Supreme Court Report

Supreme Court of the United States · The Justices

October Term 2016

62 argued cases decided by written opinion. Who wrote, who joined whom, and how often the Court split.

The Court, in order of seniority

Opinions written Granted & Noted List

One bar per Justice, in seniority order, so the chart reads the same every Term. A mixed writing (concurring in part, dissenting in part) counts once under its lead label; the striped end of a segment is the share that was partial. Hover a segment for its count.

Roberts, C.J.
10
Kennedy
10
Thomas
30
Ginsburg
15
Breyer
17
Alito
18
Sotomayor
15
Kagan
8
Gorsuch
4
0102030 opinions

The counts

JusticeCourtConc.Conc. in judgmentDissentTotalShare of majorities
Roberts, C.J.80021013%
Kennedy82 (1 in part)001013%
Thomas710 (5 in part)4 (2 in part)93011%
Ginsburg82 (2 in part)321513%
Breyer81261713%
Alito73 (3 in part)5 (1 in part)31811%
Sotomayor72 (1 in part)241511%
Kagan7001811%
Gorsuch12 (2 in part)0142%
1 opinion was per curiam. Share of majorities is out of the 61 signed opinions of the Court. Counts are of argued cases on the Granted & Noted List; writings on the order lists are not included.

Who agreed with whom Lineups parsed for 61 of 62 decisions

Each cell is the share of decisions both Justices took part in where they landed on the same side. Seniority order on both axes, the diagonal left empty. The stricter reading counts only decisions where both joined the opinion of the Court in full. Hover a cell for the count.

Roberts
Kennedy
Thomas
Ginsburg
Breyer
Alito
Sotomayor
Kagan
Gorsuch
Roberts
91
86
77
81
93
81
84
93
Kennedy
91
78
82
90
85
86
89
86
Thomas
86
78
67
71
93
67
70
93
Ginsburg
77
82
67
86
70
95
91
57
Breyer
81
90
71
86
75
85
92
57
Alito
93
85
93
70
75
74
77
93
Sotomayor
81
86
67
95
85
74
90
54
Kagan
84
89
70
91
92
77
90
64
Gorsuch
93
86
93
57
57
93
54
64
Roberts
Kennedy
Thomas
Ginsburg
Breyer
Alito
Sotomayor
Kagan
Gorsuch
Roberts
81
61
67
73
64
70
75
64
Kennedy
81
59
77
83
61
79
84
64
Thomas
61
59
46
51
57
47
53
64
Ginsburg
67
77
46
73
46
75
79
50
Breyer
73
83
51
73
56
76
81
43
Alito
64
61
57
46
56
51
56
57
Sotomayor
70
79
47
75
76
51
79
38
Kagan
75
84
53
79
81
56
79
43
Gorsuch
64
64
64
50
43
57
38
43

50%100% agreement

The shape of the Term

Unanimity comes from the Court’s own flags on the Granted & Noted List and covers every decision. The splits and lineups come from the parsed syllabi and cover 61 of 62 decisions.

31of 62
Unanimous
21 fully, 10 in the judgment only
1
Decided 6–3
one decision
Thomas
Most often alone
3 lone dissents, 8 solo concurrences
Kennedy
Most often in the majority
95% of the decisions with a parsed lineup

Vote splits

9–0
5
8–0
24
8–1
2
7–0
2
7–1
6
7–2
3
6–2
8
6–3
1
5–3
6
5–4
3
4–2
1

From the 61 decisions with a parsed lineup. A Justice concurring in part and dissenting in part counts on the minority side.

Most frequent 5–4 lineup

AlitoGorsuchKennedyRoberts, C.J.Thomas over BreyerGinsburgKaganSotomayor · 2 of 3 five-to-four decisions

Most frequent 5–3 lineup

BreyerGinsburgKaganKennedySotomayor over AlitoRoberts, C.J.Thomas · 3 of 6 five-to-three decisions

The writings Granted & Noted List

Every opinion each Justice wrote this Term, newest first, each linking to the case’s docket page. A count is a claim; this list is the evidence.

