2009 term United States Supreme Court opinions of John Roberts

The table below lists all opinions filed by Chief Justice John G. Roberts during the 2009 term of the Supreme Court of the United States, which began October 5, 2009 and concluded October 3, 2010. This was the fifth term of Roberts' tenure on the Court.
John Roberts 2009 term statistics
8
Majority or Plurality
3
Concurrence
2
Other
4
Dissent
2
Concurrence/dissent Total = 19
Bench opinions = 15 Opinions relating to orders = 2 In-chambers opinions = 2
Unanimous decisions: 0 Most joined by: Scalia (11) Least joined by: Breyer (3)
Type Case Citation Issues Joined by
4-01


Virginia v. Harris 558 U.S. ___ (2009)

 Fourth Amendment  • investigative stops  • drunk driving Scalia
4-01 Virginia v. Harris
Roberts dissented from the Court's denial of certioriari. The Virginia Supreme Court had ruled that a police officer violated the Fourth Amendment when he stopped a driver reported to be drunk and driving dangerously, because the officer did not first independently verify that he was driving dangerously. Roberts questioned the wisdom of this rule given the imminent danger posed by drunk driving, characterizing the effect of the decision as "to grant drunk drivers 'one free swerve' before they can be pulled over by the police." Roberts noted that lower courts had split on the issue of when and whether the Fourth Amendment required independent verification. "Maybe the decision of the Virginia Supreme Court was correct," he wrote, "and the Fourth Amendment bars police from acting on anonymous tips of drunk driving unless they can verify each tip. If so, then the dangerous consequences of this rule are unavoidable. But the police should have every legitimate tool at their disposal for getting drunk drivers off the road. I would grant certioriari to determine if this is one of them."
1-02


Beard v. Kindler 558 U.S. ___ (2009)

 Stevens, Scalia, Kennedy, Thomas, Ginsburg, Breyer, Sotomayor
1-02 Beard v. Kindler
3-03


South Carolina v. North Carolina 558 U.S. ___ (2010)

 Thomas, Ginsburg, Sotomayor
3-03 South Carolina v. North Carolina
2-04


Citizens United v. Federal Election Comm'n 558 U.S. ___ (2010)

 First Amendment  • free speech  • campaign finance reform  • corporate speech
2-04 Citizens United v. Federal Election Comm'n
1-05


Hemi Group, LLC v. City of New York 559 U.S. ___ (2010)

 Scalia, Thomas, Alito; Ginsburg (in part)
1-05 Hemi Group, LLC v. City of New York
4-06


Machado v. Holder 559 U.S. ___ (2010)

 Scalia, Thomas, Alito
4-06 Machado v. Holder
Roberts dissented from the Court's summary granting of certiorari, vacatur of the lower Court's opinion, and remand of the case.
5-07


Jackson v. District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics 559 U.S. ___ (2010)

 Same-sex marriage
5-07 Jackson v. District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics
Roberts denied an application for a stay of the of the D.C. Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Equality Amendment Act, which legalized same-sex marriage in Washington, D.C. effective March 3, 2010.
1-08


United States v. Stevens 559 U.S. ___ (2010)

 Stevens, Scalia, Kennedy, Thomas, Ginsburg, Breyer, Sotomayor
1-08 United States v. Stevens
1-09


Conkright v. Frommert 559 U.S. ___ (2010)

 Scalia, Kennedy, Thomas, Alito
1-09 Conkright v. Frommert
2-10


Salazar v. Buono 559 U.S. ___ (2010)

 First Amendment  • Establishment Clause
2-10 Salazar v. Buono
1-11


Renico v. Lett 559 U.S. ___ (2010)

 Scalia, Kennedy, Thomas, Ginsburg, Alito
1-11 Renico v. Lett
2-12


Graham v. Florida 560 U.S. ___ (2010)
2-12 Graham v. Florida
4-13


Robertson v. United States ex rel. Watson 560 U.S. ___ (2010)

 Scalia, Kennedy, Sotomayor
4-13 Robertson v. United States ex rel. Watson
Roberts dissented from the Court's per curiam dismissal of the writ of certiorari as improvidently granted.
3-14


Alabama v. North Carolina 560 U.S. ___ (2010)

 Thomas
3-14 Alabama v. North Carolina
4-15


Dolan v. United States 560 U.S. ___ (2010)

 Stevens, Scalia, Kennedy
4-15 Dolan v. United States
1-16


Holder v. Humanitarian Law Project 561 U.S. ___ (2010)

 Stevens, Scalia, Kennedy, Thomas, Alito
1-16 Holder v. Humanitarian Law Project
1-17


Doe v. Reed 561 U.S. ___ (2010)

 Kennedy, Ginsburg, Breyer, Alito, Sotomayor
1-17 Doe v. Reed
1-18


Free Enterprise Fund v. Public Company Accounting Oversight Bd. 561 U.S. ___ (2010)

 Scalia, Kennedy, Thomas, Alito
1-18 Free Enterprise Fund v. Public Company Accounting Oversight Bd.
5-19


Lux v. Rodrigues 561 U.S. ___ (2010)
5-19 Lux v. Rodrigues
Roberts denied an application for an injunction.

References

Judicial opinions of John Roberts
United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (June 2, 2003 - September 29, 2005); by calendar year
2003 • 2004 • 2005
Supreme Court of the United States (September 29, 2005 - present); by term
2005 • 2006 • 2007 • 2008 • 2009 • 2010 • 2011
Supreme Court of the United States 2009 term (October 5, 2009 - October 3, 2010)
Opinions by justice:
Chief Justice Roberts | Associate Justices Stevens | Scalia | Kennedy | Thomas | Ginsburg | Breyer | Alito | Sotomayor