Document: 334 U.S. 343 68 S.Ct. 1097 92 L.Ed. 1429 SHERRERv.SHERRER. COE v. COE. Nos. 36, 37. Supreme Court of the United States Argued Oct. 13, 14, 1947. June 7, 1948 Mr. Frederick M. Myers, Pittsfield, Mass., for petitioner. Messrs. Lincoln S. Cain and Robert T. Capeless, both respondent. Chief Justice VINSON delivered opinion Court. 1 We granted certiorari in this case Coe Coe, 378, 1094, to consider contention petitioners that Massachusetts has failed accord full faith credit decrees divorce rendered by courts sister States.1 2 Petitioner Margaret E. Sherrer respondent, Edward C. Sherrer, were married New Jersey 1930, from 1932 until April 3, 1944, lived together Monterey, Massachusetts. Following a long period marital discord, petitioner, accompanied two children marriage, left on latter date, ostensibly purpose spending vacation State Florida. Shortly after her arrival Florida, however, petitioner informed husband she did not intend return him. obtained housing accommodations placed older child school, secured employment herself. 3 On July 6, bill complaint was filed at petitioner's direction Circuit Sixth Judicial Florida.2 The alleged extreme cruelty as grounds also 'bona fide resident Florida.'3 respondentr eceived notice mail pendency proceedings. He retained Florida counsel who entered general appearance an answer denying allegations complaint, including allegation residence.4 4 November hearings held Respondent appeared personally testify with respect stipulation into parties relating custody children.5 Throughout entire proceedings respondent represented counsel.6 introduced evidence establish residence testified generally complaint. Counsel cross-examine or introduce rebuttal. 5 court 29, decree specifically finding 'that is bona jurisdiction subject matter said cause; * *' challenge appeal Court.7 6 December 1, one Henry A. Phelps, whom had known while residing wno come shortly State. Phelps wife where they employed, February 5, 1945, when returned 7 In June, instituted action Probate Berkshire County, Massachusetts, which given rise issues case. he lawful invalid, subsequent marriage void. Respondet prayed might be permitted convey his real estate if sole declare living apart justifiable cause.8 joined issue respondent's allegations. 8 followed, gave testimony defense validity decree.9 Court, resolved fact adversely contentions, found never domiciled relief requested. affirmed it supported requirements preclude reexamining domicile made court.10 9 At outset, should observed prior entry no way inconsistent procedural due process. do understand urge contrary. Though attorney pleadings substantial It suggested rights otherwise conduct any degree impaired; nor there available him right seek review clear afforded day every involved litigation, jurisdictional domicile. Under such circumstances, nothing concept process demands defendant second opportunity litigate existence facts. Chicago Life Insurance Co. Cherry, 1917, 244 25, 37 492, 61 966; Baldwin Iowa Traveling Men's Association, 1931, 283 522, 51 517, 75 1244. 10 been suggestion under law question invalid could successfully subjected type attack court. implicit assumption underlying position taken involves valid final it; we so assume.11 11 That enter dependent upon disputed.12 This requirement recognized decree, principle frequent application decisions Court.13 But whether time judicial determination. Here, unlike situation presented Williams North Carolina, 325 226, 65 1092, 89 1577, 157 A.L.R. 1366, requisite facts participated. are confronted, therefore, circumstances may, consistent credit, collateral suit brought original 12 what effect adjudication possesses case, judgment subsequently grounds, consideration over many years. Insofar cases originating federal concerned, rule evolved doctrine res judicata applies adjudications either person have those questions litigate.14 reasons frequently stated. Thus Stoll Gottlieb, 1938, 305 165, 172, 59 134, 138, said: 'Courts determine integral part our system government. just important place end begin litigation. After party court, present view law, decision merely retries previously determined. There reason expect will more satisfactory than first.' 