2008 term opinions of the Supreme Court of the United States

October 2008 to October 2009 opinions February 2026 September 2023 150px|right The 2008 term of the Supreme Court of the United States began October 6, 2008, and concluded October 4, 2009. The table illustrates which opinion was filed by each justice in each case and which justices joined each opinion. Table key 2008 term opinions Roberts Stevens Scalia Kennedy Souter Thomas Ginsburg Breyer Alito 1 Moore v. United States (2008) Moore v. United States 555 1 October 14, 2008 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 2 Brunner v. Ohio Republican Party 555 5 October 17, 2008 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 3 Winter v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc. 555 7 October 8, 2008 November 12, 2008 majority 1 partjoinconcurrencedissent J3X joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joindissent J4 joinmajority J1 dissent 4 concurrencedissent 3 joinmajority J1 4 Bell v. Kelly 555 55 November 12, 2008 November 17, 2008 In Bell v. Kelly, 555 U.S. 55 (2008), the Court dismissed the writ of certiorari as improvidently granted. joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 5 Hedgpeth v. Pulido 555 57 December 2, 2008 joinmajority J1 dissent 4 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joindissent J4 joinmajority J1 joindissent J4 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 6 Altria Group, Inc. v. Good 555 70 October 6, 2008 December 15, 2008 joindissent J4 majority 1 joindissent J4 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 dissent 4 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joindissent J4 7 Jimenez v. Quarterman 555 113 November 4, 2008 January 13, 2009 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 majority 1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 8 Chambers v. United States 555 122 November 10, 2008 January 13, 2009 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinconcurrence J2 joinmajority J1 majority 1 concurrence 2 9 Herring v. United States 555 135 October 7, 2008 January 14, 2009 majority 1 joindissent1 J4 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joindissent1 joindissent2 J4J4 joinmajority J1 dissent1 4 joindissent1 dissent2 4J4 joinmajority J1 10 Oregon v. Ice 555 160 October 14, 2008 January 14, 2009 joindissent J4 joinmajority J1 dissent 4 joinmajority J1 joindissent J4 joindissent J4 majority 1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 11 Waddington v. Sarausad 555 179 October 15, 2008 January 21, 2009 joinmajority J1 joindissent J4 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 dissent 4 majority 1 joindissent J4 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 12 Locke v. Karass 555 207 October 6, 2008 January 21, 2009 joinmajority joinconcurrence J1J2 joinmajority J1 joinmajority joinconcurrence J1J2 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 majority 1 joinmajority concurrence 2J1 13 Pearson v. Callahan 555 223 October 14, 2008 January 21, 2009 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 majority 1 14 Fitzgerald v. Barnstable School Committee 555 246 December 2, 2008 January 21, 2009 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 majority 1 15 Spears v. United States 555 261 January 21, 2009 dissent1 4 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 dissentwithoutopinion 4 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joindissent1 J4 16 Crawford v. Nashville 555 271 October 8, 2008 January 26, 2009 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 majority 1 joinconcurrence J2 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 concurrence 2 17 Kennedy v. Plan Administrator for DuPont Sav. and Investment Plan 555 285 October 7, 2008 January 26, 2009 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 majority 1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 18 United States v. Eurodif S. A. 555 305 November 4, 2008 January 26, 2009 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 majority 1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 19 Arizona v. Johnson 555 323 December 9, 2008 January 26, 2009 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 majority 1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 20 Van de Kamp v. Goldstein 555 335 November 5, 2008 January 26, 2009 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 majority 1 joinmajority J1 21 Nelson v. United States 555 350 January 26, 2009 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 concurrence 2 joinconcurrence J2 22 Ysursa v. Pocatello Ed. Assn. 555 353 November 3, 2008 February 24, 2009 majority 1 dissent1 4 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 dissent2 4 joinmajority J1 partjoinmajority concurrence 2J1X concurrencedissent 3 joinmajority J1 23 Carcieri v. Salazar 555 379 November 3, 2008 February 24, 2009 joinmajority J1 dissent 4 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 concurrencedissent 3 majority 1 joinconcurrencedissent J3 concurrence 2 joinmajority J1 24 United States v. Hayes 555 