2015 term United States Supreme Court opinions of Clarence Thomas

none February 2026 September 2023 Clarence Thomas File:Clarence Thomas official SCOTUS portrait.jpg 2015 twenty-fifth October 5, 2015 October 2, 2016 7 16 1 25 0 39 10 0 2 Alito (13 in full, 1 in part) Scalia, Ginsburg (4)All but eight of Thomas's opinions were issued after Justice Scalia's death. https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/slipopinion/15 https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/relatingtoorders/15 https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/in-chambers/15 June 29, 2016 yes Clarence Thomas opinions SCOTUSterm2015 01 New Hampshire Right to Life v. Department of Health and Human Services dissent 577 2015 Freedom of Information Act Scalia Thomas dissented from the Court's denial of certiorari. 02 Friedman v. Highland Park dissent 577 2015 Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms municipal ban on semiautomatic firearms and high-capacity magazines Scalia Thomas dissented from the Court's denial of certiorari. 03 DIRECTV, Inc. v. Imburgia dissent 577 2015 Federal Arbitration Act Breyer majority 2015 term United States Supreme Court opinions of Stephen Breyer#DIRECTV, Inc. v. Imburgia Ginsburg dissent 2015 term United States Supreme Court opinions of Ruth Bader Ginsburg#DIRECTV, Inc. v. Imburgia 04 Montanile v. Board of Trustees of Nat. Elevator Industry Health Benefit Plan majority 577 2016 Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 equitable remedies for plan enforcement Roberts, Scalia, Kennedy, Breyer, Sotomayor, Kagan; Alito (in part) Ginsburg dissent 2015 term United States Supreme Court opinions of Ruth Bader Ginsburg#Montanile v. Board of Trustees of Nat. Elevator Industry Health Benefit Plan 05 Campbell-Ewald v. Gomez concurrence 577 2016 Article III Case or Controversy Clause effect of unaccepted settlement offer or offer of judgment on mootness Telephone Consumer Protection Act liability of federal contractor Ginsburg majority 2015 term United States Supreme Court opinions of Ruth Bader Ginsburg#Campbell-Ewald v. Gomez Roberts dissent 2015 term United States Supreme Court opinions of John Roberts#Campbell-Ewald v. Gomez Alito dissent 2015 term United States Supreme Court opinions of Samuel Alito#Campbell-Ewald v. Gomez 06 Montgomery v. Louisiana dissent 577 2016 Eighth Amendment mandatory life imprisonment of minors retroactivity of new constitutional rules Kennedy majority 2015 term United States Supreme Court opinions of Anthony Kennedy#Montgomery v. Louisiana Scalia dissent 2015 term United States Supreme Court opinions of Antonin Scalia#Montgomery v. Louisiana 07 Musacchio v. United States majority 577 2016 challenge to sufficiency of evidence based on incorrect jury instructions waiver of statute of limitations Unanimous 08 California Building Industry Assn. v. San Jose concurrence 577 2016 ordinance requiring new developments include low income housing Fifth Amendment Takings Clause Thomas concurred in the Court's denial of certiorari. 09 Gobeille v. Liberty Mut. Ins. Co. concurrence 577 2016 Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 preemption of state law health care disclosure requirements Kennedy majority 2015 term United States Supreme Court opinions of Anthony Kennedy#Gobeille v. Liberty Mut. Ins. Co. Breyer concurrence 2015 term United States Supreme Court opinions of Stephen Breyer#Gobeille v. Liberty Mut. Ins. Co. Ginsburg dissent 2015 term United States Supreme Court opinions of Ruth Bader Ginsburg#Gobeille v. Liberty Mut. Ins. Co. 10 American Freedom Defense Initiative v. King County dissent 577 2016 First Amendment free speech public forum doctrine advertising in public transit areas Alito Thomas dissented from the Court's denial of certiorari. 11 Nebraska v. Colorado dissent 577 2016 discretion to decline original jurisdiction suits Colorado Amendment 64 Alito Thomas dissented from the Court's denial of leave to file complaint. 