majVotes)
- [Minority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=minVotes)
- [Justice ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice)
- [Justice Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justiceName)
- [The Vote in the Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=vote)
- [Opinion](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=opinion)
- [Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=direction)
- [Majority and Minority Voting by Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majority)
- [First Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=firstAgreement)
- [Second Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=secondAgreement)
- | | [CONTACT](http://scdb.wustl.edu/contact.php) | | [TOP](#top) |
| --- | ---------------------- | --- | ----------- |
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- image The Supreme Court Database has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. [Creative Commons License](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/)

| ![washu_logo](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/washu_logo.png) |
| ------------------------------------ |

---
meta-description: The Supreme Court Database is the definitive source for researchers, students, journalists, and citizens interested in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Database contains over two hundred pieces of information about each case decided by the Court between the 1946 and 2012 terms. Examples include the identity of the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed, the parties to the suit, the legal provisions considered in the case, and the votes of the Justices.
meta-generator: Coda
meta-keywords: supreme court, spaeth, database
title: The Supreme Court Database
---

| [![wulaw](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/wulaw.png)](http://law.wustl.edu) |  |
| -------------------------------------------------- | --- |

- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/index.php) image image image image
- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/about.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/analysis.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php)
- image
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- Online Code Book

- Petitioner State

| **Variable Name** petitionerState | **Spaeth Name** PARTY\_1 | **Normalizations** [64 [ view ]](#norms) |
| ----------------------------------- | -------------------------- | ------------------------------------------- |

This variable identifies the state if the state or any one of the below is the petitioner. The exceptions are courts, judicial districts, or judges. If they are federal courts or federal judges, the "state" is always the United States. The same holds for other federal employees or officials.

- specified state board or department of education
- city, town, township, village, or borough government or governmental unit
- state commission, board, committee, or authority
- county government or county governmental unit
- state department or agency
- court or judicial district
- governmental employee or job applicant
- female governmental employee or job applicant
- minority governmental employee or job applicant
- minority female governmental employee or job applicant
- federal government corporation
- retired or former governmental employee
- U.S. House of Representatives
interstate compact
- judge
- state legislature, house, or committee
- local governmental unit other than a county, city, town, township, village, or borough
- governmental official, or an official of an agency established under an interstate compact
- state or U.S. supreme court
- local school district or board of education
- U.S. Senate
- U.S. senator
- foreign nation or instrumentality
- state or local governmental taxpayer, or executor of the estate of
- state college or university

See Petitioner variable for more details.

**Values:**

| 1 | Alabama |
| --- | ------------------------------ |
| 2 | Alaska |
| 3 | American Samoa |
| 4 | Arizona |
| 5 | Arkansas |
| 6 | California |
| 7 | Colorado |
| 8 | Connecticut |
| 9 | Delaware |
| 10 | District of Columbia |
| 11 | Federated States of Micronesia |
| 12 | Florida |
| 13 | Georgia |
| 14 | Guam |
| 15 | Hawaii |
| 16 | Idaho |
| 17 | Illinois |
| 18 | Indiana |
| 19 | Iowa |
| 20 | Kansas |
| 21 | Kentucky |
| 22 | Louisiana |
| 23 | Maine |
| 24 | Marshall Islands |
| 25 | Maryland |
| 26 | Massachusetts |
| 27 | Michigan |
| 28 | Minnesota |
| 29 | Mississippi |
| 30 | Missouri |
| 31 | Montana |
| 32 | Nebraska |
| 33 | Nevada |
| 34 | New Hampshire |
| 35 | New Jersey |
| 36 | New Mexico |
| 37 | New York |
| 38 | North Carolina |
| 39 | North Dakota |
| 40 | Northern Mariana Islands |
| 41 | Ohio |
| 42 | Oklahoma |
| 43 | Oregon |
| 44 | Palau |
| 45 | Pennsylvania |
| 46 | Puerto Rico |
| 47 | Rhode Island |
| 48 | South Carolina |
| 49 | South Dakota |
| 50 | Tennessee |
| 51 | Texas |
| 52 | Utah |
| 53 | Vermont |
| 54 | Virgin Islands |
| 55 | Virginia |
| 56 | Washington |
| 57 | West Virginia |
| 58 | Wisconsin |
| 59 | Wyoming |
| 60 | United States |
| 61 | Interstate Compact |
| 62 | Philippines |
| 63 | Indian |
| 64 | Dakota | Introductory

- [Introduction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=intro)
- [Citing to the SCDB](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=cite)
 Identification Variables

- [SCDB Case ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseId)
- [SCDB Docket ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docketId)
- [SCDB Issues ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId)
- [SCDB Vote ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteId)
- [U.S. Reporter Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=usCite)
- [Supreme Court Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=sctCite)
- [Lawyers Edition Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=ledCite)
- [LEXIS Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lexisCite)
- [Docket Number](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docket)
 Background Variables

- [Case Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseName)
- [Petitioner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitioner)
- [Petitioner State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitionerState)
- [Respondent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondent)
- [Respondent State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondentState)
- [Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=jurisdiction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminAction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminActionState)
- [Three-Judge District Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc)
- [Origin of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOrigin)
- [Origin of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOriginState)
- [Source of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSource)
- [Source of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSourceState)
- [Lower Court Disagreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisagreement)
- [Reason for Granting Cert](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=certReason)
- [Lower Court Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisposition)
- [Lower Court Disposition Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDispositionDirection)
 Chronological Variables

- [Date of Decision](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateDecision)
- [Term of Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=term)
- [Natural Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=naturalCourt)
- [Chief Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=chief)
- [Date of Oral Argument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateArgument)
- [Date of Reargument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateRearg)
 Substantive Variables

- [Issue](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issue)
- [Issue Area](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issueArea)
- [Decision Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirection)
- [Decision Direction Dissent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirectionDissent)
- [Authority for Decision 1](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision1)
- [Authority for Decision 2](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision2)
- [Legal Provisions Considered by the Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawType)
- [Legal Provision Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawSupp)
- [Legal Provision Minor Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawMinor)
 Outcome Variables

- [Decision Type](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionType)
- [Declaration of Unconstitutionality](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=declarationUncon)
- [Disposition of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDisposition)
- [Unusual Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDispositionUnusual)
- [Winning Party](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=partyWinning)
- [Formal Alteration of Precedent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=precedentAlteration)
 Voting & Opinion Variables

- [Vote Not Clearly Specified](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteUnclear)
- [Majority Opinion Writer](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinWriter)
- [Majority Opinion Assigner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinAssigner)
- [Split Vote](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=splitVote)
- [Majority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majVotes)
- [Minority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=minVotes)
- [Justice ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice)
- [Justice Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justiceName)
- [The Vote in the Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=vote)
- [Opinion](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=opinion)
- [Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=direction)
- [Majority and Minority Voting by Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majority)
- [First Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=firstAgreement)
- [Second Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=secondAgreement)
- | | [CONTACT](http://scdb.wustl.edu/contact.php) | | [TOP](#top) |
| --- | ---------------------- | --- | ----------- |
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- image The Supreme Court Database has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. [Creative Commons License](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/)

| ![washu_logo](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/washu_logo.png) |
| ------------------------------------ |

---
meta-description: The Supreme Court Database is the definitive source for researchers, students, journalists, and citizens interested in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Database contains over two hundred pieces of information about each case decided by the Court between the 1946 and 2012 terms. Examples include the identity of the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed, the parties to the suit, the legal provisions considered in the case, and the votes of the Justices.
meta-generator: Coda
meta-keywords: supreme court, spaeth, database
title: The Supreme Court Database
---

| [![wulaw](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/wulaw.png)](http://law.wustl.edu) |  |
| -------------------------------------------------- | --- |

- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/index.php) image image image image
- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/about.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/analysis.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php)
- image
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- Online Code Book

- Unusual Disposition

| **Variable Name** caseDispositionUnusual | **Spaeth Name** DISQ | **Normalizations** [2 [ view ]](#norms) |
| ------------------------------------------ | ---------------------- | ------------------------------------------ |

An entry (1) will appear in this variable to signify that the Court made an unusual disposition of the cited case which does not match the coding scheme of the preceding variable. The disposition that appears closest to the unusual one made by the Court should be selected for inclusion in the preceding variable, caseDisposition.

**Values:**

| 0 | no unusual disposition specified |
| --- | -------------------------------- |
| 1 | unusual disposition | Introductory

- [Introduction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=intro)
- [Citing to the SCDB](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=cite)
 Identification Variables

- [SCDB Case ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseId)
- [SCDB Docket ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docketId)
- [SCDB Issues ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId)
- [SCDB Vote ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteId)
- [U.S. Reporter Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=usCite)
- [Supreme Court Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=sctCite)
- [Lawyers Edition Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=ledCite)
- [LEXIS Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lexisCite)
- [Docket Number](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docket)
 Background Variables

- [Case Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseName)
- [Petitioner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitioner)
- [Petitioner State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitionerState)
- [Respondent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondent)
- [Respondent State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondentState)
- [Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=jurisdiction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminAction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminActionState)
- [Three-Judge District Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc)
- [Origin of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOrigin)
- [Origin of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOriginState)
- [Source of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSource)
- [Source of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSourceState)
- [Lower Court Disagreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisagreement)
- [Reason for Granting Cert](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=certReason)
- [Lower Court Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisposition)
- [Lower Court Disposition Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDispositionDirection)
 Chronological Variables

- [Date of Decision](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateDecision)
- [Term of Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=term)
- [Natural Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=naturalCourt)
- [Chief Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=chief)
- [Date of Oral Argument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateArgument)
- [Date of Reargument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateRearg)
 Substantive Variables

- [Issue](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issue)
- [Issue Area](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issueArea)
- [Decision Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirection)
- [Decision Direction Dissent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirectionDissent)
- [Authority for Decision 1](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision1)
- [Authority for Decision 2](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision2)
- [Legal Provisions Considered by the Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawType)
- [Legal Provision Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawSupp)
- [Legal Provision Minor Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawMinor)
 Outcome Variables

- [Decision Type](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionType)
- [Declaration of Unconstitutionality](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=declarationUncon)
- [Disposition of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDisposition)
- [Unusual Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDispositionUnusual)
- [Winning Party](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=partyWinning)
- [Formal Alteration of Precedent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=precedentAlteration)
 Voting & Opinion Variables

- [Vote Not Clearly Specified](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteUnclear)
- [Majority Opinion Writer](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinWriter)
- [Majority Opinion Assigner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinAssigner)
- [Split Vote](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=splitVote)
- [Majority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majVotes)
- [Minority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=minVotes)
- [Justice ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice)
- [Justice Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justiceName)
- [The Vote in the Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=vote)
- [Opinion](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=opinion)
- [Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=direction)
- [Majority and Minority Voting by Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majority)
- [First Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=firstAgreement)
- [Second Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=secondAgreement)
- | | [CONTACT](http://scdb.wustl.edu/contact.php) | | [TOP](#top) |
| --- | ---------------------- | --- | ----------- |
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- image The Supreme Court Database has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. [Creative Commons License](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/)

| ![washu_logo](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/washu_logo.png) |
| ------------------------------------ |

The Supreme Court Database




|  |  |
| --- | --- |
| [wulaw](http://law.wustl.edu) |  |

|  |  |  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/index.php) | image | image | image | image |
| [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/about.php) | [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) | [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) | [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/analysis.php) | [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php) |
| image | | | | |
| |  |  |  |  | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) | [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) | [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) | [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php) | | | | | |
| Online Code Book    |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Decision Direction   |  |  |  | | --- | --- | --- | | **Variable Name** decisionDirection | **Spaeth Name** DIR | **Normalizations**  [3 [ view ]](#norms) |    In order to determine whether the Court supports or opposes the issue to which the case pertains, this variable codes the ideological "direction" of the decision.    Specification of direction comports with conventional usage for the most part except for the interstate relations, private law, and the miscellaneous issues. "Unspecifiable" has been entered either because the issue does not lend itself to a liberal or conservative description (e.g., a boundary dispute between two states, real property, wills and estates), or because no convention exists as to which is the liberal side and which is the conservative side (e.g., the legislative veto). This variable will also contain "unspecifiable" where one state sues another under the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and where parties or issue cannot be determined because of a tied vote or lack of information.    Note especially that the direction (pro- or anti-liability)of the three liability variables (80060, 80070, and 80080) depend on the disposition the Court made of the case, and which party won or lost. For 80070 -- non-governmental liability - a liberal vote and case decision support the injured person, organiation, or thing (res). For 80060 - governmental liability - a vote and case outcome that supports government is invariably defined as liberal. Note that if the injured entity is the other party in the case, said party loses, by definition. On the other hand, of course, if the injured entity wins, then of necessity the government loses. Where liability is assigned to both plaintiff and respondent, direction is considered indetermnable.    For purposes of the governmental liability issue, government includes state and local governmental entities, foreign governments, and governmentally owned property. In the rare instance of a conflict between governmental body and an injured person, organiation, or thing the governmental outcome controls directionality. Most such conflicts, however, locate in other issues; e.g., attorneys' and governemtnal employees' compensation or fees, and military personnel and veterans.    It bears emphasizing that the entry for directionality is determined by reference to the issue variable. If you are using the Case Centered Dataset organized by split votes, it is entirely possible for a citation to relate to a second issue whose direction is opposite that of the first issue. For example, in Air Pollution Variance Board of the State of Colorado v. Western Alfalfa Corporation, 416 U.S. 861 (1974), the Court decided that the Fourth Amendment was not violated by a health inspector's warrantless entry onto the property of a business to inspect smoke pollution. The first issue (search and seizure) is coded conservative; the second issue (natural resources) is coded liberal.    In order to determine whether an outcome is liberal (=2) or conservative (=1), the following scheme is employed.    1. In the context of issues pertaining to criminal procedure, civil rights, First Amendment, due process, privacy, and attorneys, liberal (2)=     * pro-person accused or convicted of crime, or denied a jury trial    * pro-civil liberties or civil rights claimant, especially those exercising less protected civil rights (e.g., homosexuality)      * pro-child or juvenile        * pro-indigent          * pro-Indian            * pro-affirmative action              * pro-neutrality in establishment clause cases                * pro-female in abortion                  * pro-underdog                    * anti-slavery                      * incorporation of foreign territories                        * anti-government in the context of due process, except for takings clause cases where a pro-government, anti-owner vote is considered liberal except in criminal forfeiture cases or those where the taking is pro-business                          * violation of due process by exercising jurisdiction over nonresident                            * pro-attorney or governmental official in non-liability cases                              * pro-accountability and/or anti-corruption in campaign spending                                * pro-privacy vis-a-vis the 1st Amendment where the privacy invaded is that of mental incompetents                                  * pro-disclosure in Freedom of Information Act issues except for employment and student records   conservative (1)=the reverse of above    2. In the context of issues pertaining to unions and economic activity, liberal (2)=     * pro-union except in union antitrust where liberal = pro-competition    * pro-government      * anti-business        * anti-employer          * pro-competition            * pro-injured person              * pro-indigent                * pro-small business vis-a-vis large business                  * pro-state/anti-business in state tax cases                    * pro-debtor                      * pro-bankrupt                        * pro-Indian                          * pro-environmental protection                            * pro-economic underdog                              * pro-consumer                                * pro-accountability in governmental corruption                                  * pro-original grantee, purchaser, or occupant in state and territorial land claims                                    * anti-union member or employee vis-a-vis union                                      * anti-union in union antitrust                                        * anti-union in union or closed shop                                          * pro-trial in arbitration                                              conservative (1)= reverse of above                                              3. In the context of issues pertaining to judicial power, liberal (2)=                                                                                        + pro-exercise of judicial power                                              + pro-judicial "activism"                                                + pro-judicial review of administrative action conservative (1)=reverse of above                                              4. In the context of issues pertaining to federalism, liberal (2)=                                                                                        + pro-federal power                                              + pro-executive power in executive/congressional disputes                                                + anti-state  conservative (1)=reverse of above                                              5. In the context of issues pertaining to federal taxation, liberal (2)= pro-United States; conservative (1)= pro-taxpayer                                              6. In interstate relations and private law issues, unspecifiable (3) for all such cases.                                              7. In miscellaneous, incorporation of foreign territories and executive authority vis-a-vis congress or the states or judcial authority vis-a-vis state or federal legislative authority = (2); legislative veto = (1).                                                                                                                                   **Values:**                                             |  |  |                                           | --- | --- |                                           | 1 | conservative |                                           | 2 | liberal |                                           | 3 | unspecifiable | | Introductory   * [Introduction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=intro) * [Citing to the SCDB](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=cite)   Identification Variables   * [SCDB Case ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseId) * [SCDB Docket ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docketId) * [SCDB Issues ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId) * [SCDB Vote ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteId) * [U.S. Reporter Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=usCite) * [Supreme Court Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=sctCite) * [Lawyers Edition Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=ledCite) * [LEXIS Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lexisCite) * [Docket Number](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docket)   Background Variables   * [Case Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseName) * [Petitioner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitioner) * [Petitioner State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitionerState) * [Respondent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondent) * [Respondent State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondentState) * [Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=jurisdiction) * [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminAction) * [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminActionState) * [Three-Judge District Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc) * [Origin of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOrigin) * [Origin of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOriginState) * [Source of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSource) * [Source of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSourceState) * [Lower Court Disagreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisagreement) * [Reason for Granting Cert](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=certReason) * [Lower Court Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisposition) * [Lower Court Disposition Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDispositionDirection)   Chronological Variables   * [Date of Decision](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateDecision) * [Term of Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=term) * [Natural Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=naturalCourt) * [Chief Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=chief) * [Date of Oral Argument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateArgument) * [Date of Reargument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateRearg)   Substantive Variables   * [Issue](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issue) * [Issue Area](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issueArea) * [Decision Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirection) * [Decision Direction Dissent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirectionDissent) * [Authority for Decision 1](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision1) * [Authority for Decision 2](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision2) * [Legal Provisions Considered by the Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawType) * [Legal Provision Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawSupp) * [Legal Provision Minor Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawMinor)   Outcome Variables   * [Decision Type](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionType) * [Declaration of Unconstitutionality](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=declarationUncon) * [Disposition of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDisposition) * [Unusual Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDispositionUnusual) * [Winning Party](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=partyWinning) * [Formal Alteration of Precedent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=precedentAlteration)   Voting & Opinion Variables   * [Vote Not Clearly Specified](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteUnclear) * [Majority Opinion Writer](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinWriter) * [Majority Opinion Assigner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinAssigner) * [Split Vote](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=splitVote) * [Majority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majVotes) * [Minority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=minVotes) * [Justice ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice) * [Justice Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justiceName) * [The Vote in the Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=vote) * [Opinion](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=opinion) * [Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=direction) * [Majority and Minority Voting by Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majority) * [First Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=firstAgreement) * [Second Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=secondAgreement) | | | | | |
| |  |  |  |  | | --- | --- | --- | --- | |  | [CONTACT](http://scdb.wustl.edu/contact.php) |  |  [TOP](#top) | | | | | |
| |  |  |  |  | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) | [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) | [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) | [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php) | | | | | |
| image | The Supreme Court Database has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. | | | [Creative Commons License](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/) |

|  |
| --- |
| washu_logo |

---
meta-description: The Supreme Court Database is the definitive source for researchers, students, journalists, and citizens interested in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Database contains over two hundred pieces of information about each case decided by the Court between the 1946 and 2012 terms. Examples include the identity of the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed, the parties to the suit, the legal provisions considered in the case, and the votes of the Justices.
meta-generator: Coda
meta-keywords: supreme court, spaeth, database
title: The Supreme Court Database
---

| [![wulaw](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/wulaw.png)](http://law.wustl.edu) |  |
| -------------------------------------------------- | --- |

- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/index.php) image image image image
- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/about.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/analysis.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php)
- image
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- Online Code Book

- LEXIS Citation

| **Variable Name** lexisCite | **Spaeth Name** n/a | **Normalizations** n/a |
| ----------------------------- | --------------------- | ------------------------ |

See variable U.S. Reporter Citation (usCite). Introductory

- [Introduction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=intro)
- [Citing to the SCDB](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=cite)
 Identification Variables

- [SCDB Case ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseId)
- [SCDB Docket ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docketId)
- [SCDB Issues ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId)
- [SCDB Vote ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteId)
- [U.S. Reporter Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=usCite)
- [Supreme Court Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=sctCite)
- [Lawyers Edition Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=ledCite)
- [LEXIS Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lexisCite)
- [Docket Number](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docket)
 Background Variables

- [Case Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseName)
- [Petitioner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitioner)
- [Petitioner State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitionerState)
- [Respondent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondent)
- [Respondent State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondentState)
- [Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=jurisdiction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminAction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminActionState)
- [Three-Judge District Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc)
- [Origin of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOrigin)
- [Origin of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOriginState)
- [Source of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSource)
- [Source of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSourceState)
- [Lower Court Disagreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisagreement)
- [Reason for Granting Cert](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=certReason)
- [Lower Court Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisposition)
- [Lower Court Disposition Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDispositionDirection)
 Chronological Variables

- [Date of Decision](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateDecision)
- [Term of Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=term)
- [Natural Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=naturalCourt)
- [Chief Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=chief)
- [Date of Oral Argument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateArgument)
- [Date of Reargument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateRearg)
 Substantive Variables

- [Issue](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issue)
- [Issue Area](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issueArea)
- [Decision Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirection)
- [Decision Direction Dissent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirectionDissent)
- [Authority for Decision 1](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision1)
- [Authority for Decision 2](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision2)
- [Legal Provisions Considered by the Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawType)
- [Legal Provision Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawSupp)
- [Legal Provision Minor Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawMinor)
 Outcome Variables

- [Decision Type](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionType)
- [Declaration of Unconstitutionality](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=declarationUncon)
- [Disposition of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDisposition)
- [Unusual Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDispositionUnusual)
- [Winning Party](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=partyWinning)
- [Formal Alteration of Precedent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=precedentAlteration)
 Voting & Opinion Variables

- [Vote Not Clearly Specified](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteUnclear)
- [Majority Opinion Writer](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinWriter)
- [Majority Opinion Assigner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinAssigner)
- [Split Vote](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=splitVote)
- [Majority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majVotes)
- [Minority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=minVotes)
- [Justice ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice)
- [Justice Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justiceName)
- [The Vote in the Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=vote)
- [Opinion](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=opinion)
- [Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=direction)
- [Majority and Minority Voting by Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majority)
- [First Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=firstAgreement)
- [Second Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=secondAgreement)
- | | [CONTACT](http://scdb.wustl.edu/contact.php) | | [TOP](#top) |
| --- | ---------------------- | --- | ----------- |
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- image The Supreme Court Database has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. [Creative Commons License](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/)

| ![washu_logo](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/washu_logo.png) |
| ------------------------------------ |

---
meta-description: The Supreme Court Database is the definitive source for researchers, students, journalists, and citizens interested in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Database contains over two hundred pieces of information about each case decided by the Court between the 1946 and 2012 terms. Examples include the identity of the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed, the parties to the suit, the legal provisions considered in the case, and the votes of the Justices.
meta-generator: Coda
meta-keywords: supreme court, spaeth, database
title: The Supreme Court Database
---

| [![wulaw](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/wulaw.png)](http://law.wustl.edu) |  |
| -------------------------------------------------- | --- |

- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/index.php) image image image image
- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/about.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/analysis.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php)
- image
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- Online Code Book

- Respondent State

| **Variable Name** respondentState | **Spaeth Name** PARTY\_2 | **Normalizations** [64 [ view ]](#norms) |
| ----------------------------------- | -------------------------- | ------------------------------------------- |

This variable identifies the state if the state or any one of the following is the respondent:



- specified state board or department of education
- city, town, township, village, or borough government or governmental unit
- state commission, board, committee, or authority
- county government or county governmental unit
- state department or agency
- court or judicial district
- governmental employee or job applicant
- female governmental employee or job applicant
- minority governmental employee or job applicant
- minority female governmental employee or job applicant
- retired or former governmental employee
- judge
- state legislature, house, or committee
- local governmental unit other than a county, city, town, township, village, or borough
- governmental official, or an official of an agency established under an interstate compact
- state or U.S. supreme court
- local school district or board of education
- state or local governmental taxpayer, or executor of the estate of
- state college or university

See Petitioner variable for more details.

**Values:**

| 1 | Alabama |
| --- | ------------------------------ |
| 2 | Alaska |
| 3 | American Samoa |
| 4 | Arizona |
| 5 | Arkansas |
| 6 | California |
| 7 | Colorado |
| 8 | Connecticut |
| 9 | Delaware |
| 10 | District of Columbia |
| 11 | Federated States of Micronesia |
| 12 | Florida |
| 13 | Georgia |
| 14 | Guam |
| 15 | Hawaii |
| 16 | Idaho |
| 17 | Illinois |
| 18 | Indiana |
| 19 | Iowa |
| 20 | Kansas |
| 21 | Kentucky |
| 22 | Louisiana |
| 23 | Maine |
| 24 | Marshall Islands |
| 25 | Maryland |
| 26 | Massachusetts |
| 27 | Michigan |
| 28 | Minnesota |
| 29 | Mississippi |
| 30 | Missouri |
| 31 | Montana |
| 32 | Nebraska |
| 33 | Nevada |
| 34 | New Hampshire |
| 35 | New Jersey |
| 36 | New Mexico |
| 37 | New York |
| 38 | North Carolina |
| 39 | North Dakota |
| 40 | Northern Mariana Islands |
| 41 | Ohio |
| 42 | Oklahoma |
| 43 | Oregon |
| 44 | Palau |
| 45 | Pennsylvania |
| 46 | Puerto Rico |
| 47 | Rhode Island |
| 48 | South Carolina |
| 49 | South Dakota |
| 50 | Tennessee |
| 51 | Texas |
| 52 | Utah |
| 53 | Vermont |
| 54 | Virgin Islands |
| 55 | Virginia |
| 56 | Washington |
| 57 | West Virginia |
| 58 | Wisconsin |
| 59 | Wyoming |
| 60 | United States |
| 61 | Interstate Compact |
| 62 | Philippines |
| 63 | Indian |
| 64 | Dakota | Introductory

- [Introduction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=intro)
- [Citing to the SCDB](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=cite)
 Identification Variables

- [SCDB Case ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseId)
- [SCDB Docket ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docketId)
- [SCDB Issues ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId)
- [SCDB Vote ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteId)
- [U.S. Reporter Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=usCite)
- [Supreme Court Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=sctCite)
- [Lawyers Edition Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=ledCite)
- [LEXIS Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lexisCite)
- [Docket Number](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docket)
 Background Variables

- [Case Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseName)
- [Petitioner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitioner)
- [Petitioner State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitionerState)
- [Respondent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondent)
- [Respondent State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondentState)
- [Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=jurisdiction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminAction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminActionState)
- [Three-Judge District Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc)
- [Origin of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOrigin)
- [Origin of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOriginState)
- [Source of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSource)
- [Source of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSourceState)
- [Lower Court Disagreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisagreement)
- [Reason for Granting Cert](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=certReason)
- [Lower Court Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisposition)
- [Lower Court Disposition Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDispositionDirection)
 Chronological Variables

- [Date of Decision](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateDecision)
- [Term of Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=term)
- [Natural Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=naturalCourt)
- [Chief Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=chief)
- [Date of Oral Argument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateArgument)
- [Date of Reargument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateRearg)
 Substantive Variables

- [Issue](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issue)
- [Issue Area](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issueArea)
- [Decision Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirection)
- [Decision Direction Dissent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirectionDissent)
- [Authority for Decision 1](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision1)
- [Authority for Decision 2](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision2)
- [Legal Provisions Considered by the Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawType)
- [Legal Provision Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawSupp)
- [Legal Provision Minor Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawMinor)
 Outcome Variables

- [Decision Type](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionType)
- [Declaration of Unconstitutionality](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=declarationUncon)
- [Disposition of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDisposition)
- [Unusual Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDispositionUnusual)
- [Winning Party](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=partyWinning)
- [Formal Alteration of Precedent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=precedentAlteration)
 Voting & Opinion Variables

- [Vote Not Clearly Specified](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteUnclear)
- [Majority Opinion Writer](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinWriter)
- [Majority Opinion Assigner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinAssigner)
- [Split Vote](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=splitVote)
- [Majority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majVotes)
- [Minority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=minVotes)
- [Justice ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice)
- [Justice Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justiceName)
- [The Vote in the Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=vote)
- [Opinion](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=opinion)
- [Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=direction)
- [Majority and Minority Voting by Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majority)
- [First Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=firstAgreement)
- [Second Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=secondAgreement)
- | | [CONTACT](http://scdb.wustl.edu/contact.php) | | [TOP](#top) |
| --- | ---------------------- | --- | ----------- |
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- image The Supreme Court Database has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. [Creative Commons License](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/)

| ![washu_logo](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/washu_logo.png) |
| ------------------------------------ |

---
meta-description: The Supreme Court Database is the definitive source for researchers, students, journalists, and citizens interested in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Database contains over two hundred pieces of information about each case decided by the Court between the 1946 and 2012 terms. Examples include the identity of the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed, the parties to the suit, the legal provisions considered in the case, and the votes of the Justices.
meta-generator: Coda
meta-keywords: supreme court, spaeth, database
title: The Supreme Court Database
---

| [![wulaw](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/wulaw.png)](http://law.wustl.edu) |  |
| -------------------------------------------------- | --- |

- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/index.php) image image image image
- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/about.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/analysis.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php)
- image
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- Online Code Book

- Date of Decision

| **Variable Name** dateDecision | **Spaeth Name** DEC | **Normalizations** n/a |
| -------------------------------- | --------------------- | ------------------------ |

This variable contains the year, month, and day that the Court announced its decision in the case. For volumes 2-107 of the U.S. Reports (1791-1882), we relied on Dates of Supreme Court Decisions and Arguments (http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/datesofdecisions.pdf), prepared by Anne Ashmore of the Library of the Supreme Court, because many early reporters do not list the date of decision. Introductory

- [Introduction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=intro)
- [Citing to the SCDB](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=cite)
 Identification Variables

- [SCDB Case ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseId)
- [SCDB Docket ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docketId)
- [SCDB Issues ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId)
- [SCDB Vote ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteId)
- [U.S. Reporter Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=usCite)
- [Supreme Court Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=sctCite)
- [Lawyers Edition Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=ledCite)
- [LEXIS Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lexisCite)
- [Docket Number](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docket)
 Background Variables

- [Case Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseName)
- [Petitioner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitioner)
- [Petitioner State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitionerState)
- [Respondent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondent)
- [Respondent State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondentState)
- [Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=jurisdiction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminAction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminActionState)
- [Three-Judge District Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc)
- [Origin of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOrigin)
- [Origin of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOriginState)
- [Source of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSource)
- [Source of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSourceState)
- [Lower Court Disagreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisagreement)
- [Reason for Granting Cert](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=certReason)
- [Lower Court Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisposition)
- [Lower Court Disposition Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDispositionDirection)
 Chronological Variables

- [Date of Decision](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateDecision)
- [Term of Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=term)
- [Natural Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=naturalCourt)
- [Chief Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=chief)
- [Date of Oral Argument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateArgument)
- [Date of Reargument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateRearg)
 Substantive Variables

- [Issue](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issue)
- [Issue Area](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issueArea)
- [Decision Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirection)
- [Decision Direction Dissent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirectionDissent)
- [Authority for Decision 1](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision1)
- [Authority for Decision 2](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision2)
- [Legal Provisions Considered by the Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawType)
- [Legal Provision Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawSupp)
- [Legal Provision Minor Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawMinor)
 Outcome Variables

- [Decision Type](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionType)
- [Declaration of Unconstitutionality](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=declarationUncon)
- [Disposition of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDisposition)
- [Unusual Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDispositionUnusual)
- [Winning Party](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=partyWinning)
- [Formal Alteration of Precedent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=precedentAlteration)
 Voting & Opinion Variables