415 November 10, 2008 February 24, 2009 dissent 4 joinmajority J1 joindissent J4 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 partjoinmajority J1X majority 1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 25 Pacific Bell Telephone Co. v. linkLine Communications, Inc. 555 438 December 8, 2008 February 25, 2009 majority 1 joinconcurrence J2 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinconcurrence J2 joinmajority J1 joinconcurrence J2 concurrence 2 joinmajority J1 26 Pleasant Grove City v. Summum 555 460 November 12, 2008 February 25, 2009 joinmajority J1 joinmajority concurrence1 2J1 joinmajority concurrence2 2J1 joinmajority J1 concurrence3 2 joinmajority joinconcurrence2 J1J2 joinmajority joinconcurrence1 J1J2 joinmajority concurrence4 2J1 majority 1 27 Summers v. Earth Island Institute 555 488 October 8, 2008 March 3, 2009 joinmajority J1 joindissent J4 majority 1 joinmajority concurrence 2J1 joindissent J4 joinmajority J1 joindissent J4 dissent 4 joinmajority J1 28 Negusie v. Holder 555 511 November 5, 2008 March 3, 2009 joinmajority J1 concurrencedissent 3 joinmajority concurrence 2J1 majority 1 joinmajority J1 dissent 4 joinmajority J1 joinconcurrencedissent J3 joinmajority joinconcurrence J1J2 29 Wyeth v. Levine 555 555 November 3, 2008 March 4, 2009 joindissent J4 majority 1 joindissent J4 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 concurrence1 2 joinmajority J1 joinmajority concurrence2 2J1 dissent 4 30 Bartlett v. Strickland 556 1 October 14, 2008 March 9, 2009 joinplurality J1 joindissent1 J4 joinconcurrence J2 plurality 1X dissent1 4 concurrence 2 joindissent1 dissent2 4J4 joindissent1 dissent3 4J4 joinplurality J1 31 Vaden v. Discover Bank 556 49 October 6, 2008 March 9, 2009 concurrencedissent 3 joinconcurrencedissent J3 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 majority 1 joinconcurrencedissent J3 joinconcurrencedissent J3 32 Vermont v. Brillon 556 81 January 13, 2009 March 9, 2009 joinmajority J1 joindissent J4 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 majority 1 dissent 4 joinmajority J1 33 Kansas v. Colorado 556 98 December 1, 2008 March 9, 2009 joinmajority concurrence 2J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority joinconcurrence J1J2 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 majority 1 34 Knowles v. Mirzayance 556 111 January 13, 2009 March 24, 2009 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 partjoinmajority J1X joinmajority J1 partjoinmajority J1X majority 1 partjoinmajority J1X joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 35 Puckett v. United States 556 129 January 14, 2009 March 25, 2009 joinmajority J1 joindissent J4 majority 1 joinmajority J1 dissent 4 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 36 Rivera v. Illinois 556 148 February 23, 2009 March 31, 2009 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 majority 1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 37 Hawaii v. Office of Hawaiian Affairs 556 163 February 25, 2009 March 31, 2009 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 majority 1 38 Philip Morris USA Inc. v. Williams 556 178 December 3, 2008 March 31, 2009 In Philip Morris USA Inc. v. Williams, 556 U.S. 178 (2009), the Court dismissed the writ of certiorari as improvidently granted. joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 39 Harbison v. Bell 556 180 January 12, 2009 April 1, 2009 concurrence1 2 majority 1 concurrencedissent 3 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 concurrence2 2 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinconcurrencedissent J3 40 Entergy Corp. v. Riverkeeper, Inc. 556 208 December 2, 2008 April 1, 2009 joinmajority J1 dissent 4 majority 1 joinmajority J1 joindissent J4 joinmajority J1 joindissent J4 concurrencedissent 3 joinmajority J1 41 14 Penn Plaza LLC v. Pyett 556 247 December 1, 2008 April 1, 2009 joinmajority J1 dissent1 joindissent2 4J4 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 dissent2 4 majority 1 joindissent2 J4 joindissent2 J4 joinmajority J1 42 United States v. Navajo Nation (2009) 556 287 February 23, 2009 April 6, 2009 joinmajority J1 joinmajority joinconcurrence J1J2 majority 1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority concurrence 2J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 43 Corley v. United States 556 303 January 21, 2009 April 6, 2009 joindissent J4 joinmajority J1 joindissent J4 joinmajority J1 majority 1 joindissent J4 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 dissent 4 44 Arizona v. Gant 556 332 October 7, 2008 April 21, 2009 joindissent2 J4 majority 1 joinmajority concurrence 2J1 joindissent2 J4 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 dissent1 partjoindissent2 4J4X dissent2 4 45 Ministry of Defense and Support for Armed Forces of Iran v. Elahi 556 366 January 12, 2009 April 21, 2009 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 partjoinmajority concurrencedissent 3J1X partjoinmajority joinconcurrencedissent J1XJ3 joinmajority J1 partjoinmajority joinconcurrencedissent J1XJ3 