Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/boundvolumes/529bv.pdf
Page Number: 675

529US3

Unit: $U54

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UNITED STATES v. MORRISON

Syllabus

Assuming that there has been gender-based disparate treatment by
state authorities in these cases, it would not be enough to save § 13981’s
civil remedy, which is directed not at a State or state actor but at in-
dividuals who have committed criminal acts motivated by gender bias.
Section 13981 visits no consequence on any Virginia public ofﬁcial in-
volved in investigating or prosecuting Brzonkala’s assault, and it is
thus unlike any of the § 5 remedies this Court has previously upheld.
See, e. g., South Carolina v. Katzenbach, 383 U. S. 301. Section 13981
is also different from previously upheld remedies in that it applies uni-
formly throughout the Nation, even though Congress’ ﬁndings indicate
that the problem addressed does not exist in all, or even most, States.
In contrast, the § 5 remedy in Katzenbach was directed only to those
States in which Congress found that there had been discrimination.
Pp. 619–627.

169 F. 3d 820, afﬁrmed.

Rehnquist, C. J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which O’Con-
nor, Scalia, Kennedy, and Thomas, JJ., joined. Thomas, J., ﬁled a
concurring opinion, post, p. 627. Souter, J., ﬁled a dissenting opinion,
in which Stevens, Ginsburg, and Breyer, JJ., joined, post, p. 628.
Breyer, J., ﬁled a dissenting opinion, in which Stevens, J., joined, and in
which Souter and Ginsburg, JJ., joined as to Part I–A, post, p. 655.

Solicitor General Waxman argued the cause for the
United States in No. 99–5. With him on the briefs were
Acting Assistant Attorney General Ogden, Deputy Solicitor
General Underwood, Barbara McDowell, Mark B. Stern,
Alisa B. Klein, and Anne Murphy. Julie Goldsheid argued
the cause for petitioner in No. 99–29. With her on the briefs
were Martha F. Davis, Eileen N. Wagner, Carter G. Phillips,
Richard D. Bernstein, Katherine L. Adams, Jacqueline Ger-
son Cooper, and Paul A. Hemmersbaugh.

Michael E. Rosman argued the cause for respondents in
both cases. With him on the brief for respondent Morrison
were Hans F. Bader and W. David Paxton. Joseph Graham
Painter, Jr., ﬁled a brief for respondent Crawford.†

†Briefs of amici curiae urging reversal were ﬁled for the State of
Arizona et al. by Janet Napolitano, Attorney General of Arizona, Eliot
Spitzer, Attorney General of New York, Preeta D. Bansal, Solicitor Gen-
eral, Jennifer K. Brown, Assistant Attorney General, and Paula S. Bick-
ett, and by the Attorneys General for their respective jurisdictions as fol-