- [Vote Not Clearly Specified](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteUnclear)
- [Majority Opinion Writer](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinWriter)
- [Majority Opinion Assigner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinAssigner)
- [Split Vote](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=splitVote)
- [Majority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majVotes)
- [Minority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=minVotes)
- [Justice ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice)
- [Justice Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justiceName)
- [The Vote in the Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=vote)
- [Opinion](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=opinion)
- [Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=direction)
- [Majority and Minority Voting by Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majority)
- [First Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=firstAgreement)
- [Second Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=secondAgreement)
- | | [CONTACT](http://scdb.wustl.edu/contact.php) | | [TOP](#top) |
| --- | ---------------------- | --- | ----------- |
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- image The Supreme Court Database has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. [Creative Commons License](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/)

| ![washu_logo](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/washu_logo.png) |
| ------------------------------------ |

errors: [('dateRearg', 'too_many_requests'), ('petitioner', 'too_many_requests'), ('lcDispositionDirection', 'too_many_requests'), ('authorityDecision2', 'too_many_requests')]
fetched ok: 57

---
meta-description: The Supreme Court Database is the definitive source for researchers, students, journalists, and citizens interested in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Database contains over two hundred pieces of information about each case decided by the Court between the 1946 and 2012 terms. Examples include the identity of the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed, the parties to the suit, the legal provisions considered in the case, and the votes of the Justices.
meta-generator: Coda
meta-keywords: supreme court, spaeth, database
title: The Supreme Court Database
---

| [![wulaw](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/wulaw.png)](http://law.wustl.edu) |  |
| -------------------------------------------------- | --- |

- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/index.php) image image image image
- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/about.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/analysis.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php)
- image
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- Online Code Book

- Date of Reargument

| **Variable Name** dateRearg | **Spaeth Name** REORAL | **Normalizations** n/a |
| ----------------------------- | ------------------------ | ------------------------ |

On those infrequent occasions when the Court orders that a case be reargued, this variable specifies the date of such argument following the same day, month, and year sequence used in the preceding variable (dateArgue). Introductory

- [Introduction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=intro)
- [Citing to the SCDB](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=cite)
 Identification Variables

- [SCDB Case ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseId)
- [SCDB Docket ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docketId)
- [SCDB Issues ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId)
- [SCDB Vote ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteId)
- [U.S. Reporter Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=usCite)
- [Supreme Court Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=sctCite)
- [Lawyers Edition Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=ledCite)
- [LEXIS Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lexisCite)
- [Docket Number](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docket)
 Background Variables

- [Case Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseName)
- [Petitioner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitioner)
- [Petitioner State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitionerState)
- [Respondent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondent)
- [Respondent State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondentState)
- [Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=jurisdiction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminAction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminActionState)
- [Three-Judge District Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc)
- [Origin of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOrigin)
- [Origin of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOriginState)
- [Source of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSource)
- [Source of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSourceState)
- [Lower Court Disagreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisagreement)
- [Reason for Granting Cert](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=certReason)
- [Lower Court Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisposition)
- [Lower Court Disposition Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDispositionDirection)
 Chronological Variables

- [Date of Decision](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateDecision)
- [Term of Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=term)
- [Natural Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=naturalCourt)
- [Chief Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=chief)
- [Date of Oral Argument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateArgument)
- [Date of Reargument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateRearg)
 Substantive Variables

- [Issue](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issue)
- [Issue Area](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issueArea)
- [Decision Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirection)
- [Decision Direction Dissent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirectionDissent)
- [Authority for Decision 1](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision1)
- [Authority for Decision 2](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision2)
- [Legal Provisions Considered by the Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawType)
- [Legal Provision Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawSupp)
- [Legal Provision Minor Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawMinor)
 Outcome Variables

- [Decision Type](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionType)
- [Declaration of Unconstitutionality](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=declarationUncon)
- [Disposition of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDisposition)
- [Unusual Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDispositionUnusual)
- [Winning Party](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=partyWinning)
- [Formal Alteration of Precedent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=precedentAlteration)
 Voting & Opinion Variables

- [Vote Not Clearly Specified](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteUnclear)
- [Majority Opinion Writer](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinWriter)
- [Majority Opinion Assigner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinAssigner)
- [Split Vote](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=splitVote)
- [Majority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majVotes)
- [Minority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=minVotes)
- [Justice ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice)
- [Justice Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justiceName)
- [The Vote in the Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=vote)
- [Opinion](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=opinion)
- [Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=direction)
- [Majority and Minority Voting by Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majority)
- [First Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=firstAgreement)
- [Second Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=secondAgreement)
- | | [CONTACT](http://scdb.wustl.edu/contact.php) | | [TOP](#top) |
| --- | ---------------------- | --- | ----------- |
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- image The Supreme Court Database has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. [Creative Commons License](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/)

| ![washu_logo](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/washu_logo.png) |
| ------------------------------------ |

---
meta-description: The Supreme Court Database is the definitive source for researchers, students, journalists, and citizens interested in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Database contains over two hundred pieces of information about each case decided by the Court between the 1946 and 2012 terms. Examples include the identity of the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed, the parties to the suit, the legal provisions considered in the case, and the votes of the Justices.
meta-generator: Coda
meta-keywords: supreme court, spaeth, database
title: The Supreme Court Database
---

| [![wulaw](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/wulaw.png)](http://law.wustl.edu) |  |
| -------------------------------------------------- | --- |

- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/index.php) image image image image
- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/about.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/analysis.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php)
- image
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- Online Code Book

- Petitioner

| **Variable Name** petitioner | **Spaeth Name** PARTY\_1 | **Normalizations** [311 [ view ]](#norms) |
| ------------------------------ | -------------------------- | -------------------------------------------- |

The next four variables identify the parties to the case. "Petitioner" refers to the party who petitioned the Supreme Court to review the case. This party is variously known as the petitioner or the appellant. "Respondent" refers to the party being sued or tried and is also known as the appellee. Variables "petitioner" and "respondent" provide detailed information about all parties, except the identity of the state if a state (or one of its subdivisions) is a party, petitioner and respondent variables note only whether a state is a party, not the state's name. See variables Petitioner State and Respondent State for the name.

The specific codes that appear below were created inductively, with petitioner and respondent characterized as the Court's opinion identifies them.

In describing the parties in the cases before it, the justices employ terminology that places them in the context of the litigation in which they are involved. Accordingly, an employer who happens to be a manufacturer will be identified as the former if its role in the litigation is that of an employer and as the latter if its role is that of a business. Because the justices describe litigants in this fashion, a fairly limited vocabulary characterizes them. Note that the list of parties also includes the list of administrative agencies and officials contained in administrative action preceding litigation.

Also note that the Court's characterization of the parties applies whether the petitioner and respondent are actually single entities or whether many other persons or legal entities have associated themselves with the lawsuit. That is, the presence of the phrase, et al., following the name of a party does not preclude the Court from characterizing that party as though it were a single entity. Thus, each docket number will show a single petitioner and a single respondent, regardless of how many legal entities were actually involved.

The decision rules governing the identification of parties are as follows.

1. Parties are identified by the labels given them in the opinion or judgment of the Court except where the Reports title a party as the "United States" or as a named state. Textual identification of parties is typically provided prior to Part I of the Court's opinion. The official syllabus, the summary that appears on the title page of the case, may be consulted as well. In describing the parties, the Court employs terminology that places them in the context of the specific lawsuit in which they are involved. E.g., "employer" rather than "business" in a suit by an employee; as a "minority," "female," or "minority female" employee rather than "employee" in a suit alleging discrimination by an employer.

2. Where a choice of identifications exists that which provides information not provided by the legal provision or the issue is chosen. E.g., a federal taxpayer or an attorney accused of a crime as taxpayer or attorney rather than accused person, particularly if neither the lawType nor the Issue variable identifies the case as a tax matter or one involving an attorney.

3. Identify the parties by reference to the following list and by the list of federal agencies provided in the adminAction variable.

**Values:**

| 1 | attorney general of the United States, or his office |
| --- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| 2 | specified state board or department of education |
| 3 | city, town, township, village, or borough government or governmental unit |
| 4 | state commission, board, committee, or authority |
| 5 | county government or county governmental unit, except school district |
| 6 | court or judicial district |
| 7 | state department or agency |
| 8 | governmental employee or job applicant |
| 9 | female governmental employee or job applicant |
| 10 | minority governmental employee or job applicant |
| 11 | minority female governmental employee or job applicant |
| 12 | not listed among agencies in the first Administrative Action variable |
| 13 | retired or former governmental employee |
| 14 | U.S. House of Representatives |
| 15 | interstate compact |
| 16 | judge |
| 17 | state legislature, house, or committee |
| 18 | local governmental unit other than a county, city, town, township, village, or borough |
| 19 | governmental official, or an official of an agency established under an interstate compact |
| 20 | state or U.S. supreme court |
| 21 | local school district or board of education |
| 22 | U.S. Senate |
| 23 | U.S. senator |
| 24 | foreign nation or instrumentality |
| 25 | state or local governmental taxpayer, or executor of the estate of |
| 26 | state college or university |
| 27 | United States |
| 28 | State |
| 100 | person accused, indicted, or suspected of crime |
| 101 | advertising business or agency |
| 102 | agent, fiduciary, trustee, or executor |
| 103 | airplane manufacturer, or manufacturer of parts of airplanes |
| 104 | airline |
| 105 | distributor, importer, or exporter of alcoholic beverages |
| 106 | alien, person subject to a denaturalization proceeding, or one whose citizenship is revoked |
| 107 | American Medical Association |
| 108 | National Railroad Passenger Corp. |
| 109 | amusement establishment, or recreational facility |
| 110 | arrested person, or pretrial detainee |
| 111 | attorney, or person acting as such;includes bar applicant or law student, or law firm or bar association |
| 112 | author, copyright holder |
| 113 | bank, savings and loan, credit union, investment company |
| 114 | bankrupt person or business, or business in reorganization |
| 115 | establishment serving liquor by the glass, or package liquor store |
| 116 | water transportation, stevedore |
| 117 | bookstore, newsstand, printer, bindery, purveyor or distributor of books or magazines |
| 118 | brewery, distillery |
| 119 | broker, stock exchange, investment or securities firm |
| 120 | construction industry |
| 121 | bus or motorized passenger transportation vehicle |
| 122 | business, corporation |
| 123 | buyer, purchaser |
| 124 | cable TV |
| 125 | car dealer |
| 126 | person convicted of crime |
| 127 | tangible property, other than real estate, including contraband |
| 128 | chemical company |
| 129 | child, children, including adopted or illegitimate |
| 130 | religious organization, institution, or person |
| 131 | private club or facility |
| 132 | coal company or coal mine operator |
| 133 | computer business or manufacturer, hardware or software |
| 134 | consumer, consumer organization |
| 135 | creditor, including institution appearing as such; e.g., a finance company |
| 136 | person allegedly criminally insane or mentally incompetent to stand trial |
| 137 | defendant |
| 138 | debtor |
| 139 | real estate developer |
| 140 | disabled person or disability benefit claimant |
| 141 | distributor |
| 142 | person subject to selective service, including conscientious objector |
| 143 | drug manufacturer |
| 144 | druggist, pharmacist, pharmacy |
| 145 | employee, or job applicant, including beneficiaries of |
| 146 | employer-employee trust agreement, employee health and welfare fund, or multi-employer pension plan |
| 147 | electric equipment manufacturer |
| 148 | electric or hydroelectric power utility, power cooperative, or gas and electric company |
| 149 | eleemosynary institution or person |
| 150 | environmental organization |
| 151 | employer. If employer's relations with employees are governed by the nature of the employer's business (e.g., railroad, boat), rather than labor law generally, the more specific designation is used in place of Employer. |
| 152 | farmer, farm worker, or farm organization |
| 153 | father |
| 154 | female employee or job applicant |
| 155 | female |
| 156 | movie, play, pictorial representation, theatrical production, actor, or exhibitor or distributor of |
| 157 | fisherman or fishing company |
| 158 | food, meat packing, or processing company, stockyard |
| 159 | foreign (non-American) nongovernmental entity |
| 160 | franchiser |
| 161 | franchisee |
| 162 | lesbian, gay, bisexual, transexual person or organization |
| 163 | person who guarantees another's obligations |
| 164 | handicapped individual, or organization of devoted to |
| 165 | health organization or person, nursing home, medical clinic or laboratory, chiropractor |
| 166 | heir, or beneficiary, or person so claiming to be |
| 167 | hospital, medical center |
| 168 | husband, or ex-husband |
| 169 | involuntarily committed mental patient |
| 170 | Indian, including Indian tribe or nation |
| 171 | insurance company, or surety |
| 172 | inventor, patent assigner, trademark owner or holder |
| 173 | investor |
| 174 | injured person or legal entity, nonphysically and non-employment related |
| 175 | juvenile |
| 176 | government contractor |
| 177 | holder of a license or permit, or applicant therefor |
| 178 | magazine |
| 179 | male |
| 180 | medical or Medicaid claimant |
| 181 | medical supply or manufacturing co. |
| 182 | racial or ethnic minority employee or job applicant |
| 183 | minority female employee or job applicant |
| 184 | manufacturer |
| 185 | management, executive officer, or director, of business entity |
| 186 | military personnel, or dependent of, including reservist |
| 187 | mining company or miner, excluding coal, oil, or pipeline company |
| 188 | mother |
| 189 | auto manufacturer |
| 190 | newspaper, newsletter, journal of opinion, news service |
| 191 | radio and television network, except cable tv |
| 192 | nonprofit organization or business |
| 193 | nonresident |
| 194 | nuclear power plant or facility |
| 195 | owner, landlord, or claimant to ownership, fee interest, or possession of land as well as chattels |
| 196 | shareholders to whom a tender offer is made |
| 197 | tender offer |
| 198 | oil company, or natural gas producer |
| 199 | elderly person, or organization dedicated to the elderly |
| 200 | out of state noncriminal defendant |
| 201 | political action committee |
| 202 | parent or parents |
| 203 | parking lot or service |
| 204 | patient of a health professional |
| 205 | telephone, telecommunications, or telegraph company |
| 206 | physician, MD or DO, dentist, or medical society |
| 207 | public interest organization |
| 208 | physically injured person, including wrongful death, who is not an employee |
| 209 | pipe line company |
| 210 | package, luggage, container |
| 211 | political candidate, activist, committee, party, party member, organization, or elected official |
| 212 | indigent, needy, welfare recipient |
| 213 | indigent defendant |
| 214 | private person |
| 215 | prisoner, inmate of penal institution |
| 216 | professional organization, business, or person |
| 217 | probationer, or parolee |
| 218 | protester, demonstrator, picketer or pamphleteer (non-employment related), or non-indigent loiterer |
| 219 | public utility |
| 220 | publisher, publishing company |
| 221 | radio station |
| 222 | racial or ethnic minority |
| 223 | person or organization protesting racial or ethnic segregation or discrimination |
| 224 | racial or ethnic minority student or applicant for admission to an educational institution |
| 225 | realtor |
| 226 | journalist, columnist, member of the news media |
| 227 | resident |
| 228 | restaurant, food vendor |
| 229 | retarded person, or mental incompetent |
| 230 | retired or former employee |
| 231 | railroad |
| 232 | private school, college, or university |
| 233 | seller or vendor |
| 234 | shipper, including importer and exporter |
| 235 | shopping center, mall |
| 236 | spouse, or former spouse |
| 237 | stockholder, shareholder, or bondholder |
| 238 | retail business or outlet |
| 239 | student, or applicant for admission to an educational institution |
| 240 | taxpayer or executor of taxpayer's estate, federal only |
| 241 | tenant or lessee |
| 242 | theater, studio |
| 243 | forest products, lumber, or logging company |
| 244 | person traveling or wishing to travel abroad, or overseas travel agent |
| 245 | trucking company, or motor carrier |
| 246 | television station |
| 247 | union member |
| 248 | unemployed person or unemployment compensation applicant or claimant |
| 249 | union, labor organization, or official of |
| 250 | veteran |
| 251 | voter, prospective voter, elector, or a nonelective official seeking reapportionment or redistricting of legislative districts (POL) |
| 252 | wholesale trade |
| 253 | wife, or ex-wife |
| 254 | witness, or person under subpoena |
| 255 | network |
| 256 | slave |
| 257 | slave-owner |
| 258 | bank of the united states |
| 259 | timber company |
| 260 | u.s. job applicants or employees |
| 301 | Army and Air Force Exchange Service |
| 302 | Atomic Energy Commission |
| 303 | Secretary or administrative unit or personnel of the U.S. Air Force |
| 304 | Department or Secretary of Agriculture |
| 305 | Alien Property Custodian |
| 306 | Secretary or administrative unit or personnel of the U.S. Army |
| 307 | Board of Immigration Appeals |
| 308 | Bureau of Indian Affairs |
| 310 | Bonneville Power Administration |
| 311 | Benefits Review Board |
| 312 | Civil Aeronautics Board |
| 313 | Bureau of the Census |
| 314 | Central Intelligence Agency |
| 315 | Commodity Futures Trading Commission |
| 316 | Department or Secretary of Commerce |
| 317 | Comptroller of Currency |
| 318 | Consumer Product Safety Commission |
| 319 | Civil Rights Commission |
| 320 | Civil Service Commission, U.S. |
| 321 | Customs Service or Commissioner of Customs |
| 322 | Defense Base Closure and REalignment Commission |
| 323 | Drug Enforcement Agency |
| 324 | Department or Secretary of Defense (and Department or Secretary of War) |
| 325 | Department or Secretary of Energy |
| 326 | Department or Secretary of the Interior |
| 327 | Department of Justice or Attorney General |
| 328 | Department or Secretary of State |
| 329 | Department or Secretary of Transportation |
| 330 | Department or Secretary of Education |
| 331 | U.S. Employees' Compensation Commission, or Commissioner |
| 332 | Equal Employment Opportunity Commission |
| 333 | Environmental Protection Agency or Administrator |
| 334 | Federal Aviation Agency or Administration |
| 335 | Federal Bureau of Investigation or Director |
| 336 | Federal Bureau of Prisons |
| 337 | Farm Credit Administration |
| 338 | Federal Communications Commission (including a predecessor, Federal Radio Commission) |
| 339 | Federal Credit Union Administration |
| 340 | Food and Drug Administration |
| 341 | Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation |
| 342 | Federal Energy Administration |
| 343 | Federal Election Commission |
| 344 | Federal Energy Regulatory Commission |
| 345 | Federal Housing Administration |
| 346 | Federal Home Loan Bank Board |
| 347 | Federal Labor Relations Authority |
| 348 | Federal Maritime Board |
| 349 | Federal Maritime Commission |
| 350 | Farmers Home Administration |
| 351 | Federal Parole Board |
| 352 | Federal Power Commission |
| 353 | Federal Railroad Administration |
| 354 | Federal Reserve Board of Governors |
| 355 | Federal Reserve System |
| 356 | Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation |
| 357 | Federal Trade Commission |
| 358 | Federal Works Administration, or Administrator |
| 359 | General Accounting Office |
| 360 | Comptroller General |
| 361 | General Services Administration |
| 362 | Department or Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare |
| 363 | Department or Secretary of Health and Human Services |
| 364 | Department or Secretary of Housing and Urban Development |
| 366 | Interstate Commerce Commission |
| 367 | Indian Claims Commission |
| 368 | Immigration and Naturalization Service, or Director of, or District Director of, or Immigration and Naturalization Enforcement |
| 369 | Internal Revenue Service, Collector, Commissioner, or District Director of |
| 370 | Information Security Oversight Office |
| 371 | Department or Secretary of Labor |
| 372 | Loyalty Review Board |
| 373 | Legal Services Corporation |
| 374 | Merit Systems Protection Board |
| 375 | Multistate Tax Commission |
| 376 | National Aeronautics and Space Administration |
| 377 | Secretary or administrative unit of the U.S. Navy |
| 378 | National Credit Union Administration |
| 379 | National Endowment for the Arts |
| 380 | National Enforcement Commission |
| 381 | National Highway Traffic Safety Administration |
| 382 | National Labor Relations Board, or regional office or officer |
| 383 | National Mediation Board |
| 384 | National Railroad Adjustment Board |
| 385 | Nuclear Regulatory Commission |
| 386 | National Security Agency |
| 387 | Office of Economic Opportunity |
| 388 | Office of Management and Budget |
| 389 | Office of Price Administration, or Price Administrator |
| 390 | Office of Personnel Management |
| 391 | Occupational Safety and Health Administration |
| 392 | Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission |
| 393 | Office of Workers' Compensation Programs |
| 394 | Patent Office, or Commissioner of, or Board of Appeals of |
| 395 | Pay Board (established under the Economic Stabilization Act of 1970) |
| 396 | Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation |
| 397 | U.S. Public Health Service |
| 398 | Postal Rate Commission |
| 399 | Provider Reimbursement Review Board |
| 400 | Renegotiation Board |
| 401 | Railroad Adjustment Board |
| 402 | Railroad Retirement Board |
| 403 | Subversive Activities Control Board |
| 404 | Small Business Administration |
| 405 | Securities and Exchange Commission |
| 406 | Social Security Administration or Commissioner |
| 407 | Selective Service System |
| 408 | Department or Secretary of the Treasury |
| 409 | Tennessee Valley Authority |
| 410 | United States Forest Service |
| 411 | United States Parole Commission |
| 412 | Postal Service and Post Office, or Postmaster General, or Postmaster |
| 413 | United States Sentencing Commission |
| 414 | Veterans' Administration |
| 415 | War Production Board |
| 416 | Wage Stabilization Board |
| 417 | General Land Office of Commissioners |
| 418 | Transportation Security Administration |
| 419 | Surface Transportation Board |
| 420 | U.S. Shipping Board Emergency Fleet Corp. |
| 421 | Reconstruction Finance Corp. |
| 422 | Department or Secretary of Homeland Security |
| 501 | Unidentifiable |
| 600 | International Entity | Introductory

- [Introduction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=intro)
- [Citing to the SCDB](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=cite)
 Identification Variables

- [SCDB Case ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseId)
- [SCDB Docket ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docketId)
- [SCDB Issues ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId)
- [SCDB Vote ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteId)
- [U.S. Reporter Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=usCite)
- [Supreme Court Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=sctCite)
- [Lawyers Edition Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=ledCite)
- [LEXIS Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lexisCite)
- [Docket Number](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docket)
 Background Variables

- [Case Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseName)
- [Petitioner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitioner)
- [Petitioner State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitionerState)
- [Respondent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondent)
- [Respondent State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondentState)
- [Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=jurisdiction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminAction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminActionState)
- [Three-Judge District Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc)
- [Origin of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOrigin)
- [Origin of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOriginState)
- [Source of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSource)
- [Source of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSourceState)
- [Lower Court Disagreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisagreement)
- [Reason for Granting Cert](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=certReason)
- [Lower Court Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisposition)
- [Lower Court Disposition Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDispositionDirection)
 Chronological Variables

- [Date of Decision](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateDecision)
- [Term of Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=term)
- [Natural Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=naturalCourt)
- [Chief Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=chief)
- [Date of Oral Argument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateArgument)
- [Date of Reargument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateRearg)
 Substantive Variables

- [Issue](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issue)
- [Issue Area](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issueArea)
- [Decision Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirection)
- [Decision Direction Dissent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirectionDissent)
- [Authority for Decision 1](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision1)
- [Authority for Decision 2](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision2)
- [Legal Provisions Considered by the Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawType)
- [Legal Provision Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawSupp)
- [Legal Provision Minor Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawMinor)
 Outcome Variables

- [Decision Type](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionType)
- [Declaration of Unconstitutionality](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=declarationUncon)
- [Disposition of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDisposition)
- [Unusual Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDispositionUnusual)
- [Winning Party](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=partyWinning)
- [Formal Alteration of Precedent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=precedentAlteration)
 Voting & Opinion Variables

- [Vote Not Clearly Specified](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteUnclear)
- [Majority Opinion Writer](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinWriter)
- [Majority Opinion Assigner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinAssigner)
- [Split Vote](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=splitVote)
- [Majority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majVotes)
- [Minority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=minVotes)
- [Justice ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice)
- [Justice Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justiceName)
- [The Vote in the Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=vote)
- [Opinion](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=opinion)
- [Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=direction)
- [Majority and Minority Voting by Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majority)
- [First Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=firstAgreement)
- [Second Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=secondAgreement)
- | | [CONTACT](http://scdb.wustl.edu/contact.php) | | [TOP](#top) |
| --- | ---------------------- | --- | ----------- |
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- image The Supreme Court Database has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. [Creative Commons License](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/)

| ![washu_logo](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/washu_logo.png) |
| ------------------------------------ |

---
meta-description: The Supreme Court Database is the definitive source for researchers, students, journalists, and citizens interested in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Database contains over two hundred pieces of information about each case decided by the Court between the 1946 and 2012 terms. Examples include the identity of the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed, the parties to the suit, the legal provisions considered in the case, and the votes of the Justices.
meta-generator: Coda
meta-keywords: supreme court, spaeth, database
title: The Supreme Court Database
---

| [![wulaw](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/wulaw.png)](http://law.wustl.edu) |  |
| -------------------------------------------------- | --- |

- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/index.php) image image image image
- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/about.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/analysis.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php)
- image
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- Online Code Book

- Lower Court Disposition Direction

| **Variable Name** lcDispositionDirection | **Spaeth Name** LCTDIR | **Normalizations** [3 [ view ]](#norms) |
| ------------------------------------------ | ------------------------ | ------------------------------------------ |

This variable specifies whether the decision of the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed was itself liberal or conservative as these terms are defined in the direction of decision variable (decisionDirection).

lcDispositionDirection permits determination of whether the Supreme Court's disposition of the case upheld or overturned a liberal or a conservative lower court decision.

With some adjustments, we coded this variable according to the following rules:
- If issue has a private law entry (140010-140080) and the direction of the Court's decision (decisionDirection) is unspecifiable, then the lower court's direction is unspecifiable.
- If issue has an interstate relations (110010-110030) or miscellaneous (130010, 130020) entry and decisionDirection is unspecifiable, then the lower court's direction is unspecifiable.
- If jurisdiction is original or certification, then the lower court's direction is unspecifiable.
- If the Supreme Court affirmed or dismissed the case, then the lower court's direction is the same as the Supreme Court's direction.
- If the Supreme Court reversed, reversed and remanded, vacated and remanded, or remanded, then the lower court's direction is the opposite and not the same as the Supreme Court's direction. For example, if the Supreme Court reversed and its decision is liberal then the lower court's direction is conservative.


Cases remaining after imposing these rules were hand coded.


Also see disposition of case by the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed (lcDisposition), direction of decision (decisionDirection), disposition of case (caseDisposition), and winning party (partyWinning).

**Values:**

| 1 | conservative |
| --- | ------------- |
| 2 | liberal |
| 3 | unspecifiable | Introductory

- [Introduction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=intro)
- [Citing to the SCDB](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=cite)
 Identification Variables

- [SCDB Case ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseId)
- [SCDB Docket ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docketId)
- [SCDB Issues ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId)
- [SCDB Vote ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteId)
- [U.S. Reporter Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=usCite)
- [Supreme Court Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=sctCite)
- [Lawyers Edition Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=ledCite)
- [LEXIS Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lexisCite)
- [Docket Number](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docket)
 Background Variables

- [Case Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseName)
- [Petitioner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitioner)
- [Petitioner State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitionerState)
- [Respondent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondent)
- [Respondent State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondentState)
- [Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=jurisdiction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminAction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminActionState)
- [Three-Judge District Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc)
- [Origin of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOrigin)
- [Origin of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOriginState)
- [Source of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSource)
- [Source of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSourceState)
- [Lower Court Disagreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisagreement)
- [Reason for Granting Cert](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=certReason)
- [Lower Court Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisposition)
- [Lower Court Disposition Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDispositionDirection)
 Chronological Variables

- [Date of Decision](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateDecision)
- [Term of Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=term)
- [Natural Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=naturalCourt)
- [Chief Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=chief)
- [Date of Oral Argument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateArgument)
- [Date of Reargument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateRearg)
 Substantive Variables

- [Issue](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issue)
- [Issue Area](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issueArea)
- [Decision Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirection)
- [Decision Direction Dissent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirectionDissent)
- [Authority for Decision 1](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision1)
- [Authority for Decision 2](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision2)
- [Legal Provisions Considered by the Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawType)
- [Legal Provision Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawSupp)
- [Legal Provision Minor Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawMinor)
 Outcome Variables

- [Decision Type](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionType)
- [Declaration of Unconstitutionality](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=declarationUncon)
- [Disposition of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDisposition)
- [Unusual Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDispositionUnusual)
- [Winning Party](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=partyWinning)
- [Formal Alteration of Precedent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=precedentAlteration)
 Voting & Opinion Variables

- [Vote Not Clearly Specified](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteUnclear)
- [Majority Opinion Writer](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinWriter)
- [Majority Opinion Assigner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinAssigner)
- [Split Vote](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=splitVote)
- [Majority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majVotes)
- [Minority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=minVotes)
- [Justice ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice)
- [Justice Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justiceName)
- [The Vote in the Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=vote)
- [Opinion](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=opinion)
- [Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=direction)
- [Majority and Minority Voting by Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majority)
- [First Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=firstAgreement)
- [Second Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=secondAgreement)
- | | [CONTACT](http://scdb.wustl.edu/contact.php) | | [TOP](#top) |
| --- | ---------------------- | --- | ----------- |
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- image The Supreme Court Database has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. [Creative Commons License](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/)

| ![washu_logo](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/washu_logo.png) |
| ------------------------------------ |

---
meta-description: The Supreme Court Database is the definitive source for researchers, students, journalists, and citizens interested in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Database contains over two hundred pieces of information about each case decided by the Court between the 1946 and 2012 terms. Examples include the identity of the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed, the parties to the suit, the legal provisions considered in the case, and the votes of the Justices.
meta-generator: Coda
meta-keywords: supreme court, spaeth, database
title: The Supreme Court Database
---

| [![wulaw](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/wulaw.png)](http://law.wustl.edu) |  |
| -------------------------------------------------- | --- |

- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/index.php) image image image image
- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/about.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/analysis.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php)
- image
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- Online Code Book

- Authority for Decision 2

| **Variable Name** authorityDecision2 | **Spaeth Name** AUTHDEC2 | **Normalizations** [7 [ view ]](#norms) |
| -------------------------------------- | -------------------------- | ------------------------------------------ |

See variable Authority for Decision 1 (authorityDecision1).

