2015 term opinions of the Supreme Court of the United States

October 2015 to October 2016 opinions February 2026 September 2023 150px|right The 2015 term of the Supreme Court of the United States began October 5, 2015, and concluded October 2, 2016. The table below illustrates which opinion was filed by each justice in each case and which justices joined each opinion.One decree in an original jurisdiction case has been omitted from this table: Montana v. Wyoming, 577 U.S. 423 (2016). Table key 2015 term opinions Roberts Scalia Kennedy Thomas Ginsburg Breyer Alito Sotomayor Kagan 1 Maryland v. Kulbicki 577 1 October 5, 2015 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 2 Mullenix v. Luna 577 7 November 9, 2015 joinmajority J1 concurrence 2 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 dissent 4 joinmajority J1 3 OBB Personenverkehr AG v. Sachs 577 27 October 5, 2015 December 1, 2015 majority 1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 4 Shapiro v. McManus 577 39 November 4, 2015 December 8, 2015 joinmajority J1 majority 1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 5 DIRECTV, Inc. v. Imburgia 577 47 October 6, 2015 December 14, 2015 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 dissent1 4 dissent2 4 majority 1 joinmajority J1 joindissent2 J4 joinmajority J1 6 White v. Wheeler 577 73 December 14, 2015 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 7 Bruce v. Samuels 577 82 November 4, 2015 January 12, 2016 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 majority 1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 8 Hurst v. Florida 577 92 October 13, 2015 January 12, 2016 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 concurrence 2 dissent 4 majority 1 joinmajority J1 9 Kansas v. Carr 577 108 October 7, 2015 January 20, 2016 joinmajority J1 majority 1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 dissent 4 joinmajority J1 10 Montanile v. Board of Trustees of Nat. Elevator Industry Health Benefit Plan 577 136 November 9, 2015 January 20, 2016 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 majority 1 dissent 4 joinmajority J1 partjoinmajority J1X joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 11 Campbell-Ewald v. Gomez 577 153 October 14, 2015 January 20, 2016 dissent1 4 joindissent1 J4 joinmajority J1 concurrence 2 majority 1 joinmajority J1 joindissent1 dissent2 4J4 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 12 Duncan v. Owens 577 189 January 12, 2016 January 20, 2016 In Duncan v. Owens, 577 U.S. 189 (2016), 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 13 Montgomery v. Louisiana 577 190 October 13, 2015 January 25, 2016 joinmajority J1 dissent1 4 majority 1 joindissent1 dissent2 4J4 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joindissent1 J4 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 14 Musacchio v. United States 577 237 November 30, 2015 January 25, 2016 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 majority 1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 15 Menominee Tribe of Wis. v. United States 577 250 December 1, 2015 January 25, 2016 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 majority 1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 16 FERC v. Electric Power Supply Assn. 577 260 October 14, 2015 January 25, 2016 joinmajority J1 dissent 4 joinmajority J1 joindissent J4 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 didnotparticipate X joinmajority J1 majority 1 17 James v. Boise 577 306 January 25, 2016 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 18 Amgen Inc. v. Harris 577 308 January 25, 2016 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 19 Gobeille v. Liberty Mut. Ins. Co. 577 312 December 2, 2015 March 1, 2016 joinmajority J1 didnotparticipate X majority 1 joinmajority concurrence1 2J1 dissent 4 joinmajority concurrence2 2J1 joinmajority J1 joindissent J4 joinmajority J1 20 Lockhart v. United States (2016) Lockhart v. United States 577 347 November 3, 2015 March 1, 2016 joinmajority J1 didnotparticipate X joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joindissent J4 joinmajority J1 majority 1 dissent 4 21 Americold Realty Trust v. ConAgra Foods, Inc. 577 378 January 19, 2016 March 7, 2016 joinmajority J1 didnotparticipate X joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 majority 1 joinmajority J1 22 Wearry v. Cain 577 385 March 7, 2016 joinmajority J1 didnotparticipate X joinmajority J1 joindissent J4 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 dissent 4 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 23 V.L. v. E.L. 577 404 March 7, 2016 joinmajority J1 didnotparticipate X joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 24 Caetano v. Massachusetts 577 411 March 21, 2016 joinmajority J1 didnotparticipate X joinmajority J1 joinconcurrence J2 