Roberts, C.J. 10 writings
DecidedWritingCaseOpinion of the Court byJoined byResult
Jun 26, 2017CourtTrinity Lutheran Church v. ComerNo. 15-577this opinionKennedy, Alito, Kagan, Thomas (in part), Gorsuch (in part)Reversed and remanded
Jun 23, 2017DissentingMurr v. WisconsinNo. 15-214KennedyThomas, AlitoAffirmed
Jun 23, 2017CourtLee v. United StatesNo. 16-327this opinionKennedy, Ginsburg, Breyer, Sotomayor, KaganReversed and remanded
May 30, 2017CourtImpression Products v. Lexmark InternationalNo. 15-1189this opinionKennedy, Thomas, Breyer, Alito, Sotomayor, KaganReversed and remanded
Apr 3, 2017CourtDean v. United StatesNo. 15-9260this opinionthe full CourtReversed and remanded
Mar 29, 2017CourtExpressions Hair Design v. Schneiderman, Att’y Gen. Of NyNo. 15-1391this opinionKennedy, Thomas, Ginsburg, KaganVacated and remanded
Mar 28, 2017DissentingMoore v. TexasNo. 15-797GinsburgThomas, AlitoVacated and remanded
Mar 22, 2017CourtEndrew F. v. Douglas County School Dist. Re-1No. 15-827this opinionthe full CourtVacated and remanded
Mar 21, 2017CourtNLRB v. Sw General, INC.No. 15-1251this opinionKennedy, Thomas, Breyer, Alito, KaganAffirmed
Feb 22, 2017CourtBuck v. DavisNo. 15-8049this opinionKennedy, Ginsburg, Breyer, Sotomayor, KaganReversed and remanded
Kennedy 10 writings
DecidedWritingCaseOpinion of the Court byJoined byResult
Jun 26, 2017CourtCalifornia Public Employees’ Retirement Sys. v. Anz SecuritiesNo. 16-373this opinionRoberts, Thomas, Alito, GorsuchAffirmed
Jun 23, 2017CourtMurr v. WisconsinNo. 15-214this opinionGinsburg, Breyer, Sotomayor, KaganAffirmed
Jun 22, 2017CourtWeaver v. MassachusettsNo. 16-240this opinionRoberts, Thomas, Ginsburg, Sotomayor, GorsuchAffirmed
Jun 19, 2017CourtPackingham v. North CarolinaNo. 15-1194this opinionGinsburg, Breyer, Sotomayor, KaganReversed and remanded
Jun 19, 2017ConcurringMatal, Interim Dir., U.s. Patent & Trademark Office v. TamNo. 15-1293AlitoGinsburg, Sotomayor, KaganAffirmed
Jun 19, 2017CourtZiglar v. AbbasiNo. 15-1358this opinionRoberts, Alito, Thomas (in part)Reversed in part, vacated and remanded in part (SS, EK & NMG – no part)
Mar 6, 2017CourtPena-Rodriguez v. ColoradoNo. 15-606this opinionGinsburg, Breyer, Sotomayor, KaganReversed and remanded
Mar 6, 2017ConcurringBeckles v. United StatesNo. 15-8544Thomasno oneAffirmed
Mar 1, 2017CourtBethune-Hill v. Va State Board Of ElectionsNo. 15-680this opinionRoberts, Ginsburg, Breyer, Sotomayor, KaganAffirmed in part, vacated in part, and remanded
Dec 6, 2016CourtState Farm Fire & Casualty Co. v. United States, Ex Rel. RigsbyNo. 15-513this opinionthe full CourtAffirmed
Thomas 30 writings
DecidedWritingCaseOpinion of the Court byJoined byResult
Jun 26, 2017DissentingHernandez v. MesaNo. 15-118NANAVacated and remanded
Jun 26, 2017ConcurringTrinity Lutheran Church v. ComerNo. 15-577Roberts, C.J.GorsuchReversed and remanded
Jun 26, 2017CourtDavila v. Davis, Dir., Tx DocjNo. 16-6219this opinionRoberts, Kennedy, Alito, GorsuchAffirmed
Jun 23, 2017DissentingMurr v. WisconsinNo. 15-214Kennedyno oneAffirmed
Jun 23, 2017DissentingLee v. United StatesNo. 16-327Roberts, C.J.Alito (in part)Reversed and remanded