**Values:**

| 1 | judicial review (national level) |
| --- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| 2 | judicial review (state level) |
| 3 | Supreme Court supervision of lower federal or state courts or original jurisdiction |
| 4 | statutory construction |
| 5 | interpretation of administrative regulation or rule, or executive order |
| 6 | diversity jurisdiction |
| 7 | federal common law | Introductory

- [Introduction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=intro)
- [Citing to the SCDB](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=cite)
 Identification Variables

- [SCDB Case ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseId)
- [SCDB Docket ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docketId)
- [SCDB Issues ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId)
- [SCDB Vote ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteId)
- [U.S. Reporter Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=usCite)
- [Supreme Court Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=sctCite)
- [Lawyers Edition Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=ledCite)
- [LEXIS Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lexisCite)
- [Docket Number](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docket)
 Background Variables

- [Case Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseName)
- [Petitioner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitioner)
- [Petitioner State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitionerState)
- [Respondent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondent)
- [Respondent State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondentState)
- [Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=jurisdiction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminAction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminActionState)
- [Three-Judge District Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc)
- [Origin of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOrigin)
- [Origin of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOriginState)
- [Source of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSource)
- [Source of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSourceState)
- [Lower Court Disagreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisagreement)
- [Reason for Granting Cert](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=certReason)
- [Lower Court Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisposition)
- [Lower Court Disposition Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDispositionDirection)
 Chronological Variables

- [Date of Decision](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateDecision)
- [Term of Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=term)
- [Natural Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=naturalCourt)
- [Chief Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=chief)
- [Date of Oral Argument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateArgument)
- [Date of Reargument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateRearg)
 Substantive Variables

- [Issue](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issue)
- [Issue Area](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issueArea)
- [Decision Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirection)
- [Decision Direction Dissent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirectionDissent)
- [Authority for Decision 1](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision1)
- [Authority for Decision 2](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision2)
- [Legal Provisions Considered by the Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawType)
- [Legal Provision Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawSupp)
- [Legal Provision Minor Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawMinor)
 Outcome Variables

- [Decision Type](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionType)
- [Declaration of Unconstitutionality](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=declarationUncon)
- [Disposition of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDisposition)
- [Unusual Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDispositionUnusual)
- [Winning Party](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=partyWinning)
- [Formal Alteration of Precedent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=precedentAlteration)
 Voting & Opinion Variables

- [Vote Not Clearly Specified](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteUnclear)
- [Majority Opinion Writer](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinWriter)
- [Majority Opinion Assigner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinAssigner)
- [Split Vote](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=splitVote)
- [Majority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majVotes)
- [Minority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=minVotes)
- [Justice ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice)
- [Justice Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justiceName)
- [The Vote in the Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=vote)
- [Opinion](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=opinion)
- [Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=direction)
- [Majority and Minority Voting by Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majority)
- [First Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=firstAgreement)
- [Second Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=secondAgreement)
- | | [CONTACT](http://scdb.wustl.edu/contact.php) | | [TOP](#top) |
| --- | ---------------------- | --- | ----------- |
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- image The Supreme Court Database has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. [Creative Commons License](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/)

| ![washu_logo](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/washu_logo.png) |
| ------------------------------------ |

retrying: ['dateRearg', 'petitioner', 'lcDispositionDirection', 'authorityDecision2']
dateRearg ok
petitioner ok
lcDispositionDirection ok
authorityDecision2 ok
remaining errors: []

caseId: 179
docketId: 382
caseIssuesId: 494
voteId: 723
dateDecision: 483
decisionType: 4680
usCite: 1379
sctCite: 128
ledCite: 119
lexisCite: 130
term: 901
naturalCourt: 8590
chief: 480
docket: 2167
caseName: 788
dateArgument: 668
dateRearg: 307
petitioner: 18676
petitionerState: 2822
respondent: 15477
respondentState: 2475
jurisdiction: 1457
adminAction: 8185
adminActionState: 1729
threeJudgeFdc: 760
caseOrigin: 14089
caseOriginState: 1532
caseSource: 11021
caseSourceState: 1452
lcDisagreement: 1728
certReason: 1115
lcDisposition: 2206
lcDispositionDirection: 1873
declarationUncon: 1871
caseDisposition: 0
caseDispositionUnusual: 569
partyWinning: 1357
precedentAlteration: 2328
voteUnclear: 1341
issue: 46790
issueArea: 1684
decisionDirection: 5809
decisionDirectionDissent: 1379
authorityDecision1: 0
authorityDecision2: 620
lawType: 9911
lawSupp: 11304
lawMinor: 347
majOpinWriter: 8331
majOpinAssigner: 9341
splitVote: 615
majVotes: 1543
minVotes: 426
justice: 9326
justiceName: 8495
vote: 3666
opinion: 2939
direction: 523
majority: 447
firstAgreement: 8607
secondAgreement: 8359

===== caseDisposition


===== authorityDecision1

=====  caseDisposition len 2379
'CDB Web 101\nOnline Code Book\n\nDisposition of Case\nVariable Name\nSpaeth Name\n11 [ view ]\n\nThe treatment the Supreme Court accorded the court whose decision it reviewed is contained in this variable; e.g., affirmed, vacated, reversed and remanded, etc. The values here are the same as those for lcDisposition (how the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed disposed of the case). For original jurisdiction cases, this variable will be empty unless the Court\'s disposition falls under 1 or 9 below (stay, petition, or motion granted; petition denied or appeal dismissed). For cases in which the Court granted a motion to dismiss, caseDisposition is coded as 9 (petition denied or appeal dismissed). There is "no disposition" if the Court denied'

=====  authorityDecision1 len 6920
"eb 101\nOnline Code Book\n\nAuthority for Decision 1\nVariable Name\nSpaeth Name\n7 [ view ]\n\nThis variable and the next one (authorityDecision2) specify the bases on which the Supreme Court rested its decision with regard to each legal provision that the Court considered in the case (see variable lawType).\n\nNeither of them lends itself to objectivity. Many cases arguably rest on more than two bases for decision. Given\nthat the Court's citation of its precedents also qualifies as a common law decision and that most every case can be considered as at least partially based thereon, common law is the default basis for the Court's decisions. With the exception of decrees and brief non-orally argued decisions you may safely add common law to those cas"

### caseDisposition


### authorityDecision1


### issue
](#norms) This variable identifies the issue for each decision. Although criteria for the identification of issues are hard to articulate, the focus here is on the subject matter of the controversy (e.g., sex discrimination, state tax, affirmative action) rather than its legal basis (e.g., the equal protection clause) (see the variable lawType). This variable and its counterpart, issue area, cover the waterfront of the Court's decisions.

### issueArea
](#norms) ----------------------------- ----------------------- ------------------------------------------- This variable simply separates the issues identified in the preceding variable (issue) into the following larger categories: criminal procedure (issues 10010-10600), civil rights (issues 20010-20410), First Amendment (issues 30010-30020), due process (issues 40010-40070), privacy (issues 50010-50040), attorneys' or governmental officials' fees or compensation (issues …

### petitioner
](#norms) ------------------------------ -------------------------- -------------------------------------------- The next four variables identify the parties to the case. "Petitioner" refers to the party who petitioned the Supreme Court to review the case. This party is variously known as the petitioner or the appellant. "Respondent" refers to the party being sued or tried and is also known as the appellee.

### vote
](#norms) ------------------------ ------------------------------ ------------------------------------------ This variable provides information about each justice's vote in the case. It appears in the Justice Centered Datasets only. A regular concurrence is when the justice agrees with the Court's opinion as well as its disposition. A special concurence (i.e., a concurence in the judgment) is when the justice agrees with the Court's disposition but not its opinion.

### decisionDirection
](#norms) In order to determine whether the Court supports or opposes the issue to which the case pertains, this variable codes the ideological "direction" of the decision. Specification of direction comports with conventional usage for the most part except for the interstate relations, private law, and the miscellaneous issues.

### naturalCourt
](#norms) Although most judicial research is chronologically organized by the term of the Court or by chief justice, many users employ "natural courts" as their analytical frame of reference. A natural court is a period during which no personnel change occurs. Scholars have subdivided them into "strong" and "weak" natural courts, but no convention exists as to the dates on which they begin and end.

STILL EMPTY: []
### caseDisposition
The treatment the Supreme Court accorded the court whose decision it reviewed is contained in this variable; e.g., affirmed, vacated, reversed and remanded, etc. The values here are the same as those for lcDisposition (how the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed disposed of the case). For original jurisdiction cases, this variable will be empty unless the Court's disposition falls under 1 or 9 below (stay, petition, or motion granted; petition denied or appeal dismissed).

### authorityDecision1
This variable and the next one (authorityDecision2) specify the bases on which the Supreme Court rested its decision with regard to each legal provision that the Court considered in the case (see variable lawType). Neither of them lends itself to objectivity. Many cases arguably rest on more than two bases for decision.

### issueArea
This variable simply separates the issues identified in the preceding variable (issue) into the following larger categories: criminal procedure (issues 10010-10600), civil rights (issues 20010-20410), First Amendment (issues 30010-30020), due process (issues 40010-40070), privacy (issues 50010-50040), attorneys' or governmental officials' fees or compensation (issues 60010-60040), unions (issues 70010-70210), economic activity (issues 80010-80350), judicial power (issues 90010-90520), federalism (issues …

### caseId
This is the first of four unique internal identification numbers. The first four digits are the term. The next four are the case within the term (starting at 001 and counting up).

### term
This variable identifies the term in which the Court handed down its decision. For cases argued in one term and reargued and decided in the next, term indicates the latter. Historically, the nature of how a term is defined has changed. Below is a listing of the more significant changes to the term definitions over time.

### majority
Analysts commonly want to know the frequency with which given justices vote with the majority and/or in dissent overall or in certain sets of circumstances. This variable provides that information for each justice. This variable appears in the Justice Centered Datasets only. **Values:** 1 dissent 2 majority

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.11/asyncio/runners.py", line 190, in run
    return runner.run(main)
           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.11/asyncio/runners.py", line 118, in run
    return self._loop.run_until_complete(task)
           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.11/asyncio/base_events.py", line 654, in run_until_complete
    return future.result()
           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/tmp/srvtoolu_01CscNdxUS5557CAE6YN9Ttq/cell.py", line 20, in <module>
    res = await set_cell_range({
                ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
NameError: name 'set_cell_range' is not defined

["This is the first of four unique internal identification numbers. The first four digits are the term. The next four are the case within the term (starting at 001 and counting up).", "This is the second of four unique internal identification numbers. The first four digits are the term. The next four are the case within the term (starting at 001 and counting up). The last two are the number of dockets consolidated under the U.S. Reports citation (starting at 01 and counting up).", "This is the third of four unique internal identification numbers. The first four digits are the term. The next four are the case within the term (starting at 001 and counting up). The next two are the number of dockets consolidated under the U.S. Reports citation (starting at 01 and counting up). The last two are the number of issues and legal provisions within the case (starting at 01 and counting up).", "This is the fourth of four unique internal identification numbers. The first four digits are the term. The next four are the case within the term (starting at 001 and counting up). The next two are the number of dockets consolidated under the U.S. Reports citation (starting at 01 and counting up). The next two are the number of issues and legal provisions within the case (starting at 01 and counting up). The next two indicate a split vote within an issue or legal provision (01 for only one vote;", "This variable contains the year, month, and day that the Court announced its decision in the case. For volumes 2-107 of the U.S. Reports (1791-1882), we relied on Dates of Supreme Court Decisions and Arguments (http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/datesofdecisions.pdf), prepared by Anne Ashmore of the Library of the Supreme Court, because many early reporters do not list the date of decision.", "Type=1: Cases the Court decides by a signed opinion. Note that for the 1946 terms to present, decisionType=1 cases are those that the Court decided by a signed opinion and in which it heard oral arguments. This is true for the 1791-1945 terms too. When both these conditions are met, the case is coded as decisionType=1. But the second condition—oral argument—is no longer necessary for a decisionType=1 classification.", "The next four variables provide the citation to each case from the official United States Reports (US) and the three major unofficial Reports, the Supreme Court Reporter (S.CT), the Lawyers' Edition of the United States Reports(LEd), and the LEXIS cite. Especially note that these four Reporters are not identical in the cases they report. Slight differences exist among the per curiam and non-orally argued decisions and whether or not multiple citations accompany the lead decision under the original citation.", "See variable U.S. Reporter Citation (usCite).", "See variable U.S. Reporter Citation.", "See variable U.S. Reporter Citation (usCite).", "This variable identifies the term in which the Court handed down its decision. For cases argued in one term and reargued and decided in the next, term indicates the latter. Historically, the nature of how a term is defined has changed. Below is a listing of the more significant changes to the term definitions over time.", "Although most judicial research is chronologically organized by the term of the Court or by chief justice, many users employ \"natural courts\" as their analytical frame of reference. A natural court is a period during which no personnel change occurs. Scholars have subdivided them into \"strong\" and \"weak\" natural courts, but no convention exists as to the dates on which they begin and end.", "This variable identifies the chief justice during whose tenure the case was decided. **Values:** 1 Jay 2 Rutledge 3 Ellsworth 4 Marshall 5 Taney 6 Chase 7 Waite 8 Fuller 9 White 10 Taft 11 Hughes 12 Stone 13 Vinson 14 Warren 15 Burger 16 Rehnquist 17 Roberts", "This variable contains the docket number that the Supreme Court has assigned to the case. Prior to the first two terms of the Burger Court (1969-1970), different cases coming to the Court in different terms could have the same docket number. The Court eliminated the possibility of such duplication by including the last two digits of the appropriate term before the assigned docket number. Since the 1971 Term, the Court has also operated with a single docket.", "This is the name of the case. We derived the post-heritage names from WESTLAW and then did a bit of tidying so that they appear in a consistent format. With the exception of various Latin phrases and abbreviations, all words are now in upper case. The names of the heritage cases are taken from the LAWYERS' EDITION of the Reports. If you are searching for a particular case and do not find it, it likely results because of a variant name. The citation of the case should, however, enable you to find the desired case.", "This variable contains the day, month, and year that the case was orally argued before the Court. dateArgument has no entry for cases that were not orally argued. For volumes 2-107 of the U.S. Reports (1791-1882), we used Dates of Supreme Court Decisions and Arguments (http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/datesofdecisions.pdf), prepared by Anne Ashmore of the Library of the Supreme Court, because many of the early reports do not list the date of argument.", "On those infrequent occasions when the Court orders that a case be reargued, this variable specifies the date of such argument following the same day, month, and year sequence used in the preceding variable (dateArgue).", "The next four variables identify the parties to the case. \"Petitioner\" refers to the party who petitioned the Supreme Court to review the case. This party is variously known as the petitioner or the appellant. \"Respondent\" refers to the party being sued or tried and is also known as the appellee.", "This variable identifies the state if the state or any one of the below is the petitioner. The exceptions are courts, judicial districts, or judges. If they are federal courts or federal judges, the \"state\" is always the United States. The same holds for other federal employees or officials.", "See Petitioner variable. **Values:** 1 attorney general of the United States, or his office 2 specified state board or department of education 3 city, town, township, village, or borough government or governmental unit 4 state commission, board, committee, or authority 5 county government or county governmental unit, except school district 6 court or judicial district 7 state department or agency 8 governmental employee or job applicant 9 female governmental employee or job applicant 10 minority governmental …", "This variable identifies the state if the state or any one of the following is the respondent: - specified state board or department of education - city, town, township, village, or borough government or governmental unit - state commission, board, committee, or authority - county government or county governmental unit - state department or agency - court or judicial district - governmental employee or job applicant - female governmental employee or job applicant - minority governmental employee or job applicant - …", "The Court uses a variety of means whereby it undertakes to consider cases that it has been petitioned to review. These are listed below. The most important ones are the writ of certiorari, the writ of appeal, and for legacy cases the writ of error, appeal, and certification. A few notes are in order. First, there are handful of cases that fall into more than one category. Marbury v. Madison, 5 U.S. 137 (1803), for example, was an original jurisdiction and a mandamus case.", "This variable pertains to administrative agency activity occurring prior to the onset of litigation. Note that the activity may involve an administrative official as well as that of an agency. The general rule for an entry in this variable is whether administrative action occurred in the context of the case. Note too that this variable identifies the specific federal agency. If the action occurred in a state agency, adminAction is coded as 117 (State Agency).", "Administrative action may be either state or federal. If administrative action was taken by a state or a subdivision thereof, this variable identifies the state. See adminAction for federal agencies and for the coding rules. When a state agency or official acts as an agent of a federal agency, it is identified as such.", "This variable will be checked if the case was heard by a three-judge federal district court (occasionally called “as specially constituted district court”). Beginning in the early 1900s, Congress required three-judge district courts to hear certain kinds of cases. More modern-day legislation has reduced the kinds of lawsuits that must be heard by such a court. As a result, the frequency is less for the Burger Court than for the Warren Court, and all but nonexistent for the Rehnquist and Roberts Courts.", "The focus of this variable is the court in which the case originated, not the administrative agency (see adminAction and adminActionState). For this reason a number of cases show a state or federal appellate court as the one in which the case originated rather than a court of first instance (trial court). This variable has no entry for cases that originated in the United States Supreme Court. Note too that caseOrigin does not identify the name of the state if the case originated in a state court.", "If the case originated in a state court, this variable identifies the state. For more details, see the variable caseOrigin.", "This variable identifies the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed. If the case originated in the same court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed, the entry in the caseOrigin should be the same as here. This variable has no entry if the case arose under the Supreme Court's original jurisdiction. If caseSource is a state court, the value of this variable will be 300 (State Supreme Court), 302 (State Appellate Court) or 303 (State Trial Court).", "If the source of the case (i.e., the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed) is a state court, this variable identifies the state. See also Source of Case (caseSource).", "An entry in this variable indicates that the Supreme Court's majority opinion mentioned that one or more of the members of the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed dissented. The presence of such disagreement is limited to a statement to this effect somewhere in the majority opinion. I.e, \"divided,\" \"dissented,\" \"disagreed,\" \"split.\" A reference, without more, to the \"majority\" or \"plurality\" does not necessarily evidence dissent. The other judges may have concurred.", "This variable provides the reason, if any, that the Court gives for granting the petition for certiorari. If the case did not arise on certiorari, this variable will be so coded even if the Court provides a reason why it agreed to hear the case. The Court, however, rarely provides a reason for taking jurisdiction by writs other than certiorari.", "This variable specifies the treatment the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed accorded the decision of the court it reviewed; e.g., whether the court below the Supreme Court typically a federal court of appeals or a state supreme court affirmed, reversed, remanded, etc. the decision of the court it reviewed typically a trial court.", "This variable specifies whether the decision of the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed was itself liberal or conservative as these terms are defined in the direction of decision variable (decisionDirection). lcDispositionDirection permits determination of whether the Supreme Court's disposition of the case upheld or overturned a liberal or a conservative lower court decision.", "An entry in this variable indicates that the Court either declared unconstitutional an act of Congress; a state or territorial statute, regulation, or constitutional provision; or a municipal or other local ordinance. In coding this variable we consulted several sources. Most helpful was the Congressional Research Service's Constitution of the United States of America: Analysis and Interpretation (CONAN) (https://www.congress.gov/constitution-annotated) and the appendix to volume 131 of the U.S. Reports.", "The treatment the Supreme Court accorded the court whose decision it reviewed is contained in this variable; e.g., affirmed, vacated, reversed and remanded, etc. The values here are the same as those for lcDisposition (how the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed disposed of the case). For original jurisdiction cases, this variable will be empty unless the Court's disposition falls under 1 or 9 below (stay, petition, or motion granted; petition denied or appeal dismissed).", "An entry (1) will appear in this variable to signify that the Court made an unusual disposition of the cited case which does not match the coding scheme of the preceding variable. The disposition that appears closest to the unusual one made by the Court should be selected for inclusion in the preceding variable, caseDisposition. **Values:** 0 no unusual disposition specified 1 unusual disposition", "This variable indicates whether the petitioning party (i.e., the plaintiff or the appellant) emerged victorious. The victory the Supreme Court provided the petitioning party may not have been total and complete (e.g., by vacating and remanding the matter rather than an unequivocal reversal), but the disposition is nonetheless a favorable one.", "A \"1\" will appear in this variable if the majority opinion effectively says that the decision in this case \"overruled\" one or more of the Court's own precedents. Occasionally, in the absence of language in the prevailing opinion, the dissent will state clearly and persuasively that precedents have been formally altered: e.g., the two landmark reapportionment cases: Baker v. Carr, 369 U.S. 186 (1962), and Gray v. Sanders, 372 U.S. 368 (1963).", "The votes in a case are those specified in the opinions. Do note, however, that the majority opinion in a number of Marshall Court decisions reports that unnamed justices were in disagreement about the resolution of the case. These do not identify who the dissenters were. We, therefore, look to the majority opinion itself to specify who voted how. In the vast majority of cases, the individual justices clearly indicate whether or not they agree with the disposition made by the majority.", "This variable identifies the issue for each decision. Although criteria for the identification of issues are hard to articulate, the focus here is on the subject matter of the controversy (e.g., sex discrimination, state tax, affirmative action) rather than its legal basis (e.g., the equal protection clause) (see the variable lawType). This variable and its counterpart, issue area, cover the waterfront of the Court's decisions. However, neither of them provide the specificity that users commonly want.", "This variable simply separates the issues identified in the preceding variable (issue) into the following larger categories: criminal procedure (issues 10010-10600), civil rights (issues 20010-20410), First Amendment (issues 30010-30020), due process (issues 40010-40070), privacy (issues 50010-50040), attorneys' or governmental officials' fees or compensation (issues 60010-60040), unions (issues 70010-70210), economic activity (issues 80010-80350), judicial power (issues 90010-90520), federalism (issues …", "In order to determine whether the Court supports or opposes the issue to which the case pertains, this variable codes the ideological \"direction\" of the decision. Specification of direction comports with conventional usage for the most part except for the interstate relations, private law, and the miscellaneous issues.", "Once in a great while the majority as well as the dissenting opinion in a case will both support or, conversely, oppose the issue to which the case pertains. For example, the majority and the dissent may both assert that the rights of a person accused of crime have been violated. The only difference between them is that the majority votes to reverse the accused's conviction and remand the case for a new trial, while the dissent holds that the accused's conviction should be reversed, period.", "This variable and the next one (authorityDecision2) specify the bases on which the Supreme Court rested its decision with regard to each legal provision that the Court considered in the case (see variable lawType). Neither of them lends itself to objectivity. Many cases arguably rest on more than two bases for decision.", "See variable Authority for Decision 1 (authorityDecision1). **Values:** 1 judicial review (national level) 2 judicial review (state level) 3 Supreme Court supervision of lower federal or state courts or original jurisdiction 4 statutory construction 5 interpretation of administrative regulation or rule, or executive order 6 diversity jurisdiction 7 federal common law", "This variable and its components (lawSupp and lawMinor) identify the constitutional provision(s), statute(s), or court rule(s) that the Court considered in the case. The difference between them is that lawSupp and lawMinor are coded finely; they identify the specific law, constitutional provision or rule at issue (e.g., Article I, Section 1; the Federal Election Campaign Act; the Federal Rules of Evidence). lawType is coded more broadly (e.g., constitution, federal statute, court rules).", "See variable Legal Provisions Considered by the Court. **Values:** 100 Article I, Section 1 (delegation of powers) 101 Article I, Section 10 (state bill of attainder, ex post facto law, or bills of credit) 102 Article I, Section 2, Paragraph 1 (composition of the House of Representatives) 103 Article I, Section 2, Paragraph 3 (apportionment of Representatives) 104 Article I, Section 4, Paragraph 1 (elections clause) 105 Article I, Section 5, Paragraph 1 (congressional qualifications) 106 Article I, Section 6, …", "This variable, lawMinor, is reserved for infrequently litigated statutes. Statutes substantially absent from the decision making of the modern Courts will be found in this variable. For these, lawMinor identifies the law at issue. Note: This is a string variable.", "This variable identifies the author of the Court's opinion or judgment, as the case may be. *Note: This variable relies on the Justices ID for its values. For a more detailed description of these identifiers, please visit the [detail page for the Justices variable](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice).", "This variable identifies the assigner of the opinion or judgment of the Court, as the case may be. These data are drawn from the membership in the final (report vote) coalition and from the rules governing opinion assignment: If the chief justice is a member of the majority vote coalition at the conference vote, he assigns the opinion; if not, the senior associate justice who is a member of the majority at the conference vote does so.", "This variable indicates whether the vote variables (e.g., majVotes, minVotes) pertain to the vote on the first or second issue (or legal provision). Because split votes are so rare over 99 percent of the votes are on the first issue. Users interested in analyzing cases with split votes should use the dataset that organizes cases by legal provision and split votes. **Values:** 1 first vote on issue/legal provision 2 second vote on issue/legal provision", "This variable specifies the number of justices voting in the majority; minVotes indicates the number of justices voting in dissent. In non-legacy cases, a quorum requires the participation of six justices for a decision on the merits. The number that appears in this variable pertains to the number of justices who agree with the disposition made by the majority (see caseDisposition) and not to the justices' vote on any particular issue in the case. Thus, for example, in Bates v. Arizona State Bar, 433 U.S.", "This variable specifies the number of votes in dissent. Only dissents on the merits are specified in this variable. Justices who dissent from a denial or dismissal of certiorari or who disagree with the Court's assertion of jurisdiction count as not participating in the decision. For more details, see the variable Majority Votes (majVotes).", "This variable provides a unique identification number for each of the justices. Even though several justices served as both associate and chief justice they receive only one identification number. This variable appears in the Justice Centered Datasets only. Some notes about the organization of the justice ids. 1. The numeric value on the left is the unique identifier. 2. The shortened name to the right of the numeric (e.g. JJay) is for readability.", "This is a string variable indicating the first initial for the five justices with a common surname (Harlan, Johnson, Marshall, Roberts, and White) and last name of each justice. This variable appears in the Justice Centered Datasets only. *Note: This is a denormalized, human-readable version of the justice ID variable. For a more detailed description of these identifiers, please visit the [detail page for the Justices variable](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice).", "This variable provides information about each justice's vote in the case. It appears in the Justice Centered Datasets only. A regular concurrence is when the justice agrees with the Court's opinion as well as its disposition. A special concurence (i.e., a concurence in the judgment) is when the justice agrees with the Court's disposition but not its opinion. A jurisdictional dissent is when the justice disagrees with the Court's assertion or denial of jurisdiction. Such votes are counted as nonparticipations.", "This variable indicates the opinion, if any, that the justice wrote. It appears in the Justice Centered Datasets only. Because determination of whether a justice wrote an opinion is no simple matter, rules must be formulated. 1. A justice authors no opinion unless he or she specifies a reason for his or her vote. A bare citation to a previously decided case or a simple statement that the author concurs or dissents because of agreement with a lower court's opinion suffices as an opinion 2.", "This variable indicates whether the justice cast a liberal or conservative vote. For the definitions of liberal and conservative, see variable decisionDirection. A missing value code indicates that the decisionDirection was unspecifiable or that that justice did not participate. This variable appears in the Justice Centered Datasets only. **Values:** 1 conservative 2 liberal", "Analysts commonly want to know the frequency with which given justices vote with the majority and/or in dissent overall or in certain sets of circumstances. This variable provides that information for each justice. This variable appears in the Justice Centered Datasets only. **Values:** 1 dissent 2 majority", "This variable (and Second Agreement) denotes whether the justice agreed with a dissent or concurrence written by another justice (indicated by the justice's id number). Two agreements are coded one in this variable and the second in secondAgreement. For more details, see the opinion variable. This variable appears in the Justice Centered Datasets only. *Note: This variable relies on the Justices ID for its values.", "See variable First Agreement (firstAgreement). This variable appears in the Justice Centered Datasets only. *Note: This variable relies on the Justices ID for its values. For a more detailed description of these identifiers, please visit the [detail page for the Justices variable](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice)."]

[snipped — context_snip applied]

{
  "success": true,
  "result": {
    "done": true
  }
}

{
  "success": true
}

Range marked: 3 message(s), ~888k chars (1 pending). Archived; retrieve_snipped("rimsn8", search: "...") works now if needed.

[snipped — context_snip applied]
Built "Justice Pairs by Term" sheet: probed Data (125463 vote rows; majority field 1=dissent,2=majority). First agreement pass had self-pair bug from consolidated dockets sharing a caseId; fixed by deduping to one vote per justice per case. Final = 2891 pair-term rows, cols A:G (Term, Justice A, Justice B, Times Agreed, Times Differed, Cases Together=D+E, Agreement%=D/F), formatted+frozen+filtered.
(Original range zc1ndt→skweyd, retrievable via retrieve_snipped)

[snipped — context_snip applied]

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{
  "success": true,
  "result": {
    "rows": 2892,
    "done": true
  }
}

{
  "success": true,
  "hasMore": false,
  "worksheet": {
    "name": "Justice Pairs by Term",
    "dimension": "A1:G2894",
    "cells": {
      "A1": "Term",
      "A2": 1946,
      "A3": 1946,
      "A4": 1946,
      "B1": "Justice A",
      "B2": "HLBlack",
      "B3": "HLBlack",
      "B4": "HLBlack",
      "C1": "Justice B",
      "C2": "SFReed",
      "C3": "FFrankfurter",
      "C4": "WODouglas",
      "D1": "Times Agreed",
      "D2": 97,
      "D3": 83,
      "D4": 108,
      "E1": "Times Differed",
      "E2": 38,
      "E3": 55,
      "E4": 25,
      "F1": "Cases Together",
      "F2": [
        135,
        "=D2+E2"
      ],
      "F3": [
        138,
        "=D3+E3"
      ],
      "F4": [
        133,
        "=D4+E4"
      ],
      "G1": "Agreement %",
      "G2": [
        0.718518518518519,
        "=IF(F2=0,\"\",D2/F2)"
      ],
      "G3": [
        0.601449275362319,
        "=IF(F3=0,\"\",D3/F3)"
      ],
      "G4": [
        0.81203007518797,
        "=IF(F4=0,\"\",D4/F4)"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Task list updated. Continue with the current task.

