Smith v. Texas, 233 U.S. 630 (decided May 11, 1914): Texas statute restricting employment as a conductor to those who have already been conductors or brakemen for two years violates equal protection because it arbitrarily (and admittedly) excluded qualified applicants Reeves v. Beardall, 316 U.S. 283 (decided May 11, 1942): claim as to promissory note arose from different transaction from claim for breach of contract; dismissal acted as appealable final judgment despite survi

Totten v. United States, 92 U.S. 105 (decided April 10, 1876): secret agent can’t sue United States for back pay, due to publicity and exposure of government secrets; must make claim on contingency fund of agency which hired him Pollock v. Williams, 322 U.S. 4 (decided April 10, 1944): invalidating statute providing that failure to perform paid-for work was conclusive proof of fraud (i.e., no defenses allowed), which had been re-enacted by Florida legislature despite the Cour

Andersen v. United States, 170 U.S. 481 (decided May 9, 1898): Upholding conviction of sailor for shooting crewmember and pushing him overboard. Defects in indictment (unclear whether death due to shooting or drowning, does not mention location) were harmless error. Bell v. United States, 349 U.S. 81 (decided May 9, 1955): sentence for Mann Act offense should not be doubled for transporting two women instead of one, due to ambiguity in statute Havnor v. New York, 170 U.S. 40

United States v. Ju Toy, 198 U.S. 253 (decided May 8, 1905): person of Chinese descent contesting deportation not entitled to judicial trial (under Chinese Exclusion Act) Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (decided May 8, 1967): sets up a procedure (including what is now called an “Anders brief”) for a criminal defense attorney who wishes to withdraw from a case because he doesn’t believe there’s meritorious ground for appeal; purpose is to protect the rights of the defendant