Jun 22, 2017ConcurringWeaver v. MassachusettsNo. 16-240KennedyGorsuchAffirmed
Jun 19, 2017ConcurringMatal, Interim Dir., U.s. Patent & Trademark Office v. TamNo. 15-1293Alitono oneAffirmed
Jun 19, 2017ConcurringZiglar v. AbbasiNo. 15-1358Kennedyno oneReversed in part, vacated and remanded in part (SS, EK & NMG – no part)
Jun 12, 2017CourtSandoz INC. v. Amgen INC.No. 15-1039this opinionthe full CourtVacated in part, reversed in part, and remanded
Jun 12, 2017Conc. in judgmentSessions, Att’y Gen. v. Morales-SantanaNo. 15-1191GinsburgAlitoAffirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded
Jun 12, 2017Conc. in judgmentMicrosoft Corp. v. BakerNo. 15-457GinsburgRoberts, AlitoReversed and remanded
May 30, 2017CourtEsquivel-Quintana v. Sessions, Att’y Gen.No. 16-54this opinionthe full CourtReversed
May 22, 2017ConcurringCooper, Gov. Of Nc v. HarrisNo. 15-1262Kaganno oneAffirmed
May 22, 2017CourtTc Heartland v. Kraft Food Brands GroupNo. 16-341this opinionthe full CourtReversed and remanded
May 15, 2017ConcurringHowell v. HowellNo. 15-1031Breyerno oneReversed and remanded
May 15, 2017DissentingKindred Nursing Centers v. ClarkNo. 16-32Kaganno oneReversed in part, vacated in part, and remanded
May 1, 2017ConcurringBank Of America Corp. v. MiamiNo. 15-1111BreyerKennedy, AlitoVacated and remanded
Apr 25, 2017Conc. in judgmentLewis v. ClarkeNo. 15-1500Sotomayorno oneReversed and remanded
Apr 19, 2017DissentingNelson v. ColoradoNo. 15-1256Ginsburgno oneReversed and remanded
Apr 19, 2017CourtManrique v. United StatesNo. 15-7250this opinionRoberts, Kennedy, Breyer, Alito, KaganAffirmed
Apr 18, 2017ConcurringCoventry Health Care Of Missouri v. NevilsNo. 16-149Ginsburgno oneReversed and remanded
Mar 22, 2017DissentingCzyzewski v. Jevic Holding Corp.No. 15-649BreyerAlitoReversed and remanded
Mar 22, 2017CourtStar Athletica, L.l.c. v. Varsity Brands, INC.No. 15-866this opinionRoberts, Alito, Sotomayor, KaganAffirmed
Mar 21, 2017DissentingManuel v. City Of JolietNo. 14-9496Kaganno oneReversed and remanded
Mar 21, 2017ConcurringNLRB v. Sw General, INC.No. 15-1251Roberts, C.J.no oneAffirmed
Mar 6, 2017DissentingPena-Rodriguez v. ColoradoNo. 15-606Kennedyno oneReversed and remanded
Mar 6, 2017CourtBeckles v. United StatesNo. 15-8544this opinionRoberts, Kennedy, Breyer, AlitoAffirmed
Mar 1, 2017Conc. in judgmentBethune-Hill v. Va State Board Of ElectionsNo. 15-680Kennedyno oneAffirmed in part, vacated in part, and remanded
Feb 22, 2017DissentingBuck v. DavisNo. 15-8049Roberts, C.J.AlitoReversed and remanded
Nov 29, 2016ConcurringBravo-Fernandez v. United StatesNo. 15-537Ginsburgno oneAffirmed
Ginsburg 15 writings
DecidedWritingCaseOpinion of the Court byJoined byResult
Jun 26, 2017DissentingCalifornia Public Employees’ Retirement Sys. v. Anz SecuritiesNo. 16-373KennedyBreyer, Sotomayor, KaganAffirmed
Jun 23, 2017CourtPerry v. Merit Systems Protection Bd.No. 16-399this opinionRoberts, Kennedy, Breyer, Alito, Sotomayor, KaganReversed and remanded
Jun 12, 2017CourtSessions, Att’y Gen. v. Morales-SantanaNo. 15-1191this opinionRoberts, Kennedy, Breyer, Sotomayor, KaganAffirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded
Jun 12, 2017CourtMicrosoft Corp. v. BakerNo. 15-457this opinionKennedy, Breyer, Sotomayor, KaganReversed and remanded
May 30, 2017ConcurringImpression Products v. Lexmark InternationalNo. 15-1189Roberts, C.J.no oneReversed and remanded
May 30, 2017CourtBnsf Railway Co. v. TyrellNo. 16-405this opinionRoberts, Kennedy, Thomas, Breyer, Alito, Kagan, GorsuchReversed and remanded
Apr 25, 2017Conc. in judgmentLewis v. ClarkeNo. 15-1500Sotomayorno oneReversed and remanded
Apr 19, 2017CourtNelson v. ColoradoNo. 15-1256this opinionRoberts, Kennedy, Breyer, Sotomayor, KaganReversed and remanded
Apr 19, 2017DissentingManrique v. United StatesNo. 15-7250ThomasSotomayorAffirmed
Apr 18, 2017CourtCoventry Health Care Of Missouri v. NevilsNo. 16-149this opinionthe full CourtReversed and remanded
Apr 3, 2017ConcurringMclane v. EEOCNo. 15-1248Sotomayorno oneVacated and remanded
Mar 28, 2017CourtMoore v. TexasNo. 15-797this opinionKennedy, Breyer, Sotomayor, KaganVacated and remanded
Mar 22, 2017Conc. in judgmentStar Athletica, L.l.c. v. Varsity Brands, INC.No. 15-866Thomasno oneAffirmed
Mar 6, 2017Conc. in judgmentBeckles v. United StatesNo. 15-8544Thomasno oneAffirmed
Nov 29, 2016CourtBravo-Fernandez v. United StatesNo. 15-537this opinionthe full CourtAffirmed
Breyer 17 writings
DecidedWritingCaseOpinion of the Court byJoined byResult
Jun 26, 2017DissentingHernandez v. MesaNo. 15-118NAGinsburgVacated and remanded
Jun 26, 2017Conc. in judgmentTrinity Lutheran Church v. ComerNo. 15-577Roberts, C.J.no oneReversed and remanded
Jun 26, 2017DissentingDavila v. Davis, Dir., Tx DocjNo. 16-6219ThomasGinsburg, Sotomayor, KaganAffirmed
Jun 22, 2017CourtTurner v. United StatesNo. 15-1503this opinionRoberts, Kennedy, Thomas, Alito, SotomayorAffirmed
Jun 22, 2017DissentingWeaver v. MassachusettsNo. 16-240KennedyKaganAffirmed
Jun 19, 2017DissentingZiglar v. AbbasiNo. 15-1358KennedyGinsburgReversed in part, vacated and remanded in part (SS, EK & NMG – no part)
Jun 19, 2017CourtMcwilliams v. Dunn, Comm’r, Alabama DocNo. 16-5294this opinionKennedy, Ginsburg, Sotomayor, KaganReversed and remanded
Jun 12, 2017ConcurringSandoz INC. v. Amgen INC.No. 15-1039Thomasno oneVacated in part, reversed in part, and remanded
May 15, 2017CourtHowell v. HowellNo. 15-1031this opinionRoberts, Kennedy, Ginsburg, Alito, Sotomayor, KaganReversed and remanded
May 15, 2017CourtMidland Funding v. JohnsonNo. 16-348this opinionRoberts, Kennedy, Thomas, AlitoReversed
May 1, 2017CourtBank Of America Corp. v. MiamiNo. 15-1111this opinionRoberts, Ginsburg, Sotomayor, KaganVacated and remanded
May 1, 2017CourtBolivarian Rep. Of Venezuela v. Helmerich & PayneNo. 15-423this opinionthe full CourtVacated and remanded
Mar 29, 2017Conc. in judgmentExpressions Hair Design v. Schneiderman, Att’y Gen. Of NyNo. 15-1391Roberts, C.J.no oneVacated and remanded
Mar 22, 2017CourtCzyzewski v. Jevic Holding Corp.No. 15-649this opinionRoberts, Kennedy, Ginsburg, Sotomayor, KaganReversed and remanded
Mar 22, 2017DissentingStar Athletica, L.l.c. v. Varsity Brands, INC.No. 15-866ThomasKennedyAffirmed