[snipped — context_snip applied]
JS weighted-regression result: 154 justice pairs with >=8 shared terms, each row [jA,jB,n,cases,firstTerm,lastTerm,yFirst,yLast,slope,fittedDrift,R2,t,df]. Fed into scipy for two-sided p-values + Benjamini-Hochberg. 41 pairs significant at raw p<0.05, 25 survive BH 5%. Top diverging: Brennan-White -29.3pp, Blackmun-Rehnquist -26.1, Burger-Blackmun -25.1, Douglas-White -23.6. Top converging: Brennan-Blackmun +23.5, Marshall-Blackmun +22.0, Stevens-Souter +19.4. Final 41-row table written to "Pair Drift (Significant)" sheet cols A:N.
(Original range 7yccrf→7yccrf, retrievable via retrieve_snipped)

total tested: 154
raw p<0.05: 41
BH 5% sig: 25
[["WJBrennan", "BRWhite", 29.3, -1.0481, 0.0, true], ["HABlackmun", "WHRehnquist", 26.1, -1.1882, 1e-05, true], ["WEBurger", "HABlackmun", 25.1, -1.5694, 4e-05, true], ["WODouglas", "BRWhite", 23.6, -1.6883, 1e-05, true], ["WJBrennan", "HABlackmun", 23.5, 1.174, 0.0, true], ["AScalia", "DHSouter", 23.0, -1.2793, 6e-05, true], ["HLBlack", "EWarren", 22.1, -1.4758, 0.00398, true], ["TMarshall", "HABlackmun", 22.0, 1.0479, 0.0, true], ["BRWhite", "TMarshall", 21.9, -0.9512, 5e-05, true], ["FFrankfurter", "EWarren", 21.2, -2.648, 0.03484, false], ["BRWhite", "HABlackmun", 20.6, -0.8967, 1e-05, true], ["JPStevens", "DHSouter", 19.4, 1.0797, 0.00047, true]]

41
[["WJBrennan", "BRWhite", 29, 4376, 1961, 1989, 0.9048, 0.5755, -1.0481, -29.346, 0.7187, 0.0, "Yes"], ["HABlackmun", "WHRehnquist", 23, 3391, 1971, 1993, 0.8817, 0.6129, -1.1882, -26.14, 0.6009, 1.4e-05, "Yes"], ["WEBurger", "HABlackmun", 17, 2591, 1969, 1985, 1, 0.6319, -1.5694, -25.11, 0.69, 3.6e-05, "Yes"], ["WODouglas", "BRWhite", 15, 1983, 1961, 1975, 0.7619, 0.6667, -1.6883, -23.636, 0.7942, 8e-06, "Yes"], ["WJBrennan", "HABlackmun", 21, 3149, 1969, 1989, 0.8889, 0.8129, 1.174, 23.481, 0.7356, 1e-06, "Yes"], ["AScalia", "DHSouter", 19, 1724, 1990, 2008, 0.8482, 0.5904, -1.2793, -23.027, 0.6247, 5.6e-05, "Yes"], ["HLBlack", "EWarren", 16, 2095, 1953, 1968, 0.7105, 0.709, -1.4758, -22.136, 0.4582, 0.003976, "Yes"], ["TMarshall", "HABlackmun", 22, 3255, 1969, 1990, 0.75, 0.873, 1.0479, 22.006, 0.7696, 0.0, "Yes"], ["BRWhite", "TMarshall", 24, 3637, 1967, 1990, 0.7395, 0.6825, -0.9512, -21.877, 0.5331, 5.1e-05, "Yes"], ["FFrankfurter", "EWarren", 9, 984, 1953, 1961, 0.7722, 0.6182, -2.648, -21.184, 0.4935, 0.034844, "No"], ["BRWhite", "HABlackmun", 24, 3540, 1969, 1992, 0.8889, 0.6949, -0.8967, -20.624, 0.6143, 6e-06, "Yes"], ["JPStevens", "DHSouter", 19, 1724, 1990, 2008, 0.6018, 0.8795, 1.0797, 19.435, 0.5227, 0.00047, "Yes"], ["PStewart", "TMarshall", 14, 2087, 1967, 1980, 0.8644, 0.6058, -1.4709, -19.121, 0.5942, 0.00125, "Yes"], ["HLBlack", "WJBrennan", 15, 2118, 1956, 1970, 0.8131, 0.6912, -1.3654, -19.116, 0.6902, 0.000125, "Yes"], ["AMKennedy", "DHSouter", 19, 1725, 1990, 2008, 0.8818, 0.6506, -1.0262, -18.472, 0.6854, 1.2e-05, "Yes"], ["DHSouter", "CThomas", 18, 1591, 1991, 2008, 0.7653, 0.5663, -1.0694, -18.18, 0.6661, 3.6e-05, "Yes"], ["WHRehnquist", "DHSouter", 15, 1401, 1990, 2004, 0.8584, 0.5942, -1.2642, -17.699, 0.6051, 0.000639, "Yes"], ["WJBrennan", "PStewart", 23, 3444, 1958, 1980, 0.7438, 0.6214, -0.7497, -16.494, 0.4337, 0.000634, "Yes"], ["HABlackmun", "LFPowell", 16, 2391, 1971, 1986, 0.8333, 0.6795, -1.0287, -15.431, 0.4657, 0.003584, "Yes"], ["CThomas", "SSotomayor", 16, 1127, 2009, 2024, 0.6552, 0.5714, -0.9999, -14.998, 0.2682, 0.03991, "No"], ["SAAlito", "SSotomayor", 16, 1119, 2009, 2024, 0.6706, 0.5806, -0.9993, -14.989, 0.3153, 0.023612, "No"], ["HABlackmun", "JPStevens", 19, 2713, 1975, 1993, 0.7097, 0.8387, 0.8138, 14.648, 0.5892, 0.000125, "Yes"], ["CThomas", "JGRoberts", 20, 1445, 2005, 2024, 0.9259, 0.7778, -0.7111, -13.511, 0.4374, 0.001497, "Yes"], ["WODouglas", "HHBurton", 13, 1250, 1946, 1958, 0.7111, 0.6667, -1.1258, -13.509, 0.3111, 0.047648, "No"], ["HHBurton", "TCClark", 10, 893, 1949, 1958, 0.9012, 0.6667, -1.3946, -12.551, 0.4613, 0.030773, "No"], ["JGRoberts", "SAAlito", 20, 1397, 2005, 2024, 0.9512, 0.7903, -0.6604, -12.547, 0.4717, 0.000823, "Yes"], ["LFPowell", "JPStevens", 12, 1746, 1975, 1986, 0.7667, 0.6013, -1.0904, -11.995, 0.5675, 0.004671, "Yes"], ["HLBlack", "BRWhite", 10, 1344, 1961, 1970, 0.8571, 0.6889, -1.3255, -11.93, 0.5892, 0.009533, "No"], ["HLBlack", "WODouglas", 25, 3079, 1946, 1970, 0.812, 0.6794, -0.4912, -11.79, 0.1791, 0.03503, "No"], ["AScalia", "AMKennedy", 29, 2588, 1987, 2015, 0.8971, 0.8333, -0.42, -11.76, 0.417, 0.000155, "Yes"], ["WHRehnquist", "RBGinsburg", 12, 1051, 1993, 2004, 0.7474, 0.6087, -1.0205, -11.226, 0.4167, 0.023383, "No"], ["BRWhite", "WHRehnquist", 22, 3323, 1971, 1992, 0.8, 0.8814, 0.5296, 11.122, 0.2408, 0.020414, "No"], ["PStewart", "HABlackmun", 12, 1742, 1969, 1980, 0.8889, 0.7266, -0.9467, -10.414, 0.408, 0.025359, "No"], ["CThomas", "RBGinsburg", 27, 2209, 1993, 2019, 0.7263, 0.5167, -0.3874, -10.073, 0.2037, 0.018131, "No"], ["TMarshall", "WEBurger", 17, 2681, 1969, 1985, 0.6667, 0.4938, -0.609, -9.744, 0.3882, 0.007539, "Yes"], ["TMarshall", "JPStevens", 16, 2366, 1975, 1990, 0.6593, 0.8651, 0.6425, 9.638, 0.3667, 0.012923, "No"], ["WHRehnquist", "JPStevens", 30, 3670, 1975, 2004, 0.7234, 0.5362, -0.3264, -9.465, 0.1874, 0.01689, "No"], ["TMarshall", "LFPowell", 16, 2374, 1971, 1986, 0.5761, 0.5535, -0.6225, -9.338, 0.2832, 0.033852, "No"], ["HLBlack", "JHarlan2", 17, 2218, 1954, 1970, 0.7059, 0.6471, 0.5822, 9.315, 0.2477, 0.042065, "No"], ["PStewart", "BRWhite", 20, 2965, 1961, 1980, 0.9048, 0.7447, -0.4561, -8.666, 0.2688, 0.019171, "No"], ["WEBurger", "JPStevens", 11, 1690, 1975, 1985, 0.7234, 0.5988, -0.7646, -7.646, 0.6144, 0.004303, "Yes"]]

<system-reminder>
Context is growing. You should be calling context_snip as you go — if you haven't recently, you're probably behind. Look back at completed work: large tool results you've already extracted what you need from, explorations that led to an answer, dead ends. Use MANY small context_snip calls rather than waiting to do one big one. Do this silently — never mention context_snip, context management, or compression to the user; it's internal plumbing.
</system-reminder>

{"success":true,"result":{"written":41}}

<system-reminder>
Context is growing. You should be calling context_snip as you go — if you haven't recently, you're probably behind. Look back at completed work: large tool results you've already extracted what you need from, explorations that led to an answer, dead ends. Use MANY small context_snip calls rather than waiting to do one big one. Do this silently — never mention context_snip, context management, or compression to the user; it's internal plumbing.
</system-reminder>

{"success":true,"result":{"done":true,"rows":42}}

<system-reminder>
Context is growing. You should be calling context_snip as you go — if you haven't recently, you're probably behind. Look back at completed work: large tool results you've already extracted what you need from, explorations that led to an answer, dead ends. Use MANY small context_snip calls rather than waiting to do one big one. Do this silently — never mention context_snip, context management, or compression to the user; it's internal plumbing.
</system-reminder>

Task list updated. Continue with the current task.

Range marked: 5 message(s), ~16k chars (0 pending). Archived; retrieve_snipped("zc1ndt", search: "...") works now if needed.

Range marked: 1 message(s), ~15k chars (0 pending). Archived; retrieve_snipped("7yccrf", search: "...") works now if needed.

{
  "answers": {
    "To rank justices by how much their relationships drifted, should I average over only the 41 statistically significant pairs, or over all 154 pairs with ≥8 shared terms?": "All 154 pairs (≥8 terms)"
  }
}

[snipped — context_snip applied]
Per-justice drift aggregation from 154 pairs (>=8 terms), 31 justices. Case-weighted avg |Drift| (pp): top = Blackmun 19.12, Souter 14.53, White 14.10, Marshall 11.35, Black 10.52, Brennan 10.26; bottom = Breyer 3.98, RHJackson 3.92, OConnor 4.39, Harlan2 4.42, Ginsburg 4.64. Written to "Justice Movement Ranking" sheet cols A:F (Rank, Justice, Pairs, Total Shared Cases, Case-Weighted Avg |Drift| pp, Simple Avg |Drift| pp), formatted with data bar + note.
(Original range dqn8em→dqn8em, retrievable via retrieve_snipped)

<system-reminder>
Context is growing. You should be calling context_snip as you go — if you haven't recently, you're probably behind. Look back at completed work: large tool results you've already extracted what you need from, explorations that led to an answer, dead ends. Use MANY small context_snip calls rather than waiting to do one big one. Do this silently — never mention context_snip, context management, or compression to the user; it's internal plumbing.
</system-reminder>

{"success":true,"result":{"written":31}}

<system-reminder>
Context is growing. You should be calling context_snip as you go — if you haven't recently, you're probably behind. Look back at completed work: large tool results you've already extracted what you need from, explorations that led to an answer, dead ends. Use MANY small context_snip calls rather than waiting to do one big one. Do this silently — never mention context_snip, context management, or compression to the user; it's internal plumbing.
</system-reminder>

{"success":true,"result":{"done":true,"rows":32}}

Range marked: 1 message(s), ~2k chars (0 pending). Archived; retrieve_snipped("dqn8em", search: "...") works now if needed.

[snipped — context_snip applied]
Verified dynamic-array support in this workbook: UNIQUE spills (280 unique justice pairs; 40 unique justices total), MAP/LAMBDA/LET work, MINIFS/MAXIFS/SUMPRODUCT/VSTACK/HSTACK/SORT/FILTER all work. Justice Pairs by Term data lives in rows 2:2892 (Term col A, Justice A col B, Justice B col C, Cases Together col F, Agreement% col G). Sanity: SUMPRODUCT ΣWX for Black-Douglas=6032126, MINIFS first term=1946. Deleted tmp_uniq. Created empty sheets "Pair Drift (Excel)" (pos4) and "Justice Movement (Excel)" (pos5) to hold the all-formula rebuild.
(Original range u9wso2→0w3pot, retrievable via retrieve_snipped)

[snipped — context_snip applied]

[snipped — context_snip applied]

[snipped — context_snip applied]

<system-reminder>
Context is growing. You should be calling context_snip as you go — if you haven't recently, you're probably behind. Look back at completed work: large tool results you've already extracted what you need from, explorations that led to an answer, dead ends. Use MANY small context_snip calls rather than waiting to do one big one. Do this silently — never mention context_snip, context management, or compression to the user; it's internal plumbing.
</system-reminder>

{"success":true,"result":{"ok":true}}

Range marked: 7 message(s), ~25k chars (0 pending). Archived; retrieve_snipped("u9wso2", search: "...") works now if needed.

[snipped — context_snip applied]
Built two all-formula sheets reproducing the JS results exactly. "Pair Drift (Excel)" (A1:H283): A2/B2 =INDEX(UNIQUE(...),0,1/2) split unique pairs; C2 COUNTIFS terms; D2 SUMIFS cases; E2 MAP+LET weighted-LS slope via SUMPRODUCT ΣW/ΣWX/ΣWY/ΣWXX/ΣWXY; F2/G2 MINIFS/MAXIFS; H2 =ABS(E2#*(G2#-F2#))*100. "Justice Movement (Excel)" (A1:F42): B2 one LET megaformula (UNIQUE justices, MAP per justice with SUMPRODUCT masks (PA=j)+(PB=j) and PN>=8, weighted avg = Σ(cases*drift)/Σcases, FILTER wavg>=0, SORT desc); A2 =SEQUENCE rank. Verified: Black-Douglas |drift| 11.79pp; ranking Blackmun 19.12, Souter 14.53, White 14.10, Marshall 11.35, Black 10.52, Brennan 10.26 — matches earlier JS-built "Justice Movement Ranking" sheet exactly. Both formatted (navy headers, data bar, notes).
(Original range kbj1w7→1lpx2o, retrievable via retrieve_snipped)

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<system-reminder>
Context is growing. You should be calling context_snip as you go — if you haven't recently, you're probably behind. Look back at completed work: large tool results you've already extracted what you need from, explorations that led to an answer, dead ends. Use MANY small context_snip calls rather than waiting to do one big one. Do this silently — never mention context_snip, context management, or compression to the user; it's internal plumbing.
</system-reminder>

{"success":true,"hasMore":false,"worksheet":{"name":"Justice Movement (Excel)","dimension":"A1:F42","cells":{"A1":"Rank","A2":[1,"=SEQUENCE(ROWS(B2#))"],"A3":2,"A4":3,"A5":4,"A6":5,"B1":"Justice","B2":["HABlackmun","=LET(J,SORT(UNIQUE(VSTACK('Justice Pairs by Term'!B2:B2892,'Justice Pairs by Term'!C2:C2892))),PA,'Pair Drift (Excel)'!A2#,PB,'Pair Drift (Excel)'!B2#,PN,'Pair Drift (Excel)'!C2#,PC,'Pair Drift (Excel)'!D2#,PD,'Pair Drift (Excel)'!H2#,pairs,MAP(J,LAMBDA(j,SUMPRODUCT(((PA=j)+(PB=j))*(PN>=8)))),cases,MAP(J,LAMBDA(j,SUMPRODUCT(((PA=j)+(PB=j))*(PN>=8)*PC))),wavg,MAP(J,LAMBDA(j,LET(m,((PA=j)+(PB=j))*(PN>=8),d,SUMPRODUCT(m*PC),IF(d=0,-1,SUMPRODUCT(m*PC*PD)/d)))),savg,MAP(J,LAMBDA(j,LET(m,((PA=j)+(PB=j))*(PN>=8),c,SUMPRODUCT(m),IF(c=0,-1,SUMPRODUCT(m*PD)/c)))),tbl,HSTACK(J,pairs,cases,wavg,savg),keep,FILTER(tbl,wavg>=0),SORT(keep,4,-1))"],"B3":"DHSouter","B4":"BRWhite","B5":"TMarshall","B6":"HLBlack","C1":"Pairs (≥8 terms)","C2":10,"C3":8,"C4":13,"C5":10,"C6":12,"D1":"Total Shared Cases","D2":25676,"D3":12233,"D4":33128,"D5":25571,"D6":20436,"E1":"Case-Weighted Avg |Drift| (pp)","E2":19.1204522677231,"E3":14.5296168472705,"E4":14.0981247472501,"E5":11.3513396381934,"E6":10.5188762665283,"F1":"Simple Avg |Drift| (pp)","F2":17.3540024230718,"F3":13.8290502782605,"F4":12.4147641917721,"F5":10.3084116252115,"F6":9.857701240906}}}

<system-reminder>
Context is growing. You should be calling context_snip as you go — if you haven't recently, you're probably behind. Look back at completed work: large tool results you've already extracted what you need from, explorations that led to an answer, dead ends. Use MANY small context_snip calls rather than waiting to do one big one. Do this silently — never mention context_snip, context management, or compression to the user; it's internal plumbing.
</system-reminder>

{"success":true,"result":{"beforeMode":"Automatic","jm":[["HABlackmun",10,25676,19.1204522677231],["DHSouter",8,12233,14.5296168472705],["BRWhite",13,33128,14.0981247472501]],"pd":[["HLBlack","SFReed",11,1083,-0.0107659131935643,1946,1956,10.7659131935643],["HLBlack","FFrankfurter",16,1756,-0.00300632305575518,1946,1961,4.50948458363277]]}}

<system-reminder>
Context is growing. You should be calling context_snip as you go — if you haven't recently, you're probably behind. Look back at completed work: large tool results you've already extracted what you need from, explorations that led to an answer, dead ends. Use MANY small context_snip calls rather than waiting to do one big one. Do this silently — never mention context_snip, context management, or compression to the user; it's internal plumbing.
</system-reminder>

{"success":true,"result":{"sheets":[{"name":"Data","pos":0,"vis":"Visible","used":"Data!A1:BI125464"},{"name":"Justice Pairs by Term","pos":1,"vis":"Visible","used":"'Justice Pairs by Term'!A1:G2894"},{"name":"Pair Drift (Significant)","pos":2,"vis":"Visible","used":"'Pair Drift (Significant)'!A1:N44"},{"name":"Justice Movement Ranking","pos":3,"vis":"Visible","used":"'Justice Movement Ranking'!A1:F34"},{"name":"Pair Drift (Excel)","pos":4,"vis":"Visible","used":"'Pair Drift (Excel)'!A1:H283"},{"name":"Justice Movement (Excel)","pos":5,"vis":"Visible","used":"'Justice Movement (Excel)'!A1:F42"},{"name":"Column Glossary","pos":6,"vis":"Visible","used":"'Column Glossary'!A1:D64"}]}}

Range marked: 13 message(s), ~27k chars (1 pending). Archived; retrieve_snipped("kbj1w7", search: "...") works now if needed.

[snipped — context_snip applied]

---
meta-description: The Supreme Court Database is the definitive source for researchers, students, journalists, and citizens interested in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Database contains over two hundred pieces of information about each case decided by the Court between the 1946 and 2012 terms. Examples include the identity of the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed, the parties to the suit, the legal provisions considered in the case, and the votes of the Justices.
meta-generator: Coda
meta-keywords: supreme court, spaeth, database
title: The Supreme Court Database
---

| [![wulaw](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/wulaw.png)](http://law.wustl.edu) |  |
| -------------------------------------------------- | --- |

- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/index.php) image image image image
- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/about.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/analysis.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php)
- image
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- Online Code Book

- Petitioner

| **Variable Name** petitioner | **Spaeth Name** PARTY\_1 | **Normalizations** [311 [ view ]](#norms) |
| ------------------------------ | -------------------------- | -------------------------------------------- |

The next four variables identify the parties to the case. "Petitioner" refers to the party who petitioned the Supreme Court to review the case. This party is variously known as the petitioner or the appellant. "Respondent" refers to the party being sued or tried and is also known as the appellee. Variables "petitioner" and "respondent" provide detailed information about all parties, except the identity of the state if a state (or one of its subdivisions) is a party, petitioner and respondent variables note only whether a state is a party, not the state's name. See variables Petitioner State and Respondent State for the name.

The specific codes that appear below were created inductively, with petitioner and respondent characterized as the Court's opinion identifies them.

In describing the parties in the cases before it, the justices employ terminology that places them in the context of the litigation in which they are involved. Accordingly, an employer who happens to be a manufacturer will be identified as the former if its role in the litigation is that of an employer and as the latter if its role is that of a business. Because the justices describe litigants in this fashion, a fairly limited vocabulary characterizes them. Note that the list of parties also includes the list of administrative agencies and officials contained in administrative action preceding litigation.

Also note that the Court's characterization of the parties applies whether the petitioner and respondent are actually single entities or whether many other persons or legal entities have associated themselves with the lawsuit. That is, the presence of the phrase, et al., following the name of a party does not preclude the Court from characterizing that party as though it were a single entity. Thus, each docket number will show a single petitioner and a single respondent, regardless of how many legal entities were actually involved.

The decision rules governing the identification of parties are as follows.

1. Parties are identified by the labels given them in the opinion or judgment of the Court except where the Reports title a party as the "United States" or as a named state. Textual identification of parties is typically provided prior to Part I of the Court's opinion. The official syllabus, the summary that appears on the title page of the case, may be consulted as well. In describing the parties, the Court employs terminology that places them in the context of the specific lawsuit in which they are involved. E.g., "employer" rather than "business" in a suit by an employee; as a "minority," "female," or "minority female" employee rather than "employee" in a suit alleging discrimination by an employer.

2. Where a choice of identifications exists that which provides information not provided by the legal provision or the issue is chosen. E.g., a federal taxpayer or an attorney accused of a crime as taxpayer or attorney rather than accused person, particularly if neither the lawType nor the Issue variable identifies the case as a tax matter or one involving an attorney.

3. Identify the parties by reference to the following list and by the list of federal agencies provided in the adminAction variable.

**Values:**

| 1 | attorney general of the United States, or his office |
| --- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| 2 | specified state board or department of education |
| 3 | city, town, township, village, or borough government or governmental unit |
| 4 | state commission, board, committee, or authority |
| 5 | county government or county governmental unit, except school district |
| 6 | court or judicial district |
| 7 | state department or agency |
| 8 | governmental employee or job applicant |
| 9 | female governmental employee or job applicant |
| 10 | minority governmental employee or job applicant |
| 11 | minority female governmental employee or job applicant |
| 12 | not listed among agencies in the first Administrative Action variable |
| 13 | retired or former governmental employee |
| 14 | U.S. House of Representatives |
| 15 | interstate compact |
| 16 | judge |
| 17 | state legislature, house, or committee |
| 18 | local governmental unit other than a county, city, town, township, village, or borough |
| 19 | governmental official, or an official of an agency established under an interstate compact |
| 20 | state or U.S. supreme court |
| 21 | local school district or board of education |
| 22 | U.S. Senate |
| 23 | U.S. senator |
| 24 | foreign nation or instrumentality |
| 25 | state or local governmental taxpayer, or executor of the estate of |
| 26 | state college or university |
| 27 | United States |
| 28 | State |
| 100 | person accused, indicted, or suspected of crime |
| 101 | advertising business or agency |
| 102 | agent, fiduciary, trustee, or executor |
| 103 | airplane manufacturer, or manufacturer of parts of airplanes |
| 104 | airline |
| 105 | distributor, importer, or exporter of alcoholic beverages |
| 106 | alien, person subject to a denaturalization proceeding, or one whose citizenship is revoked |
| 107 | American Medical Association |
| 108 | National Railroad Passenger Corp. |
| 109 | amusement establishment, or recreational facility |
| 110 | arrested person, or pretrial detainee |
| 111 | attorney, or person acting as such;includes bar applicant or law student, or law firm or bar association |
| 112 | author, copyright holder |
| 113 | bank, savings and loan, credit union, investment company |
| 114 | bankrupt person or business, or business in reorganization |
| 115 | establishment serving liquor by the glass, or package liquor store |
| 116 | water transportation, stevedore |
| 117 | bookstore, newsstand, printer, bindery, purveyor or distributor of books or magazines |
| 118 | brewery, distillery |
| 119 | broker, stock exchange, investment or securities firm |
| 120 | construction industry |
| 121 | bus or motorized passenger transportation vehicle |
| 122 | business, corporation |
| 123 | buyer, purchaser |
| 124 | cable TV |
| 125 | car dealer |
| 126 | person convicted of crime |
| 127 | tangible property, other than real estate, including contraband |
| 128 | chemical company |
| 129 | child, children, including adopted or illegitimate |
| 130 | religious organization, institution, or person |
| 131 | private club or facility |
| 132 | coal company or coal mine operator |
| 133 | computer business or manufacturer, hardware or software |
| 134 | consumer, consumer organization |
| 135 | creditor, including institution appearing as such; e.g., a finance company |
| 136 | person allegedly criminally insane or mentally incompetent to stand trial |
| 137 | defendant |
| 138 | debtor |
| 139 | real estate developer |
| 140 | disabled person or disability benefit claimant |
| 141 | distributor |
| 142 | person subject to selective service, including conscientious objector |
| 143 | drug manufacturer |
| 144 | druggist, pharmacist, pharmacy |
| 145 | employee, or job applicant, including beneficiaries of |
| 146 | employer-employee trust agreement, employee health and welfare fund, or multi-employer pension plan |
| 147 | electric equipment manufacturer |
| 148 | electric or hydroelectric power utility, power cooperative, or gas and electric company |
| 149 | eleemosynary institution or person |
| 150 | environmental organization |
| 151 | employer. If employer's relations with employees are governed by the nature of the employer's business (e.g., railroad, boat), rather than labor law generally, the more specific designation is used in place of Employer. |
| 152 | farmer, farm worker, or farm organization |
| 153 | father |
| 154 | female employee or job applicant |
| 155 | female |
| 156 | movie, play, pictorial representation, theatrical production, actor, or exhibitor or distributor of |
| 157 | fisherman or fishing company |
| 158 | food, meat packing, or processing company, stockyard |
| 159 | foreign (non-American) nongovernmental entity |
| 160 | franchiser |
| 161 | franchisee |
| 162 | lesbian, gay, bisexual, transexual person or organization |
| 163 | person who guarantees another's obligations |
| 164 | handicapped individual, or organization of devoted to |
| 165 | health organization or person, nursing home, medical clinic or laboratory, chiropractor |
| 166 | heir, or beneficiary, or person so claiming to be |
| 167 | hospital, medical center |
| 168 | husband, or ex-husband |
| 169 | involuntarily committed mental patient |
| 170 | Indian, including Indian tribe or nation |
| 171 | insurance company, or surety |
| 172 | inventor, patent assigner, trademark owner or holder |
| 173 | investor |
| 174 | injured person or legal entity, nonphysically and non-employment related |
| 175 | juvenile |
| 176 | government contractor |
| 177 | holder of a license or permit, or applicant therefor |
| 178 | magazine |
| 179 | male |
| 180 | medical or Medicaid claimant |
| 181 | medical supply or manufacturing co. |
| 182 | racial or ethnic minority employee or job applicant |
| 183 | minority female employee or job applicant |
| 184 | manufacturer |
| 185 | management, executive officer, or director, of business entity |
| 186 | military personnel, or dependent of, including reservist |
| 187 | mining company or miner, excluding coal, oil, or pipeline company |
| 188 | mother |
| 189 | auto manufacturer |
| 190 | newspaper, newsletter, journal of opinion, news service |
| 191 | radio and television network, except cable tv |
| 192 | nonprofit organization or business |
| 193 | nonresident |
| 194 | nuclear power plant or facility |
| 195 | owner, landlord, or claimant to ownership, fee interest, or possession of land as well as chattels |
| 196 | shareholders to whom a tender offer is made |
| 197 | tender offer |
| 198 | oil company, or natural gas producer |
| 199 | elderly person, or organization dedicated to the elderly |
| 200 | out of state noncriminal defendant |
| 201 | political action committee |
| 202 | parent or parents |
| 203 | parking lot or service |
| 204 | patient of a health professional |
| 205 | telephone, telecommunications, or telegraph company |
| 206 | physician, MD or DO, dentist, or medical society |
| 207 | public interest organization |
| 208 | physically injured person, including wrongful death, who is not an employee |
| 209 | pipe line company |
| 210 | package, luggage, container |
| 211 | political candidate, activist, committee, party, party member, organization, or elected official |
| 212 | indigent, needy, welfare recipient |
| 213 | indigent defendant |
| 214 | private person |
| 215 | prisoner, inmate of penal institution |
| 216 | professional organization, business, or person |
| 217 | probationer, or parolee |
| 218 | protester, demonstrator, picketer or pamphleteer (non-employment related), or non-indigent loiterer |
| 219 | public utility |
| 220 | publisher, publishing company |
| 221 | radio station |
| 222 | racial or ethnic minority |
| 223 | person or organization protesting racial or ethnic segregation or discrimination |
| 224 | racial or ethnic minority student or applicant for admission to an educational institution |
| 225 | realtor |
| 226 | journalist, columnist, member of the news media |
| 227 | resident |
| 228 | restaurant, food vendor |
| 229 | retarded person, or mental incompetent |
| 230 | retired or former employee |
| 231 | railroad |
| 232 | private school, college, or university |
| 233 | seller or vendor |
| 234 | shipper, including importer and exporter |
| 235 | shopping center, mall |
| 236 | spouse, or former spouse |
| 237 | stockholder, shareholder, or bondholder |
| 238 | retail business or outlet |
| 239 | student, or applicant for admission to an educational institution |
| 240 | taxpayer or executor of taxpayer's estate, federal only |
| 241 | tenant or lessee |
| 242 | theater, studio |
| 243 | forest products, lumber, or logging company |
| 244 | person traveling or wishing to travel abroad, or overseas travel agent |
| 245 | trucking company, or motor carrier |
| 246 | television station |
| 247 | union member |
| 248 | unemployed person or unemployment compensation applicant or claimant |
| 249 | union, labor organization, or official of |
| 250 | veteran |
| 251 | voter, prospective voter, elector, or a nonelective official seeking reapportionment or redistricting of legislative districts (POL) |
| 252 | wholesale trade |
| 253 | wife, or ex-wife |
| 254 | witness, or person under subpoena |
| 255 | network |
| 256 | slave |
| 257 | slave-owner |
| 258 | bank of the united states |
| 259 | timber company |
| 260 | u.s. job applicants or employees |
| 301 | Army and Air Force Exchange Service |
| 302 | Atomic Energy Commission |
| 303 | Secretary or administrative unit or personnel of the U.S. Air Force |
| 304 | Department or Secretary of Agriculture |
| 305 | Alien Property Custodian |
| 306 | Secretary or administrative unit or personnel of the U.S. Army |
| 307 | Board of Immigration Appeals |
| 308 | Bureau of Indian Affairs |
| 310 | Bonneville Power Administration |
| 311 | Benefits Review Board |
| 312 | Civil Aeronautics Board |
| 313 | Bureau of the Census |
| 314 | Central Intelligence Agency |
| 315 | Commodity Futures Trading Commission |
| 316 | Department or Secretary of Commerce |
| 317 | Comptroller of Currency |
| 318 | Consumer Product Safety Commission |
| 319 | Civil Rights Commission |
| 320 | Civil Service Commission, U.S. |
| 321 | Customs Service or Commissioner of Customs |
| 322 | Defense Base Closure and REalignment Commission |
| 323 | Drug Enforcement Agency |
| 324 | Department or Secretary of Defense (and Department or Secretary of War) |
| 325 | Department or Secretary of Energy |
| 326 | Department or Secretary of the Interior |
| 327 | Department of Justice or Attorney General |
| 328 | Department or Secretary of State |
| 329 | Department or Secretary of Transportation |
| 330 | Department or Secretary of Education |
| 331 | U.S. Employees' Compensation Commission, or Commissioner |
| 332 | Equal Employment Opportunity Commission |
| 333 | Environmental Protection Agency or Administrator |
| 334 | Federal Aviation Agency or Administration |
| 335 | Federal Bureau of Investigation or Director |
| 336 | Federal Bureau of Prisons |
| 337 | Farm Credit Administration |
| 338 | Federal Communications Commission (including a predecessor, Federal Radio Commission) |
| 339 | Federal Credit Union Administration |
| 340 | Food and Drug Administration |
| 341 | Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation |
| 342 | Federal Energy Administration |
| 343 | Federal Election Commission |
| 344 | Federal Energy Regulatory Commission |
| 345 | Federal Housing Administration |
| 346 | Federal Home Loan Bank Board |
| 347 | Federal Labor Relations Authority |
| 348 | Federal Maritime Board |
| 349 | Federal Maritime Commission |
| 350 | Farmers Home Administration |
| 351 | Federal Parole Board |
| 352 | Federal Power Commission |
| 353 | Federal Railroad Administration |
| 354 | Federal Reserve Board of Governors |
| 355 | Federal Reserve System |
| 356 | Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation |
| 357 | Federal Trade Commission |
| 358 | Federal Works Administration, or Administrator |
| 359 | General Accounting Office |
| 360 | Comptroller General |
| 361 | General Services Administration |
| 362 | Department or Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare |
| 363 | Department or Secretary of Health and Human Services |
| 364 | Department or Secretary of Housing and Urban Development |
| 366 | Interstate Commerce Commission |
| 367 | Indian Claims Commission |
| 368 | Immigration and Naturalization Service, or Director of, or District Director of, or Immigration and Naturalization Enforcement |
| 369 | Internal Revenue Service, Collector, Commissioner, or District Director of |
| 370 | Information Security Oversight Office |
| 371 | Department or Secretary of Labor |
| 372 | Loyalty Review Board |
| 373 | Legal Services Corporation |
| 374 | Merit Systems Protection Board |
| 375 | Multistate Tax Commission |
| 376 | National Aeronautics and Space Administration |
| 377 | Secretary or administrative unit of the U.S. Navy |
| 378 | National Credit Union Administration |
| 379 | National Endowment for the Arts |
| 380 | National Enforcement Commission |
| 381 | National Highway Traffic Safety Administration |
| 382 | National Labor Relations Board, or regional office or officer |
| 383 | National Mediation Board |
| 384 | National Railroad Adjustment Board |
| 385 | Nuclear Regulatory Commission |
| 386 | National Security Agency |
| 387 | Office of Economic Opportunity |
| 388 | Office of Management and Budget |
| 389 | Office of Price Administration, or Price Administrator |
| 390 | Office of Personnel Management |
| 391 | Occupational Safety and Health Administration |
| 392 | Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission |
| 393 | Office of Workers' Compensation Programs |
| 394 | Patent Office, or Commissioner of, or Board of Appeals of |
| 395 | Pay Board (established under the Economic Stabilization Act of 1970) |
| 396 | Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation |
| 397 | U.S. Public Health Service |
| 398 | Postal Rate Commission |
| 399 | Provider Reimbursement Review Board |
| 400 | Renegotiation Board |
| 401 | Railroad Adjustment Board |
| 402 | Railroad Retirement Board |
| 403 | Subversive Activities Control Board |
| 404 | Small Business Administration |
| 405 | Securities and Exchange Commission |
| 406 | Social Security Administration or Commissioner |
| 407 | Selective Service System |
| 408 | Department or Secretary of the Treasury |
| 409 | Tennessee Valley Authority |
| 410 | United States Forest Service |
| 411 | United States Parole Commission |
| 412 | Postal Service and Post Office, or Postmaster General, or Postmaster |
| 413 | United States Sentencing Commission |
| 414 | Veterans' Administration |
| 415 | War Production Board |
| 416 | Wage Stabilization Board |
| 417 | General Land Office of Commissioners |
| 418 | Transportation Security Administration |
| 419 | Surface Transportation Board |
| 420 | U.S. Shipping Board Emergency Fleet Corp. |
| 421 | Reconstruction Finance Corp. |
| 422 | Department or Secretary of Homeland Security |
| 501 | Unidentifiable |
| 600 | International Entity | Introductory

