Evening star., 1947-06-29
By WiIIiom A. MiIIen

cluded its first official year with
Fred M. Vinson as Chief Justice,
with an apparent minimum of
friction despite the threat occa-
stoned by the famed Jackson-Black
dispute. While few history making
decisions were reached, some land
marks do stand out.
Foremost was the decision involy-
ing John l.. Lewis, boss of the United
Mine Workers of America, in a case
growing out of the Governments
control of the Strike-bound coal
mines. Handed down on a Thurs
day-March 6-rather than the ira
ditional Monday, the decision found
the United States is not barred by
the Norris-La Guardia Act from
securing a restraining order and pre-
liminary injunction in labor dis
pute where the Federal Govern
ment is an employer.
This upheld the ruling of Justice
T. Alan Goldsborough in Washing
tons own District Court, who fined
Mr., Lewis $4,000 and the miners
$500, 600. although the high court
did cut the miners fine to 100000,
if they complied with certain con-
ditions. They did.
Competent observers described the
Lewis decision as "the biggest case
in years" this was penned by
Chief Justice Vinson.
No Dissents by Vinson
During the past term, the court
wrote 25 fve-to-four decisions, 10
opinions which split six to three, 48
were unanimous and 81 were seven
to two. Last term, with Justice
Jackson away at the war crimes
trials, there were 13 decisions which
went five to three, six decided four
to three and ST were unanimous.
Chief Justice Vinson, who wrote
no dissenting opinion himself, but
joined in some, apparently is lead
ing a movement to halt the numer-
Gus separate opinions in a single
case. This is the first time in recent
memory when a Chief Justice went
through an entire term without
writing a dissent, observers say.
Justice Black wrote most of the
majority opinions, Justice Burton,
while writing the least in number,
handled some Of the most difficult
and complex cases, including an
antitrust case involving the Dupont
Co. and others, bearing on patent
rights. This highly technical opin-
ion shows diligent research, on
which much of the proverbial mid
night oil was spent.
Justice Rutledge was the greatest
dissenter, casting 80 dissenting
votes.
Both Justices Black and Jackson
were much closer in their legal
thinking. as shown by the cases in
which they participated. Justice
Black wrote % majority opinions,
in 81 of which Justice Jackson
joined. Justice Jackson dissented
to six of Justice Blacks opinions,
wrote one opinion concurring with
Justice Black and in one case took
no part. Justice Black and Jack
son joined in one dissenting opinion.
Disposition of Gases
Justice Jackson wrote IS ma jority
opinions. Of these, Justice Black
went along on nine opinions, dis
sented to five and did not partici-
pate in one case. Justice Jackson,
in dissenting to Justice Blacks
opinions, wrote only two opinions,
merely noting dissents in others
Justice Black, likewise wrote only
two dissenting opinions to Justice
Jackson's views.
| In the 1914 term, there was
total Of 1893 cases on the dockets;
in 1945, 1929, and for the term just
ended, 1924. The 1947 term does not
begin until October. Cases disposed
of during the 1914 term totaled
l.249: in 1945. 1,161, and in the 1916
term 1856 we're disposed of.
The number remaining on the
dockets in 1914 was IA, in 1945, 1853
and for the term just ended, 15s
Cases on appeal disposed of on
their merits during the 1916 term
itotaled 260, compared with 218 in
1945 and 278 in 1914. Review pc
titions disposed of totaled 1,106 for
the past term, 943 for 1945 and 971
for 1914.
Cases now remaining on the
dockets are: Original, 12-the same
number as this time last year; 95