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 concurrence 2 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 25 Sturgeon v. Frost 577 424 January 20, 2016 March 22, 2016 majority 1 didnotparticipate X joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 26 Tyson Foods, Inc. v. Bouaphakeo 577 442 November 10, 2015 March 22, 2016 joinmajority concurrence 2J1 didnotparticipate X majority 1 dissent 4 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 partjoinconcurrence joindissent J2XJ4 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 27 Nebraska v. Parker 577 481 January 20, 2016 March 22, 2016 joinmajority J1 didnotparticipate X joinmajority J1 majority 1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 28 Hawkins v. Community Bank 577 495 October 5, 2015 March 22, 2016 The Court's per curiam opinion in Hawkins v. Community Bank, 577 U.S. 495 (2016), noted that the judgment was affirmed by an equally divided Court. joinmajority J1 didnotparticipate X joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 29 Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association Friedrichs v. California Teachers Assn. 578 1 January 11, 2016 March 29, 2016 The Court's per curiam opinion in Friedrichs v. California Teachers Assn., 578 U.S. 1 (2016), noted that the judgment was affirmed by an equally divided Court. joinmajority J1 didnotparticipate X joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 30 Luis v. United States 578 5 November 10, 2015 March 30, 2016 joinplurality J1 didnotparticipate X dissent1 4 concurrence 2 joinplurality J1 plurality 1X joindissent1 J4 joinplurality J1 dissent2 4 31 Evenwel v. Abbott 578 54 December 8, 2015 April 4, 2016 joinmajority J1 didnotparticipate X joinmajority J1 concurrence1 partjoinconcurrence2 2J2X majority 1 joinmajority J1 concurrence2 2 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 32 Nichols v. United States 578 104 March 1, 2016 April 4, 2016 joinmajority J1 didnotparticipate X joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 majority 1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 33 Woods v. Etherton 578 113 April 4, 2016 joinmajority J1 didnotparticipate X joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 34 Welch v. United States 578 120 March 30, 2016 April 18, 2016 joinmajority J1 didnotparticipate X majority 1 dissent 4 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 35 Hughes v. Talen Energy Marketing, LLC 578 150 February 24, 2016 April 19, 2016 joinmajority J1 didnotparticipate X joinmajority J1 concurrence1 2 majority 1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority concurrence2 2J1 joinmajority J1 36 Franchise Tax Board of California v. Hyatt (2016) Franchise Tax Bd. of Cal. v. Hyatt 578 171 December 7, 2015 April 19, 2016 dissent 4 didnotparticipate X joinmajority J1 joindissent J4 joinmajority J1 majority 1 concurrencewithoutopinion 2X joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 37 Molina-Martinez v. United States 578 189 January 12, 2016 April 20, 2016 joinmajority J1 didnotparticipate X majority 1 joinconcurrence J2 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 concurrence 2 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 38 Bank Markazi v. Peterson 578 212 January 13, 2016 April 20, 2016 dissent 4 didnotparticipate X joinmajority J1 partjoinmajority J1X majority 1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joindissent J4 joinmajority J1 39 Harris v. Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission 578 253 December 8, 2015 April 20, 2016 joinmajority J1 didnotparticipate X joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 majority 1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 40 Heffernan v. City of Paterson 578 266 January 19, 2016 April 26, 2016 joinmajority J1 didnotparticipate X joinmajority J1 dissent 4 joinmajority J1 majority 1 joindissent J4 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 41 Ocasio v. United States 578 282 October 6, 2015 May 2, 2016 joindissent2 J4 didnotparticipate X joinmajority J1 dissent1 4 joinmajority J1 joinmajority concurrence 2J1 majority 1 dissent2 4 joinmajority J1 42 Sheriff v. Gillie 578 317 March 29, 2016 May 16, 2016 joinmajority J1 didnotparticipate X joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 majority 1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 43 Spokeo, Inc. v. Robins 578 330 November 2, 2015 May 16, 2016 joinmajority J1 didnotparticipate X joinmajority J1 joinmajority concurrence 2J1 dissent 4 joinmajority J1 majority 1 joindissent J4 joinmajority J1 44 Husky Int'l Electronics, Inc. v. Ritz 578 355 March 1, 2016 May 16, 2016 joinmajority J1 didnotparticipate X joinmajority J1 dissent 4 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 majority 1 joinmajority J1 45 Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc. v. Manning 578 374 December 1, 2015 May 