Today in Supreme Court History: April 11

Pierson v. Ray, 386 U.S. 547 (decided April 11, 1967): state judges are immune from §1983 liability for judicial acts (here, an allegedly racist sentencing decision against plaintiffs who were trying to integrate a whites-only bus station) (this case established the doctrine of “qualified immunity” -- arresting police officers had defense of “good faith and probable cause” under statute later declared unconstitutional)

New York Indians v. United States, 170 U.S. 1 (decided April 11, 1898): need another treaty (or act of Congress) to throw Indian lands open to settlement after tribe did not move onto land within time required by treaty

Specht v. Patterson, 386 U.S. 605 (decided April 11, 1967): can’t sentence someone for something he wasn’t convicted for even though related to offense for which he was convicted (convicted for “indecent liberties” carrying maximum 10 year sentence but sentenced for indeterminate term under state Sex Offenders Act)

Granville-Smith v. Granville-Smith, 349 U.S. 1 (decided April 11, 1955): striking down Virgin Islands statute requiring six weeks residency before filing for divorce because V.I. could only legislate on local matters and statute was designed to apply to those outside

The Linseed King, 285 U.S. 502 (decided April 11, 1932): admiralty law applied to suit arising from ferry sinking after hitting ice in lower Hudson River (between Edgewater, N.J. and 96th Street, Manhattan)

United States v. Lefkowitz, 285 U.S. 452 (decided April 11, 1932): need warrant for “general exploratory search” of residence incident to arrest for violation of liquor laws (more or less overruled, see discussion in Arizona v. Gant, 2009)

The Northern Belle, 154 U.S. 571 (decided April 11, 1870): affirming damages arising from breaking apart of barge on sand bar; barge had rotten timbers and though wind was violent, if properly repaired would not have foundered

Joseph Schlitz Brewing Co. v. United States, 181 U.S. 584 (decided April 11, 1901): bottles and corks are not “ingredients” of beer and therefore brewer not entitled to refund of tariffs on “imports” such as hops and barley; brewer had argued that bottled beer is an ingredient because the beer has to be in the bottle for heating to prevent second fermentation (I think I’ll order just from the tap from now on)

Hale v. Kentucky, 303 U.S. 613 (decided April 11, 1938): conviction of black man vacated because blacks were excluded from grand jury

Smiley v. Holm, 285 U.S. 355 (decided April 11, 1932): where state (Minnesota) must be redistricted, but proposed redistricting vetoed by governor, there are no districts and Representatives are elected at large