Verizon Communications Inc., et al. v. Federal Communications Commission, et al.

Decided May 13, 2002. David Hackett Souter delivered the opinion of the Court.

Docket 00-511 · 535 U.S. 467 (2002) · Cited 247 times

Holding

A State waives its Eleventh Amendment immunity when it removes a case from state court to federal court.

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.

• At&T Corp. v. Iowa Utilities Board · 525 U.S. 366 (1999)
• Smyth v. Ames · 169 U.S. 466 (1898)
• Duquesne Light Co. v. Barasch · 488 U.S. 299 (1989)
• Motor Vehicle Mfrs. Assn. of United States, Inc. v. State Farm Mut. Automobile Ins. Co. · 463 U.S. 29 (1983)
• Federal Power Commission v. Hope Natural Gas Co. · 320 U.S. 591 (1944)
• Communist Party of United States v. Subversive Activities Control Bd. · 367 U.S. 1 (1961)
• State ex rel. Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. v. Public Service Commission of Missouri · 262 U.S. 276 (1923)
• Chevron U. S. A. Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc. · 467 U.S. 837 (1984)
• Citizens to Preserve Overton Park, Inc. v. Volpe · 401 U.S. 402 (1971)
• Federal Power Commission v. Natural Gas Pipeline Co. · 315 U.S. 575 (1942)
• Federal Power Commission v. Sierra Pacific Power Co. · 350 U.S. 348 (1956)
• Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc. · 435 U.S. 519 (1978)
• Munn v. Illinois · 94 U.S. 113 (1877)
• Permian Basin Area Rate Cases · 390 U.S. 747 (1968)
• United States v. Williams · 504 U.S. 36 (1992)
• The Minnesota Rate Cases · 230 U.S. 352 (1913)
• Virginia Bankshares, Inc. v. Sandberg · 501 U.S. 1083 (1991)
• Houston, East & West Texas Railway Co. v. United States · 234 U.S. 342 (1914)
• United Gas Pipe Line Co. v. Mobile Gas Service Corp. · 350 U.S. 332 (1956)
• Maryland v. United States Tandy Corporation v. United States North American Telephone Association v. United States Illinois v. United States · 460 U.S. 1001 (1983)
• Los Angeles Gas & Electric Corp. v. Railroad Commission · 289 U.S. 287 (1933)
• Covington & Lexington Turnpike Road Co. v. Sandford · 164 U.S. 578 (1896)
• McCardle v. Indianapolis Water Co. · 272 U.S. 400 (1926)
• New York v. United States · 331 U.S. 284 (1947)
• Stevens v. Department of Treasury · 500 U.S. 1 (1991)
• Mobil Oil Exploration & Producing Southeast, Inc. v. United Distribution Cos. · 498 U.S. 211 (1991)
• West v. Chesapeake & Potomac Telephone Co. of Baltimore · 295 U.S. 662 (1935)
• Southern Pacific Co. v. Interstate Commerce Commission · 219 U.S. 433 (1911)

Cited by

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

• Morgan Stanley Capital Group Inc. v. Public Util. Dist. No. 1 of Snohomish Cty. · 554 U.S. 527 (2008)
• Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly · 550 U.S. 544 (2007)
• National Cable & Telecommunications Assn. v. Brand X Internet Services · 545 U.S. 967 (2005)
• Verizon Communications Inc. v. Law Offices of Curtis v. Trinko, LLP · 540 U.S. 398 (2004)
• Global Crossing Telecommunications, Inc. v. Metrophones Telecommunications, Inc. · 550 U.S. 45 (2007)
• Talk America, Inc. v. Michigan Bell Telephone Co. · 564 U.S. 50 (2011)
• FCC v. Consumers' Research · 606 U.S. 656 (2025)
• Padilla v. Kentucky · 559 U.S. 356 (2010)
• Federal Communications Commission v. Fox Television Stations, Inc. · 556 U.S. 502 (2009)

Official text

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

Explore from here

David Hackett Souter’s profile · All Supreme Court opinions · The Supreme Court

Source: Supreme Court of the United States, slip opinions (2002). 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).