Case Name: HIROTA v. MacARTHUR, GENERAL OF THE ARMY, et al.
Court: Supreme Court of the United States
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1948-12-20
Citations: 338 U.S. 197
Docket Number: NO. 239, MISC.
Parties: HIROTA v. MacARTHUR, GENERAL OF THE ARMY, et al.
Judges: Mr. Justice Murphy dissents.
Reporter: United States Reports
Volume: 338
Pages: 197–215

Head Matter:
HIROTA v. MacARTHUR, GENERAL OF THE ARMY, et al.
NO. 239, MISC.
Argued December 16-17, 1948.
Decided December 20, 1948.
Concurring opinion announced June 27, 1949.
William Logan, Jr., George Yamaoka and, by special leave of Court, George A. Furness, pro hac vice, argued the cause for petitioners.
David F. Smith argued the cause for petitioners in Nos. 239 and 240, Misc., and filed a brief for petitioner in No. 239, Misc. Mr. Yamaoka was also of counsel for petitioner in No. 239, Misc. Mr. Logan and John G. Brannon were also of counsel for petitioners in Nos. 239 and 240, Misc.
John G. Brannon argued the cause for petitioners in No. 248, Misc. With him on the brief were John W. Crandall, Mr. Logan, Mr. Yamaoka and Mr. Furness. Ben Bruce Blakeney was also of counsel.
Solicitor General Perlman argued the cause for respondents. With him on the brief were Judge Advocate Gen eral of the Army Thomas H. Green, Arnold Raum, Robert W. Ginnane, Oscar H. Davis, Beatrice Rosenberg and Joseph B. Keenan.
Samuel H. Jaffee filed a brief for the National Lawyers Guild, as amicus curiae, opposing the petitions.
Mr. Justice Rutledge died September 10, 1949, without having announced his vote on this case.

Opinion:
Per Curiam.
The petitioners, all residents and citizens of Japan, are being held in custody pursuant to the judgment of a military tribunal in Japan. Two of the petitioners have been sentenced to death, the others to terms of imprisonment. They filed motions in this Court for leave to file petitions for habeas corpus. We set all the motions for hearing on the question of our power to grant the relief prayed and that issue has now been fully presented and argued.
We are satisfied that the tribunal sentencing these petitioners is not a tribunal of the United States. The United States and other allied countries conquered and now occupy and control Japan. General Douglas MacArthur has been selected and is acting as the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers. The military tribunal sentencing these petitioners has been set up by General MacArthur as the agent of the Allied Powers.
Under the foregoing circumstances the courts of the United States have no power or authority to review, to affirm, set aside or annul the judgments and sentences imposed on these petitioners and for this reason the motions for leave to file petitions for writs of habeas corpus are denied.
Mr. Justice Murphy dissents.
Mr. Justice Rutledge reserves decision and the announcement of his vote until a later time.
Mr. Justice Jackson took no part in the final decision on these motions.