- [Introduction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=intro)
- [Citing to the SCDB](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=cite)
 Identification Variables

- [SCDB Case ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseId)
- [SCDB Docket ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docketId)
- [SCDB Issues ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId)
- [SCDB Vote ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteId)
- [U.S. Reporter Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=usCite)
- [Supreme Court Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=sctCite)
- [Lawyers Edition Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=ledCite)
- [LEXIS Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lexisCite)
- [Docket Number](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docket)
 Background Variables

- [Case Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseName)
- [Petitioner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitioner)
- [Petitioner State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitionerState)
- [Respondent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondent)
- [Respondent State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondentState)
- [Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=jurisdiction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminAction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminActionState)
- [Three-Judge District Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc)
- [Origin of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOrigin)
- [Origin of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOriginState)
- [Source of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSource)
- [Source of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSourceState)
- [Lower Court Disagreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisagreement)
- [Reason for Granting Cert](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=certReason)
- [Lower Court Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisposition)
- [Lower Court Disposition Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDispositionDirection)
 Chronological Variables

- [Date of Decision](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateDecision)
- [Term of Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=term)
- [Natural Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=naturalCourt)
- [Chief Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=chief)
- [Date of Oral Argument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateArgument)
- [Date of Reargument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateRearg)
 Substantive Variables

- [Issue](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issue)
- [Issue Area](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issueArea)
- [Decision Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirection)
- [Decision Direction Dissent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirectionDissent)
- [Authority for Decision 1](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision1)
- [Authority for Decision 2](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision2)
- [Legal Provisions Considered by the Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawType)
- [Legal Provision Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawSupp)
- [Legal Provision Minor Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawMinor)
 Outcome Variables

- [Decision Type](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionType)
- [Declaration of Unconstitutionality](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=declarationUncon)
- [Disposition of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDisposition)
- [Unusual Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDispositionUnusual)
- [Winning Party](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=partyWinning)
- [Formal Alteration of Precedent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=precedentAlteration)
 Voting & Opinion Variables

- [Vote Not Clearly Specified](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteUnclear)
- [Majority Opinion Writer](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinWriter)
- [Majority Opinion Assigner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinAssigner)
- [Split Vote](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=splitVote)
- [Majority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majVotes)
- [Minority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=minVotes)
- [Justice ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice)
- [Justice Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justiceName)
- [The Vote in the Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=vote)
- [Opinion](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=opinion)
- [Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=direction)
- [Majority and Minority Voting by Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majority)
- [First Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=firstAgreement)
- [Second Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=secondAgreement)
- | | [CONTACT](http://scdb.wustl.edu/contact.php) | | [TOP](#top) |
| --- | ---------------------- | --- | ----------- |
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- image The Supreme Court Database has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. [Creative Commons License](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/)

| ![washu_logo](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/washu_logo.png) |
| ------------------------------------ |

---
meta-description: The Supreme Court Database is the definitive source for researchers, students, journalists, and citizens interested in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Database contains over two hundred pieces of information about each case decided by the Court between the 1946 and 2012 terms. Examples include the identity of the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed, the parties to the suit, the legal provisions considered in the case, and the votes of the Justices.
meta-generator: Coda
meta-keywords: supreme court, spaeth, database
title: The Supreme Court Database
---

| [![wulaw](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/wulaw.png)](http://law.wustl.edu) |  |
| -------------------------------------------------- | --- |

- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/index.php) image image image image
- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/about.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/analysis.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php)
- image
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- Online Code Book

- Disposition of Case

| **Variable Name** caseDisposition | **Spaeth Name** DIS | **Normalizations** [11 [ view ]](#norms) |
| ----------------------------------- | --------------------- | ------------------------------------------- |

The treatment the Supreme Court accorded the court whose decision it reviewed is contained in this variable; e.g., affirmed, vacated, reversed and remanded, etc. The values here are the same as those for lcDisposition (how the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed disposed of the case). For original jurisdiction cases, this variable will be empty unless the Court's disposition falls under 1 or 9 below (stay, petition, or motion granted; petition denied or appeal dismissed). For cases in which the Court granted a motion to dismiss, caseDisposition is coded as 9 (petition denied or appeal dismissed). There is "no disposition" if the Court denied a motion to dismiss.

The information relevant to this variable may be found near the end of the summary that begins on the title page of each case, or preferably at the very end of the opinion of the Court.

As in the lcDisposition variable, the value label pertaining to the specific language used by the Court is entered. If incongruence between the Court's language and the above codes occurs, consult variable caseDispositionUnusual.

In cases containing multiple docket numbers, not every docket number will necessarily receive the same disposition. Hence, in focusing on the outcome of the Court's decisions, users might want to consider the datasets in which cases are organized by docket rather than citation.

Note for users of the Justice Centered Database: The entry in this variable governs whether the individual justices voted with the majority or in dissent.

**Values:**

| 1 | stay, petition, or motion granted |
| --- | ------------------------------------------------------- |
| 2 | affirmed (includes modified) |
| 3 | reversed |
| 4 | reversed and remanded |
| 5 | vacated and remanded |
| 6 | affirmed and reversed (or vacated) in part |
| 7 | affirmed and reversed (or vacated) in part and remanded |
| 8 | vacated |
| 9 | petition denied or appeal dismissed |
| 10 | certification to or from a lower court |
| 11 | no disposition | Introductory

- [Introduction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=intro)
- [Citing to the SCDB](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=cite)
 Identification Variables

- [SCDB Case ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseId)
- [SCDB Docket ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docketId)
- [SCDB Issues ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId)
- [SCDB Vote ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteId)
- [U.S. Reporter Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=usCite)
- [Supreme Court Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=sctCite)
- [Lawyers Edition Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=ledCite)
- [LEXIS Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lexisCite)
- [Docket Number](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docket)
 Background Variables

- [Case Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseName)
- [Petitioner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitioner)
- [Petitioner State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitionerState)
- [Respondent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondent)
- [Respondent State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondentState)
- [Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=jurisdiction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminAction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminActionState)
- [Three-Judge District Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc)
- [Origin of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOrigin)
- [Origin of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOriginState)
- [Source of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSource)
- [Source of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSourceState)
- [Lower Court Disagreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisagreement)
- [Reason for Granting Cert](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=certReason)
- [Lower Court Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisposition)
- [Lower Court Disposition Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDispositionDirection)
 Chronological Variables

- [Date of Decision](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateDecision)
- [Term of Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=term)
- [Natural Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=naturalCourt)
- [Chief Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=chief)
- [Date of Oral Argument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateArgument)
- [Date of Reargument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateRearg)
 Substantive Variables

- [Issue](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issue)
- [Issue Area](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issueArea)
- [Decision Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirection)
- [Decision Direction Dissent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirectionDissent)
- [Authority for Decision 1](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision1)
- [Authority for Decision 2](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision2)
- [Legal Provisions Considered by the Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawType)
- [Legal Provision Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawSupp)
- [Legal Provision Minor Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawMinor)
 Outcome Variables

- [Decision Type](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionType)
- [Declaration of Unconstitutionality](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=declarationUncon)
- [Disposition of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDisposition)
- [Unusual Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDispositionUnusual)
- [Winning Party](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=partyWinning)
- [Formal Alteration of Precedent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=precedentAlteration)
 Voting & Opinion Variables

- [Vote Not Clearly Specified](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteUnclear)
- [Majority Opinion Writer](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinWriter)
- [Majority Opinion Assigner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinAssigner)
- [Split Vote](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=splitVote)
- [Majority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majVotes)
- [Minority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=minVotes)
- [Justice ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice)
- [Justice Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justiceName)
- [The Vote in the Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=vote)
- [Opinion](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=opinion)
- [Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=direction)
- [Majority and Minority Voting by Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majority)
- [First Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=firstAgreement)
- [Second Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=secondAgreement)
- | | [CONTACT](http://scdb.wustl.edu/contact.php) | | [TOP](#top) |
| --- | ---------------------- | --- | ----------- |
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- image The Supreme Court Database has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. [Creative Commons License](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/)

| ![washu_logo](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/washu_logo.png) |
| ------------------------------------ |

===== petitioner n_pairs~ 0
===== caseDisposition n_pairs~ 1
1 | or 9 below (stay, petition, or motion granted; petition denied or appea

---
meta-description: The Supreme Court Database is the definitive source for researchers, students, journalists, and citizens interested in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Database contains over two hundred pieces of information about each case decided by the Court between the 1946 and 2012 terms. Examples include the identity of the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed, the parties to the suit, the legal provisions considered in the case, and the votes of the Justices.
meta-generator: Coda
meta-keywords: supreme court, spaeth, database
title: The Supreme Court Database
---

| [![wulaw](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/wulaw.png)](http://law.wustl.edu) |  |
| -------------------------------------------------- | --- |

- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/index.php) image image image image
- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/about.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/analysis.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php)
- image
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- Online Code Book

- Petitioner

| **Variable Name** petitioner | **Spaeth Name** PARTY\_1 | **Normalizations** [311 [ view ]](#norms) |
| ------------------------------ | -------------------------- | -------------------------------------------- |

The next four variables identify the parties to the case. "Petitioner" refers to the party who petitioned the Supreme Court to review the case. This party is variously known as the petitioner or the appellant. "Respondent" refers to the party being sued or tried and is also known as the appellee. Variables "petitioner" and "respondent" provide detailed information about all parties, except the identity of the state if a state (or one of its subdivisions) is a party, petitioner and respondent variables note only whether a state is a party, not the state's name. See variables Petitioner State and Respondent State for the name.

The specific codes that appear below were created inductively, with petitioner and respondent characterized as the Court's opinion identifies them.

In describing the parties in the cases before it, the justices employ terminology that places them in the context of the litigation in which they are involved. Accordingly, an employer who happens to be a manufacturer will be identified as the former if its role in the litigation is that of an employer and as the latter if its role is that of a business. Because the justices describe litigants in this fashion, a fairly limited vocabulary characterizes them. Note that the list of parties also includes the list of administrative agencies and officials contained in administrative action preceding litigation.

Also note that the Court's characterization of the parties applies whether the petitioner and respondent are actually single entities or whether many other persons or legal entities have associated themselves with the lawsuit. That is, the presence of the phrase, et al., following the name of a party does not preclude the Court from characterizing that party as though it were a single entity. Thus, each docket number will show a single petitioner and a single respondent, regardless of how many legal entities were actually involved.

The decision rules governing the identification of parties are as follows.

1. Parties are identified by the labels given them in the opinion or judgment of the Court except where the Reports title a party as the "United States" or as a named state. Textual identification of parties is typically provided prior to Part I of the Court's opinion. The official syllabus, the summary that appears on the title page of the case, may be consulted as well. In describing the parties, the Court employs terminology that places them in the context of the specific lawsuit in which they are involved. E.g., "employer" rather than "business" in a suit by an employee; as a "minority," "female," or "minority female" employee rather than "employee" in a suit alleging discrimination by an employer.

2. Where a choice of identifications exists that which provides information not provided by the legal provision or the issue is chosen. E.g., a federal taxpayer or an attorney accused of a crime as taxpayer or attorney rather than accused person, particularly if neither the lawType nor the Issue variable identifies the case as a tax matter or one involving an attorney.

3. Identify the parties by reference to the following list and by the list of federal agencies provided in the adminAction variable.

**Values:**

| 1 | attorney general of the United States, or his office |
| --- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| 2 | specified state board or department of education |
| 3 | city, town, township, village, or borough government or governmental unit |
| 4 | state commission, board, committee, or authority |
| 5 | county government or county governmental unit, except school district |
| 6 | court or judicial district |
| 7 | state department or agency |
| 8 | governmental employee or job applicant |
| 9 | female governmental employee or job applicant |
| 10 | minority governmental employee or job applicant |
| 11 | minority female governmental employee or job applicant |
| 12 | not listed among agencies in the first Administrative Action variable |
| 13 | retired or former governmental employee |
| 14 | U.S. House of Representatives |
| 15 | interstate compact |
| 16 | judge |
| 17 | state legislature, house, or committee |
| 18 | local governmental unit other than a county, city, town, township, village, or borough |
| 19 | governmental official, or an official of an agency established under an interstate compact |
| 20 | state or U.S. supreme court |
| 21 | local school district or board of education |
| 22 | U.S. Senate |
| 23 | U.S. senator |
| 24 | foreign nation or instrumentality |
| 25 | state or local governmental taxpayer, or executor of the estate of |
| 26 | state college or university |
| 27 | United States |
| 28 | State |
| 100 | person accused, indicted, or suspected of crime |
| 101 | advertising business or agency |
| 102 | agent, fiduciary, trustee, or executor |
| 103 | airplane manufacturer, or manufacturer of parts of airplanes |
| 104 | airline |
| 105 | distributor, importer, or exporter of alcoholic beverages |
| 106 | alien, person subject to a denaturalization proceeding, or one whose citizenship is revoked |
| 107 | American Medical Association |
| 108 | National Railroad Passenger Corp. |
| 109 | amusement establishment, or recreational facility |
| 110 | arrested person, or pretrial detainee |
| 111 | attorney, or person acting as such;includes bar applicant or law student, or law firm or bar association |
| 112 | author, copyright holder |
| 113 | bank, savings and loan, credit union, investment company |
| 114 | bankrupt person or business, or business in reorganization |
| 115 | establishment serving liquor by the glass, or package liquor store |
| 116 | water transportation, stevedore |
| 117 | bookstore, newsstand, printer, bindery, purveyor or distributor of books or magazines |
| 118 | brewery, distillery |
| 119 | broker, stock exchange, investment or securities firm |
| 120 | construction industry |
| 121 | bus or motorized passenger transportation vehicle |
| 122 | business, corporation |
| 123 | buyer, purchaser |
| 124 | cable TV |
| 125 | car dealer |
| 126 | person convicted of crime |
| 127 | tangible property, other than real estate, including contraband |
| 128 | chemical company |
| 129 | child, children, including adopted or illegitimate |
| 130 | religious organization, institution, or person |
| 131 | private club or facility |
| 132 | coal company or coal mine operator |
| 133 | computer business or manufacturer, hardware or software |
| 134 | consumer, consumer organization |
| 135 | creditor, including institution appearing as such; e.g., a finance company |
| 136 | person allegedly criminally insane or mentally incompetent to stand trial |
| 137 | defendant |
| 138 | debtor |
| 139 | real estate developer |
| 140 | disabled person or disability benefit claimant |
| 141 | distributor |
| 142 | person subject to selective service, including conscientious objector |
| 143 | drug manufacturer |
| 144 | druggist, pharmacist, pharmacy |
| 145 | employee, or job applicant, including beneficiaries of |
| 146 | employer-employee trust agreement, employee health and welfare fund, or multi-employer pension plan |
| 147 | electric equipment manufacturer |
| 148 | electric or hydroelectric power utility, power cooperative, or gas and electric company |
| 149 | eleemosynary institution or person |
| 150 | environmental organization |
| 151 | employer. If employer's relations with employees are governed by the nature of the employer's business (e.g., railroad, boat), rather than labor law generally, the more specific designation is used in place of Employer. |
| 152 | farmer, farm worker, or farm organization |
| 153 | father |
| 154 | female employee or job applicant |
| 155 | female |
| 156 | movie, play, pictorial representation, theatrical production, actor, or exhibitor or distributor of |
| 157 | fisherman or fishing company |
| 158 | food, meat packing, or processing company, stockyard |
| 159 | foreign (non-American) nongovernmental entity |
| 160 | franchiser |
| 161 | franchisee |
| 162 | lesbian, gay, bisexual, transexual person or organization |
| 163 | person who guarantees another's obligations |
| 164 | handicapped individual, or organization of devoted to |
| 165 | health organization or person, nursing home, medical clinic or laboratory, chiropractor |
| 166 | heir, or beneficiary, or person so claiming to be |
| 167 | hospital, medical center |
| 168 | husband, or ex-husband |
| 169 | involuntarily committed mental patient |
| 170 | Indian, including Indian tribe or nation |
| 171 | insurance company, or surety |
| 172 | inventor, patent assigner, trademark owner or holder |
| 173 | investor |
| 174 | injured person or legal entity, nonphysically and non-employment related |
| 175 | juvenile |
| 176 | government contractor |
| 177 | holder of a license or permit, or applicant therefor |
| 178 | magazine |
| 179 | male |
| 180 | medical or Medicaid claimant |
| 181 | medical supply or manufacturing co. |
| 182 | racial or ethnic minority employee or job applicant |
| 183 | minority female employee or job applicant |
| 184 | manufacturer |
| 185 | management, executive officer, or director, of business entity |
| 186 | military personnel, or dependent of, including reservist |
| 187 | mining company or miner, excluding coal, oil, or pipeline company |
| 188 | mother |
| 189 | auto manufacturer |
| 190 | newspaper, newsletter, journal of opinion, news service |
| 191 | radio and television network, except cable tv |
| 192 | nonprofit organization or business |
| 193 | nonresident |
| 194 | nuclear power plant or facility |
| 195 | owner, landlord, or claimant to ownership, fee interest, or possession of land as well as chattels |
| 196 | shareholders to whom a tender offer is made |
| 197 | tender offer |
| 198 | oil company, or natural gas producer |
| 199 | elderly person, or organization dedicated to the elderly |
| 200 | out of state noncriminal defendant |
| 201 | political action committee |
| 202 | parent or parents |
| 203 | parking lot or service |
| 204 | patient of a health professional |
| 205 | telephone, telecommunications, or telegraph company |
| 206 | physician, MD or DO, dentist, or medical society |
| 207 | public interest organization |
| 208 | physically injured person, including wrongful death, who is not an employee |
| 209 | pipe line company |
| 210 | package, luggage, container |
| 211 | political candidate, activist, committee, party, party member, organization, or elected official |
| 212 | indigent, needy, welfare recipient |
| 213 | indigent defendant |
| 214 | private person |
| 215 | prisoner, inmate of penal institution |
| 216 | professional organization, business, or person |
| 217 | probationer, or parolee |
| 218 | protester, demonstrator, picketer or pamphleteer (non-employment related), or non-indigent loiterer |
| 219 | public utility |
| 220 | publisher, publishing company |
| 221 | radio station |
| 222 | racial or ethnic minority |
| 223 | person or organization protesting racial or ethnic segregation or discrimination |
| 224 | racial or ethnic minority student or applicant for admission to an educational institution |
| 225 | realtor |
| 226 | journalist, columnist, member of the news media |
| 227 | resident |
| 228 | restaurant, food vendor |
| 229 | retarded person, or mental incompetent |
| 230 | retired or former employee |
| 231 | railroad |
| 232 | private school, college, or university |
| 233 | seller or vendor |
| 234 | shipper, including importer and exporter |
| 235 | shopping center, mall |
| 236 | spouse, or former spouse |
| 237 | stockholder, shareholder, or bondholder |
| 238 | retail business or outlet |
| 239 | student, or applicant for admission to an educational institution |
| 240 | taxpayer or executor of taxpayer's estate, federal only |
| 241 | tenant or lessee |
| 242 | theater, studio |
| 243 | forest products, lumber, or logging company |
| 244 | person traveling or wishing to travel abroad, or overseas travel agent |
| 245 | trucking company, or motor carrier |
| 246 | television station |
| 247 | union member |
| 248 | unemployed person or unemployment compensation applicant or claimant |
| 249 | union, labor organization, or official of |
| 250 | veteran |
| 251 | voter, prospective voter, elector, or a nonelective official seeking reapportionment or redistricting of legislative districts (POL) |
| 252 | wholesale trade |
| 253 | wife, or ex-wife |
| 254 | witness, or person under subpoena |
| 255 | network |
| 256 | slave |
| 257 | slave-owner |
| 258 | bank of the united states |
| 259 | timber company |
| 260 | u.s. job applicants or employees |
| 301 | Army and Air Force Exchange Service |
| 302 | Atomic Energy Commission |
| 303 | Secretary or administrative unit or personnel of the U.S. Air Force |
| 304 | Department or Secretary of Agriculture |
| 305 | Alien Property Custodian |
| 306 | Secretary or administrative unit or personnel of the U.S. Army |
| 307 | Board of Immigration Appeals |
| 308 | Bureau of Indian Affairs |
| 310 | Bonneville Power Administration |
| 311 | Benefits Review Board |
| 312 | Civil Aeronautics Board |
| 313 | Bureau of the Census |
| 314 | Central Intelligence Agency |
| 315 | Commodity Futures Trading Commission |
| 316 | Department or Secretary of Commerce |
| 317 | Comptroller of Currency |
| 318 | Consumer Product Safety Commission |
| 319 | Civil Rights Commission |
| 320 | Civil Service Commission, U.S. |
| 321 | Customs Service or Commissioner of Customs |
| 322 | Defense Base Closure and REalignment Commission |
| 323 | Drug Enforcement Agency |
| 324 | Department or Secretary of Defense (and Department or Secretary of War) |
| 325 | Department or Secretary of Energy |
| 326 | Department or Secretary of the Interior |
| 327 | Department of Justice or Attorney General |
| 328 | Department or Secretary of State |
| 329 | Department or Secretary of Transportation |
| 330 | Department or Secretary of Education |
| 331 | U.S. Employees' Compensation Commission, or Commissioner |
| 332 | Equal Employment Opportunity Commission |
| 333 | Environmental Protection Agency or Administrator |
| 334 | Federal Aviation Agency or Administration |
| 335 | Federal Bureau of Investigation or Director |
| 336 | Federal Bureau of Prisons |
| 337 | Farm Credit Administration |
| 338 | Federal Communications Commission (including a predecessor, Federal Radio Commission) |
| 339 | Federal Credit Union Administration |
| 340 | Food and Drug Administration |
| 341 | Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation |
| 342 | Federal Energy Administration |
| 343 | Federal Election Commission |
| 344 | Federal Energy Regulatory Commission |
| 345 | Federal Housing Administration |
| 346 | Federal Home Loan Bank Board |
| 347 | Federal Labor Relations Authority |
| 348 | Federal Maritime Board |
| 349 | Federal Maritime Commission |
| 350 | Farmers Home Administration |
| 351 | Federal Parole Board |
| 352 | Federal Power Commission |
| 353 | Federal Railroad Administration |
| 354 | Federal Reserve Board of Governors |
| 355 | Federal Reserve System |
| 356 | Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation |
| 357 | Federal Trade Commission |
| 358 | Federal Works Administration, or Administrator |
| 359 | General Accounting Office |
| 360 | Comptroller General |
| 361 | General Services Administration |
| 362 | Department or Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare |
| 363 | Department or Secretary of Health and Human Services |
| 364 | Department or Secretary of Housing and Urban Development |
| 366 | Interstate Commerce Commission |
| 367 | Indian Claims Commission |
| 368 | Immigration and Naturalization Service, or Director of, or District Director of, or Immigration and Naturalization Enforcement |
| 369 | Internal Revenue Service, Collector, Commissioner, or District Director of |
| 370 | Information Security Oversight Office |
| 371 | Department or Secretary of Labor |
| 372 | Loyalty Review Board |
| 373 | Legal Services Corporation |
| 374 | Merit Systems Protection Board |
| 375 | Multistate Tax Commission |
| 376 | National Aeronautics and Space Administration |
| 377 | Secretary or administrative unit of the U.S. Navy |
| 378 | National Credit Union Administration |
| 379 | National Endowment for the Arts |
| 380 | National Enforcement Commission |
| 381 | National Highway Traffic Safety Administration |
| 382 | National Labor Relations Board, or regional office or officer |
| 383 | National Mediation Board |
| 384 | National Railroad Adjustment Board |
| 385 | Nuclear Regulatory Commission |
| 386 | National Security Agency |
| 387 | Office of Economic Opportunity |
| 388 | Office of Management and Budget |
| 389 | Office of Price Administration, or Price Administrator |
| 390 | Office of Personnel Management |
| 391 | Occupational Safety and Health Administration |
| 392 | Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission |
| 393 | Office of Workers' Compensation Programs |
| 394 | Patent Office, or Commissioner of, or Board of Appeals of |
| 395 | Pay Board (established under the Economic Stabilization Act of 1970) |
| 396 | Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation |
| 397 | U.S. Public Health Service |
| 398 | Postal Rate Commission |
| 399 | Provider Reimbursement Review Board |
| 400 | Renegotiation Board |
| 401 | Railroad Adjustment Board |
| 402 | Railroad Retirement Board |
| 403 | Subversive Activities Control Board |
| 404 | Small Business Administration |
| 405 | Securities and Exchange Commission |
| 406 | Social Security Administration or Commissioner |
| 407 | Selective Service System |
| 408 | Department or Secretary of the Treasury |
| 409 | Tennessee Valley Authority |
| 410 | United States Forest Service |
| 411 | United States Parole Commission |
| 412 | Postal Service and Post Office, or Postmaster General, or Postmaster |
| 413 | United States Sentencing Commission |
| 414 | Veterans' Administration |
| 415 | War Production Board |
| 416 | Wage Stabilization Board |
| 417 | General Land Office of Commissioners |
| 418 | Transportation Security Administration |
| 419 | Surface Transportation Board |
| 420 | U.S. Shipping Board Emergency Fleet Corp. |
| 421 | Reconstruction Finance Corp. |
| 422 | Department or Secretary of Homeland Security |
| 501 | Unidentifiable |
| 600 | International Entity | Introductory

- [Introduction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=intro)
- [Citing to the SCDB](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=cite)
 Identification Variables

- [SCDB Case ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseId)
- [SCDB Docket ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docketId)
- [SCDB Issues ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId)
- [SCDB Vote ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteId)
- [U.S. Reporter Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=usCite)
- [Supreme Court Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=sctCite)
- [Lawyers Edition Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=ledCite)
- [LEXIS Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lexisCite)
- [Docket Number](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docket)
 Background Variables

- [Case Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseName)
- [Petitioner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitioner)
- [Petitioner State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitionerState)
- [Respondent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondent)
- [Respondent State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondentState)
- [Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=jurisdiction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminAction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminActionState)
- [Three-Judge District Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc)
- [Origin of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOrigin)
- [Origin of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOriginState)
- [Source of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSource)
- [Source of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSourceState)
- [Lower Court Disagreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisagreement)
- [Reason for Granting Cert](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=certReason)
- [Lower Court Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisposition)
- [Lower Court Disposition Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDispositionDirection)
 Chronological Variables

- [Date of Decision](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateDecision)
- [Term of Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=term)
- [Natural Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=naturalCourt)
- [Chief Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=chief)
- [Date of Oral Argument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateArgument)
- [Date of Reargument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateRearg)
 Substantive Variables

- [Issue](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issue)
- [Issue Area](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issueArea)
- [Decision Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirection)
- [Decision Direction Dissent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirectionDissent)
- [Authority for Decision 1](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision1)
- [Authority for Decision 2](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision2)
- [Legal Provisions Considered by the Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawType)
- [Legal Provision Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawSupp)
- [Legal Provision Minor Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawMinor)
 Outcome Variables

- [Decision Type](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionType)
- [Declaration of Unconstitutionality](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=declarationUncon)
- [Disposition of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDisposition)
- [Unusual Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDispositionUnusual)
- [Winning Party](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=partyWinning)
- [Formal Alteration of Precedent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=precedentAlteration)
 Voting & Opinion Variables

- [Vote Not Clearly Specified](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteUnclear)
- [Majority Opinion Writer](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinWriter)
- [Majority Opinion Assigner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinAssigner)
- [Split Vote](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=splitVote)
- [Majority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majVotes)
- [Minority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=minVotes)
- [Justice ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice)
- [Justice Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justiceName)
- [The Vote in the Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=vote)
- [Opinion](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=opinion)
- [Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=direction)
- [Majority and Minority Voting by Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majority)
- [First Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=firstAgreement)
- [Second Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=secondAgreement)
- | | [CONTACT](http://scdb.wustl.edu/contact.php) | | [TOP](#top) |
| --- | ---------------------- | --- | ----------- |
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- image The Supreme Court Database has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. [Creative Commons License](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/)

| ![washu_logo](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/washu_logo.png) |
| ------------------------------------ |

'variable.\n\n**Values:**\n\n| 1 | attorney general of the United States, or his office |\n| --- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| 2 | specified state board or department of education |\n| 3 | city, town, township, village, or borough government or governmental unit |\n| 4 | state commission, board, committee, or authority |\n| 5 | county government or county governmental unit, except school district |\n| 6 | court or judicial district |\n| 7 | state department or agency |\n| 8 | governmental employee or job applicant |\n| 9 | female governmental employee or job applicant |\n| 10 | minority governmental employee or job applicant |\n| 11 | minority female governmental employee or job applicant |\n| 12 | not listed among agencies in the first Administrative Action variable |\n| 13 | retired or former governmental employee |\n| 14 | U.S. House of Representatives |\n| 15 | interstate compact |\n| 16 | judge |\n| 17 | state legislature, house, or committee |\n| 18 | local governmental unit other than a county, city, town, township, village, or borough |\n| 19 | governmental official, or an official of an agency established under an interstate compact |\n| 20 | state or U.S. supreme court |\n| 21 | local school district or board of education |\n| 22 | U.S. Senate |\n| 23 | U.S. senator |\n| 24 | foreign nation or instrumentality |\n| 25 | state or loc'

---
meta-description: The Supreme Court Database is the definitive source for researchers, students, journalists, and citizens interested in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Database contains over two hundred pieces of information about each case decided by the Court between the 1946 and 2012 terms. Examples include the identity of the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed, the parties to the suit, the legal provisions considered in the case, and the votes of the Justices.
meta-generator: Coda
meta-keywords: supreme court, spaeth, database
title: The Supreme Court Database
---

| [![wulaw](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/wulaw.png)](http://law.wustl.edu) |  |
| -------------------------------------------------- | --- |

- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/index.php) image image image image
- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/about.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/analysis.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php)
- image
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- Online Code Book

- Petitioner

| **Variable Name** petitioner | **Spaeth Name** PARTY\_1 | **Normalizations** [311 [ view ]](#norms) |
| ------------------------------ | -------------------------- | -------------------------------------------- |

The next four variables identify the parties to the case. "Petitioner" refers to the party who petitioned the Supreme Court to review the case. This party is variously known as the petitioner or the appellant. "Respondent" refers to the party being sued or tried and is also known as the appellee. Variables "petitioner" and "respondent" provide detailed information about all parties, except the identity of the state if a state (or one of its subdivisions) is a party, petitioner and respondent variables note only whether a state is a party, not the state's name. See variables Petitioner State and Respondent State for the name.

The specific codes that appear below were created inductively, with petitioner and respondent characterized as the Court's opinion identifies them.

In describing the parties in the cases before it, the justices employ terminology that places them in the context of the litigation in which they are involved. Accordingly, an employer who happens to be a manufacturer will be identified as the former if its role in the litigation is that of an employer and as the latter if its role is that of a business. Because the justices describe litigants in this fashion, a fairly limited vocabulary characterizes them. Note that the list of parties also includes the list of administrative agencies and officials contained in administrative action preceding litigation.