majority 1 joinmajority J1 46 Shinseki v. Sanders 556 396 December 8, 2008 April 21, 2009 joinmajority J1 joindissent J4 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 dissent 4 joinmajority J1 joindissent J4 majority 1 joinmajority J1 47 Nken v. Holder 556 418 January 21, 2009 April 22, 2009 majority 1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority joinconcurrence J1J2 joinmajority concurrence 2J1 joinmajority J1 joindissent J4 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 dissent 4 48 Cone v. Bell 556 449 December 9, 2008 April 28, 2009 concurrence 2 majority 1 joindissent J4 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 dissent 4 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 concurrencedissent 3 49 Federal Communications Commission v. Fox Television Stations (2009) FCC v. Fox Television Stations, Inc. 556 502 November 4, 2008 April 28, 2009 joinmajority J1 dissent1 joindissent3 4J4 plurality 1X partjoinmajority concurrence1 2J1X joindissent3 J4 joinmajority concurrence2 2J1 dissent2 joindissent3 4J4 dissent3 4 joinmajority J1 50 Dean v. United States 556 568 March 4, 2009 April 29, 2009 majority 1 dissent1 4 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 dissent2 4 joinmajority J1 51 Kansas v. Ventris 556 586 January 21, 2009 April 29, 2009 joinmajority J1 dissent 4 majority 1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joindissent J4 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 52 Burlington N. & S. F. R. Co. v. United States 556 599 February 24, 2009 May 4, 2009 joinmajority J1 majority 1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 dissent 4 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 53 Arthur Andersen LLP v. Carlisle 556 624 March 3, 2009 May 4, 2009 joindissent J4 joindissent J4 majority 1 joinmajority J1 dissent 4 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 54 Carlsbad Technology, Inc. v. HIF Bio, Inc. 556 635 February 24, 2009 May 4, 2009 joinmajority J1 joinmajority concurrence1 2J1 joinmajority concurrence2 2J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority joinconcurrence3 J1J2 majority 1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority concurrence3 2J1 joinmajority J1 55 Flores-Figueroa v. United States 556 646 February 25, 2009 May 4, 2009 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 concurrence1 2 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinconcurrence1 J2 joinmajority J1 majority 1 concurrence2 2 56 Ashcroft v. Iqbal 556 662 December 10, 2008 May 18, 2009 joinmajority J1 joindissent1 J4 joinmajority J1 majority 1 dissent1 4 joinmajority J1 joindissent1 J4 joindissent1 dissent2 4J4 joinmajority J1 57 AT&T Corp. v. Hulteen 556 701 December 10, 2008 May 18, 2009 joinmajority J1 joinmajority concurrence 2J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 majority 1 joinmajority J1 dissent 4 joindissent J4 joinmajority J1 58 Haywood v. Drown 556 729 December 3, 2008 May 26, 2009 partjoindissent J4X majority 1 partjoindissent J4X joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 dissent 4 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 partjoindissent J4X 59 Montejo v. Louisiana 556 778 January 13, 2009 May 26, 2009 joinmajority J1 dissent1 4 majority 1 joinmajority joinconcurrence J1J2 joindissent1 J4 joinmajority J1 joindissent1 J4 partjoindissent1 dissent2 4J4X joinmajority concurrence 2J1 60 Abuelhawa v. United States 556 816 March 4, 2009 May 26, 2009 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 majority 1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 61 Bobby v. Bies 556 825 April 27, 2009 June 1, 2009 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 majority 1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 62 CSX Transp., Inc. v. Hensley 556 838 June 1, 2009 joinmajority J1 dissent1 4 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 dissent2 4 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 63 Republic of Iraq v. Beaty 556 848 April 20, 2009 June 8, 2009 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 majority 1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 64 Caperton v. A. T. Massey Coal Co. 556 868 March 3, 2009 June 8, 2009 dissent1 4 joinmajority J1 joindissent1 dissent2 4J4 majority 1 joinmajority J1 joindissent1 J4 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joindissent1 J4 65 United States v. Denedo 556 904 March 25, 2009 June 8, 2009 concurrencedissent 3 joinmajority J1 joinconcurrencedissent J3 majority 1 joinmajority J1 joinconcurrencedissent J3 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinconcurrencedissent J3 66 United States ex rel. Eisenstein v. City of New York 556 928 April 21, 2009 June 8, 2009 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 majority 1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 67 Boyle v. United States 556 938 January 14, 2009 June 8, 2009 joinmajority J1 dissent 4 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joindissent J4 majority 1 68 Indiana State Police Pension Trust v. Chrysler LLC 556 960 June 9, 2009 