2015 term opinions of the Supreme Court of the United States

Last updated

Seal of the United States Supreme Court.svg

The 2015 term of the Supreme Court of the United States began October 5, 2015, and concluded October 2, 2016. The table below illustrates which opinion was filed by each justice in each case and which justices joined each opinion. [1]

Contents

Table key


Delivered the Court's opinion

Joined the Court's opinion

Filed a concurrence

Joined a concurrence

Filed a dissent

Joined a dissent

Filed a concurrence/dissent

Joined a concurrence/dissent

Did not participate in the decision
  • Decisions that do not note an argument date were decided without oral argument. Decisions that do not note a Justice delivering the Court's opinion are per curiam.
  • Multiple concurrences and dissents within a case are numbered, with joining votes numbered accordingly. Justices frequently join multiple opinions in a single case; each vote is subdivided accordingly.
  • An asterisk ( * ) in the Court's opinion denotes that it was only a majority in part or a plurality. An asterisk in a joining vote denotes that the justice joined it only in part.
  • A dash ( - ) denotes that the Justice voted without filing or joining an opinion.

2015 term opinions

#Case name and citationArguedDecidedRobertsScaliaKennedyThomasGinsburgBreyerAlitoSotomayorKagan
1 Maryland v. Kulbicki , 577 U.S. ___October 5, 2015
2 Mullenix v. Luna , 577 U.S. ___November 9, 2015
3 OBB Personenverkehr AG v. Sachs , 577 U.S. ___October 5, 2015December 1, 2015
4 Shapiro v. McManus , 577 U.S. ___November 4, 2015December 8, 2015
5 DIRECTV, Inc. v. Imburgia , 577 U.S. ___October 6, 2015December 14, 2015
1
2
2
6 White v. Wheeler , 577 U.S. ___December 14, 2015
7 Bruce v. Samuels , 577 U.S. ___November 4, 2015January 12, 2016
8 Hurst v. Florida , 577 U.S. ___October 13, 2015January 12, 2016
9 Kansas v. Carr , 577 U.S. ___October 7, 2015January 20, 2016
10 Montanile v. Board of Trustees of Nat. Elevator Industry Health Benefit Plan , 577 U.S. ___November 9, 2015January 20, 2016
*
11 Campbell-Ewald v. Gomez , 577 U.S. ___October 14, 2015January 20, 2016
1
1
12
12Duncan v. Owens, [2] 577 U.S. ___January 12, 2016January 20, 2016
13 Montgomery v. Louisiana , 577 U.S. ___October 13, 2015January 25, 2016
1
12
1
14 Musacchio v. United States , 577 U.S. ___November 30, 2015January 25, 2016
15 Menominee Tribe of Wis. v. United States , 577 U.S. ___December 1, 2015January 25, 2016
16 FERC v. Electric Power Supply Assn. , 577 U.S. ___October 14, 2015January 25, 2016
17 James v. Boise , 577 U.S. ___January 25, 2016
18 Amgen Inc. v. Harris , 577 U.S. ___January 25, 2016
19 Gobeille v. Liberty Mut. Ins. Co. , 577 U.S. ___December 2, 2015March 1, 2016
1
2
20 Lockhart v. United States , 577 U.S. ___November 3, 2015March 1, 2016
21 Americold Realty Trust v. ConAgra Foods, Inc. , 577 U.S. ___January 19, 2016March 7, 2016
22 Wearry v. Cain , 577 U.S. ___March 7, 2016
23 V.L. v. E.L. , 577 U.S. ___March 7, 2016
24 Caetano v. Massachusetts , 577 U.S. ___March 21, 2016
25 Sturgeon v. Frost , 577 U.S. ___January 20, 2016March 22, 2016
26 Tyson Foods, Inc. v. Bouaphakeo , 577 U.S. ___November 10, 2015March 22, 2016
*
27 Nebraska v. Parker , 577 U.S. ___January 20, 2016March 22, 2016
28Hawkins v. Community Bank, [3] 577 U.S. ___October 5, 2015March 22, 2016
29 Friedrichs v. California Teachers Assn. , [4] 578 U.S. ___January 11, 2016March 29, 2016
30 Luis v. United States , 578 U.S. ___November 10, 2015March 30, 2016
1
*
1
2
31 Evenwel v. Abbott , 578 U.S. ___December 8, 2015April 4, 2016
12*
2
32 Nichols v. United States , 578 U.S. ___March 1, 2016April 4, 2016
33 Woods v. Etherton , 578 U.S. ___April 4, 2016
34 Welch v. United States , 578 U.S. ___March 30, 2016April 18, 2016
