Source: http://supreme.nolo.com/us/343/112/case.html
Timestamp: 2019-04-24 06:38:38+00:00

Document:
The Act of October 31, 1951, 65 Stat. 727, amending 28 U.S.C. § 1346 so as to withdraw the jurisdiction of federal district courts over actions against the United States to recover compensation for official services of "employees," applies to actions pending on the effective date of the amendment. Pp. 343 U. S. 113-117.
(a) When a law conferring jurisdiction is repealed without any reservation of jurisdiction over pending cases, all pending cases fall with the law. Insurance Co. v. Ritchie, 5 Wall. 541. Pp. 343 U. S. 115-117.
(b) A different result is not required by the provision of 1 U.S.C. § 109 that "repeal of any statute shall not have the effect to release or extinguish any penalty, forfeiture, or liability incurred under such statute." P. 343 U. S. 117.
Petitioner's action against the United States to recover compensation for official services was dismissed by the District Court. The Court of Appeals affirmed. 189 F.2d 255. This Court granted certiorari. 342 U.S. 858. Affirmed, p. 343 U. S. 117.
"jurisdiction of cases brought to recover fees, salary, or compensation for official services of officers of the United States or brought for such purpose by persons claiming as such officers or as assignees or legal representatives thereof; but no suit pending on the 27th day of June, 1898, shall abate or be affected by this provision. [Footnote 2]"
The District Court, holding that petitioner was an "officer of the United States," entered judgment dismissing petitioner's complaint for want of jurisdiction. The Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit affirmed. 189 F.2d 255.
In Beal v. United States, 182 F.2d 565 (1950), the Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit sustained jurisdiction of the District Court over a suit brought by another civilian fire fighter appointed by the War Department on the ground that he was only an "employee," and not an "officer of the United States." We granted certiorari in the case at bar to resolve the conflict of decisions. 342 U.S. 858.
After certiorari had been granted in this case, the Act of October 31, 1951, Pub.L. No. 248, became effective. Section 50(b) of that Act amended the applicable clause of the Judicial Code "by inserting, immediately after officers' in such clause, the words `or employees'. . . ." [Footnote 3] As a result of this amendment, we are confronted at the threshold of this case with the question whether the Act of October 31, 1951, withdrawing the jurisdiction of the District Court over actions for compensation brought by "employees," applies to an action pending on the effective date of the Act. The power of Congress to withhold jurisdiction from the District Court "in the exact degrees and character which to Congress may seem proper for the public good" [Footnote 4] is not challenged.
The Act of October 31, 1951, withdrawing the jurisdiction of the District Court over suits by "employees," did not reserve jurisdiction over pending cases, [Footnote 7] even though reservation of jurisdiction over pending cases had been held required, and later had been made by Congress in respect to the 1898 provisions withdrawing jurisdiction over suits by "officers." Absent such a reservation, only the Court of Claims has jurisdiction to hear and determine claims for compensation brought by employees of the United States, even though the District Court had jurisdiction over such claims when petitioner's action was brought. Merchants' Insurance Co. v. Ritchie, 5 Wall. 541 (1867).
"It is clear that, when the jurisdiction of a cause depends upon a statute the repeal of the statute takes away the jurisdiction. And it is equally clear that, where a jurisdiction conferred by statute is prohibited by a subsequent statute, the prohibition is, so far, a repeal of the statute conferring the jurisdiction."
"It is quite possible that this effect of the act of 1866 was not contemplated by Congress. The jurisdiction given by the act of 1833 in cases arising under the customs revenue laws is not taken away or affected by it. In these cases, suits may still be maintained against collectors by citizens of the same State. It is certainly difficult to perceive a reason for discrimination between such suits and suits under the internal revenue laws; but, when terms are unambiguous, we may not speculate on probabilities of intention."
"Jurisdiction in such cases was conferred by an act of Congress, and, when that act of Congress was repealed, the power to exercise such jurisdiction was withdrawn, and, inasmuch as the repealing act contained no saving clause, all pending actions fell, as the jurisdiction depended entirely upon the act of Congress."
"repeal of any statute shall not have the effect to release or extinguish any penalty, forfeiture, or liability incurred under such statute. [Footnote 9]"
Congress has not altered the nature or validity of petitioner's rights or the Government's liability, but has simply reduced the number of tribunals authorized to hear and determine such rights and liabilities. Hallowell v. Commons, 239 U. S. 506, 239 U. S. 508 (1916). Compare Lynch v. United States, 292 U. S. 571 (1934).
24 Stat. 505 (1887), now 28 U.S.C. (Supp. IV) § 1346.
"The district courts shall not have jurisdiction under this section of:"
"(2) Any civil action to recover fees, salary, or compensation for official services of officers of the United States."
28 U.S.C.(Supp. IV) § 1346(d).
65 Stat. 710, 727 (1951).
Lockerty v. Phillips, 319 U. S. 182, 319 U. S. 187 (1943); Cary v. Curtis, 3 How. 236, 44 U. S. 245 (1845).
30 Stat. 494, 495 (1898). See H.R.Rep.No.325, 55th Cong., 2d Sess. (1898).
No mention of pending cases is found in the Act. In § 56(1) of the same Act, Congress expressly saved "any rights or liabilities" existing at the effective date of the Act under statutes repealed by § 56. 65 Stat. 710, 730 (1951).
Ex parte McCardle, 7 Wall. 506, 74 U. S. 514 (1869); Baltimore & P. Railroad Co. v. Grant, 98 U. S. 398, 98 U. S. 401 (1879); Sherman v. Grinnell, 123 U. S. 679, 123 U. S. 680 (1887); Gurnee v. Patrick County, 137 U. S. 141, 137 U. S. 144 (1890); Gwin v. United States, 184 U. S. 669, 184 U. S. 675 (1902). See Kline v. Burke Const. Co., 260 U. S. 226, 260 U. S. 234 (1922).
This jurisdictional rule does not affect the general principle that a statute is not to be given retroactive effect unless such construction is required by explicit language or by necessary implication. Compare United States v. St. Louis, S.F. & T. R. Co., 270 U. S. 1, 270 U. S. 3 (1926), with Smallwood v. Gallardo, 275 U. S. 56, 275 U. S. 61 (1927).
1 U.S.C. (Supp. IV) § 109.

References: § 1346
 v. 
 § 109
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 § 1346
 § 1346
 v. 
 v. 
 § 56
 § 56
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 § 109