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 69 Polar Tankers, Inc. v. City of Valdez 557 1 April 1, 2009 June 15, 2009 concurrence1 2 dissent 4 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joindissent J4 joinconcurrence1 J2 joinmajority J1 plurality 1X partjoinmajority concurrence2 2J1X 70 Nijhawan v. Holder 557 29 April 27, 2009 June 15, 2009 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 majority 1 joinmajority J1 71 District Attorney's Office for Third Judicial Dist. v. Osborne 557 52 March 2, 2009 June 18, 2009 majority 1 dissent1 4 joinmajority J1 joinmajority joinconcurrence J1J2 partjoindissent1 dissent2 4J4 joinmajority partjoinconcurrence J1J2X joindissent1 J4 joindissent1 J4 joinmajority concurrence 2J1 72 Yeager v. United States 557 110 March 23, 2009 June 18, 2009 joinmajority J1 majority 1 dissent1 joindissent2 4J4 partjoinmajority concurrence 2J1 joinmajority J1 joindissent1 joindissent2 J4J4 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joindissent1 dissent2 4J4 73 Travelers Indemnity Co. v. Bailey 557 137 March 30, 2009 June 18, 2009 joinmajority J1 dissent 4 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 majority 1 joinmajority J1 joindissent J4 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 74 Gross v. FBL Financial Services, Inc. 557 167 March 31, 2009 June 18, 2009 joinmajority J1 dissent1 4 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joindissent1 joindissent2 J4J4 majority 1 joindissent1 joindissent2 J4J4 joindissent1 dissent2 4J4 joinmajority J1 75 Northwest Austin Municipal Util. Dist. No. One v. Holder 557 193 April 29, 2009 June 22, 2009 majority 1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 concurrencedissent 3 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 76 Forest Grove School Dist. v. T. A. 557 230 April 28, 2009 June 22, 2009 joinmajority J1 majority 1 joindissent J4 joinmajority J1 dissent 4 joindissent J4 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 77 Coeur Alaska, Inc. v. Southeast Alaska Conservation Council 557 261 January 12, 2009 June 22, 2009 joinmajority J1 joindissent J4 partjoinmajority concurrence1 2J1X majority 1 joindissent J4 joinmajority J1 dissent 4 joinmajority concurrence2 2J1 joinmajority J1 78 Melendez-Diaz v. Massachusetts 557 305 November 10, 2008 June 25, 2009 joindissent J4 joinmajority J1 majority 1 dissent 4 joinmajority J1 joinmajority concurrence 2J1 joinmajority J1 joindissent J4 joindissent J4 79 Safford Unified School District v. Redding 557 364 April 21, 2009 June 25, 2009 joinmajority J1 partjoinmajority concurrencedissent1 3J1X joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 majority 1 concurrencedissent2 3 partjoinmajority joinconcurrencedissent1 concurrencedissent3 3J1XJ3 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 80 Atlantic Sounding Co. v. Townsend 557 404 March 2, 2009 June 25, 2009 joindissent J4 joinmajority J1 joindissent J4 joindissent J4 joinmajority J1 majority 1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 dissent 4 81 Horne v. Flores 557 433 April 20, 2009 June 25, 2009 joinmajority J1 joindissent J4 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joindissent J4 joinmajority J1 joindissent J4 dissent 4 majority 1 82 Cuomo v. Clearing House Assn., L. L. C. 557 519 April 28, 2009 June 29, 2009 joinconcurrencedissent J3 joinmajority J1 majority 1 joinconcurrencedissent J3 joinmajority J1 concurrencedissent 3 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinconcurrencedissent J3 83 Ricci v. DeStefano 557 557 April 22, 2009 June 29, 2009 joinmajority J1 joindissent J4 joinmajority concurrence1 joinconcurrence2 2J1J2 majority 1 joindissent J3 joinmajority joinconcurrence2 J1J2 dissent 4 joindissent J4 joinmajority concurrence2 2J1 Roberts Stevens Scalia Kennedy Souter Thomas Ginsburg Breyer Alito 2008 term membership and statistics This was the fourth term of Chief Justice Roberts' tenure and the third and last full term with the same membership, as Justice Souter retired after the term finished. John Roberts George W. Bush September 29, 2005 68 83 8 4 2 3 John Paul Stevens Gerald Ford December 19, 1975 52 83 9 3 2 15 Antonin Scalia Ronald Reagan September 26, 1986 70 83 11 7 1 3 Anthony Kennedy Ronald Reagan February 18, 1988 78 83 7 4 1 1 David Souter George H. W. Bush October 9, 1990 58 83 8 2 1 10 Clarence Thomas George H. W. Bush October 23, 1991 68 83 9 5 3 4 Ruth Bader Ginsburg Bill Clinton August 10, 1993 58 83 7 1 1 9 Stephen Breyer Bill Clinton August 3, 1994 61 83 8 7 3 11 Samuel Alito George W. Bush January 31, 2006 67 83 7 8 1 6 Notes References https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/slipopinion/08 2008 Term Opinions of the Court Supreme Court of the United States March 20, 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20141011182924/https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/slipopinion/08 October 11, 2014 2008 October 6, 2008 October 4, 2009 Category:Lists of United States Supreme Court opinions by term Category:Lists of 2008 term United States Supreme Court opinions