12 Tyson Foods, Inc. v. Bouaphakeo dissent 577 2016 Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 certification of class action compensibility for varying times spent donning and doffing protective gear Alito Kennedy majority 2015 term United States Supreme Court opinions of Anthony Kennedy#Tyson Foods, Inc. v. Bouaphakeo Roberts concurrence 2015 term United States Supreme Court opinions of John Roberts#Tyson Foods, Inc. v. Bouaphakeo 13 Nebraska v. Parker majority 577 2016 Omaha Indian Reservation diminishment of reservation boundaries UnanimousThis opinion was handed down after the death of Justice Scalia, and so was unanimous as to the eight justices remaining on the Court. 14 Luis v. United States concurrence 578 2016 pretrial asset freezing Sixth Amendment right to counsel of one's choice Breyer plurality 2015 term United States Supreme Court opinions of Stephen Breyer#Luis v. United States Kennedy dissent 2015 term United States Supreme Court opinions of Anthony Kennedy#Luis v. United States Kagan dissent 2015 term United States Supreme Court opinions of Elena Kagan#Luis v. United States 15 Evenwel v. Abbott concurrence 578 2016 legislative redistricting based on total state population Fourteenth Amendment Equal Protection Clause one person, one vote doctrine Ginsburg majority 2015 term United States Supreme Court opinions of Ruth Bader Ginsburg#Evenwel v. Abbott Alito concurrence 2015 term United States Supreme Court opinions of Samuel Alito#Evenwel v. Abbott 16 Kakarala v. Wells Fargo Bank, N. A. dissent 578 2016 federal court review of orders remanding cases to state court Thomas dissented from the Court's denial of certiorari. 17 Welch v. United States dissent 578 2016 Armed Career Criminal Act retroactive effect of court decision on collateral review Kennedy majority 2015 term United States Supreme Court opinions of Anthony Kennedy#Welch v. United States 18 Hughes v. Talen Energy Marketing, LLC concurrence 578 2016 Federal Power Act interstate wholesale electricity rates federal preemption Ginsburg majority 2015 term United States Supreme Court opinions of Ruth Bader Ginsburg#Hughes v. Talen Energy Marketing, LLC Sotomayor concurrence 2015 term United States Supreme Court opinions of Sonia Sotomayor#Hughes v. Talen Energy Marketing, LLC 19 Arrigoni Enterprises, LLC. v. Durham dissent 578 2016 Fifth Amendment Takings Clause exhaustion of remedies under state procedures Kennedy Thomas dissented from the Court's denial of certiorari. 20 Heffernan v. City of Paterson dissent 578 2016 First Amendment free speech by government employees demotion based on employer's factual mistake regarding engagement in protected activity Alito Breyer majority 2015 term United States Supreme Court opinions of Stephen Breyer#Heffernan v. City of Paterson 21 Ocasio v. United States dissent 578 2016 Hobbs Act conspiracy Alito majority 2015 term United States Supreme Court opinions of Samuel Alito#Ocasio v. United States Breyer concurrence 2015 term United States Supreme Court opinions of Stephen Breyer#Ocasio v. United States Sotomayor dissent 2015 term United States Supreme Court opinions of Sonia Sotomayor#Ocasio v. United States 22 Spokeo, Inc. v. Robins concurrence 578 2016 Fair Credit Reporting Act of 1970 Article III injury-in-fact Alito majority 2015 term United States Supreme Court opinions of Samuel Alito#Spokeo, Inc. v. Robins Ginsburg dissent 2015 term United States Supreme Court opinions of Ruth Bader Ginsburg#Spokeo, Inc. v. Robins 23 Husky Int'l Electronics, Inc. v. Ritz dissent 578 2016 bankruptcy law Chapter 7 discharge exception for actual fraud Sotomayor majority 2015 term United States Supreme Court opinions of Sonia Sotomayor#Husky Int’l Electronics, Inc. v. Ritz 24 Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc. v. Manning concurrence 578 2016 Securities Exchange Act of 1934 removal jurisdiction federal question jurisdiction Sotomayor Kagan majority 2015 term United States Supreme Court opinions of Elena Kagan#Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc. v. Manning 25 United Student Aid Funds, Inc. v. Bible dissent 578 2016 administrative law deference to agency interpretation Thomas dissented from the denial of certiorari. 