Source: https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/213/288/
Timestamp: 2019-04-21 04:11:01+00:00

Document:
The object of the Act of March 3, 1891, c. 517, 26 Stat. 826, was to distribute the appellate jurisdiction of this Court between it and the circuit court of appeals, and to abolish the appellate jurisdiction of the circuit court.
Although where a real constitutional question exists, a writ of error can be sued out directly from this Court to the trial court under § 5 of the act of 1891, the right to do so is lost by taking an appeal to the circuit court of appeals. Robinson v. Caldwell, 165 U. S. 359.
The circuit court of appeals does not lose its jurisdiction of an appeal under § 6 of the act of 1891 because questions were involved which would have warranted a direct appeal to this Court under § 5 of that act.
Where the case can be taken directly to this Court under § 5, or to the circuit court of appeals under § 6, and the latter appeal is taken, while a writ of error will lie to the circuit court of appeals if the jurisdiction of the Circuit Court rests, as shown by plaintiff's statement, on grounds, one of which is reviewable by this Court, it will not lie if the only ground of jurisdiction is one where the judgment of the circuit court of appeals is final.
The judgment of the circuit court of appeals in a criminal case is final, and is no less so because the appellate jurisdiction of this Court might have been invoked directly under § 5 of the act of 1891.
Court of the United States for the District of New Jersey for mailing obscene literature, in violation of § 3893 of the Revised Statutes. He pleaded not guilty, and upon trial before a jury was found guilty.
Various questions of law arose in the course of the trial, which need not be stated.
After the evidence was concluded, the petitioner presented to the presiding judge many requests for instructions to the jury, which were refused, under exception. For the purposes of this case, four only need be referred to, and they summarily. The judge was requested to rule that the statute under which the indictment was returned was unconstitutional (a) because it abridged the freedom of the press; (b) because it was uncertain and created no general rule of conduct, and therefore the indictment was without due process of law; (c) because it was an ex post facto law; (d) because it delegated legislative power to the court or jury.
There was a motion in arrest of judgment, which was overruled. Thereupon judgment was entered, and the petitioner sued out a writ of error to the Circuit Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. That court affirmed the judgment.
After a denial of a petition for a writ of certiorari, the petitioner made application to one of the Justices of this Court for a writ of error, directed to the circuit court of appeals. The question of the right of the petitioner to such a writ of error has been referred to the full Court, and, by direction of the Court, briefs on the part of the United States and the petitioner have been filed and considered.
"SEC. 5. That appeals or writs of error may be taken from the district courts or from the existing circuit courts direct to the Supreme Court in the following cases:"
"From the final sentences and decrees in prize causes."
"In cases of conviction of a capital or otherwise infamous crime."
"In any case that involves the construction or application of the Constitution of the United States."
"In any case in which the constitutionality of any law of the United States, or the validity or construction of any treaty made under its authority, is drawn in question."
"In any case in which the Constitution or law of a state is claimed to be in contravention of the Constitution of the United States."
Clause 3 of this section has been amended by the Act of January 20, 1897, 29 Stat. 492, c. 68, by striking out the words "or otherwise infamous."
Assuming, without decision, that the constitutional questions were real and substantial, it is clear that a writ of error might have been sued out originally directly from this Court under clause 5. Loeb v. Columbia Township Trustees, 179 U. S. 472. But this was not done, and, by the appeal to the circuit court of appeals, the right of direct appeal here was lost. Robinson v. Caldwell, 165 U. S. 359.
that judgment? The answer to this question depends upon whether the judgment of the circuit court of appeals was final. The act contemplated that certain judgments of the circuit court of appeals might be reviewed on writ of error in this Court, and that certain other judgments could not be so reviewed. The line of division is marked in § 6 of the act. It is to be observed that the line of division between cases appealable directly to this Court and those appealable to the circuit court of appeals, made by § 5 of the act, is based upon the nature of the case or of the questions of law raised. But the line of division between cases appealable from the circuit court of appeals to this Court and those not so appealable, drawn by § 6, is different, and is determined not by the nature of the case or of the questions of law raised, but by the sources of jurisdiction of the trial court -- namely, the circuit court or the district court -- whether the jurisdiction rests upon the character of the parties or the nature of the case. Huguley Mfg. Co. v. Galeton Cotton Mills, 184 U. S. 290, where it was said by the CHIEF JUSTICE, citing cases, "The jurisdiction referred to is the jurisdiction of the circuit court as originally invoked." The difference in the test for determining whether a case is appealable from the trial court directly to this Court, and the test for determining whether a case is appealable from the circuit court of appeals to this Court, is important, and a neglect to observe it leads to confusion.
In all other cases, there is a right of review by this Court if the matter in controversy exceeds $1,000.
"Although it is insisted that the judgment imposing the fine was a final judgment in a criminal matter, it is argued that it involved the denial of constitutional rights, and hence that this Court has jurisdiction under § 5 of that act; but it is settled that even if a party might be entitled to come directly to this Court under that section, yet, if he does not do so, and carries his case to the circuit court of appeals, he must abide by the judgment of that court"
and the writ of error to the circuit court of appeals was accordingly dismissed. Unless this case has been overruled, it governs the case at bar.
under the revenue laws, the judgment of the circuit court of appeals was a final judgment. If, on the other hand, the jurisdiction depended solely upon the fact that it was a case arising out of the Constitution or laws of the United States, the jurisdiction of the circuit court of appeals was not final, and it was reviewable upon writ of error as matter of right in this Court.
"the judgment of the circuit court of appeals is not final, within the meaning of the sixth section, in a case which, although arising under a law providing for internal revenue, and involving the construction of that law, is yet a case also involving, from the outset, from the plaintiff's showing, the construction or application of the Constitution, or the constitutionality of an act of Congress."
at bar was that it was a case arising under the criminal laws. In such a case, the statute makes the judgment of the circuit court of appeals final, and it is no less final because the petitioner here might, if he had been so advised, originally have invoked directly, under § 5 of the act, the appellate jurisdiction of this Court.

References: § 5
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 § 3893
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