Alexander v. Gardner-Denver Co.

Decided February 19, 1974. Lewis Franklin Powell Jr. delivered the opinion of the Court.

Docket 72-5847 · 415 U.S. 36 (1974) · Cited 3,057 times

Holding

An employee's statutory right to trial de novo under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is not foreclosed by prior submission of his claim to final arbitration under the nondiscrimination clause of a collective-bargaining agreement.

The Court’s statement of the holding, from the opinion’s syllabus. The syllabus is prepared by the Reporter of Decisions and is not part of the opinion of the Court — read the official opinion for authority.

How the Justices voted

Decided 9–0.

“Concurring” means agreeing with the outcome; any split shown is the Court’s judgment, not each Justice’s reasoning. Source: the Supreme Court Database (Spaeth et al.), Washington University.

Precedents cited

Supreme Court decisions this opinion relies on, ordered by how often it cites each. Cases in our collection link through; others are named.

• McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green · 411 U.S. 792 (1973)
• Carey v. Westinghouse Electric Corp. · 375 U.S. 261 (1964)
• United Steelworkers v. Enterprise Wheel & Car Corp. · 363 U.S. 593 (1960)
• Textile Workers v. Lincoln Mills of Ala. · 353 U.S. 448 (1957)
• Boys Markets, Inc. v. Retail Clerks Union, Local 770 · 398 U.S. 235 (1970)
• United Steelworkers v. Warrior & Gulf Navigation Co. · 363 U.S. 574 (1960)
• Vaca v. Sipes · 386 U.S. 171 (1967)
• Newman v. Piggie Park Enterprises, Inc. · 390 U.S. 400 (1968)
• Wilko v. Swan · 346 U.S. 427 (1953)
• Republic Steel Corp. v. Maddox · 379 U.S. 650 (1965)
• J. I. Case Co. v. National Labor Relations Board · 321 U.S. 332 (1944)
• Griggs v. Duke Power Co. · 401 U.S. 424 (1971)
• United Steelworkers v. American Manufacturing Co. · 363 U.S. 564 (1960)
• Steele v. Louisville & Nashville Railroad · 323 U.S. 192 (1944)
• Smith v. Evening News Assn. · 371 U.S. 195 (1962)
• Humphrey v. Moore · 375 U.S. 335 (1964)
• Bernhardt v. Polygraphic Co. of America, Inc. · 350 U.S. 198 (1956)
• Mastro Plastics Corp. v. National Labor Relations Board · 350 U.S. 270 (1956)
• Gateway Coal Co. v. United Mine Workers · 414 U.S. 368 (1974)
• Tunstall v. Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen & Enginemen · 323 U.S. 210 (1945)
• U. S. Bulk Carriers, Inc. v. Arguelles · 400 U.S. 351 (1971)

Cited by

Later Supreme Court opinions in our collection that cite this case.

• 14 Penn Plaza LLC v. Pyett · 556 U.S. 247 (2009)
• McDonald v. City of West Branch · 466 U.S. 284 (1984)
• Kremer v. Chemical Construction Corp. · 456 U.S. 461 (1982)
• Barrentine v. Arkansas-Best Freight System, Inc. · 450 U.S. 728 (1981)
• International Union of Electrical, Radio & MacHine Workers v. Robbins & Myers, Inc. · 429 U.S. 229 (1976)
• Johnson v. Railway Express Agency, Inc. · 421 U.S. 454 (1975)
• Gilmer v. Interstate/Johnson Lane Corp. · 500 U.S. 20 (1991)
• Occidental Life Insurance v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission · 432 U.S. 355 (1977)
• Wright v. Universal Maritime Service Corp. · 525 U.S. 70 (1998)
• Emporium Capwell Co. v. Western Addition Community Organization · 420 U.S. 50 (1975)
• Mitsubishi Motors Corp. v. Soler Chrysler-Plymouth, Inc. · 473 U.S. 614 (1985)
• Great American Federal Savings & Loan Ass'n v. Novotny · 442 U.S. 366 (1979)
• Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., Inc. · 550 U.S. 618 (2007)
• Livadas v. Bradshaw · 512 U.S. 107 (1994)
• General Telephone Co. of the Northwest, Inc. v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission · 446 U.S. 318 (1980)
• Brown v. General Services Administration · 425 U.S. 820 (1976)
• CBOCS West, Inc. v. Humphries · 553 U.S. 442 (2008)
• New York Gaslight Club, Inc. v. Carey · 447 U.S. 54 (1980)
• MacH Mining, LLC v. Equal Emp't Opportunity Comm'n · 575 U.S. 480 (2015)
• International Brotherhood of Teamsters v. United States · 431 U.S. 324 (1977)
• Zipes v. Trans World Airlines, Inc. · 455 U.S. 385 (1982)
• Allis-Chalmers Corp. v. Lueck · 471 U.S. 202 (1985)
• Franks v. Bowman Transportation Co. · 424 U.S. 747 (1976)
• Stolt-Nielsen S. A. v. AnimalFeeds International Corp. · 559 U.S. 662 (2010)
• W. R. Grace & Co. v. Local Union 759, International Union of the United Rubber, Cork, Linoleum & Plastic Workers · 461 U.S. 757 (1983)
• Trans World Airlines, Inc. v. Hardison · 432 U.S. 63 (1977)
• Chandler v. Roudebush · 425 U.S. 840 (1976)
• National Railroad Passenger Corporation v. Morgan · 536 U.S. 101 (2002)
• Albemarle Paper Co. v. Moody · 422 U.S. 405 (1975)
• Lingle v. Norge Division of Magic Chef, Inc. · 486 U.S. 399 (1988)

Official text

Read the official opinion (U.S. Reports, govinfo.gov)

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Source: Supreme Court of the United States, slip opinions (1974). Citation count from the Free Law Project’s CourtListener bulk data. Data last verified 2026-07-03. Informational only; verify against the primary source before relying. Not a consumer report (FCRA).