26 CRST Van Expedited, Inc. v. EEOC concurrence 578 2016 Title VII award of attorney's fees to prevailing party Kennedy majority 2015 term United States Supreme Court opinions of Anthony Kennedy#CRST Van Expedited, Inc. v. EEOC 27 Betterman v. Montana concurrence 578 2016 Sixth Amendment Speedy Trial Clause postconviction delay in sentencing Alito Ginsburg majority 2015 term United States Supreme Court opinions of Ruth Bader Ginsburg#Betterman v. Montana Sotomayor concurrence 2015 term United States Supreme Court opinions of Sonia Sotomayor#Betterman v. Montana 28 Foster v. Chatman dissent 578 2016 Fourteenth Amendment Equal Protection Clause racial discrimination in juror peremptory challenges adequate and independent state ground Roberts majority 2015 term United States Supreme Court opinions of John Roberts#Foster v. Chatman Alito concurrence 2015 term United States Supreme Court opinions of Samuel Alito#Foster v. Chatman 29 Green v. Brennan dissent 578 2016 Title VII constructive discharge statute of limitations Sotomayor majority 2015 term United States Supreme Court opinions of Sonia Sotomayor#Green v. Brennan Alito concurrence 2015 term United States Supreme Court opinions of Samuel Alito#Green v. Brennan 30 Adams v. Alabama concurrence 578 2016 Eighth Amendment mandatory life imprisonment of minors retroactivity of new constitutional rules Alito Alito concurrence 2015 term United States Supreme Court opinions of Samuel Alito#Adams v. Alabama Sotomayor concurrence 2015 term United States Supreme Court opinions of Sonia Sotomayor#Adams v. Alabama Thomas concurred in the Court's decision to grant certiorari, vacate the lower court's opinion, and remand. 31 Lynch v. Arizona dissent 578 2016 Fourteenth Amendment Due Process Clause death penalty right to inform jury at sentencing of parole ineligibility Alito per curiam majority 2015 term per curiam opinions of the Supreme Court of the United States#Lynch v. Arizona 32 Ross v. Blake concurrence 578 2016 Prison Litigation Reform Act of 1995 exhaustion of remedies Kagan majority 2015 term United States Supreme Court opinions of Elena Kagan#Ross v. Blake Breyer concurrence 2015 term United States Supreme Court opinions of Stephen Breyer#Ross v. Blake 33 Williams v. Pennsylvania dissent 579 2016 Fourteenth Amendment Due Process Clause judicial recusal due to prior involvement as prosecutor Kennedy majority 2015 term United States Supreme Court opinions of Anthony Kennedy#Williams v. Pennsylvania Roberts dissent 2015 term United States Supreme Court opinions of John Roberts#Williams v. Pennsylvania 34 Dietz v. Bouldin dissent 579 2016 district court recall of jury in civil case after discharge Kennedy Sotomayor majority 2015 term United States Supreme Court opinions of Sonia Sotomayor#Dietz v. Bouldin 35 Puerto Rico v. Sanchez Valle concurrence 579 2016 Double Jeopardy Clause sovereignty of Puerto Rico Kagan majority 2015 term United States Supreme Court opinions of Elena Kagan#Puerto Rico v. Sanchez Valle Ginsburg concurrence 2015 term United States Supreme Court opinions of Ruth Bader Ginsburg#Puerto Rico v. Sanchez Valle Breyer dissent 2015 term United States Supreme Court opinions of Stephen Breyer#Puerto Rico v. Sanchez Valle 36 Puerto Rico v. Franklin Cal. Tax-Free Trust majority 579 2016 bankruptcy law preemption of municipal bankruptcy laws Puerto Rican government-debt crisis Roberts, Kennedy, Breyer, Kagan Sotomayor dissent 2015 term United States Supreme Court opinions of Sonia Sotomayor#Puerto Rico v. Franklin Cal. Tax-Free Trust 37 United States v. Bryant concurrence 579 2016 federal crime of domestic violence in Indian lands tribal court conviction as predicate offense Indian Civil Rights Act of 1968 Sixth Amendment Assistance of Counsel Clause Fifth Amendment Due Process Clause Ginsburg majority 2015 term United States Supreme Court opinions of Ruth Bader Ginsburg#United States v. Bryant 38 Kingdomware Technologies, Inc. v. United States majority 579 2016 Veterans Benefits, Health Care, and Information