Memorial Hospital et al. v. Maricopa County et al.

Decided February 26, 1974. Thurgood Marshall delivered the opinion of the Court.

Docket 72-847 · 415 U.S. 250 (1974) · Cited 770 times

Holding

The durational residence requirement, in violation of the Equal Protection Clause, creates an 'invidious classification' that impinges on the right of interstate travel by denying newcomers 'basic necessities of life.' Shapiro 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 8–1.

“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.

• Shapiro v. Thompson · 394 U.S. 618 (1969)
• Edwards v. California · 314 U.S. 160 (1941)
• Dunn v. Blumstein · 405 U.S. 330 (1972)
• Dandridge v. Williams · 397 U.S. 471 (1970)
• Vlandis v. Kline · 412 U.S. 441 (1973)
• Crandall v. Nevada · 73 U.S. 35 (1868)
• Williams v. Fears · 179 U.S. 270 (1900)
• Goldberg v. Kelly · 397 U.S. 254 (1970)
• San Antonio Independent School District v. Rodriguez · 411 U.S. 1 (1973)
• National Ass'n for the Advancement of Colored People v. Button · 371 U.S. 415 (1963)
• Sniadach v. Family Finance Corp. of Bay View · 395 U.S. 337 (1969)
• Graham v. Richardson · 403 U.S. 365 (1971)
• Thorpe v. Housing Authority of Durham · 393 U.S. 268 (1969)
• Oregon v. Mitchell · 400 U.S. 112 (1970)
• Evansville-Vanderburgh Airport Authority District v. Delta Airlines, Inc. · 405 U.S. 707 (1972)
• Reynolds v. Sims · 377 U.S. 533 (1964)
• Griffin v. Breckenridge · 403 U.S. 88 (1971)
• Bolling v. Sharpe · 347 U.S. 497 (1954)
• Shelton v. Tucker · 364 U.S. 479 (1960)
• Frontiero v. Richardson · 411 U.S. 677 (1973)
• Harper v. Virginia Board of Elections · 383 U.S. 663 (1966)
• Truax v. Raich · 239 U.S. 33 (1915)
• Mourning v. Family Publications Service, Inc. · 411 U.S. 356 (1973)
• United States Department of Agriculture v. Moreno · 413 U.S. 528 (1973)
• Weber v. Aetna Casualty & Surety Co. · 406 U.S. 164 (1972)
• United States v. Guest · 383 U.S. 745 (1966)
• Cipriano v. City of Houma · 395 U.S. 701 (1969)
• Evans v. Cornman · 398 U.S. 419 (1970)
• O'Brien v. Skinner · 414 U.S. 524 (1974)
• Interstate Busses Corp. v. Blodgett · 276 U.S. 245 (1928)

Cited by

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

• Attorney General of New York v. Soto-Lopez · 476 U.S. 898 (1986)
• Sosna v. Iowa · 419 U.S. 393 (1975)
• Koontz v. St. Johns River Water Management Dist. · 570 U.S. 595 (2013)
• Zobel v. Williams · 457 U.S. 55 (1982)
• Maher v. Roe · 432 U.S. 464 (1977)
• Martinez Ex Rel. Morales v. Bynum · 461 U.S. 321 (1983)
• Saenz v. Roe · 526 U.S. 489 (1999)
• McCarthy v. Philadelphia Civil Service Commission · 424 U.S. 645 (1976)
• Hooper v. Bernalillo County Assessor · 472 U.S. 612 (1985)
• Jones v. Helms · 452 U.S. 412 (1981)
• Califano v. Torres · 435 U.S. 1 (1978)
• Harris v. McRae · 448 U.S. 297 (1980)
• Zablocki v. Redhail · 434 U.S. 374 (1978)
• Wilkie v. Robbins · 551 U.S. 537 (2007)
• Massachusetts Board of Retirement v. Murgia · 427 U.S. 307 (1976)
• Nordlinger v. Hahn · 505 U.S. 1 (1992)
• Heckler v. Ringer · 466 U.S. 602 (1984)
• Mathews v. Diaz · 426 U.S. 67 (1976)
• Minnesota v. Clover Leaf Creamery Co. · 449 U.S. 456 (1981)
• Illinois State Board of Elections v. Socialist Workers Party · 440 U.S. 173 (1979)
• Geduldig v. Aiello · 417 U.S. 484 (1974)
• Pernell v. Southall Realty · 416 U.S. 363 (1974)
• Baldwin v. Fish and Game Comm'n of Mont. · 436 U.S. 371 (1978)
• Richardson v. Ramirez · 418 U.S. 24 (1974)
• United Building & Constr. Trades Council of Camden Cty. v. Mayor and Council of Camden · 465 U.S. 208 (1984)
• H. L. v. Matheson · 450 U.S. 398 (1981)
• Califano v. Aznavorian · 439 U.S. 170 (1978)
• Sheetz v. El Dorado County · 601 U.S. 267 (2024)
• City of Grants Pass v. Johnson · 603 U.S. 520 (2024)

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).