Also note that the Court's characterization of the parties applies whether the petitioner and respondent are actually single entities or whether many other persons or legal entities have associated themselves with the lawsuit. That is, the presence of the phrase, et al., following the name of a party does not preclude the Court from characterizing that party as though it were a single entity. Thus, each docket number will show a single petitioner and a single respondent, regardless of how many legal entities were actually involved.

The decision rules governing the identification of parties are as follows.

1. Parties are identified by the labels given them in the opinion or judgment of the Court except where the Reports title a party as the "United States" or as a named state. Textual identification of parties is typically provided prior to Part I of the Court's opinion. The official syllabus, the summary that appears on the title page of the case, may be consulted as well. In describing the parties, the Court employs terminology that places them in the context of the specific lawsuit in which they are involved. E.g., "employer" rather than "business" in a suit by an employee; as a "minority," "female," or "minority female" employee rather than "employee" in a suit alleging discrimination by an employer.

2. Where a choice of identifications exists that which provides information not provided by the legal provision or the issue is chosen. E.g., a federal taxpayer or an attorney accused of a crime as taxpayer or attorney rather than accused person, particularly if neither the lawType nor the Issue variable identifies the case as a tax matter or one involving an attorney.

3. Identify the parties by reference to the following list and by the list of federal agencies provided in the adminAction variable.

**Values:**

| 1 | attorney general of the United States, or his office |
| --- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| 2 | specified state board or department of education |
| 3 | city, town, township, village, or borough government or governmental unit |
| 4 | state commission, board, committee, or authority |
| 5 | county government or county governmental unit, except school district |
| 6 | court or judicial district |
| 7 | state department or agency |
| 8 | governmental employee or job applicant |
| 9 | female governmental employee or job applicant |
| 10 | minority governmental employee or job applicant |
| 11 | minority female governmental employee or job applicant |
| 12 | not listed among agencies in the first Administrative Action variable |
| 13 | retired or former governmental employee |
| 14 | U.S. House of Representatives |
| 15 | interstate compact |
| 16 | judge |
| 17 | state legislature, house, or committee |
| 18 | local governmental unit other than a county, city, town, township, village, or borough |
| 19 | governmental official, or an official of an agency established under an interstate compact |
| 20 | state or U.S. supreme court |
| 21 | local school district or board of education |
| 22 | U.S. Senate |
| 23 | U.S. senator |
| 24 | foreign nation or instrumentality |
| 25 | state or local governmental taxpayer, or executor of the estate of |
| 26 | state college or university |
| 27 | United States |
| 28 | State |
| 100 | person accused, indicted, or suspected of crime |
| 101 | advertising business or agency |
| 102 | agent, fiduciary, trustee, or executor |
| 103 | airplane manufacturer, or manufacturer of parts of airplanes |
| 104 | airline |
| 105 | distributor, importer, or exporter of alcoholic beverages |
| 106 | alien, person subject to a denaturalization proceeding, or one whose citizenship is revoked |
| 107 | American Medical Association |
| 108 | National Railroad Passenger Corp. |
| 109 | amusement establishment, or recreational facility |
| 110 | arrested person, or pretrial detainee |
| 111 | attorney, or person acting as such;includes bar applicant or law student, or law firm or bar association |
| 112 | author, copyright holder |
| 113 | bank, savings and loan, credit union, investment company |
| 114 | bankrupt person or business, or business in reorganization |
| 115 | establishment serving liquor by the glass, or package liquor store |
| 116 | water transportation, stevedore |
| 117 | bookstore, newsstand, printer, bindery, purveyor or distributor of books or magazines |
| 118 | brewery, distillery |
| 119 | broker, stock exchange, investment or securities firm |
| 120 | construction industry |
| 121 | bus or motorized passenger transportation vehicle |
| 122 | business, corporation |
| 123 | buyer, purchaser |
| 124 | cable TV |
| 125 | car dealer |
| 126 | person convicted of crime |
| 127 | tangible property, other than real estate, including contraband |
| 128 | chemical company |
| 129 | child, children, including adopted or illegitimate |
| 130 | religious organization, institution, or person |
| 131 | private club or facility |
| 132 | coal company or coal mine operator |
| 133 | computer business or manufacturer, hardware or software |
| 134 | consumer, consumer organization |
| 135 | creditor, including institution appearing as such; e.g., a finance company |
| 136 | person allegedly criminally insane or mentally incompetent to stand trial |
| 137 | defendant |
| 138 | debtor |
| 139 | real estate developer |
| 140 | disabled person or disability benefit claimant |
| 141 | distributor |
| 142 | person subject to selective service, including conscientious objector |
| 143 | drug manufacturer |
| 144 | druggist, pharmacist, pharmacy |
| 145 | employee, or job applicant, including beneficiaries of |
| 146 | employer-employee trust agreement, employee health and welfare fund, or multi-employer pension plan |
| 147 | electric equipment manufacturer |
| 148 | electric or hydroelectric power utility, power cooperative, or gas and electric company |
| 149 | eleemosynary institution or person |
| 150 | environmental organization |
| 151 | employer. If employer's relations with employees are governed by the nature of the employer's business (e.g., railroad, boat), rather than labor law generally, the more specific designation is used in place of Employer. |
| 152 | farmer, farm worker, or farm organization |
| 153 | father |
| 154 | female employee or job applicant |
| 155 | female |
| 156 | movie, play, pictorial representation, theatrical production, actor, or exhibitor or distributor of |
| 157 | fisherman or fishing company |
| 158 | food, meat packing, or processing company, stockyard |
| 159 | foreign (non-American) nongovernmental entity |
| 160 | franchiser |
| 161 | franchisee |
| 162 | lesbian, gay, bisexual, transexual person or organization |
| 163 | person who guarantees another's obligations |
| 164 | handicapped individual, or organization of devoted to |
| 165 | health organization or person, nursing home, medical clinic or laboratory, chiropractor |
| 166 | heir, or beneficiary, or person so claiming to be |
| 167 | hospital, medical center |
| 168 | husband, or ex-husband |
| 169 | involuntarily committed mental patient |
| 170 | Indian, including Indian tribe or nation |
| 171 | insurance company, or surety |
| 172 | inventor, patent assigner, trademark owner or holder |
| 173 | investor |
| 174 | injured person or legal entity, nonphysically and non-employment related |
| 175 | juvenile |
| 176 | government contractor |
| 177 | holder of a license or permit, or applicant therefor |
| 178 | magazine |
| 179 | male |
| 180 | medical or Medicaid claimant |
| 181 | medical supply or manufacturing co. |
| 182 | racial or ethnic minority employee or job applicant |
| 183 | minority female employee or job applicant |
| 184 | manufacturer |
| 185 | management, executive officer, or director, of business entity |
| 186 | military personnel, or dependent of, including reservist |
| 187 | mining company or miner, excluding coal, oil, or pipeline company |
| 188 | mother |
| 189 | auto manufacturer |
| 190 | newspaper, newsletter, journal of opinion, news service |
| 191 | radio and television network, except cable tv |
| 192 | nonprofit organization or business |
| 193 | nonresident |
| 194 | nuclear power plant or facility |
| 195 | owner, landlord, or claimant to ownership, fee interest, or possession of land as well as chattels |
| 196 | shareholders to whom a tender offer is made |
| 197 | tender offer |
| 198 | oil company, or natural gas producer |
| 199 | elderly person, or organization dedicated to the elderly |
| 200 | out of state noncriminal defendant |
| 201 | political action committee |
| 202 | parent or parents |
| 203 | parking lot or service |
| 204 | patient of a health professional |
| 205 | telephone, telecommunications, or telegraph company |
| 206 | physician, MD or DO, dentist, or medical society |
| 207 | public interest organization |
| 208 | physically injured person, including wrongful death, who is not an employee |
| 209 | pipe line company |
| 210 | package, luggage, container |
| 211 | political candidate, activist, committee, party, party member, organization, or elected official |
| 212 | indigent, needy, welfare recipient |
| 213 | indigent defendant |
| 214 | private person |
| 215 | prisoner, inmate of penal institution |
| 216 | professional organization, business, or person |
| 217 | probationer, or parolee |
| 218 | protester, demonstrator, picketer or pamphleteer (non-employment related), or non-indigent loiterer |
| 219 | public utility |
| 220 | publisher, publishing company |
| 221 | radio station |
| 222 | racial or ethnic minority |
| 223 | person or organization protesting racial or ethnic segregation or discrimination |
| 224 | racial or ethnic minority student or applicant for admission to an educational institution |
| 225 | realtor |
| 226 | journalist, columnist, member of the news media |
| 227 | resident |
| 228 | restaurant, food vendor |
| 229 | retarded person, or mental incompetent |
| 230 | retired or former employee |
| 231 | railroad |
| 232 | private school, college, or university |
| 233 | seller or vendor |
| 234 | shipper, including importer and exporter |
| 235 | shopping center, mall |
| 236 | spouse, or former spouse |
| 237 | stockholder, shareholder, or bondholder |
| 238 | retail business or outlet |
| 239 | student, or applicant for admission to an educational institution |
| 240 | taxpayer or executor of taxpayer's estate, federal only |
| 241 | tenant or lessee |
| 242 | theater, studio |
| 243 | forest products, lumber, or logging company |
| 244 | person traveling or wishing to travel abroad, or overseas travel agent |
| 245 | trucking company, or motor carrier |
| 246 | television station |
| 247 | union member |
| 248 | unemployed person or unemployment compensation applicant or claimant |
| 249 | union, labor organization, or official of |
| 250 | veteran |
| 251 | voter, prospective voter, elector, or a nonelective official seeking reapportionment or redistricting of legislative districts (POL) |
| 252 | wholesale trade |
| 253 | wife, or ex-wife |
| 254 | witness, or person under subpoena |
| 255 | network |
| 256 | slave |
| 257 | slave-owner |
| 258 | bank of the united states |
| 259 | timber company |
| 260 | u.s. job applicants or employees |
| 301 | Army and Air Force Exchange Service |
| 302 | Atomic Energy Commission |
| 303 | Secretary or administrative unit or personnel of the U.S. Air Force |
| 304 | Department or Secretary of Agriculture |
| 305 | Alien Property Custodian |
| 306 | Secretary or administrative unit or personnel of the U.S. Army |
| 307 | Board of Immigration Appeals |
| 308 | Bureau of Indian Affairs |
| 310 | Bonneville Power Administration |
| 311 | Benefits Review Board |
| 312 | Civil Aeronautics Board |
| 313 | Bureau of the Census |
| 314 | Central Intelligence Agency |
| 315 | Commodity Futures Trading Commission |
| 316 | Department or Secretary of Commerce |
| 317 | Comptroller of Currency |
| 318 | Consumer Product Safety Commission |
| 319 | Civil Rights Commission |
| 320 | Civil Service Commission, U.S. |
| 321 | Customs Service or Commissioner of Customs |
| 322 | Defense Base Closure and REalignment Commission |
| 323 | Drug Enforcement Agency |
| 324 | Department or Secretary of Defense (and Department or Secretary of War) |
| 325 | Department or Secretary of Energy |
| 326 | Department or Secretary of the Interior |
| 327 | Department of Justice or Attorney General |
| 328 | Department or Secretary of State |
| 329 | Department or Secretary of Transportation |
| 330 | Department or Secretary of Education |
| 331 | U.S. Employees' Compensation Commission, or Commissioner |
| 332 | Equal Employment Opportunity Commission |
| 333 | Environmental Protection Agency or Administrator |
| 334 | Federal Aviation Agency or Administration |
| 335 | Federal Bureau of Investigation or Director |
| 336 | Federal Bureau of Prisons |
| 337 | Farm Credit Administration |
| 338 | Federal Communications Commission (including a predecessor, Federal Radio Commission) |
| 339 | Federal Credit Union Administration |
| 340 | Food and Drug Administration |
| 341 | Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation |
| 342 | Federal Energy Administration |
| 343 | Federal Election Commission |
| 344 | Federal Energy Regulatory Commission |
| 345 | Federal Housing Administration |
| 346 | Federal Home Loan Bank Board |
| 347 | Federal Labor Relations Authority |
| 348 | Federal Maritime Board |
| 349 | Federal Maritime Commission |
| 350 | Farmers Home Administration |
| 351 | Federal Parole Board |
| 352 | Federal Power Commission |
| 353 | Federal Railroad Administration |
| 354 | Federal Reserve Board of Governors |
| 355 | Federal Reserve System |
| 356 | Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation |
| 357 | Federal Trade Commission |
| 358 | Federal Works Administration, or Administrator |
| 359 | General Accounting Office |
| 360 | Comptroller General |
| 361 | General Services Administration |
| 362 | Department or Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare |
| 363 | Department or Secretary of Health and Human Services |
| 364 | Department or Secretary of Housing and Urban Development |
| 366 | Interstate Commerce Commission |
| 367 | Indian Claims Commission |
| 368 | Immigration and Naturalization Service, or Director of, or District Director of, or Immigration and Naturalization Enforcement |
| 369 | Internal Revenue Service, Collector, Commissioner, or District Director of |
| 370 | Information Security Oversight Office |
| 371 | Department or Secretary of Labor |
| 372 | Loyalty Review Board |
| 373 | Legal Services Corporation |
| 374 | Merit Systems Protection Board |
| 375 | Multistate Tax Commission |
| 376 | National Aeronautics and Space Administration |
| 377 | Secretary or administrative unit of the U.S. Navy |
| 378 | National Credit Union Administration |
| 379 | National Endowment for the Arts |
| 380 | National Enforcement Commission |
| 381 | National Highway Traffic Safety Administration |
| 382 | National Labor Relations Board, or regional office or officer |
| 383 | National Mediation Board |
| 384 | National Railroad Adjustment Board |
| 385 | Nuclear Regulatory Commission |
| 386 | National Security Agency |
| 387 | Office of Economic Opportunity |
| 388 | Office of Management and Budget |
| 389 | Office of Price Administration, or Price Administrator |
| 390 | Office of Personnel Management |
| 391 | Occupational Safety and Health Administration |
| 392 | Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission |
| 393 | Office of Workers' Compensation Programs |
| 394 | Patent Office, or Commissioner of, or Board of Appeals of |
| 395 | Pay Board (established under the Economic Stabilization Act of 1970) |
| 396 | Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation |
| 397 | U.S. Public Health Service |
| 398 | Postal Rate Commission |
| 399 | Provider Reimbursement Review Board |
| 400 | Renegotiation Board |
| 401 | Railroad Adjustment Board |
| 402 | Railroad Retirement Board |
| 403 | Subversive Activities Control Board |
| 404 | Small Business Administration |
| 405 | Securities and Exchange Commission |
| 406 | Social Security Administration or Commissioner |
| 407 | Selective Service System |
| 408 | Department or Secretary of the Treasury |
| 409 | Tennessee Valley Authority |
| 410 | United States Forest Service |
| 411 | United States Parole Commission |
| 412 | Postal Service and Post Office, or Postmaster General, or Postmaster |
| 413 | United States Sentencing Commission |
| 414 | Veterans' Administration |
| 415 | War Production Board |
| 416 | Wage Stabilization Board |
| 417 | General Land Office of Commissioners |
| 418 | Transportation Security Administration |
| 419 | Surface Transportation Board |
| 420 | U.S. Shipping Board Emergency Fleet Corp. |
| 421 | Reconstruction Finance Corp. |
| 422 | Department or Secretary of Homeland Security |
| 501 | Unidentifiable |
| 600 | International Entity | Introductory

- [Introduction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=intro)
- [Citing to the SCDB](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=cite)
 Identification Variables

- [SCDB Case ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseId)
- [SCDB Docket ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docketId)
- [SCDB Issues ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId)
- [SCDB Vote ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteId)
- [U.S. Reporter Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=usCite)
- [Supreme Court Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=sctCite)
- [Lawyers Edition Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=ledCite)
- [LEXIS Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lexisCite)
- [Docket Number](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docket)
 Background Variables

- [Case Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseName)
- [Petitioner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitioner)
- [Petitioner State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitionerState)
- [Respondent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondent)
- [Respondent State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondentState)
- [Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=jurisdiction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminAction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminActionState)
- [Three-Judge District Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc)
- [Origin of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOrigin)
- [Origin of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOriginState)
- [Source of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSource)
- [Source of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSourceState)
- [Lower Court Disagreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisagreement)
- [Reason for Granting Cert](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=certReason)
- [Lower Court Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisposition)
- [Lower Court Disposition Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDispositionDirection)
 Chronological Variables

- [Date of Decision](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateDecision)
- [Term of Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=term)
- [Natural Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=naturalCourt)
- [Chief Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=chief)
- [Date of Oral Argument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateArgument)
- [Date of Reargument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateRearg)
 Substantive Variables

- [Issue](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issue)
- [Issue Area](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issueArea)
- [Decision Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirection)
- [Decision Direction Dissent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirectionDissent)
- [Authority for Decision 1](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision1)
- [Authority for Decision 2](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision2)
- [Legal Provisions Considered by the Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawType)
- [Legal Provision Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawSupp)
- [Legal Provision Minor Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawMinor)
 Outcome Variables

- [Decision Type](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionType)
- [Declaration of Unconstitutionality](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=declarationUncon)
- [Disposition of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDisposition)
- [Unusual Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDispositionUnusual)
- [Winning Party](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=partyWinning)
- [Formal Alteration of Precedent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=precedentAlteration)
 Voting & Opinion Variables

- [Vote Not Clearly Specified](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteUnclear)
- [Majority Opinion Writer](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinWriter)
- [Majority Opinion Assigner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinAssigner)
- [Split Vote](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=splitVote)
- [Majority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majVotes)
- [Minority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=minVotes)
- [Justice ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice)
- [Justice Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justiceName)
- [The Vote in the Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=vote)
- [Opinion](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=opinion)
- [Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=direction)
- [Majority and Minority Voting by Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majority)
- [First Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=firstAgreement)
- [Second Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=secondAgreement)
- | | [CONTACT](http://scdb.wustl.edu/contact.php) | | [TOP](#top) |
| --- | ---------------------- | --- | ----------- |
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- image The Supreme Court Database has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. [Creative Commons License](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/)

| ![washu_logo](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/washu_logo.png) |
| ------------------------------------ |

total codes: 311
1 attorney general of the United States, or his office
2 specified state board or department of education
3 city, town, township, village, or borough government or governmental unit
4 state commission, board, committee, or authority
5 county government or county governmental unit, except school district
6 court or judicial district
7 state department or agency
8 governmental employee or job applicant
9 female governmental employee or job applicant
10 minority governmental employee or job applicant
11 minority female governmental employee or job applicant
12 not listed among agencies in the first Administrative Action variable
13 retired or former governmental employee
14 U.S. House of Representatives
15 interstate compact
16 judge
17 state legislature, house, or committee
18 local governmental unit other than a county, city, town, township, village, or borough
19 governmental official, or an official of an agency established under an interstate compact
20 state or U.S. supreme court
21 local school district or board of education
22 U.S. Senate
23 U.S. senator
24 foreign nation or instrumentality
25 state or local governmental taxpayer, or executor of the estate of
26 state college or university
27 United States
28 State
100 person accused, indicted, or suspected of crime
101 advertising business or agency
102 agent, fiduciary, trustee, or executor
103 airplane manufacturer, or manufacturer of parts of airplanes
104 airline
105 distributor, importer, or exporter of alcoholic beverages
106 alien, person subject to a denaturalization proceeding, or one whose citizenship is revoked
107 American Medical Association
108 National Railroad Passenger Corp.
109 amusement establishment, or recreational facility
110 arrested person, or pretrial detainee
111 attorney, or person acting as such;includes bar applicant or law student, or law firm or bar association
112 author, copyright holder
113 bank, savings and loan, credit union, investment company
114 bankrupt person or business, or business in reorganization
115 establishment serving liquor by the glass, or package liquor store
116 water transportation, stevedore
117 bookstore, newsstand, printer, bindery, purveyor or distributor of books or magazines
118 brewery, distillery
119 broker, stock exchange, investment or securities firm
120 construction industry
121 bus or motorized passenger transportation vehicle
122 business, corporation
123 buyer, purchaser
124 cable TV
125 car dealer
126 person convicted of crime
127 tangible property, other than real estate, including contraband
128 chemical company
129 child, children, including adopted or illegitimate
130 religious organization, institution, or person
131 private club or facility
132 coal company or coal mine operator
133 computer business or manufacturer, hardware or software
134 consumer, consumer organization
135 creditor, including institution appearing as such; e.g., a finance company
136 person allegedly criminally insane or mentally incompetent to stand trial
137 defendant
138 debtor
139 real estate developer
140 disabled person or disability benefit claimant
141 distributor
142 person subject to selective service, including conscientious objector
143 drug manufacturer
144 druggist, pharmacist, pharmacy
145 employee, or job applicant, including beneficiaries of
146 employer-employee trust agreement, employee health and welfare fund, or multi-employer pension plan
147 electric equipment manufacturer
148 electric or hydroelectric power utility, power cooperative, or gas and electric company
149 eleemosynary institution or person
150 environmental organization
151 employer. If employer's relations with employees are governed by the nature of the employer's business (e.g., railroad, boat), rather than labor law generally, the more specific designation is used in place of Employer.
152 farmer, farm worker, or farm organization
153 father
154 female employee or job applicant
155 female
156 movie, play, pictorial representation, theatrical production, actor, or exhibitor or distributor of
157 fisherman or fishing company
158 food, meat packing, or processing company, stockyard
159 foreign (non-American) nongovernmental entity
160 franchiser
161 franchisee
162 lesbian, gay, bisexual, transexual person or organization
163 person who guarantees another's obligations
164 handicapped individual, or organization of devoted to
165 health organization or person, nursing home, medical clinic or laboratory, chiropractor
166 heir, or beneficiary, or person so claiming to be
167 hospital, medical center
168 husband, or ex-husband
169 involuntarily committed mental patient
170 Indian, including Indian tribe or nation
171 insurance company, or surety
172 inventor, patent assigner, trademark owner or holder
173 investor
174 injured person or legal entity, nonphysically and non-employment related
175 juvenile
176 government contractor
177 holder of a license or permit, or applicant therefor
178 magazine
179 male
180 medical or Medicaid claimant
181 medical supply or manufacturing co.
182 racial or ethnic minority employee or job applicant
183 minority female employee or job applicant
184 manufacturer
185 management, executive officer, or director, of business entity
186 military personnel, or dependent of, including reservist
187 mining company or miner, excluding coal, oil, or pipeline company
188 mother
189 auto manufacturer
190 newspaper, newsletter, journal of opinion, news service
191 radio and television network, except cable tv
192 nonprofit organization or business
193 nonresident
194 nuclear power plant or facility
195 owner, landlord, or claimant to ownership, fee interest, or possession of land as well as chattels
196 shareholders to whom a tender offer is made
197 tender offer
198 oil company, or natural gas producer
199 elderly person, or organization dedicated to the elderly
200 out of state noncriminal defendant
201 political action committee
202 parent or parents
203 parking lot or service
204 patient of a health professional
205 telephone, telecommunications, or telegraph company
206 physician, MD or DO, dentist, or medical society
207 public interest organization
208 physically injured person, including wrongful death, who is not an employee
209 pipe line company
210 package, luggage, container
211 political candidate, activist, committee, party, party member, organization, or elected official
212 indigent, needy, welfare recipient
213 indigent defendant
214 private person
215 prisoner, inmate of penal institution
216 professional organization, business, or person
217 probationer, or parolee
218 protester, demonstrator, picketer or pamphleteer (non-employment related), or non-indigent loiterer
219 public utility
220 publisher, publishing company
221 radio station
222 racial or ethnic minority
223 person or organization protesting racial or ethnic segregation or discrimination
224 racial or ethnic minority student or applicant for admission to an educational institution
225 realtor
226 journalist, columnist, member of the news media
227 resident
228 restaurant, food vendor
229 retarded person, or mental incompetent
230 retired or former employee
231 railroad
232 private school, college, or university
233 seller or vendor
234 shipper, including importer and exporter
235 shopping center, mall
236 spouse, or former spouse
237 stockholder, shareholder, or bondholder
238 retail business or outlet
239 student, or applicant for admission to an educational institution
240 taxpayer or executor of taxpayer's estate, federal only
241 tenant or lessee
242 theater, studio
243 forest products, lumber, or logging company
244 person traveling or wishing to travel abroad, or overseas travel agent
245 trucking company, or motor carrier
246 television station
247 union member
248 unemployed person or unemployment compensation applicant or claimant
249 union, labor organization, or official of
250 veteran
251 voter, prospective voter, elector, or a nonelective official seeking reapportionment or redistricting of legislative districts (POL)
252 wholesale trade
253 wife, or ex-wife
254 witness, or person under subpoena
255 network
256 slave
257 slave-owner
258 bank of the united states
259 timber company
260 u.s. job applicants or employees
301 Army and Air Force Exchange Service
302 Atomic Energy Commission
303 Secretary or administrative unit or personnel of the U.S. Air Force
304 Department or Secretary of Agriculture
305 Alien Property Custodian
306 Secretary or administrative unit or personnel of the U.S. Army
307 Board of Immigration Appeals
308 Bureau of Indian Affairs
310 Bonneville Power Administration
311 Benefits Review Board
312 Civil Aeronautics Board
313 Bureau of the Census
314 Central Intelligence Agency
315 Commodity Futures Trading Commission
316 Department or Secretary of Commerce
317 Comptroller of Currency
318 Consumer Product Safety Commission
319 Civil Rights Commission
320 Civil Service Commission, U.S.
321 Customs Service or Commissioner of Customs
322 Defense Base Closure and REalignment Commission
323 Drug Enforcement Agency
324 Department or Secretary of Defense (and Department or Secretary of War)
325 Department or Secretary of Energy
326 Department or Secretary of the Interior
327 Department of Justice or Attorney General
328 Department or Secretary of State
329 Department or Secretary of Transportation
330 Department or Secretary of Education
331 U.S. Employees' Compensation Commission, or Commissioner
332 Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
333 Environmental Protection Agency or Administrator
334 Federal Aviation Agency or Administration
335 Federal Bureau of Investigation or Director
336 Federal Bureau of Prisons
337 Farm Credit Administration
338 Federal Communications Commission (including a predecessor, Federal Radio Commission)
339 Federal Credit Union Administration
340 Food and Drug Administration
341 Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
342 Federal Energy Administration
343 Federal Election Commission
344 Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
345 Federal Housing Administration
346 Federal Home Loan Bank Board
347 Federal Labor Relations Authority
348 Federal Maritime Board
349 Federal Maritime Commission
350 Farmers Home Administration
351 Federal Parole Board
352 Federal Power Commission
353 Federal Railroad Administration
354 Federal Reserve Board of Governors
355 Federal Reserve System
356 Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation
357 Federal Trade Commission
358 Federal Works Administration, or Administrator
359 General Accounting Office
360 Comptroller General
361 General Services Administration
362 Department or Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare
363 Department or Secretary of Health and Human Services
364 Department or Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
366 Interstate Commerce Commission
367 Indian Claims Commission
368 Immigration and Naturalization Service, or Director of, or District Director of, or Immigration and Naturalization Enforcement
369 Internal Revenue Service, Collector, Commissioner, or District Director of
370 Information Security Oversight Office
371 Department or Secretary of Labor
372 Loyalty Review Board
373 Legal Services Corporation
374 Merit Systems Protection Board
375 Multistate Tax Commission
376 National Aeronautics and Space Administration
377 Secretary or administrative unit of the U.S. Navy
378 National Credit Union Administration
379 National Endowment for the Arts
380 National Enforcement Commission
381 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
382 National Labor Relations Board, or regional office or officer
383 National Mediation Board
384 National Railroad Adjustment Board
385 Nuclear Regulatory Commission
386 National Security Agency
387 Office of Economic Opportunity
388 Office of Management and Budget
389 Office of Price Administration, or Price Administrator
390 Office of Personnel Management
391 Occupational Safety and Health Administration
392 Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission
393 Office of Workers' Compensation Programs
394 Patent Office, or Commissioner of, or Board of Appeals of
395 Pay Board (established under the Economic Stabilization Act of 1970)
396 Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation
397 U.S. Public Health Service
398 Postal Rate Commission
399 Provider Reimbursement Review Board
400 Renegotiation Board
401 Railroad Adjustment Board
402 Railroad Retirement Board
403 Subversive Activities Control Board
404 Small Business Administration
405 Securities and Exchange Commission
406 Social Security Administration or Commissioner
407 Selective Service System
408 Department or Secretary of the Treasury
409 Tennessee Valley Authority
410 United States Forest Service
411 United States Parole Commission
412 Postal Service and Post Office, or Postmaster General, or Postmaster
413 United States Sentencing Commission
414 Veterans' Administration
415 War Production Board
416 Wage Stabilization Board
417 General Land Office of Commissioners
418 Transportation Security Administration
419 Surface Transportation Board
420 U.S. Shipping Board Emergency Fleet Corp.
421 Reconstruction Finance Corp.
422 Department or Secretary of Homeland Security
501 Unidentifiable
600 International Entity

---
meta-description: The Supreme Court Database is the definitive source for researchers, students, journalists, and citizens interested in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Database contains over two hundred pieces of information about each case decided by the Court between the 1946 and 2012 terms. Examples include the identity of the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed, the parties to the suit, the legal provisions considered in the case, and the votes of the Justices.
meta-generator: Coda
meta-keywords: supreme court, spaeth, database
title: The Supreme Court Database
---

| [![wulaw](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/wulaw.png)](http://law.wustl.edu) |  |
| -------------------------------------------------- | --- |

- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/index.php) image image image image
- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/about.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/analysis.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php)
- image
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- Online Code Book

- Disposition of Case

| **Variable Name** caseDisposition | **Spaeth Name** DIS | **Normalizations** [11 [ view ]](#norms) |
| ----------------------------------- | --------------------- | ------------------------------------------- |

The treatment the Supreme Court accorded the court whose decision it reviewed is contained in this variable; e.g., affirmed, vacated, reversed and remanded, etc. The values here are the same as those for lcDisposition (how the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed disposed of the case). For original jurisdiction cases, this variable will be empty unless the Court's disposition falls under 1 or 9 below (stay, petition, or motion granted; petition denied or appeal dismissed). For cases in which the Court granted a motion to dismiss, caseDisposition is coded as 9 (petition denied or appeal dismissed). There is "no disposition" if the Court denied a motion to dismiss.

The information relevant to this variable may be found near the end of the summary that begins on the title page of each case, or preferably at the very end of the opinion of the Court.

As in the lcDisposition variable, the value label pertaining to the specific language used by the Court is entered. If incongruence between the Court's language and the above codes occurs, consult variable caseDispositionUnusual.

In cases containing multiple docket numbers, not every docket number will necessarily receive the same disposition. Hence, in focusing on the outcome of the Court's decisions, users might want to consider the datasets in which cases are organized by docket rather than citation.

Note for users of the Justice Centered Database: The entry in this variable governs whether the individual justices voted with the majority or in dissent.

