Source: https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/290/30/
Timestamp: 2019-04-23 10:23:36+00:00

Document:
1. When a bill for a preliminary injunction to restrain the enforcement of a state statute fails to set up a substantial federal question and no other ground of jurisdiction appears, a single district judge holding the district court has authority to dismiss it for the want of jurisdiction without calling the three-judge court, under Jud.Code § 266, to hear the injunction application. P. 290 U. S. 31.
2. The proposition that c. 90, Gen.Laws Mass. in requiring the posting of automobile liability insurance as a condition to registration of cars and issuance of license plates, for cars owned and operated wholly within the State, violates the Fourteenth Amendment, held clearly without merit in view of previous decisions by this Court. P. 290 U. S. 32.
Application for leave to file petition for a writ of mandamus.
Leave is asked to file a petition for a writ of mandamus requiring District Judge Elisha H. Brewster, or other competent judge, to call to his assistance two other judges for the purpose of hearing and determining petitioner's application for an interlocutory injunction, as directed by statute. Jud.Code § 266, 28 U.S.C. § 380.
relating to "compulsory automobile liability insurance" upon the ground that the statute violates the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States. Petitioner alleged in his complaint that he is a citizen of Massachusetts; that the Registrar of Motor Vehicles had refused registration and number plates for his car unless he complied with the statute, under which he "must first post either bond or cash of $5,000, or procure insurance;" that the statute "is only applicable to cars owned and operated within the State, and does not include cars in interstate traffic;" that he cannot comply with the statute; that to disregard it would bring him fine and imprisonment; that he has no adequate remedy at law, and that his inability to comply with the statute "is the Registrar's only reason for refusing him registration and number plates."
271 U. S. 461, 271 U. S. 467; Louisville & Nashville R. Co. v. Garrett, 231 U. S. 298, 231 U. S. 304. That provision does not require three judges to pass upon this initial question of jurisdiction.
"its unsoundness so clearly results from the previous decisions of this Court as to foreclose the subject and leave no room for the inference that the question sought to be raised can be the subject of controversy."
Levering & Garrigues Co. v. Morrin, supra; Hannis Distilling Co. v. Baltimore, 216 U. S. 285, 216 U. S. 288; McGilvra v. Ross, 215 U. S. 70, 215 U. S. 80.
While it is appropriate that a single District Judge to whom application is made for an interlocutory injunction restraining the enforcement of a state statute should carefully scrutinize the bill of complaint to ascertain whether a substantial question is presented, to the end that the complainant should not be denied opportunity to be heard in the prescribed manner upon a question that is fairly open to debate, the District Judge clearly has authority to dismiss for the want of jurisdiction when the question lacks the necessary substance and no other ground of jurisdiction appears. Such was his authority in the instant case, in view of the decisions of this Court bearing upon the constitutional authority of the state, acting in the interest of public safety, to enact the statute assailed. Hendrick v. Maryland, 235 U. S. 610, 235 U. S. 622; Continental Baking Co. v. Woodring, 286 U. S. 352, 286 U. S. 357, 286 U. S. 365-366; Hess v. Pawloski, 274 U. S. 352, 274 U. S. 356. See also Opinion of the Justices, 251 Mass. 569, 147 N.E. 681; Opinion of the Justices, 81 N.H. 566, 129 A. 117.

References: § 266
 § 266
 § 380
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