13 must applied arising state involving clause where, rendered, susceptible attack.15 14 Davis Davis, 32, 83 26, 118 1518, District Columbia refused give absolute Virginia, ground Virginia lacked despite fully litigated plaintiff's failing recognition required Constitution. During course opinion, stated: 'As domicil standing invoke its binding District. She may say entitled sue plea put domicil, show false, took exceptions commissioner's report, sought sustain them uphold plea. Plainly, determination point effective all purposes litigation.'16 15 believe related situations17 clearly indicative result reached here. Those stand proposition bar collaterally attacking participation proceedings, accorded contest issues, decree.18 16 Applying these principles hold erred permitting entered. participated entering appearance, filing placing very matters courts, appearing before giving retaining attorneys throughout contended less other relevant indicate would evaluated fairly good submitted it. does even contend basis erroneous If take advantage opportunities him, responsibility own. dereliction provide rendered. 17 suggested, Andrews Andrews, 1903, 188 23 237, 47 366, militates against reached. husband, Ms sachusetts, South Dakota having satisfied challenging husband's Before granted, wife, pursuant consent agreement between parties, withdrew remarried. death developed first wives administration estate. concluded void applicable statutes decree. writ error divided vote.19 18 facts, presents variations situation.20 insofar herein announced, regarded superseded decided considerable modern development finality findings.21 One majority primary reliance, Wisconsin Pelican Co., 1888, 127 265, 1370, 32 239, was, pertinent, overruled Milwaukee County White 1935, 296 268, 56 229, 80 220. determinative us. 19 urged further, because dealing litigation dissolution relation, different demanded properly concerned types pointed out Constitution, regulation control family relationships reserved States. urged, so, incidents relation exercise powers most vital importance. Finally, importance viewed light permit initiated proceedings.22 20 State's power basic social domiciliaries resolve exert domiciliary. is, rather, assertions Federal Union thus considerations go beyond interests local policy, however vital. resolving here presented, conceive function weigh relative merits policies matters. Nor support obligation imposed Article IV, § Constitution Act Congress passed thereunde, amounts something duty States.23 provisions incorporated framers transforming aggregation independent, sovereign nation.24 policy times way, 'is price system.' 1942, 317 287, 302, 63 207, 215.25 21 area reasonable interest made. heretofore clear, limited extent.26 again refusing recognize asserted cannot reconciled credit. assurances exercised sparingly wisely render repugnant constitutional commands. 22 thing permissible reesamination findings ex parte proceedings.27 quite another suspense pending scrutiny competent conducted manner highest run gantlet outside established rejected. indicates us greater rather lesser litigation.28 And requires Reversed. 24 FRANKFURTER MURPHY dissenting. For dissenting see U.S.3 43, 1097. 25 What Holmes illstarred Haddock equally here: 'I suppose civilization whichever decided.' 201 562, 628, 26 525, 551, 50 867, Ann.Cas. 1. But, believing I announced calculated, unwittingly, promote perjury without appreciably affecting existing disharmonies among forty-eight divorce, deem appropriate my views. Not only today's fraught likelihood untoward consequences. disregards century expressed latterly States, domain peculiarly concern Nation. 27 necessary order decide read Full Faith Credit Clause art. 4, generations judges problem troublesome have, successively pronounced series discordant decisions. 