Source: https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/336/368/
Timestamp: 2019-04-22 11:16:05+00:00

Document:
1. Section 266 of the Judicial Code (now 28 U.S.C. §§ 2281, 1253, etc.), which required that a suit to enjoin state officers from enforcing a state statute on the ground of unconstitutionality be heard and determined by a district court of three judges, and which authorized a direct appeal to this Court from a final decree in such suit, held not applicable to the Territory of Hawaii. Pp. 336 U. S. 374-380.
2. A final judgment of the United States District Court for Hawaii in a suit heard and determined by three judges, although not appealable directly to this Court because of the inapplicability of Judicial Code § 266 (now 28 U.S.C. § 1253), was nevertheless reviewable in the Court of Appeals, and could be considered here on certiorari to that court. Pp. 336 U. S. 380-381.
3. A final judgment of the United States District Court for Hawaii, erroneously constituted of three judges under Judicial Code § 266 (now 28 U.S.C. § 2281), enjoined territorial officers from enforcing an Act of the Territory on the ground of unconstitutionality. A direct appeal was erroneously taken to this Court; an appeal was also taken to the Court of Appeals, and this Court was petitioned to review the case in the Court of Appeals by certiorari before judgment.
Held: as the record, arguments and briefs here and the opinions of the District Court fully present the case decided by the District Court, and to avoid further futile proceedings, this Court grants certiorari to review the case in the Court of Appeals before judgment. Pp. 336 U. S. 370-371.
4. Claiming that it was invalid under the Federal Constitution, certain Chinese School Associations, a Chinese school, and a teacher of Chinese in Chinese language schools sued in the United States District Court for Hawaii to enjoin officers of the Territory from enforcing an Act of the Territory which forbids the teaching of foreign languages to children in certain circumstances. The sole sanction for its enforcement was by injunction, in a suit for which the defense of unconstitutionality would be available. The Act had not been construed by the Hawaiian courts.
Held: assuming the existence of federal and equitable jurisdiction, the District Court, as a matter of its discretion, should have refused to grant the injunction. Pp. 336 U. S. 381-384.
5. Where equitable interference with state and territorial acts is sought in federal courts, judicial consideration of acts of importance primarily to the people of the state or territory should, as a matter of discretion, be left by the federal courts to the courts of the legislating authority, unless exceptional circumstances command a different course. P. 336 U. S. 383-384.
Respondents sued in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii to enjoin officers of the Territory from enforcing an Act of the Territory challenged as invalid under the Federal Constitution. The suit was heard and determined by a court of three judges, which granted the injunction. 74 F.Supp. 852. The defendants took a direct appeal to this Court (No. 52) and an appeal to the Court of Appeals. They also petitioned this Court for review of the case in the Court of Appeals by certiorari before judgment (No. 474). In No. 52, the appeal is dismissed; in No. 474, certiorari is granted, the judgment is reversed, and the cause is remanded to the District Court with directions to dismiss the complaint. P. 336 U. S. 384.
A jurisdictional question as to whether Judicial Code § 266 was applicable in the Territory of Hawaii arises in No. 52. It was postponed by order of this Court on June 1, 1948, to the hearing of that case on the merits. This Court postponed action on the petition for certiorari in No. 474 until the hearing of No. 52 on the merits. As the record, arguments, and briefs here and the opinions below fully present the case decided by the District Court, to avoid further futile proceedings, we now grant the petition for the writ of certiorari to the Court of Appeals before its decree and proceed in No. 474 to a review of the judgment of the District Court of Hawaii. The opinions appeal in 74 F.Supp. 852, Mo Hock Ke Lok Po v. Stainback.
the teaching of foreign languages to the respondents' pupils.
"that the study and persistent use of foreign languages by children of average intelligence in their early and formative years definitely detract from their ability properly to understand and assimilate their normal studies in the English language."
This lack of coercion by fine or imprisonment, and the limitation of enforcement to injunction, are important factors in our conclusion upon No. 474.
The complaint alleged that, in violation of the Fifth Amendment, the Act deprived plaintiff schools of the right to manage their property by contracting with instructors and parents for the teaching of Chinese, and the plaintiff teacher of Chinese of his right to follow his occupation. [Footnote 6] See Farrington v. Tokushige, 273 U. S. 284, 273 U. S. 299. The judgment of the special district court granted a sweeping permanent injunction against enforcement of the Hawaiian Act. As our conclusions are based solely upon procedural issues, any further discussion of the facts or of the law applicable to the merits is not appropriate.
to call a panel of judges under § 266 in Hawaii is to be examined in the light of the Phillips case.
