Radio Corporation of America et al. v. United States et al. (341 U.S. 412)
U.S. Supreme Court · decided May 28, 1951 · Supreme Court Database (Spaeth)
- Citation
- 341 U.S. 412 · 71 S. Ct. 806
- Decided
- May 28, 1951
- Term
- October Term 1950
- Vote
- 9–0
- Majority author
- Justice Black
- Issue area
- Judicial Power
- Disposition
- Affirmed
- Outcome
- Petitioning party lost
- Ideological direction
- Conservative
Opinion excerpt
Mr. Justice Black delivered the opinion of the Court. Radio Corporation of America (RCA) and two of its subsidiaries brought this action in a three-judge District Court to enjoin and set aside an order of the Federal Communications Commission prescribing standards for transmission of color television. The effect of the challenged order was to reject a color system proposed by RCA and to accept one proposed by the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS). The basis of RCA’s complaint was that the order had been entered arbitrarily and capriciously, without the support of substantial evidence, against the public interest, and contrary to law. After hearing and oral argument, the District Court entered summary judgment sustaining the Commission, one judge dissenting. RCA and the other plaintiffs took this direct appeal under 28 U. S. C. § 1253 and § 2101 (b). At the outset we are faced with RCA’s contention that the District Court failed to review the record as a whole in determining whether the Commission’s order was supported by substantial evidence; it is urged that for this reason we should summarily reverse and remand the case for further consideration by that court. If RCA’s premise were correct, the course which it suggests might be wholly appropriate. For as pointed out recently, in considering the question of sufficiency of evidence to support an administrative order this…
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