'Full credit' 'judgment' implies deal subject-matter controversy. A professes act. conveyed word 'jurisdiction,' and, comes dissolving status, English-speaking world act Whether particular depends myriad diversities. consensus some sense permanence connection individual claims asks 28 certainly easier beginning construed mean conclusive, since 1873. Thompson Whitman, Wall. 457, 897. last considered problem, 1945. 1366. asked enforce appropriately ascertain purported do. enforcing regard intimate, within private foreclose their arrangement. 366; cf. Fall Eastin, 215 30 54 65, L.R.A.,N.S., 924, 853; Alaska Packers Association Industrial Accident Commission, 294 532, 55 518, 79 1044. 29 contract sell automobile, thereto well bargain away involved, relations citizens vastly ordinary commercial transaction. bartered bargained immediate controversy default arranged n proceeding strangers. Therefore, status deemed foreclosed State, though making desirable themselves reopening dispute.1 agree forbids insisting bound distant wanting alone gives, need honor intrinsically sham proceeding, brings attention. society domestic members almost impatiently conceded.2 enough pay lip-service commonplace abstraction. Its implications respected. They define problems. Nowhere grant divorces freely, rescind ther contract. Even thought institution socially desirable, scarcely personal enforcement enacted First Congress. Stat. 122, U.S.C. 687, U.S.C.A. 687. ordained deepest public concern, dispute shown exclusively special enactments several legislatures through See Ireland Galindez, Divorce Americas (1947) p. 31 As contract, unique law. To assimilate can mislead. Maynard Hill, 125 190, 210—214, 723, 729—731, 654; Restatement Law, Contracts, §§ 584, 586; Trustees Dartmouth College Woodward, Wheat. 627—629, 629. comprehend contains. Society sanctions creates enforces benefits duties. permanent home words, seen fit following law: 33 'A decreed according laws thero f cause shall effectual commonwealth; but inhabitant commonwealth goes obtain occurring resided here, authorize commonwealth, force commonwealth.' Mass.Gen.Laws, c. 208, 39 (1932). 34 statute, substance,3 then formalized origin. Cf. Hanover Turner, Mass. 227, Am.Dec. 203; Report Commissioners Appointed Revise General Statutes Commonwealth, pt. II, 123; Kent, Commentaries, Lect. 27, *108 *109. Uniform Annulment Marriages Act,4 Delaware,5 Jersey,6 Wisconsin,7 identical, Maine statute8 same subject. 35 says statute peron enjoys institutions irked concerning severance tie, move congenial laws, remain abide play ducks drakes leaving elsewhere, devised quick intending retain home, there, resume taking finds assert freedom restraints tie. terms divorces, refuse still domiciliaries. Has frustrate evasion residents leave change spouses homes, lukewarm feigned jurisdiction? 36 nub independent martial neither transitory abrogate will. relationship instead evade laws. Mrs. Williams, Hendryx, Carolina asserted. people Carolina. true Massachusetts.9 While criminal prosecutions, itself formally expresses speaks civil parties. Shelley Kraemer, 836. Surely termination own citizens. Framers effort withdraw past sixty years failed.10 An American citizen another. concerns former used limitation domicile, remove escape rigors scurry back. contravenes slight continuance represented.11 38 Today's stir hope contributing toward certainty divorced. choose avail laxer permanently abide, barring interlude get continue doubts conflicts inevitable, diverse, foundation constitutionally everywhere. These difficulties, often reminded, inherent system, governmental central Uniformity regarding achieve 'the States.' Ohio rel. Popovici Agler, 280 379, 384, 154, 155, 74 489; re Burrus, 136 586, 593, 594, 850, 852, 853, 500.12 meet problems raised decrees, accomplished train abortive efforts legislative reform.13 attempt shape avoid entrusted us, judiciary x ercise Courts equipped pursue