"That there shall be established in said Territory a district court to consist of one judge. . . . Said court shall have, in addition to the ordinary jurisdiction of district courts of the United States, jurisdiction of all cases cognizable in a circuit court of the United States, and shall proceed therein in the same manner as a circuit court. . . ."
Our issue is narrowed to the inquiry of whether Congress intended that Judicial Code § 266 should apply in the Territory of Hawaii under circumstances that would require its application in a similar suit in a state. Congress, in discussing an amendment to the Mann-Elkins Act, which amendment evolved into this section, considered the geographical difficulties inherent in the requirement of a three-judge court and the burden thus place on the functioning of the federal judicial system, but decided that such considerations were outweighed by the desirability of having the constitutionality of a state statute passed on by a court comparable to the court of last resort of the state. 45 Cong.Rec. 7253-57. It is to be noted that nowhere in § 266 is mention made of territories, nor as far as has been called to our attention in the congressional debates and reports relating to this section and its amendments.
case, we thought the purpose of Congress would be frustrated by a holding that the word "state" in a federal statute providing for execution of a criminal in "the manner prescribed by the laws of the State within which the sentence is imposed" did not include "Territory." There, we held state included territory. [Footnote 20] Here, the purpose of the statute to protect state sovereignty is not furthered by an interpretation of state to include territory.
We hold that Judicial Code § 266 is not applicable to Hawaii, that we are without jurisdiction in case No. 52, and that the appeal therein must be dismissed.
to review in the Court of Appeals. [Footnote 23] It is the final order of a district court, although erroneously heard by three judges instead of one and not appealable directly here because not covered by § 266. But, as a final order of the District Court, it is reviewable in the Court of Appeals, [Footnote 24] and can be considered here.
respondents here, if such proceedings were brought, would have such defenses as the laws of the territory allow, including of course, defenses based upon the present issues of unconstitutionality under the Federal Constitution.
". . . carries no criminal penalties for infractions. Enforcement is in equity in the circuit courts of the Territory. Plaintiffs have no reason to fear a court of equity, and there is every reason to believe that their constitutional rights would be fully protected in the equity courts of the Territory, and that an appeal, if need be, eventually could be had to the United States Supreme Court."
or territory should, as a matter of discretion, be left by the federal courts to the courts of the legislating authority unless exceptional circumstances command a different course. We find no such circumstances in this case.
The appeal in No. 52 is dismissed.
The judgment in No. 474 is reversed, and the cause remanded to the District Court with directions to dismiss the complaint.
* Together with No. 474, Stainback, Governor of the Territory of Hawaii, et al. v. Mo Hock Ke Lok Po, an Eleemosynary Corporation, et al., on petition for writ of certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
"§ 1254. Courts of appeals; certiorari; appeal; certified questions."
"Cases in the courts of appeals may be reviewed by the Supreme Court by the following methods: "
"(1) By writ of certiorari granted upon the petition of any party to any civil or criminal case, before or after rendition of judgment or decree. . . ."
Session Laws of Hawaii 1943, Act 104, Revised Laws of Hawaii 1945, c. 31.
"SEC. 1872. Definitions. As used in this chapter: "
"'School' means any person, firm, group of persons, unincorporated association, corporation, establishment, or institution, which teaches, with or without fees, compensation, or other charges therefor, any language other than the English language, as a course of study, to two or more persons as a group, as a regular and customary practice."
"No child shall be taught a foreign language in any school unless he shall comply with one of the following requirements: (a) that he shall have passed the fourth grade in public school or its equivalent, and shall pass from time to time in each succeeding grade a standard test in English composition and reading conducted by or under the direction of the department of public instruction attaining a score not lower than normal for his grade; or (b) that he shall have passed the eighth grade in public school or its equivalent; or (c) that he shall have attained the age of fifteen years."
"No school shall permit the teaching of any foreign language to any child under the age of fifteen unless the teacher shall have been examined and certified by a board of examiners of three persons appointed by the commissioners of public instruction to be reasonably well versed in the usage and idiom of both the English language and the foreign language to be taught by such teacher. . . ."
