Document: 431 U.S. 195 97 S.Ct. 1774 52 L.Ed.2d 250 TERRITORY OF GUAM, Petitioner,v.Edmund J. OLSEN. No. 76-439. Argued March 29, 1977. Decided May 23, Syllabus Provision of § 22 the 1950 Organic Act Guam that District Court "shall have such appellate jurisdiction as (Guam) legislature may determine" held not to authorize Legislature divest Court's under hear appeals from local courts, and transfer newly created Supreme Court, but empower "determine" only in sense selection what should constitute appealable causes. This conclusion is supported by text 22, which expressly authorizes a "transfer" original jurisdiction, also absence any clear signal Congress it intended allow foreclose review Art. III including this territorial courts' decisions federal-question cases; Act's legislative history; fact if word were read giving power at same time deny tribunal, would given granted other Territory. Pp. 199-204. 540 F.2d 1011, affirmed. Charles H. Troutman, III, Agana, Guam, for petitioner. Howard G. Trapp, respondent. Walter S. Ferenz, Bar Association, amicus curiae, special leave Court. Mr. Justice BRENNAN delivered opinion 1 The question decision case whether provision Legislature. 2 * Section 22(a) Act, 64 Stat. 389, before an amendment relevant here, provided: 3 "There hereby court record be designated 'District Guam,' judicial authority shall vested or courts been hereafter established laws Guam. have, all causes arising United States, district States defined section 451 title 28, Code, over has transferred it, determine. procedure than prescribed Guam."1 (Emphasis supplied.) In 1951, three matters cases those Court.2 That structure continued without substantial change 23 years until 1974 when adopted Reorganization 1974. Pub.L. 12-85. former Island, Police, Commissioners' Courts, replaced Superior with "original civil criminal, law equity, regardless amount controversy, except Constitution, treaties, matter involving Territorial Income Tax."3 repealed provisions Code Civil Procedure governing Court,4 essentially had previously exercised providing judgments, orders decrees criminal . cases." 12-85, 3. Other amended various references Appellate Division court. 4 Respondent was convicted charges appealed dismissed appeal on divided panel Appeals Ninth Circuit holding validly divested its Agana Bay Dev. Co. (Hong Kong) Ltd. v. Ct. 529 952 (1976). case, however, Circuit, overruled en banc5 Bay, reversed dismissal respondent's appeal. 1011 "the congressional authorization pursuant safeguards provide." Id., 1012. Certain judgments division made 1950, amended, 65 726,6 similarly provided circumstance, did because, existing statutes "litigation (that) involve federal questions cannot reviewed Article .." F.2d, We certiorari, 429 959, 380, 50 325 affirm. II 5 emphasize outset no respect affects exclusive7 federalquestion first clause second sentence 22(a), now provides "District constitution, 48 U.S.C. 1424(a). Decisions brought are Court.8 presented here rather concerns law. language we must construe immediately follows sentence, determine." 6 observe used different grant court's jurisdiction. might "transferred " "other courts" legislature. As wording arises why, contemplated eliminate transferring court, not, jurisdiction," explicitly provide too "transferred." Moreover, broad authority, expected referred, assume Clearly, synonym "transfer," obvious includes abolish another fully agree Judge Kennedy dissenting because "more likely permit decide serious enough appealable," note found broader term 1951 therefore conclude authorized withheld like respecting empowering causes.9 7 considerations besides our reading bare support construed include more persuasive indicia purpose clothe authority. 8 First, reluctant turn Important issues can do fall within they "arise under" law, instead exclusive Courts Act. For example, convictions returned challenged violating constitutional guarantees. It answer rejection defense though presently directly reviewable nevertheless habeas corpus. Tr. Oral Arg. 9. Habeas corpus historical roots direct jurisprudential functions limitations. See, e. g., Fay Noia, 372 391, 83 822, 9 837 (1963). respects cases, "arising tracks general statute, 28 1331(a), clearly whatever ambiguities phrase does embrace present Gully First Nat. Bank, 299 109, 57 96, 81 L.Ed. 70 (1936); Cohen, Broken Compass: Requirement Case Arise "Directly" Federal Law, 115 U.Pa.L.Rev. 890 (1967). that, merely dictionary definition confer courts. Second, nothing history even remotely suggests use give option creating having ultimate matters. Rather, points way. Three bills introduced 81st system Hearings 185, 1892, H.R. 7273 Subcommittee Senate Committee Interior Insular Affairs, Cong., 2d Sess., 1-25 (1950) (hereafter Hearings). All decisions. bill became 7273, originally whose 22-23. proposal congressionally rejected favor done part "litigants Western Pacific access system." Co., supra, 961 (Kennedy, J., dissenting); S.Rep. 2109, (1950). But concern accounts Our independent pertinent materials confirms, adopt, Kennedy's expressed dissent 961: 10 "Because there sufficient litigation justify separate envisioned serve body once established. apparent reason eliminating supreme avoid duplicative machinery, authorities put certain controversies beyond 11 Third, and, stroke, consistently Territories.10 What create similar Hearings, supra ; Sess. unwilling say extraordinary exception least some clearer indication provides. hesitate attribute since construction denied litigants local-court questions. See generally Hart, Power Limit Jurisdiction Courts: An Exercise Dialectic, 66 Harv.L.Rev. 1362 (1953). 