United States v. Providence Journal Co. et al.

Decided May 2, 1988. Harry Andrew Blackmun delivered the opinion of the Court.

Docket 87-65 · 485 U.S. 693 (1988) · Cited 142 times

Holding

Since the special prosecutor lacks authority to represent the United States before this Court, the writ of certiorari is dismissed for want of jurisdiction.

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 6–2.

“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.

• Young v. United States Ex Rel. Vuitton Et Fils S. A. · 481 U.S. 787 (1987)
• Immigration & Naturalization Service v. Chadha · 462 U.S. 919 (1983)
• Bowsher v. Synar · 478 U.S. 714 (1986)
• United States v. Nixon · 418 U.S. 683 (1974)
• Powell v. McCormack · 395 U.S. 486 (1969)
• United States v. American Trucking Associations · 310 U.S. 534 (1940)
• Will v. United States · 389 U.S. 90 (1967)
• Diamond v. Charles · 476 U.S. 54 (1986)
• Myers v. United States · 272 U.S. 52 (1926)
• J. W. Hampton, Jr., & Co. v. United States · 276 U.S. 394 (1928)
• Bob Jones University v. United States · 461 U.S. 574 (1983)
• Gravel v. United States · 408 U.S. 606 (1972)
• California Federal Savings & Loan Ass'n v. Guerra · 479 U.S. 272 (1987)
• Offshore Logistics, Inc. v. Tallentire · 477 U.S. 207 (1986)
• Will v. Calvert Fire Insurance · 437 U.S. 655 (1978)
• McGrain v. Daugherty · 273 U.S. 135 (1927)
• Andres v. United States · 333 U.S. 740 (1948)
• Karcher v. May · 484 U.S. 72 (1987)
• Michaelson v. United States Ex Rel. Chicago, St. P., M. & OR Co. · 266 U.S. 42 (1924)
• Confiscation Cases · 74 U.S. 454 (1869)
• The Pocket Veto Case · 279 U.S. 655 (1929)
• Chandler v. Judicial Council of the Tenth Circuit · 398 U.S. 74 (1970)
• United States v. Wells Fargo Bank · 485 U.S. 351 (1988)

Cited by

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

• Hollingsworth v. Perry · 570 U.S. 693 (2013)
• Virginia House of Delegates v. Bethune-Hill · 587 U.S. 658 (2019)
• Federal Election Commission v. NRA Political Victory Fund · 513 U.S. 88 (1994)
• United States v. Dixon · 509 U.S. 688 (1993)
• Martin v. Wilks · 490 U.S. 755 (1989)

Official text

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

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Source: Supreme Court of the United States, slip opinions (1988). 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).