Britannica Sources used in this answer

Which justices dissented in Bowers v. Hardwick?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

In the 1986 case Bowers v. Hardwick, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5–4 to uphold a Georgia law banning sodomy. The justices who dissented in this decision were:

Justice Blackmun authored the primary dissenting opinion, which was joined by Justices Brennan, Marshall, and Stevens. In his dissent, Blackmun argued that the case was fundamentally about the "right to be let alone," emphasizing the interest individuals have in controlling the nature of their intimate associations. Justice Stevens also issued a separate dissenting opinion, which was joined by Justices Brennan and Marshall.1