paths discovering wise policy. confined bounds record, record. Only fragments narrow windows Had innate acquired understanding entirety, disposal adequate means constructive solution. tangled conflicting achieved simple resources either/or—this respected, bad disregarded. draw invention adequately belongs uniformity, absence Congressional amendment, laxest impose ignorant common knowledge men. close eyes certain make industry easy encourage inhabitants 'quickie' deny them.14 bind others endow sanctity Gresham's Law relations. Fortunately, far. practical offer new inducements counsel, which, perjury, ladies gentlemen indulge controversies infused inquiry jurisdiction, logic desirability over. Res forecloses relitigation once, availed of, carried far possible. Cromwell Sac, 94 351, 195; Chicot Drainage Baxter Bank, 308 371, 60 317, 84 329.15 persons. Stol 104; Treinies Sunshine Mining 66, 44, 85. Why apply wasted litigate, form gone through?16 Or required, how much be? Must bellicose pacific? fierce tepid? cloud witnesses negative plaintiff, single doubter enough? Certainly litigants situations rational difference contested feeling amicably adjusted. essence device allowed defied sanction perchance leaves open prove fraud sense—namely, mock won prearrangement—the claim falls substantially restrict uncertainty divorces. seeks holding legal behind collusion further. 40 considering uncertainties sufficient justify result, think quantitatively, dramatically. diversity unwillingness allow few granting others, undermines structure renders insecure marriages divorced persons proportion worry small deed. problem. whose desire rid spouse coincided unrelated shift hardly suspect usually true, moved afford period. Actually, five Arkansas, Idaho, Nevada, Wyoming, easily year's residence.17 Indovina Dalton, All Territories Annotations Marriage-Annulment-Divorce (Santa Monica, 1945). accounted 24,370 1940, 9% national total. Dept. Commerce, Statistical Abstract (1946) 94. number Wyoming normal incidence population, transients Nevada attract virtually non-resident business. Yet, them, 16,375 6% Ibid. Some undoubtedly settled fear. Others homes remained. amply protected decision. minority temporarily State—one few—offering one, departed. Is security Nation safeguard depriving great bargain-counter citizens? 41 believer divorce—an concern—this bring little solace. offers portion unhappily sufficiently wealthy able trip six-week three-month stay there.18 42 Of course, disregard found. trial de novo satisfy laid down page 236, 1098. reexamination it, prejudice favor policies, strain find tie itself. records conclusion remiss respect. employ formal jargon presumption overcome evidence. compliance, words. saying proper recognitin Nevada's Florida's findings, turn discover ourselves warrant 43 Nonterey, 1932, 1944. children. became harmonious towards period, troubled sinus infection advised physician consulted about leaving. March, told wished month's rest wanted along. later intended stay, lied consent. His funds forthcoming. along suitcase bag, trunk, housedresses, children's clothing. arrived day. rented apartment St. Petersburg, occupied three weeks, furnished cottage cottage. 44 About week Sherrer's departure, least acquaintance hers, knowing went met soon after, saw frequently. 20, wrote care back money fare sent. sent daughter school job waitress. lumber yard. 45 permits ninety days' ninety-three days attorney, papers drawn up, libel receiving mail, answer, denied residence. set hearing 14. 9, scene. stipulation, approval providing during year summer vacations. hearing, present, remained side room. merits, called court-room questioned ability look year. closed, being up deposition Sherrer. 19, couple occupied. 46 early February, staying Westfield returning Monterey. Phelps' father Westfield, father's critical illness occasioned return. later, served $15,000 alienation affections remaining health become critical. months ahead, Rent month departure paid,b ut paid monthly basis. belongings there. Later, landlord renting cottage, meanwhile house formerly in, owned together. 