35 Hughes v. Talen Energy Marketing, LLC , 578 U.S. ___February 24, 2016April 19, 2016
1
2
36 Franchise Tax Bd. of Cal. v. Hyatt , 578 U.S. ___December 7, 2015April 19, 2016
-
37 Molina-Martinez v. United States , 578 U.S. ___January 12, 2016April 20, 2016
38 Bank Markazi v. Peterson , 578 U.S. ___January 13, 2016April 20, 2016
*
39 Harris v. Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission , 578 U.S. ___December 8, 2015April 20, 2016
40 Heffernan v. City of Paterson , 578 U.S. ___January 19, 2016April 26, 2016
41 Ocasio v. United States , 578 U.S. ___October 6, 2015May 2, 2016
2
1
2
42 Sheriff v. Gillie , 578 U.S. ___March 29, 2016May 16, 2016
43 Spokeo, Inc. v. Robins , 578 U.S. ___November 2, 2015May 16, 2016
44 Husky Int'l Electronics, Inc. v. Ritz , 578 U.S. ___March 1, 2016May 16, 2016
45 Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc. v. Manning , 578 U.S. ___December 1, 2015May 16, 2016
46 Zubik v. Burwell , 578 U.S. ___March 23, 2016May 16, 2016
47 Kernan v. Hinojosa , 578 U.S. ___May 16, 2016
48 CRST Van Expedited, Inc. v. EEOC , 578 U.S. ___March 28, 2016May 19, 2016
49 Betterman v. Montana , 578 U.S. ___March 28, 2016May 19, 2016
1
1
2
50 Luna Torres v. Lynch , 578 U.S. ___November 3, 2015May 19, 2016
51 Foster v. Chatman , 578 U.S. ___November 2, 2015May 23, 2016
52 Wittman v. Personhuballah , 578 U.S. ___March 21, 2016May 23, 2016
53 Green v. Brennan , 578 U.S. ___November 30, 2015May 23, 2016
54 Army Corps of Engineers v. Hawkes Co. , 578 U.S. ___March 30, 2016May 31, 2016
1
1
2
1
3
55 Johnson v. Lee , 578 U.S. ___May 31, 2016
56 Lynch v. Arizona , 578 U.S. ___May 31, 2016
57 Simmons v. Himmelreich , 578 U.S. ___March 22, 2016June 6, 2016
58 Ross v. Blake , 578 U.S. ___March 29, 2016June 6, 2016
1
2
59 Williams v. Pennsylvania , 579 U.S. ___February 29, 2016June 9, 2016
1
2
1
60 Dietz v. Bouldin , 579 U.S. ___April 26, 2016June 9, 2016
61 Puerto Rico v. Sanchez Valle , 579 U.S. ___January 13, 2016June 9, 2016
12
2
62 Halo Electronics, Inc. v. Pulse Electronics, Inc. , 579 U.S. ___February 23, 2016June 13, 2016
63 Puerto Rico v. Franklin Cal. Tax-Free Trust , 579 U.S. ___March 22, 2016June 13, 2016
64 United States v. Bryant , 579 U.S. ___April 19, 2016June 13, 2016
65 Kingdomware Technologies, Inc. v. United States , 579 U.S. ___February 22, 2016June 16, 2016
66 Universal Health Services, Inc. v. United States ex rel. Escobar , 579 U.S. ___April 19, 2016June 16, 2016
67 Kirtsaeng v. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. , 579 U.S. ___April 25, 2016June 16, 2016
68 Encino Motorcars, LLC v. Navarro , 579 U.S. ___April 20, 2016June 20, 2016
69 Utah v. Strieff , 579 U.S. ___February 22, 2016June 20, 2016
1*2
1
2
70 Cuozzo Speed Technologies, LLC v. Lee , 579 U.S. ___April 25, 2016June 20, 2016
*
*
71 Taylor v. United States , 579 U.S. ___February 23, 2016June 20, 2016
72 RJR Nabisco, Inc. v. European Community , 579 U.S. ___March 21, 2016June 20, 2016
*1
*12
*1
73 Fisher v. University of Tex. at Austin , 579 U.S. ___December 9, 2015June 23, 2016
2
12
2
74 Birchfield v. North Dakota , 579 U.S. ___April 20, 2016June 23, 2016
1
2
2
75 Mathis v. United States , 579 U.S. ___April 26, 2016June 23, 2016
1
2
1
1
2
76 Dollar General Corp. v. Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians , [5] 579 U.S. ___December 7, 2015June 23, 2016
77 United States v. Texas , [6] 579 U.S. ___April 18, 2016June 23, 2016
78 McDonnell v. United States , 579 U.S. ___April 27, 2016June 27, 2016
79 Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt , 579 U.S. ___March 2, 2016June 27, 2016
2
12
2
80 Voisine v. United States , 579 U.S. ___February 29, 2016June 27, 2016
*
#Case name and citationArguedDecidedRobertsScaliaKennedyThomasGinsburgBreyerAlitoSotomayorKagan

