Ellis et al. v. Dyson et al.
Decided May 19, 1975. Harry Andrew Blackmun delivered the opinion of the Court.
Docket 73-130 · 421 U.S. 426 (1975) · Cited 208 times
Holding
Since the Becker decision was subsequently reversed in Staffel v.
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 6–3.
Majority · 4
- Harry Andrew Blackmun · delivered the opinion of the Court
- Thurgood Marshall
- William Joseph Brennan Jr.
- William Orville Douglas
Concurring · 2
- Byron Raymond White · filed a concurring opinion
- William Hubbs Rehnquist · filed a concurring opinion
Dissenting · 3
- Lewis Franklin Powell Jr. · filed a dissenting opinion
- Potter Stewart
- Warren Earl Burger
“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.
- Steffel v. Thompson · 415 U.S. 452 (1974)
- Younger v. Harris · 401 U.S. 37 (1971)
- O'Shea v. Littleton · 414 U.S. 488 (1974)
- Fay v. Noia · 372 U.S. 391 (1963)
- Monroe v. Pape · 365 U.S. 167 (1961)
- Tollett v. Henderson · 411 U.S. 258 (1973)
- Maryland Casualty Co. v. Pacific Coal & Oil Co. · 312 U.S. 270 (1941)
- Blackledge v. Perry · 417 U.S. 21 (1974)
- United Public Workers of America v. Mitchell · 330 U.S. 75 (1947)
- Poe v. Ullman · 367 U.S. 497 (1961)
- Lake Carriers' Assn. v. MacMullan · 406 U.S. 498 (1972)
- Schneckloth v. Bustamonte · 412 U.S. 218 (1973)
- Preiser v. Rodriguez · 411 U.S. 475 (1973)
- Baker v. Carr · 369 U.S. 186 (1962)
- McMann v. Richardson · 397 U.S. 759 (1970)
- Grayned v. City of Rockford · 408 U.S. 104 (1972)
- Brown v. Allen · 344 U.S. 443 (1953)
- Linda R. S. v. Richard D. · 410 U.S. 614 (1973)
- United States v. Students Challenging Regulatory Agency Procedures (SCRAP) · 412 U.S. 669 (1973)
- Huffman v. Pursue, Ltd. · 420 U.S. 592 (1975)
- Carafas v. LaVallee · 391 U.S. 234 (1968)
- Doe v. Bolton · 410 U.S. 179 (1973)
- United States Civil Service Commission v. National Ass'n of Letter Carriers · 413 U.S. 548 (1973)
- Colten v. Kentucky · 407 U.S. 104 (1972)
- SAMUELS Et Al. v. MACKELL, DISTRICT ATTORNEY OF QUEENS COUNTY, Et Al. · 401 U.S. 66 (1971)
- Schlesinger v. Councilman · 420 U.S. 738 (1975)
- United States v. Augenblick · 393 U.S. 348 (1969)
- Boyle v. Landry · 401 U.S. 77 (1971)
- International Longshoremen's & Warehousemen's Union, Local 37 v. Boyd · 347 U.S. 222 (1954)
- Secretary of the Navy v. Avrech · 418 U.S. 676 (1974)
Cited by
Later Supreme Court opinions in our collection that cite this case.
- Steel Co. v. Citizens for a Better Environment · 523 U.S. 83 (1998)
- Kolender v. Lawson · 461 U.S. 352 (1983)
- Ruhrgas Ag v. Marathon Oil Co. · 526 U.S. 574 (1999)
- Sinochem International Co. v. Malaysia International Shipping Corp. · 549 U.S. 422 (2007)
- City of Houston v. Hill · 482 U.S. 451 (1987)
- Juidice v. Vail · 430 U.S. 327 (1977)
- Hicks v. Miranda · 422 U.S. 332 (1975)
- Fair Assessment in Real Estate Assn., Inc. v. McNary · 454 U.S. 100 (1981)
- Trainor v. Hernandez · 431 U.S. 434 (1977)
Official text
Read the official opinion (U.S. Reports, govinfo.gov)
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Source: Supreme Court of the United States, slip opinions (1975). 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).