"SEC. 1876. Injunctive enforcement. In the event any school or any person shall be found to be violating, or failing to comply with any of the requirements of, this chapter, or there shall be reasonable cause to believe that such school or person is violating, or failing to comply with the requirements of, this chapter, the attorney general, at his own instance or at the request of the department of public instruction, shall institute appropriate proceedings in equity in the circuit in which the violation occurs to enjoin the performance of any acts or practices forbidden by this chapter, or to require such school or person to comply with the requirements of this chapter. Jurisdiction to hear and dispose of all actions under this section is hereby conferred upon each circuit judge, and each such judge shall have power to issue such orders and decrees, by way of injunction, mandatory injunction or otherwise, as may be appropriate to enforce the provisions of this chapter. In the event any respondent or respondents shall fail or refuse to comply with any such order or decree, the court, in addition to any other powers hereby granted, shall have power to enjoin the operation and conduct of such school until and unless this chapter is complied with or satisfactory assurance is given that this chapter will be complied with. The county attorney of each county shall, at the request of the attorney general, conduct such proceeding in behalf of the Territory. All such suits shall be brought in the name of the Territory by the attorney general."
There was a further allegation of a denial to plaintiffs of rights under 8 U.S.C. §§ 41, 42, 43. This was not considered by the District Court or relied upon is brief or argument here. We do not consider it.
"No interlocutory injunction suspending or restraining the enforcement, operation, or execution of any statute of a State by restraining the action of any officer of such State in the enforcement or execution of such statute, . . . shall be issued or granted . . . unless the application for the same shall be presented to a justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, or to a circuit or district judge, and shall be heard and determined by three judges. . . . Whenever such application as aforesaid is presented to a justice of the Supreme Court, or to a judge, he shall immediately call to his assistance to hear and determine the application two other judges. . . . An appeal may be taken direct to the Supreme Court of the United States from the order granting or denying, after notice and hearing, an interlocutory injunction in such case. . . . The requirement respecting the presence of three judges shall also apply to the final hearing in such suit in the district court, and a direct appeal to the Supreme Court may be taken from a final decree granting or denying a permanent injunction in such suit."
"All pertinent adjective prerequisites specified by the Supreme Court in Ayrshire Collieries Corporation v. United States, 331 U. S. 132, and in Farrington v. T. Tokushige, supra, necessary to make operative three judge participation in the instant suit have occurred. An interlocutory injunction has been sought and passed to a hearing in the District Court at Honolulu, and a substantial federal question of transcending limitations of the 5th Amendment to the Constitution has been sufficiently alleged in the Amended Complaint."
Despite appellants' suggestion that the application for an interlocutory injunction was not pressed, we think that, in view of this language, it would be hypercritical for us to dismiss this appeal for failure of the record to show more definitely that the prayer for an interlocutory judgment was pressed. But see Healy v. Ratta, 289 U.S. 701, where the correspondence file in this Court shows receipt of a supplemental record containing a formal waiver of prayer for temporary relief. Ayrshire Collieries Corp. v. United States, supra, at 331 U. S. 140; Stratton v. St. Louis S.W. R. Co., 282 U. S. 10. Compare 28 U.S.C. § 1253 and 28 U.S.C. (1946 ed., Supp. II) pp. 1444, 1453, showing repeal and redistribution of Judicial Code § 266. We therefore assume that the quoted statement from the District Court opinion establishes that the request for an interlocutory injunction was pressed on that court.
Stratton v. St. Louis S.W. R. Co., 282 U. S. 10, 282 U. S. 13; Phillips v. United States, 312 U. S. 246, 312 U. S. 248.
Air travel to Hawaii is recognized by the Administrative Office of the United States Courts as a necessary travel expense for judges under 28 U.S.C. § 604(7).
28 U.S.C. §§ 451, 91, 1331-1359; see 28 U.S.C. § 41; sec. 8, Act of June 25, 1948, 62 Stat. 986. Note arrangement for Alaska id. sec. 9.
See Revisers Notes to §§ 1291, 1292. Cf. Mookini v. United States, 303 U. S. 201.
Rorick v. Board of Commissioners of Everglades Drainage District, 307 U. S. 208, 307 U. S. 212.