28, petition setting forth deserted cause. provided empower realty free dower rights. Gen. Laws 209, intention meeting divorcing marrying upheld 48 1934 York City. Until 1939, spent large each travel, Worcester, land, maintained bank accounts, taxes, registered etc., Worcester. 49 Beginning City, business conducted. week, Worcester ends. City Dawn Allen, secretary friend. deteriorated. appears well, principal contradictory. kept accounts jury address correspondence incorporating corporation.19 judge January, separate cross-petitioned divorce. March Coe's dismissed, granted; awarded $35 per week. appealed, complaining amount. pending, York, Allen mother, May 31, Reno, arriving 10. Del Monte Ranch. relieve asthma liberal tax 11, lawyer prepared memorandum. opened account safe deposit box, automobile driver's license, Nevada. sever ties six weeks' Forty-seven alleging Notice mailed followed engaged demurred Subsequently, written agreement, lump sum payment $7,500, September admitted cross-complaint. day, adopted agreement. Also Allen. Two apartment, October 52 1943, maintenance payments $7,500 sum. 22, cited contempt. petitioned revoked supervening 53 1943 Ranch, near confer negotiate purchase Apparently, With exception continuously marriage. post office box poll taxes. purchased expensive house, moved. various papers, noted 21, proffer lack ruling reversed contradicting remand, taken, gist summarized. throughout, Conceding credibility triers fact, me ample made, weight contrary determinations treating burden heavy. Judges, jurors, naturally differ meaning profitable dissent touching My disagreement evidence, holding, raising later. Massachusetts' recited added assurance obligations honored, explicit avowal silent. crux regardless overwhelming offering sham, through. assent. Decisions stood test want foresight prescient misconceptions requirements. myself governing not. U.S.Const. Art. provides: Acts, Records, Proceedings prescribe Manner Records proved, Effect thereof.' 1790, amended, R.S. 905, U.S.CA. provides part: '* usage taken.' By Courts, equity, causes. Stat.Ann. 65.01. Meloche Meloche, 101 Fla. 659, 662, 133 So. 339, 340, 140 319. Section 65.02 'In complainant complaint.' statutory 'domicile' defined tests employed courts. Wade Wade, 1927, 93 1004, 113 374; Evans Evans, 141 860, 194 215; Fowler Fowler, 156 316, So.2d 817. 'That Plaintiff bona-fide immediately preceding came visit establishing Defendant ever since, becoming Florida.' term year, parents times. entered, appear courtroom 'in room.' Appeals lie Fla.Const. V, 5. e.g., Homan Homan, 144 198 20. Mass.Gen.Laws (Ter. Ed.) 36. allusions mother committed mental revealing traits instability. remarks acts cruelty, undermined therefore insure temporary, outset further reside letter stating poor health. 1946, 320 69 N.E.2d 801. 233, 234, 1096, 1097, 1366; 78, note 50, No attention questioning hence appeae d Everette Petteway, 131 516, 528, 529, 179 666, 671, 672; Goodrich Trammell, 500, 505, 192 175, 177. Chisholm Chisholm, 1929, 98 1196, 694; Dye Dolbeck, 1934, 114 866, 154 847, attacks Bell Bell, 1901, 181 804. supra. 1244; 329; Anthracite Coal Adkins, 310 381, 907, 1263; Jackson Irving Trust 1941, 311 494, 326, 85 297. Forsyth Hammond, 1897, 166 506, 665, 1095; Heiser Woodruff, 327 726, 66 90 970. Surety Baldwin, 287 156, 98, 77 231, 86 298; 8. 966. 40, 6. 137. discussed We, intimate scope legislate Justices Brewer, Shiras, Peckham dissented. Thus, accordance 230, 1095. 6; 294, 210, 211, 87 279, 143 1273. 276, 277, 234; Magnolia Petroleum Hunt, 430, 439, 64 213, 88 149, 150 413. doubt announce amount interference Many occasion already impropriety out-of-state See, Norris Norris, 1937, 200 Minn. 246, 273 N.W. 708; Miller Miller, Sup., N.Y.S.2d 696, affirmed, 1947, 271 App.Div. 974, 67 379; Cole Cole, 1924, 96 N.J.Eq. 206, 124 359. Broderick Rosner, 629, 642, 589, 592, 1100, 100 1133; 295, 211. 