**Values:**

| 1 | stay, petition, or motion granted |
| --- | ------------------------------------------------------- |
| 2 | affirmed (includes modified) |
| 3 | reversed |
| 4 | reversed and remanded |
| 5 | vacated and remanded |
| 6 | affirmed and reversed (or vacated) in part |
| 7 | affirmed and reversed (or vacated) in part and remanded |
| 8 | vacated |
| 9 | petition denied or appeal dismissed |
| 10 | certification to or from a lower court |
| 11 | no disposition | Introductory

- [Introduction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=intro)
- [Citing to the SCDB](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=cite)
 Identification Variables

- [SCDB Case ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseId)
- [SCDB Docket ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docketId)
- [SCDB Issues ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId)
- [SCDB Vote ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteId)
- [U.S. Reporter Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=usCite)
- [Supreme Court Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=sctCite)
- [Lawyers Edition Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=ledCite)
- [LEXIS Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lexisCite)
- [Docket Number](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docket)
 Background Variables

- [Case Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseName)
- [Petitioner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitioner)
- [Petitioner State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitionerState)
- [Respondent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondent)
- [Respondent State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondentState)
- [Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=jurisdiction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminAction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminActionState)
- [Three-Judge District Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc)
- [Origin of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOrigin)
- [Origin of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOriginState)
- [Source of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSource)
- [Source of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSourceState)
- [Lower Court Disagreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisagreement)
- [Reason for Granting Cert](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=certReason)
- [Lower Court Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisposition)
- [Lower Court Disposition Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDispositionDirection)
 Chronological Variables

- [Date of Decision](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateDecision)
- [Term of Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=term)
- [Natural Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=naturalCourt)
- [Chief Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=chief)
- [Date of Oral Argument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateArgument)
- [Date of Reargument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateRearg)
 Substantive Variables

- [Issue](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issue)
- [Issue Area](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issueArea)
- [Decision Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirection)
- [Decision Direction Dissent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirectionDissent)
- [Authority for Decision 1](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision1)
- [Authority for Decision 2](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision2)
- [Legal Provisions Considered by the Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawType)
- [Legal Provision Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawSupp)
- [Legal Provision Minor Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawMinor)
 Outcome Variables

- [Decision Type](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionType)
- [Declaration of Unconstitutionality](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=declarationUncon)
- [Disposition of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDisposition)
- [Unusual Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDispositionUnusual)
- [Winning Party](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=partyWinning)
- [Formal Alteration of Precedent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=precedentAlteration)
 Voting & Opinion Variables

- [Vote Not Clearly Specified](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteUnclear)
- [Majority Opinion Writer](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinWriter)
- [Majority Opinion Assigner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinAssigner)
- [Split Vote](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=splitVote)
- [Majority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majVotes)
- [Minority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=minVotes)
- [Justice ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice)
- [Justice Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justiceName)
- [The Vote in the Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=vote)
- [Opinion](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=opinion)
- [Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=direction)
- [Majority and Minority Voting by Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majority)
- [First Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=firstAgreement)
- [Second Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=secondAgreement)
- | | [CONTACT](http://scdb.wustl.edu/contact.php) | | [TOP](#top) |
| --- | ---------------------- | --- | ----------- |
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- image The Supreme Court Database has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. [Creative Commons License](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/)

| ![washu_logo](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/washu_logo.png) |
| ------------------------------------ |

1 stay, petition, or motion granted
2 affirmed (includes modified)
3 reversed
4 reversed and remanded
5 vacated and remanded
6 affirmed and reversed (or vacated) in part
7 affirmed and reversed (or vacated) in part and remanded
8 vacated
9 petition denied or appeal dismissed
10 certification to or from a lower court
11 no disposition

Counter({'Federal Government': 125, 'Individual/Employee': 80, 'Business': 75, 'State/Local Government': 16, 'Criminal Defendant/Prisoner': 9, 'Other/Foreign': 6})
Othe 12 not listed among agencies in the first A
Othe 24 foreign nation or instrumentality
Crim 100 person accused, indicted, or suspected o
Crim 110 arrested person, or pretrial detainee
Crim 126 person convicted of crime
Crim 136 person allegedly criminally insane or me
Othe 159 foreign (non-American) nongovernmental e
Crim 169 involuntarily committed mental patient
Crim 175 juvenile
Othe 193 nonresident
Crim 213 indigent defendant
Crim 215 prisoner, inmate of penal institution
Crim 217 probationer, or parolee
Othe 501 Unidentifiable
Othe 600 International Entity

[snipped — context_snip applied]

Range marked: 5 message(s), ~207k chars (1 pending). Archived; retrieve_snipped("tojdnx", search: "...") works now if needed.

[[1, "attorney general of the United States, or his office", "Federal Government"], [2, "specified state board or department of education", "State/Local Government"], [3, "city, town, township, village, or borough government or governmental unit", "State/Local Government"], [4, "state commission, board, committee, or authority", "State/Local Government"], [5, "county government or county governmental unit, except school district", "State/Local Government"], [6, "court or judicial district", "State/Local Government"], [7, "state department or agency", "State/Local Government"], [8, "governmental employee or job applicant", "Individual/Employee"], [9, "female governmental employee or job applicant", "Individual/Employee"], [10, "minority governmental employee or job applicant", "Individual/Employee"], [11, "minority female governmental employee or job applicant", "Individual/Employee"], [12, "not listed among agencies in the first Administrative Action variable", "Other/Foreign"], [13, "retired or former governmental employee", "Individual/Employee"], [14, "U.S. House of Representatives", "Federal Government"], [15, "interstate compact", "State/Local Government"], [16, "judge", "State/Local Government"], [17, "state legislature, house, or committee", "State/Local Government"], [18, "local governmental unit other than a county, city, town, township, village, or borough", "State/Local Government"], [19, "governmental official, or an official of an agency established under an interstate compact", "State/Local Government"], [20, "state or U.S. supreme court", "State/Local Government"], [21, "local school district or board of education", "State/Local Government"], [22, "U.S. Senate", "Federal Government"], [23, "U.S. senator", "Federal Government"], [24, "foreign nation or instrumentality", "Other/Foreign"], [25, "state or local governmental taxpayer, or executor of the estate of", "State/Local Government"], [26, "state college or university", "State/Local Government"], [27, "United States", "Federal Government"], [28, "State", "State/Local Government"], [100, "person accused, indicted, or suspected of crime", "Criminal Defendant/Prisoner"], [101, "advertising business or agency", "Business"], [102, "agent, fiduciary, trustee, or executor", "Individual/Employee"], [103, "airplane manufacturer, or manufacturer of parts of airplanes", "Business"], [104, "airline", "Business"], [105, "distributor, importer, or exporter of alcoholic beverages", "Business"], [106, "alien, person subject to a denaturalization proceeding, or one whose citizenship is revoked", "Individual/Employee"], [107, "American Medical Association", "Individual/Employee"], [108, "National Railroad Passenger Corp.", "Business"], [109, "amusement establishment, or recreational facility", "Business"], [110, "arrested person, or pretrial detainee", "Criminal Defendant/Prisoner"], [111, "attorney, or person acting as such;includes bar applicant or law student, or law firm or bar association", "Business"], [112, "author, copyright holder", "Individual/Employee"], [113, "bank, savings and loan, credit union, investment company", "Business"], [114, "bankrupt person or business, or business in reorganization", "Business"], [115, "establishment serving liquor by the glass, or package liquor store", "Business"], [116, "water transportation, stevedore", "Business"], [117, "bookstore, newsstand, printer, bindery, purveyor or distributor of books or magazines", "Business"], [118, "brewery, distillery", "Business"], [119, "broker, stock exchange, investment or securities firm", "Business"], [120, "construction industry", "Business"], [121, "bus or motorized passenger transportation vehicle", "Business"], [122, "business, corporation", "Business"], [123, "buyer, purchaser", "Individual/Employee"], [124, "cable TV", "Business"], [125, "car dealer", "Business"], [126, "person convicted of crime", "Criminal Defendant/Prisoner"], [127, "tangible property, other than real estate, including contraband", "Business"], [128, "chemical company", "Business"], [129, "child, children, including adopted or illegitimate", "Individual/Employee"], [130, "religious organization, institution, or person", "Individual/Employee"], [131, "private club or facility", "Business"], [132, "coal company or coal mine operator", "Business"], [133, "computer business or manufacturer, hardware or software", "Business"], [134, "consumer, consumer organization", "Individual/Employee"], [135, "creditor, including institution appearing as such; e.g., a finance company", "Business"], [136, "person allegedly criminally insane or mentally incompetent to stand trial", "Criminal Defendant/Prisoner"], [137, "defendant", "Individual/Employee"], [138, "debtor", "Individual/Employee"], [139, "real estate developer", "Business"], [140, "disabled person or disability benefit claimant", "Individual/Employee"], [141, "distributor", "Business"], [142, "person subject to selective service, including conscientious objector", "Individual/Employee"], [143, "drug manufacturer", "Business"], [144, "druggist, pharmacist, pharmacy", "Individual/Employee"], [145, "employee, or job applicant, including beneficiaries of", "Individual/Employee"], [146, "employer-employee trust agreement, employee health and welfare fund, or multi-employer pension plan", "Individual/Employee"], [147, "electric equipment manufacturer", "Business"], [148, "electric or hydroelectric power utility, power cooperative, or gas and electric company", "Business"], [149, "eleemosynary institution or person", "Individual/Employee"], [150, "environmental organization", "Individual/Employee"], [151, "employer. If employer's relations with employees are governed by the nature of the employer's business (e.g., railroad, boat), rather than labor law generally, the more specific designation is used in place of Employer.", "Business"], [152, "farmer, farm worker, or farm organization", "Individual/Employee"], [153, "father", "Individual/Employee"], [154, "female employee or job applicant", "Individual/Employee"], [155, "female", "Individual/Employee"], [156, "movie, play, pictorial representation, theatrical production, actor, or exhibitor or distributor of", "Business"], [157, "fisherman or fishing company", "Business"], [158, "food, meat packing, or processing company, stockyard", "Business"], [159, "foreign (non-American) nongovernmental entity", "Other/Foreign"], [160, "franchiser", "Business"], [161, "franchisee", "Business"], [162, "lesbian, gay, bisexual, transexual person or organization", "Individual/Employee"], [163, "person who guarantees another's obligations", "Individual/Employee"], [164, "handicapped individual, or organization of devoted to", "Individual/Employee"], [165, "health organization or person, nursing home, medical clinic or laboratory, chiropractor", "Business"], [166, "heir, or beneficiary, or person so claiming to be", "Individual/Employee"], [167, "hospital, medical center", "Business"], [168, "husband, or ex-husband", "Individual/Employee"], [169, "involuntarily committed mental patient", "Criminal Defendant/Prisoner"], [170, "Indian, including Indian tribe or nation", "Individual/Employee"], [171, "insurance company, or surety", "Business"], [172, "inventor, patent assigner, trademark owner or holder", "Individual/Employee"], [173, "investor", "Individual/Employee"], [174, "injured person or legal entity, nonphysically and non-employment related", "Individual/Employee"], [175, "juvenile", "Criminal Defendant/Prisoner"], [176, "government contractor", "Business"], [177, "holder of a license or permit, or applicant therefor", "Individual/Employee"], [178, "magazine", "Business"], [179, "male", "Individual/Employee"], [180, "medical or Medicaid claimant", "Individual/Employee"], [181, "medical supply or manufacturing co.", "Business"], [182, "racial or ethnic minority employee or job applicant", "Individual/Employee"], [183, "minority female employee or job applicant", "Individual/Employee"], [184, "manufacturer", "Business"], [185, "management, executive officer, or director, of business entity", "Business"], [186, "military personnel, or dependent of, including reservist", "Individual/Employee"], [187, "mining company or miner, excluding coal, oil, or pipeline company", "Business"], [188, "mother", "Individual/Employee"], [189, "auto manufacturer", "Business"], [190, "newspaper, newsletter, journal of opinion, news service", "Business"], [191, "radio and television network, except cable tv", "Business"], [192, "nonprofit organization or business", "Business"], [193, "nonresident", "Other/Foreign"], [194, "nuclear power plant or facility", "Business"], [195, "owner, landlord, or claimant to ownership, fee interest, or possession of land as well as chattels", "Individual/Employee"], [196, "shareholders to whom a tender offer is made", "Business"], [197, "tender offer", "Business"], [198, "oil company, or natural gas producer", "Business"], [199, "elderly person, or organization dedicated to the elderly", "Individual/Employee"], [200, "out of state noncriminal defendant", "Individual/Employee"], [201, "political action committee", "Individual/Employee"], [202, "parent or parents", "Individual/Employee"], [203, "parking lot or service", "Business"], [204, "patient of a health professional", "Individual/Employee"], [205, "telephone, telecommunications, or telegraph company", "Business"], [206, "physician, MD or DO, dentist, or medical society", "Individual/Employee"], [207, "public interest organization", "Individual/Employee"], [208, "physically injured person, including wrongful death, who is not an employee", "Individual/Employee"], [209, "pipe line company", "Business"], [210, "package, luggage, container", "Individual/Employee"], [211, "political candidate, activist, committee, party, party member, organization, or elected official", "Individual/Employee"], [212, "indigent, needy, welfare recipient", "Individual/Employee"], [213, "indigent defendant", "Criminal Defendant/Prisoner"], [214, "private person", "Individual/Employee"], [215, "prisoner, inmate of penal institution", "Criminal Defendant/Prisoner"], [216, "professional organization, business, or person", "Business"], [217, "probationer, or parolee", "Criminal Defendant/Prisoner"], [218, "protester, demonstrator, picketer or pamphleteer (non-employment related), or non-indigent loiterer", "Individual/Employee"], [219, "public utility", "Business"], [220, "publisher, publishing company", "Business"], [221, "radio station", "Business"], [222, "racial or ethnic minority", "Individual/Employee"], [223, "person or organization protesting racial or ethnic segregation or discrimination", "Individual/Employee"], [224, "racial or ethnic minority student or applicant for admission to an educational institution", "Individual/Employee"], [225, "realtor", "Business"], [226, "journalist, columnist, member of the news media", "Business"], [227, "resident", "Individual/Employee"], [228, "restaurant, food vendor", "Business"], [229, "retarded person, or mental incompetent", "Individual/Employee"], [230, "retired or former employee", "Individual/Employee"], [231, "railroad", "Business"], [232, "private school, college, or university", "Individual/Employee"], [233, "seller or vendor", "Individual/Employee"], [234, "shipper, including importer and exporter", "Business"], [235, "shopping center, mall", "Business"], [236, "spouse, or former spouse", "Individual/Employee"], [237, "stockholder, shareholder, or bondholder", "Individual/Employee"], [238, "retail business or outlet", "Business"], [239, "student, or applicant for admission to an educational institution", "Individual/Employee"], [240, "taxpayer or executor of taxpayer's estate, federal only", "Individual/Employee"], [241, "tenant or lessee", "Individual/Employee"], [242, "theater, studio", "Business"], [243, "forest products, lumber, or logging company", "Business"], [244, "person traveling or wishing to travel abroad, or overseas travel agent", "Individual/Employee"], [245, "trucking company, or motor carrier", "Business"], [246, "television station", "Business"], [247, "union member", "Individual/Employee"], [248, "unemployed person or unemployment compensation applicant or claimant", "Individual/Employee"], [249, "union, labor organization, or official of", "Individual/Employee"], [250, "veteran", "Individual/Employee"], [251, "voter, prospective voter, elector, or a nonelective official seeking reapportionment or redistricting of legislative districts (POL)", "Individual/Employee"], [252, "wholesale trade", "Business"], [253, "wife, or ex-wife", "Individual/Employee"], [254, "witness, or person under subpoena", "Individual/Employee"], [255, "network", "Business"], [256, "slave", "Individual/Employee"], [257, "slave-owner", "Individual/Employee"], [258, "bank of the united states", "Business"], [259, "timber company", "Business"], [260, "u.s. job applicants or employees", "Individual/Employee"], [301, "Army and Air Force Exchange Service", "Federal Government"], [302, "Atomic Energy Commission", "Federal Government"], [303, "Secretary or administrative unit or personnel of the U.S. Air Force", "Federal Government"], [304, "Department or Secretary of Agriculture", "Federal Government"], [305, "Alien Property Custodian", "Federal Government"], [306, "Secretary or administrative unit or personnel of the U.S. Army", "Federal Government"], [307, "Board of Immigration Appeals", "Federal Government"], [308, "Bureau of Indian Affairs", "Federal Government"], [310, "Bonneville Power Administration", "Federal Government"], [311, "Benefits Review Board", "Federal Government"], [312, "Civil Aeronautics Board", "Federal Government"], [313, "Bureau of the Census", "Federal Government"], [314, "Central Intelligence Agency", "Federal Government"], [315, "Commodity Futures Trading Commission", "Federal Government"], [316, "Department or Secretary of Commerce", "Federal Government"], [317, "Comptroller of Currency", "Federal Government"], [318, "Consumer Product Safety Commission", "Federal Government"], [319, "Civil Rights Commission", "Federal Government"], [320, "Civil Service Commission, U.S.", "Federal Government"], [321, "Customs Service or Commissioner of Customs", "Federal Government"], [322, "Defense Base Closure and REalignment Commission", "Federal Government"], [323, "Drug Enforcement Agency", "Federal Government"], [324, "Department or Secretary of Defense (and Department or Secretary of War)", "Federal Government"], [325, "Department or Secretary of Energy", "Federal Government"], [326, "Department or Secretary of the Interior", "Federal Government"], [327, "Department of Justice or Attorney General", "Federal Government"], [328, "Department or Secretary of State", "Federal Government"], [329, "Department or Secretary of Transportation", "Federal Government"], [330, "Department or Secretary of Education", "Federal Government"], [331, "U.S. Employees' Compensation Commission, or Commissioner", "Federal Government"], [332, "Equal Employment Opportunity Commission", "Federal Government"], [333, "Environmental Protection Agency or Administrator", "Federal Government"], [334, "Federal Aviation Agency or Administration", "Federal Government"], [335, "Federal Bureau of Investigation or Director", "Federal Government"], [336, "Federal Bureau of Prisons", "Federal Government"], [337, "Farm Credit Administration", "Federal Government"], [338, "Federal Communications Commission (including a predecessor, Federal Radio Commission)", "Federal Government"], [339, "Federal Credit Union Administration", "Federal Government"], [340, "Food and Drug Administration", "Federal Government"], [341, "Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation", "Federal Government"], [342, "Federal Energy Administration", "Federal Government"], [343, "Federal Election Commission", "Federal Government"], [344, "Federal Energy Regulatory Commission", "Federal Government"], [345, "Federal Housing Administration", "Federal Government"], [346, "Federal Home Loan Bank Board", "Federal Government"], [347, "Federal Labor Relations Authority", "Federal Government"], [348, "Federal Maritime Board", "Federal Government"], [349, "Federal Maritime Commission", "Federal Government"], [350, "Farmers Home Administration", "Federal Government"], [351, "Federal Parole Board", "Federal Government"], [352, "Federal Power Commission", "Federal Government"], [353, "Federal Railroad Administration", "Federal Government"], [354, "Federal Reserve Board of Governors", "Federal Government"], [355, "Federal Reserve System", "Federal Government"], [356, "Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation", "Federal Government"], [357, "Federal Trade Commission", "Federal Government"], [358, "Federal Works Administration, or Administrator", "Federal Government"], [359, "General Accounting Office", "Federal Government"], [360, "Comptroller General", "Federal Government"], [361, "General Services Administration", "Federal Government"], [362, "Department or Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare", "Federal Government"], [363, "Department or Secretary of Health and Human Services", "Federal Government"], [364, "Department or Secretary of Housing and Urban Development", "Federal Government"], [366, "Interstate Commerce Commission", "Federal Government"], [367, "Indian Claims Commission", "Federal Government"], [368, "Immigration and Naturalization Service, or Director of, or District Director of, or Immigration and Naturalization Enforcement", "Federal Government"], [369, "Internal Revenue Service, Collector, Commissioner, or District Director of", "Federal Government"], [370, "Information Security Oversight Office", "Federal Government"], [371, "Department or Secretary of Labor", "Federal Government"], [372, "Loyalty Review Board", "Federal Government"], [373, "Legal Services Corporation", "Federal Government"], [374, "Merit Systems Protection Board", "Federal Government"], [375, "Multistate Tax Commission", "Federal Government"], [376, "National Aeronautics and Space Administration", "Federal Government"], [377, "Secretary or administrative unit of the U.S. Navy", "Federal Government"], [378, "National Credit Union Administration", "Federal Government"], [379, "National Endowment for the Arts", "Federal Government"], [380, "National Enforcement Commission", "Federal Government"], [381, "National Highway Traffic Safety Administration", "Federal Government"], [382, "National Labor Relations Board, or regional office or officer", "Federal Government"], [383, "National Mediation Board", "Federal Government"], [384, "National Railroad Adjustment Board", "Federal Government"], [385, "Nuclear Regulatory Commission", "Federal Government"], [386, "National Security Agency", "Federal Government"], [387, "Office of Economic Opportunity", "Federal Government"], [388, "Office of Management and Budget", "Federal Government"], [389, "Office of Price Administration, or Price Administrator", "Federal Government"], [390, "Office of Personnel Management", "Federal Government"], [391, "Occupational Safety and Health Administration", "Federal Government"], [392, "Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission", "Federal Government"], [393, "Office of Workers' Compensation Programs", "Federal Government"], [394, "Patent Office, or Commissioner of, or Board of Appeals of", "Federal Government"], [395, "Pay Board (established under the Economic Stabilization Act of 1970)", "Federal Government"], [396, "Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation", "Federal Government"], [397, "U.S. Public Health Service", "Federal Government"], [398, "Postal Rate Commission", "Federal Government"], [399, "Provider Reimbursement Review Board", "Federal Government"], [400, "Renegotiation Board", "Federal Government"], [401, "Railroad Adjustment Board", "Federal Government"], [402, "Railroad Retirement Board", "Federal Government"], [403, "Subversive Activities Control Board", "Federal Government"], [404, "Small Business Administration", "Federal Government"], [405, "Securities and Exchange Commission", "Federal Government"], [406, "Social Security Administration or Commissioner", "Federal Government"], [407, "Selective Service System", "Federal Government"], [408, "Department or Secretary of the Treasury", "Federal Government"], [409, "Tennessee Valley Authority", "Federal Government"], [410, "United States Forest Service", "Federal Government"], [411, "United States Parole Commission", "Federal Government"], [412, "Postal Service and Post Office, or Postmaster General, or Postmaster", "Federal Government"], [413, "United States Sentencing Commission", "Federal Government"], [414, "Veterans' Administration", "Federal Government"], [415, "War Production Board", "Federal Government"], [416, "Wage Stabilization Board", "Federal Government"], [417, "General Land Office of Commissioners", "Federal Government"], [418, "Transportation Security Administration", "Federal Government"], [419, "Surface Transportation Board", "Federal Government"], [420, "U.S. Shipping Board Emergency Fleet Corp.", "Federal Government"], [421, "Reconstruction Finance Corp.", "Federal Government"], [422, "Department or Secretary of Homeland Security", "Federal Government"], [501, "Unidentifiable", "Other/Foreign"], [600, "International Entity", "Other/Foreign"]]

[snipped — context_snip applied]
Built reversal-rate analysis (all Excel formulas). Sheets: "Pet Buckets" (A2:C312, 311 petitioner codes→6 buckets), "Case Calc" (A2:G dedup spills: A=FILTER petitioner on neighbor-diff mask, B term, C disposition, D=FLOOR(term,10) decade, E=XLOOKUP bucket, F=reversal flag (disp 3/4/5/8), G=denom flag (disp 2/3/4/5/8); 9341 cases), "Reversal by Decade" (rate grid B6:G14 with LET+SUMPRODUCT rate=Σreversal/Σdenom blanked if count<B3 threshold=15; H=Most Favored INDEX/MATCH MAX, I=Top Rate, J=Total Cases; counts grid B18:G26). RESULTS: Federal Govt highest reversal 1940s-1990s (~75-86%), State/Local takes over 2000s(82.8%)/2010s(76.2%)/2020s(88.4%). Business lower (~49-74%), Individual ~53-78%, Criminal ~52-81%. Other/Foreign mostly suppressed (<15 cases). Total denom ~8532 of 9341 cases. Counts-grid first attempt corrupted by copyToRange mis-tiling (bundled headers); cleared A16:J28 and rewrote cleanly.
(Original range 0l7qfw→e4v6bf, retrievable via retrieve_snipped)

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<system-reminder>
Context is growing. You should be calling context_snip as you go — if you haven't recently, you're probably behind. Look back at completed work: large tool results you've already extracted what you need from, explorations that led to an answer, dead ends. Use MANY small context_snip calls rather than waiting to do one big one. Do this silently — never mention context_snip, context management, or compression to the user; it's internal plumbing.
</system-reminder>

{"success":true,"result":{"cleared":true}}

<system-reminder>
Context is growing. You should be calling context_snip as you go — if you haven't recently, you're probably behind. Look back at completed work: large tool results you've already extracted what you need from, explorations that led to an answer, dead ends. Use MANY small context_snip calls rather than waiting to do one big one. Do this silently — never mention context_snip, context management, or compression to the user; it's internal plumbing.
</system-reminder>

{"success":true,"formula_results":{"A18":1940}}

<system-reminder>
Context is growing. You should be calling context_snip as you go — if you haven't recently, you're probably behind. Look back at completed work: large tool results you've already extracted what you need from, explorations that led to an answer, dead ends. Use MANY small context_snip calls rather than waiting to do one big one. Do this silently — never mention context_snip, context management, or compression to the user; it's internal plumbing.
</system-reminder>

{"success":true,"formula_results":{"B18":141}}

<system-reminder>
Context is growing. You should be calling context_snip as you go — if you haven't recently, you're probably behind. Look back at completed work: large tool results you've already extracted what you need from, explorations that led to an answer, dead ends. Use MANY small context_snip calls rather than waiting to do one big one. Do this silently — never mention context_snip, context management, or compression to the user; it's internal plumbing.
</system-reminder>

{"success":false,"error":"Unexpected EOF"}

<system-reminder>
Context is growing. You should be calling context_snip as you go — if you haven't recently, you're probably behind. Look back at completed work: large tool results you've already extracted what you need from, explorations that led to an answer, dead ends. Use MANY small context_snip calls rather than waiting to do one big one. Do this silently — never mention context_snip, context management, or compression to the user; it's internal plumbing.
</system-reminder>

{"success":true,"result":{"done":true}}

Range marked: 19 message(s), ~52k chars (1 pending). Archived; retrieve_snipped("0l7qfw", search: "...") works now if needed.

<system-reminder>
Context is growing. You should be calling context_snip as you go — if you haven't recently, you're probably behind. Look back at completed work: large tool results you've already extracted what you need from, explorations that led to an answer, dead ends. Use MANY small context_snip calls rather than waiting to do one big one. Do this silently — never mention context_snip, context management, or compression to the user; it's internal plumbing.
</system-reminder>

Task list updated. Continue with the current task.

