Today in Supreme Court History: April 13

Valentine v. Chrestensen, 316 U.S. 52 (decided April 13, 1942): city could ban public distribution of handbills which argued political issue as a pretext but really were advertising (exhibiting submarine for profit) (overruled by Virginia State Board of Pharmacy v. Virginia Citizens Consumer Council, 1976)

Smith v. Springdale Amusement Park, 283 U.S. 121 (decided April 13, 1931): mechanical arm running along dog track with lure was not patentable (pretty obvious, I think -- any dog will chase any arm holding what it thinks is food -- in fact a lot of humans are like that, with money)

Doullut & Williams Co. v. United States, 268 U.S. 33 (decided April 13, 1925): damage to pilings on lower Mississippi caused by vessel is within admiralty jurisdiction

Herron v. Southern Pacific Co., 283 U.S. 91 (decided April 13, 1931): in case brought by man whose car collided with a train, federal court can ignore state constitution provision that contributory negligence is always a question for the jury and direct verdict for defendant (I don’t think his holding survives Erie Railroad v. Tompkins, particularly because the Court calls contributory negligence a rule of procedure)

Gibson v. Mississippi, 162 U.S. 565 (decided April 13, 1896): can’t contest de facto exclusion of blacks from state grand juries if it’s not de jure (obviously this is no longer good law)

Montgomery v. United States, 162 U.S. 410 (decided April 13, 1896): conviction of postal clerk for stealing money from mails affirmed; not entitled to entrapment defense (letters containing money had been addressed by inspectors to what clerk knew were fictitious addresses)

Amy v. Shelby County Taxing District, 114 U.S. 387 (decided April 13, 1885): state’s decision to allow back taxes to be set off by other obligations did not impair its contracts with bond holders

Wilson v. Everett, 139 U.S. 616 (decided April 13, 1891): appeal pursued only for purpose of delay (this was before the era of certiorari and the Court was required to hear most appeals), i.e., appellant knew Court had no power to review facts, would be met with sanctions