M. L. B. v. S. L. J., Individually and as Next Friend of the Minor Children, S. L. J. and M. L. J., et Ux.
Decided December 16, 1996. Ruth Bader Ginsburg delivered the opinion of the Court.
Docket 95-853 · 519 U.S. 102 (1996)
We don’t yet publish a summary of this opinion. Read the official text below for the Court’s holding and reasoning.
How the Justices voted
Decided 6–3.
Majority · 5
- Ruth Bader Ginsburg · delivered the opinion of the Court
- David Hackett Souter
- John Paul Stevens
- Sandra Day O'Connor
- Stephen Gerald Breyer
Concurring · 1
- Anthony McLeod Kennedy · filed a concurring opinion
Dissenting · 3
- Antonin Scalia
- Clarence Thomas · filed a dissenting opinion
- William Hubbs Rehnquist · filed a dissenting opinion
“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.
Official text
Read the official opinion (U.S. Reports, govinfo.gov)
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Source: the U.S. Reports via govinfo.gov; authoring Justice and vote lineup from the Supreme Court Database (Washington University). Data last verified 2026-08-15. Informational only; verify against the primary source before relying. Not a consumer report (FCRA).