Source: https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/268/619/case.html
Timestamp: 2016-08-28 12:26:02
Document Index: 480738959

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 238', '§ 11', '§ 51', '§ 310', '§ 4', '§ 5', '§ 15']

Robertson v. Railroad Labor Board :: 268 U.S. 619 (1925) :: Justia U.S. Supreme Court Center Log In
› Robertson v. Railroad Labor Board
Robertson v. Railroad Labor Board 268 U.S. 619 (1925)
U.S. Supreme CourtRobertson v. Railroad Labor Board, 268 U.S. 619 (1925)Robertson v. Railroad Labor BoardNo. 739Argued March 17, 18, 1925Decided June 8, 1925268 U.S. 619APPEAL FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE UNITED STATES
3 F.2d 488 reversed. Page 268 U. S. 620
Pursuant to paragraph a, the Board issued a subpoena to Robertson, a citizen and inhabitant of Cleveland, Ohio, commanding him to appear at its offices in Chicago, Illinois, on a day named, to testify concerning a dispute then being inquired into. The subpoena was served upon Page 268 U. S. 621 Robertson at Cleveland by the United States Marshal for the Northern District of Ohio. Robertson did not personally attend as commanded. But, on the day named, he appeared specially by his attorney and, challenging the jurisdiction of the Board over him, declined to appear and testify. Thereupon this suit was begun by the Board in the Federal Court for Northern Illinois, Eastern division, pursuant to paragraph b.
concerning the subject matter of the inquiry. 3 F.2d. 488. The case is here on appeal under § 238 of the Judicial Code, the questions of jurisdiction having been duly certified. Whether the court acquired jurisdiction over Robertson is the only question requiring decision. Page 268 U. S. 622
In a civil suit in personam, jurisdiction over the defendant, as distinguished from venue, implies, among other things, either voluntary appearance by him or service of process upon him at a place where the officer serving it has authority to execute a writ of summons. Under the general provisions of law, a United States district court cannot issue process beyond the limits of the district. Harkness v. Hyde, 98 U. S. 476; Ex part Graham, 3 Wash. 456. And a defendant in a civil suit can be subjected to its jurisdiction in personam only by service within the district. Toland v. Sprague, 12 Pet. 300, 37 U. S. 330. Such was the general rule established by Judiciary Act Sept. 24, 1789, c. 20, § 11, 1 Stat. 73, 79, in accordance with the practice at the common law. Piquet v. Swan, Page 268 U. S. 623 5 Mason, 35, 39 et seq. And such has been the general rule ever since. Munter v. Weil Corset Co., 261 U. S. 276, 261 U. S. 279. No distinction has been drawn between the case where the plaintiff is the government and where he is a private citizen. [Footnote 1]
It is obvious that jurisdiction, in the sense of personal service within a district where suit has been brought, does not dispense with the necessity of proper venue. It is equally obvious that proper venue does not eliminate the requisite of personal jurisdiction over the defendant. The general provision as to venue contained in Judicial Code, § 51, has been departed from in various specific provisions which allow the plaintiff, in actions not local in their nature, some liberty in the selection of venue. [Footnote 3] Unrestricted choice was conferred upon the Labor Board by the section of Transportation Page 268 U. S. 624 Act 1920, here involved (§ 310). So far as venue is concerned, there is no ambiguity in the words "any United States district court."
Congress has also made a few clearly expressed and carefully guarded exceptions to the general rule of jurisdiction in personam stated above. In one instance, the Credit Mobilier Act March 3, 1873, c. 226, § 4, 17 Stat. 485, 509, it was provided that writs of subpoena to bring in parties defendant should run into any district. This broad power was to be exercised at the instance of the Attorney General in a single case in which, in order to give complete relief, it was necessary to join in one suit defendants living in different states. United States v. Union Pacific Railroad, 98 U. S. 569. Under similar circumstances, but only for the period of three years, authority was granted generally by Act Sept.19, 1922, c. 345, 42 Stat. 849, to institute a civil suit by or on behalf of the United States, either in the district of the residence of one of the necessary defendants or in that in which the cause of action arose, and to serve the process upon a defendant in any district. The Sherman Act (Act July 2, 1890, c. 647, § 5, 26 Stat. 209, 210), provides that when "it shall appear to the court" in which a proceeding to restrain violations of the act is pending "that the ends of justice require that other parties should be brought before the court," it may cause them to be summoned although they reside in some other district. The Clayton Act (Act Oct. 15, 1914, c. 323, § 15, 38 Stat. 730, 737), contains a like provision. But no act has come to our attention in which such power has been conferred in a proceeding in a Circuit or district court [Footnote 4] where a private citizen is Page 268 U. S. 625 the sole defendant and where the plaintiff is at liberty to commence the suit in the district of which the defendant is an inhabitant or in which he can be found. [Footnote 5]
As the Railroad Labor Board is charged generally with the adjustment of disputes between carriers and their employees, it may prove desirable to hold hearings at any place within the United States, and power to do so was expressly conferred. The Board may demand answers or the production of documentary evidence from one who attends such a hearing. The contumacy of a witness Page 268 U. S. 626 appearing before the Board in any designated place of hearing was thus one contingency for which it was necessary to make provision. Congress also granted to the Labor Board in explicit language the broad power of compelling a person to come from any place in the United States to any designated place of hearing to furnish evidence. [Footnote 6] The refusal of such person, who might be in any district in the United States, to comply with such a subpoena was obviously a second contingency to be provided for. Unrestricted liberty of venue in invoking the aid of a district court, referred to before, was clearly essential to the complete exercise of the Board's powers and the effective performance of its functions. Moreover, this unrestricted choice cannot subject to undue hardship any defendant actually found within the district in which the suit is brought. But no reason is suggested why Congress should have wished to compel every person summoned either to obey the Board's administrative order without question or to litigate his right to refuse to do so in such district, however remote from his home or temporary residence, as the Board might select. The Interstate Commerce Commission, which, throughout 38 years, has dealt in many different ways with most of the railroads of the United States, has never exercised, or asserted, or sought to secure for itself such broad powers. Page 268 U. S. 627