page_title: Smith v. Kansas City Title & Trust Co.
section_title: Jurisdiction of the District Court
hierarchical_section_title: Smith v. Kansas City Title & Trust Co. / Holding / Jurisdiction of the District Court
caption_attribution_description: William Rufus Day (April 17, 1849–July 9, 1923) was an American diplomat and jurist.
context_page_description: Smith v. Kansas City Title & Trust Co., 255 U.S. 180, was a United States Supreme Court case that helped define the range and scope of federal question jurisdiction in state corporate law matters. The case dealt with whether or not a district court had the power to uphold the constitutional validity of the Federal Farm Loan Act of 1916.
context_section_description: The Court ruled that "even where a cause of action arises under state law, a federal court may have jurisdiction if it appears that the right to relief rests on the construction or application of a federal law." Justice Day ruled that the District Court had jurisdiction, stating, "the general rule is that where it appears from the bill or statement of the plaintiff that the right to relief depends upon the construction or application of the Constitution or laws of the United States, and that such federal claim is not merely colorable, and rests upon a reasonable foundation, the District Court has jurisdiction under this provision." So, since this case dealt with federal matters, the Supreme Court ruled that the District Court still has jurisdiction under certain circumstances.
caption: Justice William R. Day authored the majority opinion for Smith v. KC Title & Trust Co.
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