Mar 21, 2017DissentingSca Hygiene Products v. First Quality Baby ProductsNo. 15-927Alitono oneVacated in part and remanded
Dec 12, 2016CourtShaw v. United StatesNo. 15-5991this opinionthe full CourtVacated and remanded
Alito 18 writings
DecidedWritingCaseOpinion of the Court byJoined byResult
Jun 22, 2017Conc. in judgmentWeaver v. MassachusettsNo. 16-240KennedyGorsuchAffirmed
Jun 22, 2017Conc. in judgmentMaslenjak v. United StatesNo. 16-309Kaganno oneVacated and remanded
Jun 19, 2017Conc. in judgmentPackingham v. North CarolinaNo. 15-1194KennedyRoberts, ThomasReversed and remanded
Jun 19, 2017CourtMatal, Interim Dir., U.s. Patent & Trademark Office v. TamNo. 15-1293this opinionRoberts, Kennedy, Ginsburg, Breyer, Sotomayor, Kagan, Thomas (in part)Affirmed
Jun 19, 2017CourtBristol-Myers Squibb Co. v. Superior Court Of Cal., San Francisco Cty.No. 16-466this opinionRoberts, Kennedy, Thomas, Ginsburg, Breyer, Kagan, GorsuchReversed and remanded
Jun 19, 2017DissentingMcwilliams v. Dunn, Comm’r, Alabama DocNo. 16-5294BreyerRoberts, Thomas, GorsuchReversed and remanded
Jun 5, 2017CourtTown Of Chester, Ny v. Laroe EstatesNo. 16-605this opinionthe full CourtVacated and remanded
May 30, 2017CourtCounty Of Los Angeles v. MendezNo. 16-369this opinionthe full CourtVacated and remanded
May 22, 2017Conc. in judgmentCooper, Gov. Of Nc v. HarrisNo. 15-1262KaganRoberts, KennedyAffirmed
May 22, 2017CourtWater Splash v. MenonNo. 16-254this opinionthe full CourtVacated and remanded
Apr 19, 2017Conc. in judgmentNelson v. ColoradoNo. 15-1256Ginsburgno oneReversed and remanded
Mar 21, 2017DissentingManuel v. City Of JolietNo. 14-9496KaganThomasReversed and remanded
Mar 21, 2017CourtSca Hygiene Products v. First Quality Baby ProductsNo. 15-927this opinionRoberts, Kennedy, Thomas, Ginsburg, Sotomayor, KaganVacated in part and remanded
Mar 6, 2017DissentingPena-Rodriguez v. ColoradoNo. 15-606KennedyRoberts, ThomasReversed and remanded
Mar 1, 2017ConcurringBethune-Hill v. Va State Board Of ElectionsNo. 15-680Kennedyno oneAffirmed in part, vacated in part, and remanded
Feb 22, 2017ConcurringLife Technologies Corp. v. Promega Corp.No. 14-1538SotomayorThomasReversed and remanded – CJ out
Feb 22, 2017ConcurringFry v. Napoleon Community SchoolsNo. 15-497KaganThomasVacated and remanded
Dec 6, 2016CourtSalman v. United StatesNo. 15-628this opinionthe full CourtAffirmed
Sotomayor 15 writings
DecidedWritingCaseOpinion of the Court byJoined byResult
Jun 26, 2017DissentingTrinity Lutheran Church v. ComerNo. 15-577Roberts, C.J.GinsburgReversed and remanded
Jun 19, 2017DissentingBristol-Myers Squibb Co. v. Superior Court Of Cal., San Francisco Cty.No. 16-466Alitono oneReversed and remanded
Jun 5, 2017CourtHoneycutt v. United StatesNo. 16-142this opinionthe full CourtReversed
Jun 5, 2017ConcurringDignity Health v. RollinsNo. 16-258Kaganlineup not parsedReversed
Jun 5, 2017CourtKokesh v. SECNo. 16-529this opinionthe full CourtReversed
May 30, 2017ConcurringBnsf Railway Co. v. TyrellNo. 16-405Ginsburgno oneReversed and remanded
May 15, 2017DissentingMidland Funding v. JohnsonNo. 16-348BreyerGinsburg, KaganReversed
Apr 25, 2017CourtLewis v. ClarkeNo. 15-1500this opinionRoberts, Kennedy, Breyer, Alito, KaganReversed and remanded
