Today in Supreme Court History: March 16

Fletcher v. Peck, 10 U.S. 87 (decided March 16, 1810): awarding land to purchaser in good faith, unaware that seller had obtained it by fraud

Shaughnessy v. Mezei, 345 U.S. 206 (decided March 16, 1953): not a denial of due process to detain “bad security risk” alien at Ellis Island without hearing where no other country would receive him (the story given of this man’s wanderings and unexplained rejection by every country he visited, including Communist ones, is remarkable -- he was finally released in 1954 when Ellis Island closed down) (holding was superseded by statute, see Department of Homeland Security v. Thuraissigiam, 2020)

Williamson v. Daniel, 25 U.S. 568 (decided March 16, 1827): Marshall for once attributes some humanity to slaves by holding that, in a dispute over apportionment of a decedent’s slaves, the child slaves follow their mother

Mason v. Matilda, 25 U.S. 590 (decided March 16, 1827): this time it’s Johnson, ruling against a mother and her children suing for their freedom; Court holds in favor of defendant (widow of original owner), even though Virginia law provided for emancipation if no compliance with 60-day registration requirement for bringing slaves into the state; “constructive registration” (my phrase) because he had openly possessed the mother for 22 years, during which she had given birth to the three co-plaintiffs

United States v. Gooding, 25 U.S. 460 (decided March 16, 1827): upholding conviction for slave trade “abetting” even though ship not yet fitted out for slave transport

Ornelas v. Ruiz, 161 U.S. 502 (decided March 16, 1896): ordering extradition of men who crossed from Texas into Mexico, killed Mexican soldiers (apparently as part of a rebellion against the Díaz government), then came back into Texas; not a “political question” (I wonder if it’s relevant that the United States supported Díaz)

Albertson v. Millard, 345 U.S. 242 (decided March 16, 1953): remanding to state court question of whether Michigan statute regulating Communist Party activities (state Attorney General prepared list, restricted access to space on ballot, etc.) was Constitutional (the Michigan Supreme Court then struck down the statute, holding that the field of anti-sedition legislation had been preempted by federal law, 345 Mich. 519, 1956)

Crancer v. Lowdon, 315 U.S. 631 (decided March 16, 1942): Are rings that protect pipe threads during transit (thrown away upon use) “scrap iron” or “pipe fittings” for the purpose of ICC tariffs?  Bench trial verdict was pipe fittings.  Court affirms.

Garland v. Washington, 232 U.S. 642 (decided March 16, 1914): convicted of stealing “$1,000 in lawful money of the United States”, and then convicted of stealing “a check payable for the sum of $1,000 in money”; sounds like double jeopardy to me, but the argument was that there was no arraignment or plea before second trial, an argument the Court rejects

Grant Bros. Constr. Co. v. United States, 232 U.S. 647 (decided March 16, 1914): affirming a jury verdict for violating law prohibiting importing persons for contract labor; this was a civil action so leeway given to government on evidentiary matters (e.g., reading into evidence depositions of absent witnesses)