Technology Act of 2006 Department of Defense contracting with veteran-owned small businesses Unanimous 39 Universal Health Services, Inc. v. United States ex rel. Escobar majority 579 2016 False Claims Act implied false certification theory failure to disclose noncompliance with legal requirements Unanimous 40 Encino Motorcars, LLC v. Navarro dissent 579 2016 Fair Labor Standards Act overtime exemption for automobile service advisors Alito Kennedy majority 2015 term United States Supreme Court opinions of Anthony Kennedy#Encino Motorcars, LLC v. Navarro Ginsburg concurrence 2015 term United States Supreme Court opinions of Ruth Bader Ginsburg#Encino Motorcars, LLC v. Navarro 41 Utah v. Strieff majority 579 2016 Fourth Amendment exclusionary rule attenuation doctrine Roberts, Kennedy, Breyer, Alito Sotomayor dissent 2015 term United States Supreme Court opinions of Sonia Sotomayor#Utah v. Strieff Kagan dissent 2015 term United States Supreme Court opinions of Elena Kagan#Utah v. Strieff 42 Cuozzo Speed Technologies, LLC v. Lee concurrence 579 2016 Leahy-Smith America Invents Act appealability of decision to conduct inter partes review Breyer majority 2015 term United States Supreme Court opinions of Stephen Breyer#Cuozzo Speed Technologies, LLC v. Lee Alito concurrencedissent 2015 term United States Supreme Court opinions of Samuel Alito#Cuozzo Speed Technologies, LLC v. Lee 43 Taylor v. United States (2016) Taylor v. United States dissent 579 2016 Hobbs Act robbery of drug dealers as satisfaction of commerce requirement Alito majority 2015 term United States Supreme Court opinions of Samuel Alito#Taylor v. United States 44 Fisher v. University of Tex. at Austin Fisher v. University of Texas (2016) dissent 579 2016 Fourteenth Amendment Equal Protection Clause affirmative action race-conscious college admissions program Kennedy majority 2015 term United States Supreme Court opinions of Anthony Kennedy#Fisher v. University of Tex. at Austin Alito dissent 2015 term United States Supreme Court opinions of Samuel Alito#Fisher v. University of Tex. at Austin 45 Birchfield v. North Dakota concurrencedissent 579 2016 Fourth Amendment search incident to arrest drunk driving implied consent to breathalyzer or blood alcohol content tests Alito majority 2015 term United States Supreme Court opinions of Samuel Alito#Birchfield v. North Dakota Sotomayor concurrencedissent 2015 term United States Supreme Court opinions of Sonia Sotomayor#Birchfield v. North Dakota 46 Mathis v. United States concurrence 579 2016 Armed Career Criminal Act sentence enhancement for prior convictions Kagan majority 2015 term United States Supreme Court opinions of Elena Kagan#Mathis v. United States Kennedy concurrence 2015 term United States Supreme Court opinions of Anthony Kennedy#Mathis v. United States Breyer dissent 2015 term United States Supreme Court opinions of Stephen Breyer#Mathis v. United States Alito dissent 2015 term United States Supreme Court opinions of Samuel Alito#Mathis v. United States 47 Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt dissent 579 2016 Fourteenth Amendment abortion regulation of abortion providers Texas Senate Bill 5 res judicata Breyer majority 2015 term United States Supreme Court opinions of Stephen Breyer#Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt Ginsburg concurrence 2015 term United States Supreme Court opinions of Ruth Bader Ginsburg#Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt Alito dissent 2015 term United States Supreme Court opinions of Samuel Alito#Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt 48 Voisine v. United States dissent 579 2016 federal criminal law prohibition on firearm ownership for misdemeanor domestic violence conviction Second Amendment Sotomayor (in part) Kagan majority 2015 term United States Supreme Court opinions of Elena Kagan#Voisine v. United States 49 Delaware Strong Families v. Denn dissent 579 2016 First Amendment campaign finance reform mandated disclosure of anonymous donors Thomas dissented from the Court's denial of certiorari.