16, 2016 joinmajority J1 didnotparticipate X joinmajority J1 concurrence 2 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinconcurrence J2 majority 1 46 Zubik v. Burwell 578 403 March 23, 2016 May 16, 2016 joinmajority J1 didnotparticipate X joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority joinconcurrence J1J2 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority concurrence 2J1 joinmajority J1 47 Kernan v. Hinojosa 578 412 May 16, 2016 joinmajority J1 didnotparticipate X joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joindissent J4 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 dissent 4 joinmajority J1 48 CRST Van Expedited, Inc. v. EEOC 578 419 March 28, 2016 May 19, 2016 joinmajority J1 didnotparticipate X majority 1 joinmajority concurrence 2J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 49 Betterman v. Montana 578 437 March 28, 2016 May 19, 2016 joinmajority J1 didnotparticipate X joinmajority J1 joinmajority concurrence1 2J1 majority 1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority joinconcurrence1 J1J2 joinmajority concurrence2 2J1 joinmajority J1 50 Luna Torres v. Lynch 578 452 November 3, 2015 May 19, 2016 joinmajority J1 didnotparticipate X joinmajority J1 joindissent J4 joinmajority J1 joindissent J4 joinmajority J1 dissent 4 majority 1 51 Foster v. Chatman 578 488 November 2, 2015 May 23, 2016 majority 1 didnotparticipate X joinmajority J1 dissent 4 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 concurrence 2 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 52 Wittman v. Personhuballah 578 439 March 21, 2016 May 23, 2016 joinmajority J1 didnotparticipate X joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 majority 1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 53 Green v. Brennan 578 547 November 30, 2015 May 23, 2016 joinmajority J1 didnotparticipate X joinmajority J1 dissent 4 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 concurrence 2 majority 1 joinmajority J1 54 Army Corps of Engineers v. Hawkes Co. 578 590 March 30, 2016 May 31, 2016 majority 1 didnotparticipate X joinmajority concurrence1 2J1 joinmajority joinconcurrence1 J1J2 concurrence2 2 joinmajority J1 joinmajority joinconcurrence1 J1J2 joinmajority J1 joinmajority concurrence3 2J1 55 Johnson v. Lee 578 605 May 31, 2016 joinmajority J1 didnotparticipate X joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 56 Lynch v. Arizona 578 613 May 31, 2016 joinmajority J1 didnotparticipate X joinmajority J1 dissent 4 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joindissent J4 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 57 Simmons v. Himmelreich 578 621 March 22, 2016 June 6, 2016 joinmajority J1 didnotparticipate X joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 majority 1 joinmajority J1 58 Ross v. Blake 578 632 March 29, 2016 June 6, 2016 joinmajority J1 didnotparticipate X joinmajority J1 concurrence1 2 joinmajority J1 concurrence2 2 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 majority 1 59 Williams v. Pennsylvania 579 1 February 29, 2016 June 9, 2016 dissent1 4 didnotparticipate X majority 1 dissent2 4 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joindissent1 J4 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 60 Dietz v. Bouldin 579 40 April 26, 2016 June 9, 2016 joinmajority J1 didnotparticipate X joindissent J4 dissent 4 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 majority 1 joinmajority J1 61 Puerto Rico v. Sanchez Valle 579 59 January 13, 2016 June 9, 2016 joinmajority J1 didnotparticipate X joinmajority J1 concurrence1 joinconcurrence2 2J2 joinmajority concurrence2 2J1 dissent 4 joinmajority J1 joindissent J4 majority 1 62 Halo Electronics, Inc. v. Pulse Electronics, Inc. 579 93 February 23, 2016 June 13, 2016 majority 1 didnotparticipate X joinmajority joinconcurrence J1J2 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority concurrence 2J1 joinmajority joinconcurrence J1J2 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 63 Puerto Rico v. Franklin Cal. Tax-Free Trust 579 115 March 22, 2016 June 13, 2016 joinmajority J1 didnotparticipate X joinmajority J1 majority 1 joindissent J4 joinmajority J1 didnotparticipate X dissent 4 joinmajority J1 64 United States v. Bryant 579 140 April 19, 2016 June 13, 2016 joinmajority J1 didnotparticipate X joinmajority J1 joinmajority concurrence 2J1 majority 1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 65 Kingdomware Technologies, Inc. v. United States 579 162 February 22, 2016 June 16, 2016 joinmajority J1 didnotparticipate X joinmajority J1 majority 1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 66 Universal Health Services, Inc. v. United States ex rel. Escobar 579 176 April 19, 2016 June 16, 2016 joinmajority J1 didnotparticipate X joinmajority J1 majority 1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 67 Kirtsaeng v. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (2016) Kirtsaeng v. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 579 197 April 25, 2016 June 16, 2016 joinmajority J1 didnotparticipate X joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 majority 1 68 Encino Motorcars, LLC v. Navarro 579 211 April 20, 2016 June 20, 2016 joinmajority J1 didnotparticipate X majority 1 dissent 4 joinmajority concurrence 2J1 joinmajority J1 joindissent J4 joinmajority joinconcurrence J1J2 joinmajority J1 69 Utah v. Strieff 579 232 February 22, 2016 June 20, 2016 joinmajority J1 didnotparticipate X joinmajority J1 majority 1 partjoindissent1 joindissent2 J4J4 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 dissent1 4 dissent2 4 70 Cuozzo Speed Technologies, LLC v. Lee 579 261 April 25, 2016 June 20, 2016 joinmajority J1 didnotparticipate X joinmajority J1 joinmajority concurrence 2J1 joinmajority J1 majority 1 partjoinmajority concurrencedissent 3J1X partjoinmajority joinconcurrencedissent J1XJ3 joinmajority J1 71 Taylor v. United States (2016) Taylor v. United States 579 301 February 23, 2016 June 20, 2016 joinmajority J1 didnotparticipate X joinmajority J1 dissent 4 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 majority 1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 72 RJR Nabisco, Inc. v. European Community 579 325 March 21, 2016 June 20, 2016 joinmajority J1 didnotparticipate X joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 partjoinmajority concurrencedissent1 3J1X partjoinmajority joinconcurrencedissent1 concurrencedissent2 3J1XJ3 majority 1 didnotparticipate X partjoinmajority joinconcurrencedissent1 J1XJ3 73 Fisher v. University of Texas (2016) Fisher v. University of Tex. at Austin 579 365 December 9, 2015 June 23, 2016 joindissent2 J4 didnotparticipate X majority 1 dissent1 joindissent2 4J4 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 dissent2 4 joinmajority J1 didnotparticipate X 74 Birchfield v. North Dakota 579 438 April 20, 2016 June 23, 2016 joinmajority J1 didnotparticipate X joinmajority J1 concurrencedissent1 3 joinconcurrencedissent2 J3 joinmajority J1 majority 1 concurrencedissent2 3 joinmajority J1 75 Mathis v. United States 579 500 April 26, 2016 June 23, 2016 joinmajority J1 didnotparticipate X joinmajority concurrence1 2J1 joinmajority concurrence2 2J1 joindissent1 J4 dissent1 4 dissent2 4 joinmajority J1 majority 1 76 Dollar General Corp. v. Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians 579 545 December 7, 2015 June 23, 2016 The Court's per curiam opinion in Dollar General Corp. v. Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, 579 U.S. 545 (2016), noted that the judgment was affirmed by an equally divided Court. joinmajority J1 didnotparticipate X joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 77 United States v. Texas (2016) United States v. Texas 579 547 April 18, 2016 June 23, 2016 The Court's per curiam opinion in United States v. Texas, 579 U.S. 547 (2016), noted that the judgment was affirmed by an equally divided Court. joinmajority J1 didnotparticipate X joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 78 McDonnell v. United States 579 550 April 27, 2016 June 27, 2016 majority 1 didnotparticipate X joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 79 Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt 579 582 March 2, 2016 June 27, 2016 joindissent2 J4 didnotparticipate X joinmajority J1 dissent1 joindissent2 4J4 joinmajority concurrence 2J1 majority 1 dissent2 4 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 80 Voisine v. United States 579 686 February 29, 2016 June 27, 2016 joinmajority J1 didnotparticipate X joinmajority J1 dissent 4 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 joinmajority J1 partjoindissent J4X majority 1 Roberts Scalia Kennedy Thomas Ginsburg Breyer Alito Sotomayor Kagan 2015 term membership and statistics This was the eleventh term of Chief Justice Roberts's tenure. Justice Scalia died on February 13, 2016, making it the sixth and final term with the same membership. John Roberts George W. Bush September 29, 2005 73 80 6 1 0 4 Antonin Scalia Ronald Reagan September 26, 1986 15 18 2 1 0 2 Anthony Kennedy Ronald Reagan February 18, 1988 78 80 9 2 0 1 Clarence Thomas George H. W. Bush October 23, 1991 58 80 7 14 1 17 Ruth Bader Ginsburg Bill Clinton August 10, 1993 70 80 8 4 1 4 Stephen Breyer Bill Clinton August 3, 1994 75 80 8 5 1 2 Samuel Alito George W. Bush January 31, 2006 64 78 7 5 1 6 Sonia Sotomayor Barack Obama August 6, 2009 64 79 7 3 1 7 Elena Kagan Barack Obama August 7, 2010 75 79 8 1 0 3 Notes References https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/slipopinion/15 2015 Term Opinions of the Court Supreme Court of the United States October 3, 2016 Category:Lists of United States Supreme Court opinions by term