Review of the judgments of the district court for Hawaii was allowed in the Organic Act by § 86 to the Ninth Judicial Circuit in the same manner as from the then circuit courts to the circuit courts of appeals. This was adjusted to conform to the elimination of the circuit courts by Judicial Code § 128 as amended. See 48 U.S.C. § 64. Since this appeal was taken, the United States Code, Title 28, §§ 1291, 1294, has become effective. Under Judicial Code § 266, this Court had direct review, Judicial Code §§ 128, 238, at the time of appeal and still has. 28 U.S.C. § 1253, as revised effective September 1, 1948.
Waialua Co. v. Christian, 305 U. S. 91, 305 U. S. 108; De Castro v. Board of Comm'rs, 322 U. S. 451, 322 U. S. 455.
Ex parte Collins, 277 U. S. 565, 277 U. S. 567-569.
Although Judicial Code § 266 originated in 1910, 36 Stat. 539, 557, it was not until 1937 that the requirement of a three-judge district court to hear applications for injunctions against the enforcement of Acts of Congress was enacted. 50 Stat. 752.
Const., Art. IV, § 3, cl. 2.
To the cases on strict construction of § 266 cited in Phillips v. United States, supra, add City of Cleveland v. United States, 323 U. S. 329; Spielman Motor Sales Co. v. Dodge, 295 U. S. 89; Public Nat. Bank of New York v. Keating, 29 F.2d 621; City of Des Moines v. Des Moines Gas Co., 264 F. 506; Calhoun v. City of Seattle, 215 F. 226; Cumberland Telephone & Telegraph Co. v. City of Memphis, 198 F. 955.
See also Talbott v. Board of Comm'rs of Silver Bow County, 139 U. S. 438; Wynne v. United States, 217 U. S. 234, 217 U. S. 242; Yeung v. Territory of Hawaii, 132 F.2d 374, 377.
United States v. More, 3 Cranch 159, 7 U. S. 172; Snow v. United States, 118 U. S. 346, 118 U. S. 354; Cross v. Burke, 146 U. S. 82, 146 U. S. 87; Louisville Trust Co. v. Knott, 191 U. S. 225, 191 U. S. 236; Arant v. Lane, 245 U. S. 166, 245 U. S. 170.
Stratton v. St. Louis S.W. R. Co., 282 U. S. 10, 282 U. S. 13. See also Benedicto v. West India & Panama Telegraph Co., 256 F. 417. Compare Porto Rico Ry., Light & Power Co. v. Colom, 106 F.2d 345, 354-355.
"expressly and clearly removed by subsequent specific Congressional legislation. Title 48, Section 646, Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, rules 1, 65(e)."
"These rules do not modify . . . the act of August 24, 1937, c. 754, § 3, relating to actions to enjoin the enforcement of acts of Congress."
Section 3 of c. 754, 50 Stat. 751, is the section that provides for a special district court where an injunction is sought restraining the enforcement, operation, or execution of the setting aside of any act of Congress on the ground that it is repugnant to the Constitution of the United States. In this present proceeding, we are not dealing with any act of Congress, but with an act of the territorial legislature of the Hawaiian Islands.
Healy v. Ratta, 289 U.S. 701; 292 U. S. 292 U.S. 263-264; 67 F.2d 554, 556; Wilentz v. Sovereign Camp, 306 U. S. 573, 306 U. S. 582; Public Service Commission v. Brashear Freight Lines, 312 U. S. 621, 312 U. S. 626.
28 U.S.C. § 225(a), now 28 U.S.C. § 1291. See Gully v. Interstate Nat. Gas Co., 292 U. S. 16, 292 U. S. 19; Oklahoma Gas & Electric Co. v. Oklahoma Packing Co., 292 U. S. 386, 292 U. S. 392; Rorick v. Board of Commissioners, 307 U. S. 208, 307 U. S. 213. Cf. Jameson & Co. v. Morgenthau, 307 U. S. 171, 307 U. S. 174; International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union v. Donnelly Garment Co., 304 U. S. 243, 304 U. S. 251-252.
As indicated above, note 6 respondents also relied upon a denial of equal rights under 8 U.S.C. §§ 41, 42 and 43. No more definite allegation appears. The hearing developed nothing to indicate any purpose or action of discrimination against any race or group in the law or its administration. The Act covered all foreign languages. We therefore confine ourselves to the due process issue. See Snowden v. Hughes, 321 U. S. 1.
