Source: https://www.law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/307/433
Timestamp: 2020-03-31 03:25:25
Document Index: 243745853

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 344', '§ 344', '§ 380', '§ 344', '§ 47', '§ 45', '§ 348', '§ 160', '§ 402', '§ 160', '§ 205']

COLEMAN et al. v. MILLER, Secretary of the Senate of State of Kansas, et al. | US Law | LII / Legal Information Institute
307 U.S. 433 (59 S.Ct. 972, 83 L.Ed. 1385)
Reargued: April 17, 18, 1939.
We find the cases cited in support of the contention, that petitioners lack an adequate interest to invoke our jurisdiction to review, to be inapplicable.3 Here, the plaintiffs include twenty senators, whose votes against ratification have been overridden and virtually held for naught although if they are right in their contentions their votes would have been sufficient to defeat ratification. We think that these senators have a plain, direct and adequate interest in maintaining the effectiveness of their votes. Petitioners come directly within the provisions of the statute governing our appellate jurisdiction. They have set up and claimed a right and privilege under the Constitution of the United States to have their votes given effect and the state court has denied that right and privilege. As the validity of a state statute was not assailed, the remedy by appeal was not available, Jud.Code, Sec. 237(a), 28 U.S.C. 344(a), 28 U.S.C.A. § 344(a), and the appropriate remedy was by writ of certiorari which we granted. Jud.Code, Sec. 237(b), 28 U.S.C. 344(b), 28 U.S.C.A. § 344(b).
We are of the opinion that Hawke v. Smith and Leser v. Garnett, supra, are controlling authorities, but in view of the wide range the discussion has taken we may refer to some other instances in which the question of what constitutes a sufficient interest to enable one to invoke our appellate jurisdiction has been involved. The principle that the applicant must show a legal interest in the controversy has been maintained. It has been applied repeatedly in cases where municipal corporations have challenged state legislation affecting their alleged rights and obligations. Being but creatures of the State, municipal corporations have no standing to invoke the contract clause or the provisions of the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution in opposition to the will of their creator.6 But there has been recognition of the legitimate interest public officials and administrative commissions, federal and state, to resist the endeavor to prevent the enforcement of statutes in relation to which they have official duties. Under the Urgent Deficiencies Act,7 the Interstate Commerce Commission, and commissions representing interested States which have intervened, are entitled as 'aggrieved parties' to an appeal to this Court from a decree setting aside an order of the Interstate Commerce Commission, though the United States refuses to join in the appeal. Interstate Commerce Commission v. Oregon-Washington R. & N. Co., 288 U.S. 14, 53 S.Ct. 266, 77 L.Ed. 588. So, this Court may grant certiorari, on the application of the Federal Trade Commission, to review decisions setting aside its orders.8 Federal Trade Commission v. Curtis Publishing Company, 260 U.S. 568, 43 S.Ct. 210, 67 L.Ed. 408. Analogous provisions authorize certiorari to review decisions against the National Labor Relations Board.9 National Labor Relations Board v. Jones & Laughlin Corporation, 301 U.S. 1, 57 S.Ct. 615, 81 L.Ed. 893, 108 A.L.R. 1352. Under Section 266 of the Judicial Code, 28 U.S.C. 380, 28 U.S.C. § 380, where an injunction is sought to restrain the enforcement of a statute of a State or an order of its administrative board or commission, upon the ground of invalidity under the Federal Constitution, the right of direct appeal to this Court from the decree of the required three judges is accorded whether the injunction be granted or denied. Hence, in case the injunction is granted, the state board is entitled to appeal. See, for example, South Carolina Highway Department v. Barnwell Brothers, 303 U.S. 177, 58 S.Ct. 510, 82 L.Ed. 734.
The question of our authority to grant certiorari, on the application of state officers, to review decisions of state courts declaring state statutes, which these officers seek to enforce, to be repugnant to the Federal Constitution, has been carefully considered and our jurisdiction in that class of cases has been sustained. The original Judiciary Act of 1789 provided in Section 2510 for the review by this Court of a judgment of a state court 'where is drawn in question the validity * * * of a statute of, or an authority exercised under any State, on the ground of their being repugnant to the constitution, treaties or laws of the United States, and the decision is in favour of such their validity'; that is, where the claim of federal right had been denied. By the Act of December 23, 1914,11 it was provided that this Court may review on certiorari decisions of state courts sustaining a federal right. The present statute governing our jurisdiction on certiorari contains the corresponding provision that this Court may exercise that jurisdiction 'as well where the Federal claim is sustained as where it is denied'. Jud.Code, Section 7(b), 28 U.S.C. 344(b), 28 U.S.C.A. § 344(b). The plain purpose was to provide an opportunity, deemed to be important and appropriate, for the review of the decisions of state courts on constitutional questions however the state court might decide them. Accordingly where the claim of a complainant that a state officer be restrained from enforcing a state statute because of constitutional invalidity is sustained by the state court, the statute enables the state officer to seek a reversal by this Court of that decision.
Act of October 22, 1913, 38 Stat. 219; 28 U.S.C. 47, 47a, 345, 28 U.S.C.A. §§ 47, 47a, 345.
15 U.S.C. 45, 15 U.S.C.A. § 45; 28 U.S.C. 348, 28 U.S.C.A. § 348.
29 U.S.C. 160(e), 29 U.S.C.A. § 160(e). See, also, as to orders of Federal Communications Commission, 47 U.S.C. 402(e), 47 U.S.C.A. § 402(e).
5 U.S.C. 160, 5 U.S.C.A. § 160. From Act of April 20, 1818, Sec. 2, 3 Stat. 439; R.S. § 205.