2015 term membership and statistics

This was the eleventh term of Chief Justice Roberts's tenure. Justice Scalia died on February 13, 2016, making it the sixth and final term with the same membership.

JusticeAppointment historyAgreement with judgmentOpinions filed
SeniorityNamePresidentDate confirmed %#Total
Chief Justice John Roberts George W. Bush September 29, 200591.3%73/80610411
Associate Justice Antonin Scalia Ronald Reagan September 26, 198683.3%15/1821025
Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy Ronald Reagan February 18, 198897.5%78/80920112
Associate Justice Clarence Thomas George H. W. Bush October 23, 199172.5%58/8071411739
Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Bill Clinton August 10, 199387.5%70/80841417
Associate Justice Stephen Breyer Bill Clinton August 3, 199493.8%75/80851216
Associate Justice Samuel Alito George W. Bush January 31, 200682.1%64/78751619
Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor Barack Obama August 6, 200981%64/79731718
Associate Justice Elena Kagan Barack Obama August 7, 201094.9%75/79810312
Totals
6236546149

Notes

  1. One decree in an original jurisdiction case has been omitted from this table: Montana v. Wyoming , 577 U.S. ___ (2016).
  2. In Duncan v. Owens, 577 U.S. ___ (2016), the Court dismissed the writ of certiorari as improvidently granted.
  3. The Court's per curiam opinion in Hawkins v. Community Bank, 577 U.S. ___ (2016), noted that the judgment was affirmed by an equally divided Court.
  4. The Court's per curiam opinion in Friedrichs v. California Teachers Assn. , 578 U.S. ___ (2016), noted that the judgment was affirmed by an equally divided Court.
  5. The Court's per curiam opinion in Dollar General Corp. v. Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians , 579 U.S. ___ (2016), noted that the judgment was affirmed by an equally divided Court.
  6. The Court's per curiam opinion in United States v. Texas , 579 U.S. ___ (2016), noted that the judgment was affirmed by an equally divided Court.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2002 term opinions of the Supreme Court of the United States</span>

The 2002 term of the Supreme Court of the United States began October 7, 2002, and concluded October 5, 2003. The table illustrates which opinion was filed by each justice in each case and which justices joined each opinion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2002 term per curiam opinions of the Supreme Court of the United States</span>

The Supreme Court of the United States handed down twelve per curiam opinions during its 2002 term, which began October 7, 2002 and concluded October 5, 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2006 term per curiam opinions of the Supreme Court of the United States</span>

The Supreme Court of the United States handed down eight per curiam opinions during its 2006 term, which began October 2, 2006 and concluded September 30, 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2007 term opinions of the Supreme Court of the United States</span>

The 2007 term of the Supreme Court of the United States began October 1, 2007, and concluded September 30, 2008. The table illustrates which opinion was filed by each justice in each case and which justices joined each opinion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2007 term per curiam opinions of the Supreme Court of the United States</span>

The Supreme Court of the United States handed down six per curiam opinions during its 2007 term, which began October 1, 2007 and concluded September 30, 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 term opinions of the Supreme Court of the United States</span>

The 2010 term of the Supreme Court of the United States began October 4, 2010, and concluded October 1, 2011. The table illustrates which opinion was filed by each justice in each case and which justices joined each opinion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 term per curiam opinions of the Supreme Court of the United States</span>

The Supreme Court of the United States handed down ten per curiam opinions during its 2010 term, which began October 4, 2010 and concluded October 1, 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015 term per curiam opinions of the Supreme Court of the United States</span>

The Supreme Court of the United States handed down eighteen per curiam opinions during its 2015 term, which began October 5, 2015 and concluded October 2, 2016.