Notwithstanding the fusion of law and equity by the Rules of Civil Procedure, the substantive principles of Courts of Chancery remain unaffected. Rules 1 and 2; 48 Stat. 1064, §§ 1 and 2 [note 48 U.S.C.1946 ed., § 646; repealed by Act of June 25, 1948, 62 Stat. 992; cf. 28 U.S.C. § 451]; Abbe v. New York, N.H. & H. R. Co., 171 F.2d 387, 388; Bereslavsky v. Caffey, 161 F.2d 499; Bereslavsky v. Kloeb, 162 F.2d 862; Byram v. Vaughn, 68 F.Supp. 981, 984. Compare Sibbach v. Wilson & Co., 312 U. S. 1, 312 U. S. 9-10. See Hillsborough v. Cromwell, 326 U. S. 620, 326 U. S. 622.
"Section 11 of the Judiciary Act of 1789, 1 Stat. 78, provided that the circuit courts should have 'cognizance . . . of all suits of a civil nature at common law or in equity' in cases appropriately brought in those courts. This provision is perpetuated in § 24(1) of the Judicial Code, 28 U.S.C. § 41(1) [now § 1331 et seq.], which declares that the district courts shall have jurisdiction of such suits. The 'jurisdiction' thus conferred on the federal courts to entertain suits in equity is an authority to administer in equity suits the principles of the system of judicial remedies which had been devised and was being administered by the English Court of Chancery at the time of the separation of the two countries. . . . This clause of the statute does not define the jurisdiction of the district courts as federal courts, in the sense of their power or authority to hear and decide, but prescribes the body of doctrine which is to guide their decisions and enable them to determine whether, in any given instance, a suit of which a district court has jurisdiction as a federal court is an appropriate one for the exercise of the extraordinary powers of a court of equity. . . ."
Cf. Matthews v. Rodgers, 284 U. S. 521, 284 U. S. 525; Moore's Federal Practice, vol. 1, pp. 108, 208; Grauman v. City Company of New York, 31 F.Supp. 172; H.R. Rep. No. 308, 80th Cong., 1st Sess., p. A 236 on 28 U.S.C. § 384.
See Spielman Motor Sales Co. v. Dodge, 295 U. S. 89, 295 U. S. 95.
Waialua Co. v. Christian, 305 U. S. 91, 305 U. S. 108; Beal v. Missouri Pacific R. Corp., 312 U. S. 45; Watson v. Buck, 313 U. S. 387; Douglas v. Jeannette, 319 U. S. 157; Burford v. Sun Oil Co., 319 U. S. 315, 319 U. S. 333, n. 29; Meredith v. Winter Haven, 320 U. S. 228, 320 U. S. 235. Compare Spector Motor Service v. McLaughlin, 323 U. S. 101.
MR. JUSTICE FRANKFURTER, with whom MR. JUSTICE RUTLEDGE joins, concurring in part and dissenting in part.
As to No. 52, I join the Court's opinion.
As to No. 474, I would leave the appeal now pending in the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to its adjudication there, and not grant the petition for certiorari. The power which Congress has given to this Court to short-circuit the Courts of Appeals should not be exercised except for some compelling reason of wise judicial administration. No reason is here present that would not be equally available in almost every case which, even though a constitutional issue may be involved, cannot come here directly, but must first go to a Court of Appeals. Congress decided not to provide for such direct appeals here, and we should not exercise our discretionary power to grant what Congress has withheld. This discretionary power should come into play only for those exceptional circumstances for which Congress designed it.
If the attempt had been made to bring No. 474 here prematurely it would surely have failed. It should not succeed because No. 52 was improperly brought here. Accordingly, I agree with the Court in dismissing No. 52 for want of jurisdiction, and, in No. 474, I would deny the petition for certiorari.
"If it be suggested that as much effort and time as we have given to the consideration of the alleged conflict would have enabled us to dispose of the case before us on the merits, the answer is that it is very important that we be consistent in not granting the writ of certiorari except in cases involving principles the settlement of which is of importance to the public, as distinguished from that of the parties, and in cases where there is a real and embarrassing conflict of opinion and authority between the Circuit Courts of Appeals. The present case certainly comes under neither head."
Layne & Bowler Corp. v. Western Well Works, Inc., 261 U. S. 387, 261 U. S. 393.

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