12 Affirmed. 13 MARSHALL, whom STEWART, REHNQUIST, STEVENS join, dissenting. 14 Although glance seem unimportant anyone residents result perhaps unprecedented history. today abolishes significant self-government 85,000 American citizens through their freely elected legislature.1 15 error, my view, lies misinterpretation I doubt exercise plenary Territories IV, 3, reverse Guam's reorganize system. plainly enactment legislation, while corresponding delegation veto laws. Because "our function" limited "to apply(ing) basis written, written", Great Northern R. 343 562, 575, 72 985, 993, 96 1142 (1952), respectfully dissent. 16 reaching decision, focuses exclusively meaning half (a) 389.2 With respect, approach ignores horse concentrating minute details cart's design. If sentences simply order plain resort complex exegesis. 17 creates Guam." goes strikingly familiar words 1: "The one inferior ordain establish." Both describe bodies will power. They name mandate establishment. creation remainder key distinction: Where describes relationship among making "supreme" others "inferior," silent. 18 reasonable drawn distinction unlike representatives people governed control superior-inferior indicates consider co-equal share i. e., appealed. conspicuously incomplete emulation well-known model terminate 19 ascribes great significance legislature's trial contrasted words, context, me alternative expressions concept, interest avoiding repetition. Thus, gives establish deems necessary. last section, ignored analysis, prescribe "jurisdiction in" "Determine" context "grant." instance, converse withdraw it. Read whole, encompasses 20 relies interpretation insulate statutory something charters apparently granted. latter point, worth noting small isolated possession well wished unusual autonomy affairs. No doubt, too, Congress' proper way govern far-distant changed considerably recent decades expansionist ethic prevailed Hawaii annexed, Spanish possessions (including Guam) ceded, Virgin Islands purchased. thus surprising find passed 1950. And speaks good observed functioning island deciding best needs. hiatus, therefore, indicate lacked act, assumes, ante, 201, deemed unwise stage development so. careful analysis sections demonstrates, see Development Corp. 952, 957-958 (CA9 1976), unique delegates widest powers territories courts." 957. 21 problems 201-202, 204, arise action stem statute tribunal. petitioners note, Brief, 15-19, dealings historically reacted developing legal needs anticipating them. Corn Coral 318 622, 624-627 1963). surprising; set up structure, impossible foresee manner actually mesh Most recently, design drafting new recognizing thereafter necessary enact legislation "regulating between (and) 94-584, 90 2899, 2(b)(7). view willingness accommodate both aspirations requirements think need search where none yet exist.3 meantime, eviscerate carefully devised right self-government. Guam" "United chosen title, Constitution (1950), U.S.Code Cong. Service p. 2840. Police Island Civ.Proc. 81-278 wide-ranging §§ 62, 63, 82. A single judge constituted However, judges. approved measure 1958 178. 627 1963); letter Albert B. Maris, advisor Chairman, House Representatives, Mar. 14, 1957, reproduced 1582, 85th 7-9 (1958); id., 4-5, & Admin.News 1958, 2623. concurrent 955 n. contested here. Penal Part II, Title VIII, 63 convened banc after respondent unsuccessfully sought certiorari judgment 425 960, 1742, 205 23(a), enacted final question, corpus, "all value controversy exceed(ed) $5,000 ." 729, coverage 1291 expanded appealability raising less $5,000. 726. Review interlocutory 1292. 1020, 82d 1st (1951), Admin.Serv. 2578. Under 23(b) available party unconstitutional. 1252. face require exclusive, implementing left granting 82, 102, 112 954, supra. 6, present, intimate upon, categories determine nonappealable 31 141 (§ 86), 36 1087, 43 936 (Hawaii); 321 (§§ 504, 507) (Alaska); 77 35), 38 803, 39 951 42, 43) (Puerto Rico); 76A 51 (Canal Zone); 1132 2), 936, 49 1807 25, 30), 1612, 2899 (Virgin Islands); 263 402, 403) (Northern Mariana Islands). 1976 about month adopt constitution own establishing become effective sooner upon regulating 2(b) (7), 2899. contemplates judiciary treated judiciaries subject already convention. Dec. 10, 1976, 13-202. eventually produce complying 2(b)(7) 94-584 perceive prospect cause us abstain case. Dept. Commerce, Statistical Abstract 855, 856 (1976); 1407; Govt. 2056 (1970). prior amendment, part: Guam', Nowhere presentation claim infirmities his conviction violation

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