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United States v. Sells Engineering, Inc.

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United States v. Sells Engineering, Inc.
Argued March 2, 1983
Decided June 30, 1983
Full case nameUnited States v. Sells Engineering, Inc.
Docket no.81-1032
Citations463 U.S. 418 (more)
103 S. Ct. 3133; 77 L. Ed. 2d 743
ArgumentOral argument
Opinion announcementOpinion announcement
Holding
Attorneys in the Civil Division of the Justice Department and their assistants and staff may not obtain automatic (A)(i) disclosure of grand jury materials for use in a civil suit, but must instead seek a (C)(i) court order for access to such materials.
Court membership
Chief Justice
Warren E. Burger
Associate Justices
William J. Brennan Jr. · Byron White
Thurgood Marshall · Harry Blackmun
Lewis F. Powell Jr. · William Rehnquist
John P. Stevens · Sandra Day O'Connor
Case opinions
MajorityBrennan, joined by White, Marshall, Blackmun, Stevens
DissentBurger, joined by Powell, Rehnquist, O'Connor
Laws applied
Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure (or relevant rules of a circuit court)

United States v. Sells Engineering, Inc., 463 U.S. 418 (1983), was a United States Supreme Court case concerning whether United States Department of Justice Civil Division attorneys were required to show particularized need in order to obtain disclosure.

Opinion of the Court

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In an opinion delivered by Justice Brennan, the Court decided in favor of Sells Engineering.

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