1092. authority. depend rendering enforced, inasmuch 41, pages 7. Moreover Court's citation therein supra, overrule respect, recently 309, 320, n. 218, 223, 1273, Id., 240, 242, 1095, 1100. Compare English King's Proctor represent Crown Sections 5—7, Matrimonial Causes Act, 1860, & Vict., 44; 1873, 31; 181, Judicature (Consolidation) 1925, Geo. 49, Halsbury's England 393, 394. Rev.L. 1835, 76: 39. When country, occurred whilst state, state. 40. cases, place, state.' infra. Del.Rev.Code 86, (1935). N.J.S.A. 2:50—35 (1939). Wis.Stat. 247.21 (1945). Me.Rev.Stat. 73, (1930). assertion windfall now renege paramount matter. Such unexpected party, ethical standards undeserving, consequence jurisdiction. Holmes, C.J., 176 92, 96, 57 N.E. 333. seem Clause, commonly encountered injunctions domiciliary prosecuting out-of-State action. Kempson Kempson, 58 94, 97, 303, 783, 360, 625, L.R.A. 484, Am.St.Rep. 682; Pound, Progress Law-Equity, Harv.L.Rev. 420, 425—28; Jacobs, Utility Injunctions Declaratory Judgments Migratory Divorce, Contemp.Prob. 370; Note, Bklyn.L.Rev. 148. Since enjoin changing domiciles procure henceforth recital injunction retroactively semblance proceeding. surely legislation field regulating such, 'matters doubted amendment Government, Congress, provision substantively countries constitutional. wife,' incidentally affect Three modes achieving uniformity attempted adoption authorizing legislation; implementing Clause; uniform legislation. attempts originally fostered uniformly difficult obtain. Lichtenberger, (1931) pp. 187 et seq.; Cavers, Foreword, Contemp. Prob. 289. amend enact 1884. seventy similar amendments proposed. Ames, Proposed Amendments Century History, (1896) Ann.Rep. Historical Ass'n, reprinted H.R.Doc. No. 353, 54th Cong., 2d Sess., 2, 190; Sen.Dec. 93, 69th 1st Sess.; 'Proposed Introduced Session 78th 1926, 1944' (U.S. Govt. Printing Office, 1946). None favorably acted upon. Sess, H.R.Rep. 1290, 52nd House Judiciary Committee, reporting proposed measure implement Clause. Suggestions lacking. Rep. A.B.A. 292, 319; Corwin, Credit' 81 U. Pa.L.Rev. 388; Stone, dissenting, Yarborough Yarborough, 290 202, 215, 2,5 186, 78 269, 924; Jackson, Credit—The Lawyers' Col.L.Rev. 21. Senator McCarron currently seeking adopted. 1960, 80th Sess. vigorous efforts, securing President Theodore Roosevelt, calling compilation statistics, included cooperation enacting Richardson, Messages Papers Presidents 6942. initiative Governor Pennsylvania, National Laws, forty-two represented, 1906. feasible drafted resolutions 191 96. Proceedings, (1906) passim; Meeting Governors (1910) 185—98. interesting proponents advocated 'adopt embodying contained in' unconstitutional perhaps uniformity. 194. approved (Proceedings, 17th Ann.Conf., (1907) 120 seq.) 5—6, eventually substantive succeed, replaced proposal Jurisdiction wider range Haddock, force. (1930) Handbook Conference 498—502. Vermont, L.1931, 45, repealed L.1933, 38. Meanwhile, organizations although recent objective repressive Woman's Home Companion, Dec. 32. international field, extraterritorial Convention Regulate Conflicts Matters Separation, Hague, 12, 1902. mill, Bar, Ingram Ballard, Business 302; Bergeson, Mill Advertises, id. 348. Quaere, default, files record nunc pro tunc. Nev.Comp.Laws 9488. determined requisites Amend. met. direct point. requirements, mandatory. 307, 217 (concurring opinion), characterize prerequisites respective 1007, Latterner Latterner, Nev. 285, 274 P. 194; unwilling loose 'domicile,' determining extrastate mandatory, use borders. instant respectively, entitle recognition. allowing residence, usual attest lax. affluence disproportionately influence legislation, migratory likely liberalized, all. Groves, Divorces, 293, 298. comparable instances, past, discrimination actual Dickens, Hard Times, 11; Haskins, Encyc.Soc.Sci. 177, 179. taxation, Riley, 302 185, 82 268; Texas 306 398, 830,

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