The Northwest times. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1947-1955, 1947-09-23
Oral Argument on COnstitutiOnality
OF California Ruling to Review
Decision on Oyama Case October Il

WASHINGTON, d. c., Sept l2-With
October 81 set as the date on which the constltu-
tonality of the California alien land law will be
argued before the United States Supreme Court,
final briefs for the case are now being complet-
ed the Washington office of the JACL Anti
Discrimination Committee learned today.
This information was revealed by A. L. Wi
rim, Los Angeles attorney who arrived in Wash
ington to settle details for the oral argument
next month.
One of the most important decisions ever to =
come before the Supreme Court affecting per-
sons of Japanese ancestry, the oral argument
on October 81 will review the decision on the ia
nous Oyama case of California, according to
Wirin.
Several hundreds of millions of dollars are
involved, the Caiforia attorney said, since the
decision in October will involve large areas of
land in certain Western states which have alien
land laws.
At the oral arguments on October2 81 the at
torneys for the petitioners Fred Y. and Kajiro
Oyama, are expecting to argue that the Supreme
Court should revise its judgment of 20 years ago
and hold that alien land laws are unconstitution-
al, Wirin pointed out.
Headed that attorneys for the state of Cal
ifornia will ask that the present court reaffirn
its previous decision holding that alien land laws
are a legitimate exercise of states constitu-
tional powers relating to the ownership of land.
Arising from decision of a San Diego
Superior Court that declared the lands of Fred
Oyama, citizen, should be escheated to the
state of California, the Oyama case was car
ried through the California Supreme Court and
then appealed to the United States Supreme
Court.
Petition for writ of certiorari decision to
review a lower court decision by the United
States Supreme Court was granted on April Z,
1947.
The state of California contended that the
father of Fred Oyama, Kajiro Oyama an alien,
had purchased the land and entered into possess
sion of the property and used it as his own al
though the land was decided to the citizen son
and he was named guardian, according to the
petition for writ of certiorari.
1t added that the California courts found
that these acts were done in an attempt ito pre-
vent, evade, and avoid escheat"
While in Washington, Wirin conferred with
New York and Washington attorneys who are
also serving as counsel for the petitioners.
OF this group Charles A. Horsky one of
the nations leading constitutional attorneys, is
preparing. the final brief in cooperation with
Wirin, the Los Angeles attorney stated
The appeal to the United States Supreme
Court is sponsored by the JACL Legal Defense
Fund of Southern California and the Civil
Rights Defense Union of Northern California.
According to the Washington ADO office, it
is expected that Saburo KIDD; immediate past
president of the national JACL and now JACL
legal counsel, will be in Washington to attend
the oral arguments next month
KIDD was one of group of California at
torneys who signed the petition for writ of GER
tiorari as cooperating counsel last spring.
The others were James Purcell, William
Fefriter, and Guy G. Calden of San Francisco
and Fred Okrand of Los Angeles
Ernest w. James of New York is among the
prominent attorneys serving as counsel for the
petitioners, the Washington Ado office report
ed.