Apr 3, 2017CourtMclane v. EEOCNo. 15-1248this opinionRoberts, Kennedy, Thomas, Breyer, Alito, KaganVacated and remanded
Mar 29, 2017Conc. in judgmentExpressions Hair Design v. Schneiderman, Att’y Gen. Of NyNo. 15-1391Roberts, C.J.AlitoVacated and remanded
Mar 21, 2017DissentingNLRB v. Sw General, INC.No. 15-1251Roberts, C.J.GinsburgAffirmed
Mar 6, 2017Conc. in judgmentBeckles v. United StatesNo. 15-8544Thomasno oneAffirmed
Feb 22, 2017CourtLife Technologies Corp. v. Promega Corp.No. 14-1538this opinionKennedy, Ginsburg, Breyer, Kagan, Thomas (in part), Alito (in part)Reversed and remanded – CJ out
Jan 18, 2017CourtLightfoot v. Cendant Mortgage Corp.No. 14-1055this opinionthe full CourtReversed
Dec 6, 2016CourtSamsung Electronics Co. v. Apple INC.No. 15-777this opinionthe full CourtReversed and remanded
Kagan 8 writings
DecidedWritingCaseOpinion of the Court byJoined byResult
Jun 22, 2017DissentingTurner v. United StatesNo. 15-1503BreyerGinsburgAffirmed
Jun 22, 2017CourtMaslenjak v. United StatesNo. 16-309this opinionRoberts, Kennedy, Ginsburg, Breyer, SotomayorVacated and remanded
Jun 5, 2017CourtDignity Health v. RollinsNo. 16-258this opinionlineup not parsedReversed
May 22, 2017CourtCooper, Gov. Of Nc v. HarrisNo. 15-1262this opinionThomas, Ginsburg, Breyer, SotomayorAffirmed
May 15, 2017CourtKindred Nursing Centers v. ClarkNo. 16-32this opinionRoberts, Kennedy, Ginsburg, Breyer, Alito, SotomayorReversed in part, vacated in part, and remanded
Apr 18, 2017CourtGoodyear Tire & Rubber Co. v. HaegerNo. 15-1406this opinionthe full CourtReversed and remanded
Mar 21, 2017CourtManuel v. City Of JolietNo. 14-9496this opinionRoberts, Kennedy, Ginsburg, Breyer, SotomayorReversed and remanded
Feb 22, 2017CourtFry v. Napoleon Community SchoolsNo. 15-497this opinionRoberts, Kennedy, Ginsburg, Breyer, SotomayorVacated and remanded
Gorsuch 4 writings
DecidedWritingCaseOpinion of the Court byJoined byResult
Jun 26, 2017ConcurringTrinity Lutheran Church v. ComerNo. 15-577Roberts, C.J.ThomasReversed and remanded
Jun 23, 2017DissentingPerry v. Merit Systems Protection Bd.No. 16-399GinsburgThomasReversed and remanded
Jun 22, 2017ConcurringMaslenjak v. United StatesNo. 16-309KaganThomasVacated and remanded
Jun 12, 2017CourtHenson v. Santander Consumer USANo. 16-349this opinionthe full CourtAffirmed

How these are counted

A decision is one written opinion of the Court in an argued case. Consolidated dockets argued together count once.

A mixed writing counts once, under its lead label, and is marked partial. A concurrence in part and dissent in part is never two writings.

A plurality credits its author with the lead opinion; there is no opinion of the Court to have joined in full.

Partial joins (“joined as to Part II–B”) count as agreement on the judgment but not on the full opinion.

Denominators are per pair: only decisions both Justices took part in, and in which neither was on both sides.

Merits only. Argued cases on the Granted & Noted List. Dissents from denial and emergency-docket writings are not counted here.

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