Mullenix v. Luna, 577 U.S. ___ (2015), was a case in which the Supreme Court of the United States held that a police officer who shot a suspect during a police pursuit was entitled to qualified immunity. In a per curiam opinion, the Court held that prior precedent did not establish "beyond debate" that the officer's actions were objectively unreasonable.

V.L. v. E.L., 577 U.S. ___ (2016), is a case decided by the Supreme Court of the United States concerning the adoption rights of same-sex couples. In 2007, a Georgia Superior Court granted adoption rights to V.L., the partner of E.L., the woman who gave birth to their three children. However, after moving back to Alabama, the couple split up. E.L. tried to block V.L. from seeing the children, but V.L. filed a lawsuit seeking visitation and other parental rights. On September 18, 2015, the Supreme Court of Alabama ruled that the state did not have to recognize the adoption judgment, saying that the Georgia court misapplied its own state law. The court voided the recognition of the adoption judgment in Alabama. V.L. petitioned the United States Supreme Court to stay the ruling during her appeal and allow her to see her children. On December 14, 2015, the Supreme Court stayed the ruling pending their action on a petition for a writ of certiorari filed by V.L. On March 7, 2016, the Supreme Court of the United States reversed the decision of the Alabama Supreme Court by per curiam summary disposition.

Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association, 578 U.S. ___ (2016), is a United States labor law case that came before the Supreme Court of the United States. At issue in the case was whether Abood v. Detroit Board of Education (1977) should be overruled, with public-sector "agency shop" arrangements invalidated under the First Amendment, and whether it violates the First Amendment to require that public employees affirmatively object to subsidizing nonchargeable speech by public-sector unions, rather than requiring employees to consent affirmatively to subsidizing such speech. Specifically, the case concerned public sector collective bargaining by the California Teachers Association, an affiliate of the National Education Association.

Caetano v. Massachusetts, 577 U.S. 411 (2016), was a case in which the Supreme Court of the United States unanimously vacated a Massachusetts conviction of a woman who carried a stun gun for self-defense.

Dollar General Corp. v. Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, 579 U.S. ___ (2016), was a United States Supreme Court case in which the Court was asked to determine if an American Indian tribal court had the jurisdiction to hear a civil case involving a non-Indian who operated a Dollar General store on tribal land under a consensual relationship with the tribe. The Court was equally divided, 4–4, and thereby affirmed the decision of the lower court, in this case the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, that the court had jurisdiction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 term opinions of the Supreme Court of the United States</span> Supreme Court 2017 term

The 2017 term of the Supreme Court of the United States began October 2, 2017, and concluded September 30, 2018. The table below illustrates which opinion was filed by each justice in each case and which justices joined each opinion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1999 term opinions of the Supreme Court of the United States</span>

The 1999 term of the Supreme Court of the United States began October 4, 1999, and concluded October 1, 2000. The table illustrates which opinion was filed by each justice in each case and which justices joined each opinion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1999 term per curiam opinions of the Supreme Court of the United States</span>

The Supreme Court of the United States handed down eleven per curiam opinions during its 1999 term, which began October 4, 1999 and concluded October 1, 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 term per curiam opinions of the Supreme Court of the United States</span>

The Supreme Court of the United States handed down sixteen per curiam opinions during its 2017 term, which began October 2, 2017, and concluded September 30, 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 term per curiam opinions of the Supreme Court of the United States</span>

The Supreme Court of the United States handed down ten per curiam opinions during its 2019 term, which began October 7, 2019 and concluded October 4, 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 term opinions of the Supreme Court of the United States</span> United States Supreme Court opinions for the term starting October 4, 2021 to October 2, 2022

The 2021 term of the Supreme Court of the United States began October 4, 2021, and concluded October 2, 2022. The table below illustrates which opinion was filed by each justice in each case and which justices joined each opinion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 term per curiam opinions of the Supreme Court of the United States</span>

The Supreme Court of the United States handed down eight per curiam opinions during its 2021 term, which began October 4, 2021 and concluded October 2, 2022.

References