The Supreme Court Database




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| Online Code Book    |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Source of Case   |  |  |  | | --- | --- | --- | | **Variable Name** caseSource | **Spaeth Name** SOURCE | **Normalizations**  [211 [ view ]](#norms) |    This variable identifies the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed. If the case originated in the same court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed, the entry in the caseOrigin should be the same as here. This variable has no entry if the case arose under the Supreme Court's original jurisdiction.    If caseSource is a state court, the value of this variable will be 300 (State Supreme Court), 302 (State Appellate Court) or 303 (State Trial Court). Variable caseSourceState identifies the name of the state.     **Values:**   |  |  | | --- | --- | | 1 | U.S. Court of Customs and Patent Appeals | | 2 | U.S. Court of International Trade | | 3 | U.S. Court of Claims, Court of Federal Claims | | 4 | U.S. Court of Military Appeals, renamed as Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces | | 5 | U.S. Court of Military Review | | 6 | U.S. Court of Veterans Appeals | | 7 | U.S. Customs Court | | 8 | U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit | | 9 | U.S. Tax Court | | 10 | Temporary Emergency U.S. Court of Appeals | | 12 | U.S. Court for China | | 13 | U.S. Consular Courts | | 14 | U.S. Commerce Court | | 15 | Territorial Supreme Court | | 16 | Territorial Appellate Court | | 17 | Territorial Trial Court | | 18 | Emergency Court of Appeals | | 19 | Supreme Court of the District of Columbia | | 20 | Bankruptcy Court | | 21 | U.S. Court of Appeals, First Circuit | | 22 | U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit | | 23 | U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit | | 24 | U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit | | 25 | U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit | | 26 | U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit | | 27 | U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit | | 28 | U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit | | 29 | U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit | | 30 | U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit | | 31 | U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit | | 32 | U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit (includes the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia but not the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, which has local jurisdiction) | | 41 | Alabama Middle U.S. District Court | | 42 | Alabama Northern U.S. District Court | | 43 | Alabama Southern U.S. District Court | | 44 | Alaska U.S. District Court | | 45 | Arizona U.S. District Court | | 46 | Arkansas Eastern U.S. District Court | | 47 | Arkansas Western U.S. District Court | | 48 | California Central U.S. District Court | | 49 | California Eastern U.S. District Court | | 50 | California Northern U.S. District Court | | 51 | California Southern U.S. District Court | | 52 | Colorado U.S. District Court | | 53 | Connecticut U.S. District Court | | 54 | Delaware U.S. District Court | | 55 | District Of Columbia U.S. District Court | | 56 | Florida Middle U.S. District Court | | 57 | Florida Northern U.S. District Court | | 58 | Florida Southern U.S. District Court | | 59 | Georgia Middle U.S. District Court | | 60 | Georgia Northern U.S. District Court | | 61 | Georgia Southern U.S. District Court | | 62 | Guam U.S. District Court | | 63 | Hawaii U.S. District Court | | 64 | Idaho U.S. District Court | | 65 | Illinois Central U.S. District Court | | 66 | Illinois Northern U.S. District Court | | 67 | Illinois Southern U.S. District Court | | 68 | Indiana Northern U.S. District Court | | 69 | Indiana Southern U.S. District Court | | 70 | Iowa Northern U.S. District Court | | 71 | Iowa Southern U.S. District Court | | 72 | Kansas U.S. District Court | | 73 | Kentucky Eastern U.S. District Court | | 74 | Kentucky Western U.S. District Court | | 75 | Louisiana Eastern U.S. District Court | | 76 | Louisiana Middle U.S. District Court | | 77 | Louisiana Western U.S. District Court | | 78 | Maine U.S. District Court | | 79 | Maryland U.S. District Court | | 80 | Massachusetts U.S. District Court | | 81 | Michigan Eastern U.S. District Court | | 82 | Michigan Western U.S. District Court | | 83 | Minnesota U.S. District Court | | 84 | Mississippi Northern U.S. District Court | | 85 | Mississippi Southern U.S. District Court | | 86 | Missouri Eastern U.S. District Court | | 87 | Missouri Western U.S. District Court | | 88 | Montana U.S. District Court | | 89 | Nebraska U.S. District Court | | 90 | Nevada U.S. District Court | | 91 | New Hampshire U.S. District Court | | 92 | New Jersey U.S. District Court | | 93 | New Mexico U.S. District Court | | 94 | New York Eastern U.S. District Court | | 95 | New York Northern U.S. District Court | | 96 | New York Southern U.S. District Court | | 97 | New York Western U.S. District Court | | 98 | North Carolina Eastern U.S. District Court | | 99 | North Carolina Middle U.S. District Court | | 100 | North Carolina Western U.S. District Court | | 101 | North Dakota U.S. District Court | | 102 | Northern Mariana Islands U.S. District Court | | 103 | Ohio Northern U.S. District Court | | 104 | Ohio Southern U.S. District Court | | 105 | Oklahoma Eastern U.S. District Court | | 106 | Oklahoma Northern U.S. District Court | | 107 | Oklahoma Western U.S. District Court | | 108 | Oregon U.S. District Court | | 109 | Pennsylvania Eastern U.S. District Court | | 110 | Pennsylvania Middle U.S. District Court | | 111 | Pennsylvania Western U.S. District Court | | 112 | Puerto Rico U.S. District Court | | 113 | Rhode Island U.S. District Court | | 114 | South Carolina U.S. District Court | | 115 | South Dakota U.S. District Court | | 116 | Tennessee Eastern U.S. District Court | | 117 | Tennessee Middle U.S. District Court | | 118 | Tennessee Western U.S. District Court | | 119 | Texas Eastern U.S. District Court | | 120 | Texas Northern U.S. District Court | | 121 | Texas Southern U.S. District Court | | 122 | Texas Western U.S. District Court | | 123 | Utah U.S. District Court | | 124 | Vermont U.S. District Court | | 125 | Virgin Islands U.S. District Court | | 126 | Virginia Eastern U.S. District Court | | 127 | Virginia Western U.S. District Court | | 128 | Washington Eastern U.S. District Court | | 129 | Washington Western U.S. District Court | | 130 | West Virginia Northern U.S. District Court | | 131 | West Virginia Southern U.S. District Court | | 132 | Wisconsin Eastern U.S. District Court | | 133 | Wisconsin Western U.S. District Court | | 134 | Wyoming U.S. District Court | | 150 | Louisiana U.S. District Court | | 151 | Washington U.S. District Court | | 152 | West Virginia U.S. District Court | | 153 | Illinois Eastern U.S. District Court | | 155 | South Carolina Eastern U.S. District Court | | 160 | South Carolina Western U.S. District Court | | 162 | Alabama U.S. District Court | | 163 | U.S. District Court for the Canal Zone | | 164 | Georgia U.S. District Court | | 165 | Illinois U.S. District Court | | 166 | Indiana U.S. District Court | | 167 | Iowa U.S. District Court | | 168 | Michigan U.S. District Court | | 169 | Mississippi U.S. District Court | | 170 | Missouri U.S. District Court | | 171 | New Jersey Eastern U.S. District Court (East Jersey U.S. District Court) | | 172 | New Jersey Western U.S. District Court (West Jersey U.S. District Court) | | 173 | New York U.S. District Court | | 174 | North Carolina U.S. District Court | | 175 | Ohio U.S. District Court | | 176 | Pennsylvania U.S. District Court | | 177 | Tennessee U.S. District Court | | 178 | Texas U.S. District Court | | 179 | Virginia U.S. District Court | | 180 | Norfolk U.S. District Court | | 181 | Wisconsin U.S. District Court | | 182 | Kentucky U.S. Distrcrict Court | | 183 | New Jersey U.S. District Court | | 184 | California U.S. District Court | | 185 | Florida U.S. District Court | | 186 | Arkansas U.S. District Court | | 187 | District of Orleans U.S. District Court | | 300 | State Supreme Court | | 301 | State Appellate Court | | 302 | State Trial Court | | 400 | Eastern Circuit (of the United States) | | 401 | Middle Circuit (of the United States) | | 402 | Southern Circuit (of the United States) | | 403 | Alabama U.S. Circuit Court for (all) District(s) of Alabama | | 404 | Arkansas U.S. Circuit Court for (all) District(s) of Arkansas | | 405 | California U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of California | | 406 | Connecticut U.S. Circuit for the District of Connecticut | | 407 | Delaware U.S. Circuit for the District of Delaware | | 408 | Florida U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of Florida | | 409 | Georgia U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of Georgia | | 410 | Illinois U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of Illinois | | 411 | Indiana U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of Indiana | | 412 | Iowa U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of Iowa | | 413 | Kansas U.S. Circuit for the District of Kansas | | 414 | Kentucky U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of Kentucky | | 415 | Louisiana U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of Louisiana | | 416 | Maine U.S. Circuit for the District of Maine | | 417 | Maryland U.S. Circuit for the District of Maryland | | 418 | Massachusetts U.S. Circuit for the District of Massachusetts | | 419 | Michigan U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of Michigan | | 420 | Minnesota U.S. Circuit for the District of Minnesota | | 421 | Mississippi U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of Mississippi | | 422 | Missouri U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of Missouri | | 423 | Nevada U.S. Circuit for the District of Nevada | | 424 | New Hampshire U.S. Circuit for the District of New Hampshire | | 425 | New Jersey U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of New Jersey | | 426 | New York U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of New York | | 427 | North Carolina U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of North Carolina | | 428 | Ohio U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of Ohio | | 429 | Oregon U.S. Circuit for the District of Oregon | | 430 | Pennsylvania U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of Pennsylvania | | 431 | Rhode Island U.S. Circuit for the District of Rhode Island | | 432 | South Carolina U.S. Circuit for the District of South Carolina | | 433 | Tennessee U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of Tennessee | | 434 | Texas U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of Texas | | 435 | Vermont U.S. Circuit for the District of Vermont | | 436 | Virginia U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of Virginia | | 437 | West Virginia U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of West Virginia | | 438 | Wisconsin U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of Wisconsin | | 439 | Wyoming U.S. Circuit for the District of Wyoming | | 440 | Circuit Court of the District of Columbia | | 441 | Nebraska U.S. Circuit for the District of Nebraska | | 442 | Colorado U.S. Circuit for the District of Colorado | | 443 | Washington U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of Washington | | 444 | Idaho U.S. Circuit Court for (all) District(s) of Idaho | | 445 | Montana U.S. Circuit Court for (all) District(s) of Montana | | 446 | Utah U.S. Circuit Court for (all) District(s) of Utah | | 447 | South Dakota U.S. Circuit Court for (all) District(s) of South Dakota | | 448 | North Dakota U.S. Circuit Court for (all) District(s) of North Dakota | | 449 | Oklahoma U.S. Circuit Court for (all) District(s) of Oklahoma | | 601 | Court of Private Land Claims | | Introductory   * [Introduction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=intro) * [Citing to the SCDB](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=cite)   Identification Variables   * [SCDB Case ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseId) * [SCDB Docket ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docketId) * [SCDB Issues ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId) * [SCDB Vote ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteId) * [U.S. Reporter Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=usCite) * [Supreme Court Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=sctCite) * [Lawyers Edition Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=ledCite) * [LEXIS Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lexisCite) * [Docket Number](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docket)   Background Variables   * [Case Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseName) * [Petitioner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitioner) * [Petitioner State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitionerState) * [Respondent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondent) * [Respondent State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondentState) * [Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=jurisdiction) * [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminAction) * [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminActionState) * [Three-Judge District Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc) * [Origin of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOrigin) * [Origin of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOriginState) * [Source of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSource) * [Source of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSourceState) * [Lower Court Disagreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisagreement) * [Reason for Granting Cert](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=certReason) * [Lower Court Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisposition) * [Lower Court Disposition Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDispositionDirection)   Chronological Variables   * [Date of Decision](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateDecision) * [Term of Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=term) * [Natural Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=naturalCourt) * [Chief Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=chief) * [Date of Oral Argument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateArgument) * [Date of Reargument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateRearg)   Substantive Variables   * [Issue](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issue) * [Issue Area](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issueArea) * [Decision Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirection) * [Decision Direction Dissent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirectionDissent) * [Authority for Decision 1](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision1) * [Authority for Decision 2](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision2) * [Legal Provisions Considered by the Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawType) * [Legal Provision Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawSupp) * [Legal Provision Minor Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawMinor)   Outcome Variables   * [Decision Type](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionType) * [Declaration of Unconstitutionality](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=declarationUncon) * [Disposition of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDisposition) * [Unusual Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDispositionUnusual) * [Winning Party](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=partyWinning) * [Formal Alteration of Precedent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=precedentAlteration)   Voting & Opinion Variables   * [Vote Not Clearly Specified](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteUnclear) * [Majority Opinion Writer](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinWriter) * [Majority Opinion Assigner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinAssigner) * [Split Vote](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=splitVote) * [Majority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majVotes) * [Minority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=minVotes) * [Justice ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice) * [Justice Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justiceName) * [The Vote in the Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=vote) * [Opinion](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=opinion) * [Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=direction) * [Majority and Minority Voting by Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majority) * [First Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=firstAgreement) * [Second Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=secondAgreement) | | | | | |
| |  |  |  |  | | --- | --- | --- | --- | |  | [CONTACT](http://scdb.wustl.edu/contact.php) |  |  [TOP](#top) | | | | | |
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| image | The Supreme Court Database has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. | | | [Creative Commons License](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/) |

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4 | U.S. Court of Military Appeals, renamed as Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces
8 | U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
10 | Temporary Emergency U.S. Court of Appeals
16 | Territorial Appellate Court
18 | Emergency Court of Appeals
21 | U.S. Court of Appeals, First Circuit
22 | U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
23 | U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit
24 | U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
25 | U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
26 | U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
27 | U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
28 | U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit
29 | U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
30 | U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
31 | U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
32 | U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit (includes the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia but not the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, which has local jurisdiction)
301 | State Appellate Court
400 | Eastern Circuit (of the United States)
401 | Middle Circuit (of the United States)
402 | Southern Circuit (of the United States)
403 | Alabama U.S. Circuit Court for (all) District(s) of Alabama
404 | Arkansas U.S. Circuit Court for (all) District(s) of Arkansas
405 | California U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of California
406 | Connecticut U.S. Circuit for the District of Connecticut
407 | Delaware U.S. Circuit for the District of Delaware
408 | Florida U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of Florida
409 | Georgia U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of Georgia
410 | Illinois U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of Illinois
411 | Indiana U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of Indiana
412 | Iowa U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of Iowa
413 | Kansas U.S. Circuit for the District of Kansas
414 | Kentucky U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of Kentucky
415 | Louisiana U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of Louisiana
416 | Maine U.S. Circuit for the District of Maine
417 | Maryland U.S. Circuit for the District of Maryland
418 | Massachusetts U.S. Circuit for the District of Massachusetts
419 | Michigan U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of Michigan
420 | Minnesota U.S. Circuit for the District of Minnesota
421 | Mississippi U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of Mississippi
422 | Missouri U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of Missouri
423 | Nevada U.S. Circuit for the District of Nevada
424 | New Hampshire U.S. Circuit for the District of New Hampshire
425 | New Jersey U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of New Jersey
426 | New York U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of New York
427 | North Carolina U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of North Carolina
428 | Ohio U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of Ohio
429 | Oregon U.S. Circuit for the District of Oregon
430 | Pennsylvania U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of Pennsylvania
431 | Rhode Island U.S. Circuit for the District of Rhode Island
432 | South Carolina U.S. Circuit for the District of South Carolina
433 | Tennessee U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of Tennessee
434 | Texas U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of Texas
435 | Vermont U.S. Circuit for the District of Vermont
436 | Virginia U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of Virginia
437 | West Virginia U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of West Virginia
438 | Wisconsin U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of Wisconsin
439 | Wyoming U.S. Circuit for the District of Wyoming
440 | Circuit Court of the District of Columbia
441 | Nebraska U.S. Circuit for the District of Nebraska
442 | Colorado U.S. Circuit for the District of Colorado
443 | Washington U.S. Circuit for (all) District(s) of Washington
444 | Idaho U.S. Circuit Court for (all) District(s) of Idaho
445 | Montana U.S. Circuit Court for (all) District(s) of Montana
446 | Utah U.S. Circuit Court for (all) District(s) of Utah
447 | South Dakota U.S. Circuit Court for (all) District(s) of South Dakota
448 | North Dakota U.S. Circuit Court for (all) District(s) of North Dakota
449 | Oklahoma U.S. Circuit Court for (all) District(s) of Oklahoma
----- total codes: 211

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Built "CoA Reversal" sheet (all Excel formulas): added Case Calc!H2 =FILTER caseSource (col AB) aligned to case-level spills. Grid B6:N84 = reversal rate per circuit (cols: codes 21-31=1st-11th, 32=DC, 8=Fed) x term (rows 1946-2024), blanked if cases<B2 threshold(3); LET+SUMPRODUCT over Case Calc B2#(term)/H2#(source)/F2#(reversal)/G2#(denom). All-terms summary B85:N85 + total cases B86:N86. Counts grid B91:N169. RESULTS all-terms reversal rate: 9th 73.9%(1067 cases) highest, DC 72.0%(461), 6th 69.4%, Fed 69.2%, 5th 68.5%, 8th 67.5%, 10th 66.3%, 7th 63.1%, 11th 62.0%, 4th 61.4%, 3rd 60.7%, 1st 60.2%, 2nd 57.2%(624) lowest. ~5717 CoA cases total. Freeze panes failed (InactiveWorkbook from other open admissions.xlsx); data/formatting fine.
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Range marked: 33 message(s), ~58k chars (0 pending). Archived; retrieve_snipped("cupj4v", search: "...") works now if needed.

<system-reminder>
Context is growing. You should be calling context_snip as you go — if you haven't recently, you're probably behind. Look back at completed work: large tool results you've already extracted what you need from, explorations that led to an answer, dead ends. Use MANY small context_snip calls rather than waiting to do one big one. Do this silently — never mention context_snip, context management, or compression to the user; it's internal plumbing.
</system-reminder>

{"answers":{"Which of these would you like me to build from the dataset?":"Pivotal-power index"}}

<system-reminder>
Context is growing. You should be calling context_snip as you go — if you haven't recently, you're probably behind. Look back at completed work: large tool results you've already extracted what you need from, explorations that led to an answer, dead ends. Use MANY small context_snip calls rather than waiting to do one big one. Do this silently — never mention context_snip, context management, or compression to the user; it's internal plumbing.
</system-reminder>

Task list updated. Continue with the current task.

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Built Pivotal Power index (all Excel formulas). "Pivot Calc" helper: A2# name=Data!BC, B2# decade=FLOOR(term,10), C2# determinate=(maj=1)+(maj=2), D2# pivotal=(maj=2)*(majVotes=INT((majVotes+minVotes)/2)+1) [minimal-winning-coalition decisive vote]. Totals: 14671 decisive votes, 120915 determinate, 40 justices. "Pivotal Power" sheet: ranking A1:F41 (Rank,Justice,Cases,Decisive Votes,Pivotal Rate,Power Share) via LET+MAP, sorted by decisive desc. TOP: 1 White 928(rate12.6%,share6.3%), 2 Rehnquist 908, 3 Brennan 786, 4 Kennedy 725(rate18.8%-highest), 5 OConnor 689(rate16.3%), 6 Blackmun 685, 7 Stevens 669, 8 Scalia 612. Justice×decade decisive matrix A44:J84; power-broker-per-decade B86:J88: 1940s Vinson(162,15.8%),1950s Clark(266),1960s Brennan(270),1970s Blackmun(353),1980s White(404),1990s Kennedy(229,16.4%),2000s Kennedy(225),2010s Roberts(154),2020s Roberts(45). Formatted: data bar on power share, borders, note A90. Scratch F1:F4 cleared.
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<system-reminder>
Context is growing. You should be calling context_snip as you go — if you haven't recently, you're probably behind. Look back at completed work: large tool results you've already extracted what you need from, explorations that led to an answer, dead ends. Use MANY small context_snip calls rather than waiting to do one big one. Do this silently — never mention context_snip, context management, or compression to the user; it's internal plumbing.
</system-reminder>

{"success":true,"result":{"done":true}}

<system-reminder>
Context is growing. You should be calling context_snip as you go — if you haven't recently, you're probably behind. Look back at completed work: large tool results you've already extracted what you need from, explorations that led to an answer, dead ends. Use MANY small context_snip calls rather than waiting to do one big one. Do this silently — never mention context_snip, context management, or compression to the user; it's internal plumbing.
</system-reminder>

{"success":true,"result":{"ok":true}}

<system-reminder>
Context is growing. You should be calling context_snip as you go — if you haven't recently, you're probably behind. Look back at completed work: large tool results you've already extracted what you need from, explorations that led to an answer, dead ends. Use MANY small context_snip calls rather than waiting to do one big one. Do this silently — never mention context_snip, context management, or compression to the user; it's internal plumbing.
</system-reminder>

Task list updated. Continue with the current task.

Range marked: 29 message(s), ~44k chars (0 pending). Archived; retrieve_snipped("2c1h8u", search: "...") works now if needed.

---
meta-description: The Supreme Court Database is the definitive source for researchers, students, journalists, and citizens interested in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Database contains over two hundred pieces of information about each case decided by the Court between the 1946 and 2012 terms. Examples include the identity of the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed, the parties to the suit, the legal provisions considered in the case, and the votes of the Justices.
meta-generator: Coda
meta-keywords: supreme court, spaeth, database
title: The Supreme Court Database
---

| [![wulaw](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/wulaw.png)](http://law.wustl.edu) |  |
| -------------------------------------------------- | --- |

- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/index.php) image image image image
- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/about.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/analysis.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php)
- image
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- Online Code Book

- Opinion

| **Variable Name** opinion | **Spaeth Name** HARO to BRYO | **Normalizations** [3 [ view ]](#norms) |
| --------------------------- | ------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------ |

This variable indicates the opinion, if any, that the justice wrote. It appears in the Justice Centered Datasets only.

Because determination of whether a justice wrote an opinion is no simple matter, rules must be formulated.

1. A justice authors no opinion unless he or she specifies a reason for his or her vote. A bare citation to a previously decided case or a simple statement that the author concurs or dissents because of agreement with a lower court's opinion suffices as an opinion

2. Where a justice specifies that the opinion applies to an additional case or cases, the opinion is counted as so many separate ones. Thus, the opinions of Brennan and Marshall in Mobile v. Bolden, 446 U.S. 55, also apply to Williams v. Brown, 446 U.S. 236. Hence, each of these opinions is counted as though it were two separate opinions.

3. When a justice joins the substance of another justice's opinion, without any personal expression of views, that justice is listed as joining the other's opinion (see variables firstAgreement and secondAgreement) and not as an author unless he or she also writes an opinion.

Thus, in United States v. Havens, 446 U.S. 620, Justices Stewart and Stevens are listed as joining Brennan's dissenting opinion notwithstanding that the pertinent language reads: "Mr. Justice Brennan, joined by Mr. Justice Marshall and joined in Part I by Mr. Justice Stewart and Mr. Justice Stevens, dissenting." 446 U.S. at 629. The opinion contains two parts of roughly equal length. Failure to list the latter pair as joiners would have required that they appear as dissenting without opinion, a manifestly inaccurate result. Similarly, Justice White's language in Parratt v. Taylor, 451 U.S. 527, at 545: "I join the opinion of the Court but with the reservations stated by my Brother Blackmun in his concurring opinion," is not listed as as opinion by White. He rather appears as joining Blackmun's concurrence. Conversely, where a justice, in his or her own words only partially agrees with one or more opinions authored by others, he or she is listed as an author. Two examples of Justice Stewart illustrate: "Mr. Justice Stewart dissents for the reasons expressed in Part I of the dissenting opinion of Mr. Justice Powell." (Dougherty County Board of Education v. White, 439 U.S. 32, at 47) "Mr. Justice Stewart concurs in the judgment, agreeing with all but Part II of the opinion of the Court, and with Part I of the concurring opinion of Mr. Justice Stevens." (Jenkins v. Anderson, 447 U.S. 231, at 241).

4. When two or more justices jointly author an opinion, an entry will so indicate. Joint authorship, however, does not include per curiam opinions.

**Values:**

| 1 | justice wrote no opinion |
| --- | ------------------------------ |
| 2 | justice wrote an opinion |
| 3 | justice co-authored an opinion | Introductory

- [Introduction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=intro)
- [Citing to the SCDB](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=cite)
 Identification Variables

- [SCDB Case ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseId)
- [SCDB Docket ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docketId)
- [SCDB Issues ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId)
- [SCDB Vote ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteId)
- [U.S. Reporter Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=usCite)
- [Supreme Court Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=sctCite)
- [Lawyers Edition Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=ledCite)
- [LEXIS Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lexisCite)
- [Docket Number](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docket)
 Background Variables

- [Case Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseName)
- [Petitioner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitioner)
- [Petitioner State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitionerState)
- [Respondent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondent)
- [Respondent State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondentState)
- [Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=jurisdiction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminAction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminActionState)
- [Three-Judge District Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc)
- [Origin of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOrigin)
- [Origin of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOriginState)
- [Source of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSource)
- [Source of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSourceState)
- [Lower Court Disagreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisagreement)
- [Reason for Granting Cert](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=certReason)
- [Lower Court Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisposition)
- [Lower Court Disposition Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDispositionDirection)
 Chronological Variables

- [Date of Decision](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateDecision)
- [Term of Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=term)
- [Natural Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=naturalCourt)
- [Chief Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=chief)
- [Date of Oral Argument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateArgument)
- [Date of Reargument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateRearg)
 Substantive Variables

- [Issue](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issue)
- [Issue Area](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issueArea)
- [Decision Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirection)
- [Decision Direction Dissent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirectionDissent)
- [Authority for Decision 1](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision1)
- [Authority for Decision 2](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision2)
- [Legal Provisions Considered by the Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawType)
- [Legal Provision Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawSupp)
- [Legal Provision Minor Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawMinor)
 Outcome Variables

- [Decision Type](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionType)
- [Declaration of Unconstitutionality](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=declarationUncon)
- [Disposition of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDisposition)
- [Unusual Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDispositionUnusual)
- [Winning Party](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=partyWinning)
- [Formal Alteration of Precedent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=precedentAlteration)
 Voting & Opinion Variables

- [Vote Not Clearly Specified](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteUnclear)
- [Majority Opinion Writer](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinWriter)
- [Majority Opinion Assigner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinAssigner)
- [Split Vote](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=splitVote)
- [Majority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majVotes)
- [Minority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=minVotes)
- [Justice ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice)
- [Justice Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justiceName)
- [The Vote in the Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=vote)
- [Opinion](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=opinion)
- [Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=direction)
- [Majority and Minority Voting by Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majority)
- [First Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=firstAgreement)
- [Second Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=secondAgreement)
- | | [CONTACT](http://scdb.wustl.edu/contact.php) | | [TOP](#top) |
| --- | ---------------------- | --- | ----------- |
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- image The Supreme Court Database has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. [Creative Commons License](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/)

| ![washu_logo](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/washu_logo.png) |
| ------------------------------------ |

---
meta-description: The Supreme Court Database is the definitive source for researchers, students, journalists, and citizens interested in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Database contains over two hundred pieces of information about each case decided by the Court between the 1946 and 2012 terms. Examples include the identity of the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed, the parties to the suit, the legal provisions considered in the case, and the votes of the Justices.
meta-generator: Coda
meta-keywords: supreme court, spaeth, database
title: The Supreme Court Database
---

| [![wulaw](http://scdb.wustl.edu/images/wulaw.png)](http://law.wustl.edu) |  |
| -------------------------------------------------- | --- |

- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/index.php) image image image image
- [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/about.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/data.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/analysis.php) [image](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php)
- image
- [Online Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=1) [Downloadable Code Book](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=2) [Code Repository](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?s=3) [SCDB Web 101](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation101.php)
- Online Code Book

- The Vote in the Case

| **Variable Name** vote | **Spaeth Name** HARV to BRYV | **Normalizations** [8 [ view ]](#norms) |
| ------------------------ | ------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------ |

This variable provides information about each justice's vote in the case. It appears in the Justice Centered Datasets only. A regular concurrence is when the justice agrees with the Court's opinion as well as its disposition. A special concurence (i.e., a concurence in the judgment) is when the justice agrees with the Court's disposition but not its opinion. A jurisdictional dissent is when the justice disagrees with the Court's assertion or denial of jurisdiction. Such votes are counted as nonparticipations.

Determination of how a given justice voted is by no means a simple matter of culling the Reports. The justices do not always make their options clear.

Two problems, in particular, afflict efforts to specify votes: 1) whether the vote is a regular or a special concurrence, and 2) the treatment to be accorded a vote "concurring in part and dissenting in part."

The first typically manifests itself when a justice joins the opinion of the Court "except for . . ." Because such exceptions typically tend to approach de minimis status, these are coded as regular concurrences. For example, Chief Justice Burger concurred in the opinion of the Court in New York Gaslight Club, Inc. v. Carey, except for "footnote 6 thereof." 447 U.S. 54, at 71. Similarly, Blackmun's agreement with the Court in Pruneyard Shopping Center v. Robins, except for "that sentence thereof . . ." 447 U.S. 74, at 88. Where the Reports identify a justice as "concurring" or "concurring in part" said justice is treated as a member of the majority opinion coalition (i.e., as = 3), rather than a merely concurring in the result (i.e., as = 4).

Whereas the preceding problem pertains to determining which type of concurrence a vote is, the problem with votes concurring and dissenting in part is whether they are special concurrences (= 4) or dissents (= 2). This matter was addressed previously in connection with the variable voteUnclear (vote not clearly specified). A vote concurring and dissenting in part is listed as a special concurrence if the justice(s) doing so does not disagree with the majority's disposition of the case. This may occur when: 1) the justice concurring and dissenting in part only voices disagreement with some or all of the majority's reasoning; 2) when said justice disapproves of the majority's deciding or refusing to decide additional issues involved in the case; or 3) when in a case in which dissent has been voiced, the justice(s) concurring and dissenting in part votes to dispose of the case in a manner more closely approximating that of the majority than that of the dissenter(s).

In cases where determination of whether a vote concurring and dissenting in part is the former or the latter is not beyond cavil, an entry will appear in the voteUnclear variable of the affected case to allow users to make an independent judgment, if they are so minded. Note, however, that listing such votes as dissents (= 2) or special concurrences (= 4) has no effect on whether or not an opinion is written (the opinion variable).

See also notes under the majority vote (majVote) variable.

**Values:**

| 1 | voted with majority or plurality |
| --- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| 2 | dissent |
| 3 | regular concurrence |
| 4 | special concurrence |
| 5 | judgment of the Court |
| 6 | dissent from a denial or dismissal of certiorari , or dissent from summary affirmation of an appeal |
| 7 | jurisdictional dissent |
| 8 | justice participated in an equally divided vote | Introductory

- [Introduction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=intro)
- [Citing to the SCDB](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=cite)
 Identification Variables

- [SCDB Case ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseId)
- [SCDB Docket ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docketId)
- [SCDB Issues ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId)
- [SCDB Vote ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteId)
- [U.S. Reporter Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=usCite)
- [Supreme Court Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=sctCite)
- [Lawyers Edition Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=ledCite)
- [LEXIS Citation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lexisCite)
- [Docket Number](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=docket)
 Background Variables

- [Case Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseName)
- [Petitioner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitioner)
- [Petitioner State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=petitionerState)
- [Respondent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondent)
- [Respondent State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=respondentState)
- [Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=jurisdiction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminAction)
- [Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=adminActionState)
- [Three-Judge District Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc)
- [Origin of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOrigin)
- [Origin of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseOriginState)
- [Source of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSource)
- [Source of Case State](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseSourceState)
- [Lower Court Disagreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisagreement)
- [Reason for Granting Cert](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=certReason)
- [Lower Court Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDisposition)
- [Lower Court Disposition Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lcDispositionDirection)
 Chronological Variables

- [Date of Decision](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateDecision)
- [Term of Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=term)
- [Natural Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=naturalCourt)
- [Chief Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=chief)
- [Date of Oral Argument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateArgument)
- [Date of Reargument](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=dateRearg)
 Substantive Variables

- [Issue](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issue)
- [Issue Area](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=issueArea)
- [Decision Direction](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirection)
- [Decision Direction Dissent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionDirectionDissent)
- [Authority for Decision 1](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision1)
- [Authority for Decision 2](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=authorityDecision2)
- [Legal Provisions Considered by the Court](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawType)
- [Legal Provision Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawSupp)
- [Legal Provision Minor Supplement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=lawMinor)
 Outcome Variables

- [Decision Type](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=decisionType)
- [Declaration of Unconstitutionality](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=declarationUncon)
- [Disposition of Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDisposition)
- [Unusual Disposition](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=caseDispositionUnusual)
- [Winning Party](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=partyWinning)
- [Formal Alteration of Precedent](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=precedentAlteration)
 Voting & Opinion Variables

- [Vote Not Clearly Specified](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=voteUnclear)
- [Majority Opinion Writer](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinWriter)
- [Majority Opinion Assigner](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majOpinAssigner)
- [Split Vote](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=splitVote)
- [Majority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majVotes)
- [Minority Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=minVotes)
- [Justice ID](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justice)
- [Justice Name](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=justiceName)
- [The Vote in the Case](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=vote)
- [Opinion](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=opinion)
- [Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=direction)
- [Majority and Minority Voting by Justice](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=majority)
- [First Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=firstAgreement)
- [Second Agreement](http://scdb.wustl.edu/documentation.php?var=secondAgreement)
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===== opinion
1 | justice wrote no opinion
2 | justice wrote an opinion
3 | justice co-authored an opinion
===== vote
1 | voted with majority or plurality
2 | dissent
3 | regular concurrence
4 | special concurrence
5 | judgment of the Court
6 | dissent from a denial or dismissal of certiorari , or dissent from summary affirmation of an appeal
7 | jurisdictional dissent
8 | justice participated in an equally divided vote

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Built "Dissents by Term" (justice rows × term cols 1946-2024, each cell = # dissenting opinions authored that term, zeros as 0) + "Dissent Calc" helper. Codes: opinion BE (2=wrote,3=co-authored), vote BD (2=regular dissent,6=cert-denial dissent,7=jurisdictional dissent). KEY: file repeats justices across consolidated dockets/issues (~13 rows/case, vote/opinion are case-level), so deduped to ONE record per justice-case via BlockFlag =--(caseIssuesId(col C)=XLOOKUP(caseId,caseIdCol,caseIssuesCol,,0,2)) [binary search picks one docket-issue block/case]. Helper Dissent Calc: A=name(BC), B=term(K), C=total dissent flag=BlockFlag*((BE=2)+(BE=3))*((BD=2)+(BD=6)+(BD=7)), D=reg(BD=2), E=cert(BD=6), F=jur(BD=7). Matrix: A2=LET(SORTBY justices by total desc), B1=SEQUENCE(1,79,1946,1), cell B2=SUMIFS('Dissent Calc'!C:C,name,$A2,term,B$1); cols CC=TOTAL=SUM(B2:CB2), CD/CE/CF=SUMIFS type totals. Case-level total 7400 authored dissents (raw rows 12151). Leaderboard: Stevens 727(705reg/1cert/21jur), Douglas 666, Brennan 499, Harlan2 440, Marshall 394, Black 382. Color scale on grid, data bar on TOTAL. Freeze panes caused unusable view (anchored while scrolled) — REMOVED entirely per user; do not re-add.
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Range marked: 53 message(s), ~160k chars (1 pending). Archived; retrieve_snipped("ke61u4", search: "...") works now if needed.

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Built "Dissents 1991+" sheet: verified Thomas first term=1991 (MINIFS). Filtered matrix: terms 1991-2024 cols (B1=SEQUENCE(1,34,1991,1)), 19 justices (rows A2:A20) with >=1 authored dissent in window via A2=LET(...SORTBY(FILTER(J,tot>0),FILTER(tot,tot>0),-1)) where tot=SUMIFS(Dissent Calc C, name, term ">=1991"). Cells B2:AI20=SUMIFS; totals AJ=SUM(B2:AI2), AK/AL/AM=type SUMIFS ">=1991". Stevens top 319(314reg/0cert/5jur). Color scale+data bar, NO freeze. Original Dissents by Term untouched.
(Original range p1q4vt→fau9rs, retrievable via retrieve_snipped)

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Range marked: 21 message(s), ~23k chars (0 pending). Archived; retrieve_snipped("p1q4vt", search: "...") works now if needed.

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Built classic PivotTable. "Case Table" sheet = case-level dedup source (9341 rows): A=caseId FILTER on neighbor mask, B=Issue Area (XLOOKUP issueArea col AO→14 labels), C=Decision Direction (XLOOKUP decisionDirection col AP {1 Conservative,2 Liberal,3 Unspecifiable}), D=Term FILTER. "Pivot" sheet = native PivotTable "CasePivot" (source 'Case Table'!A1:D9342, dest A3): Rows=Issue Area, Columns=Decision Direction, Values=Count of caseId named "Cases". Verified Grand Total=9341. Results: Criminal Procedure 2103 (1172 cons/929 lib), Economic Activity 1836 (788/1042), Civil Rights 1516 (667/846), Judicial Power 1274, First Amendment 707. Overall Liberal 4660 vs Conservative 4472.
(Original range yu3dyc→64fgix, retrievable via retrieve_snipped)

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<system-reminder>
Context is growing. You should be calling context_snip as you go — if you haven't recently, you're probably behind. Look back at completed work: large tool results you've already extracted what you need from, explorations that led to an answer, dead ends. Use MANY small context_snip calls rather than waiting to do one big one. Do this silently — never mention context_snip, context management, or compression to the user; it's internal plumbing.
</system-reminder>

{"success":true,"result":{"ok":true}}

Range marked: 11 message(s), ~11k chars (0 pending). Archived; retrieve_snipped("yu3dyc", search: "...") works now if needed.