Maine v. Taylor (1985)
- Docket
- 85-62
- Decided
- 1985-01-01
Summary
Question: Did the Maine law unconstitutionally burden interstate commerce, violating the Commerce Clause? Conclusion: No. In an 8-to-1 decision, the Court held that the limitation imposed by the Commerce Clause on state regulatory power was not absolute and that the States "retain[ed] authority under their general police powers to regulate matters of 'legitimate local concern.'" The Court found that Maine's ban on the importation oflive baitfish served a legitimate local purpose that could not adequately be served by available nondiscriminatory alternatives. The Court argued that the ban was not a simple case of "arbitrary discrimination against interstate commerce."