Document: 350 U.S. 568 76 S.Ct. 629 100 L.Ed. 705 Raymond C. ARMSTRONG, Petitioner,v.Mary R. General Motors Corporation, et al. No. 38. Argued Nov. 15, 1955. Decided April 9, 1956. Rehearing Denied May 21, See 351 943, 832. Mr. Robert N. Gorman, Cincinnati, Ohio, for petitioner. Walter K. Sibbald, respondent. Justice MINTON delivered the opinion of Court. 1 The petitioner, while residing in Dade County, Florida, filed a suit divorce from his wife, who had separated him and gone to where she established her residence. wife was not personally served, nor did appear person or by attorney Florida suit. Service on constructive only. A decree granted petitioner court, he contends that court also denied alimony 2 Later, respondent instituted Ohio alimony. appeared set up obtained Florida. found grounds but because already decreed proceeded pass question alimony, taking into account total property owned appealed Court Appeals, 99 App. 7, 130 N.E.2d 710, then Supreme which affirmed judgments lower courts. 162 St. 406, 123 267. Petitioner argued here courts have full faith credit decree. We certiorari. 349 915, 75 604, 1248. 3 sole presented petition certiorari whether were required give ex parte decree, alleges only entitled As we interpret however, purport adjudicate absent wife's right courts, therefore, awarding fact fail Accordingly, do reach constitutional sought be presented. But even if there is doubt as meaning should construe its action refusal thus avoid power so. 4 Mrs. Armstrong 'has come this good made any claim equitable conscience has no showing need part It is, specifically award defendant * *.' Taken literally, language means that, reasons it gave, would refrain making an affirmative adjudicated favor husband husband's bill complaint ask greater relief. offered show Armstrong's interest jointly held 'ample support further alimony.' purpose offer, revealed next sentence complaint: 'Nevertheless plaintiff hereby offers equity abide such orders decrees, with reference settlement affairs, may deemed equitable.' Thus seek holding rather merely submitted court's jurisdiction condition grant upon wife. prayer relief fully satisfied decision protection require fix before granting divorce. 5 master's report confirmatory limited scope master stated 'the any, cannot determined at stage proceeding,' pointing out most marital possession subject matter litigation pending there. He accordingly receive under facts circumstances case' recommended 'that made.' recommendation meant more than decided adequate meet immediate needs, unresolved impossible determine future needs. Presumably, when adopted terms 'no Like report, expressly recognized parties' rights depended outcome shown 6 When said, 'it defendant,' issue it. simply said made—a purely negative assertion question. 7 true made' followed same declaration, based view law, quieting title certain real property. At most, both matters dealt single suggests might reserved specific concluded necessary protect interest. That so consistent our conclusion time. 8 There valid dissolving bonds matrimony. personal service parties brought Armstrong. dissolved considered division property, application hear evidence basis finally entered judgment against complete cause action, only, seems clearly authorized cases. Slapp v. Slapp, 143 105, 54 153; Cox Cox, 19 502. given far went, other questions are here. 9 affirmed. 10 Affirmed. 11 FRANKFURTER, joining 12 course, desirable opinion, one can achieved without straining one's conscience. I am sufficiently agreement MINTON's construction able join him. 13 On my study record, dismiss writ improvidently granted. And these reasons. After case been heard merits, disposed precise discloses, preliminary examination urged Due regard working system requires this. In about 1,300 applications last Term leave (and fair average volume Court's business), determination during sifting process jurisdictional merits all cases hardly expected. Theory practice alike reject notion. inevitably cursory consideration normally round precludes assumption tentative finding federal will survive thorough record implies. Therefore, again dismissed want jurisdiction, i.e., substantial wanting; contrary, became clear state rested ground. 14 vigorously 15 'The Article IV Constitution United States, compelled entire divorce, denying rendered matrimonial domicile parties, following Thompson Thompson, 226 551 (33 129, 57 347).' 16 references Court—the two documents conspicuously lucid—warranted, more, belief present formulated Such would, doubt, raise important problem Full Faith Credit Clause. 17 course oral argument, functions, exacting scrutiny requirement plenary case, put very different light thereby significance Ohio. 18 portion margin,1 conjunction law2 demonstrates, believe, disavowed adjudication regarding claims situated properties challenged Thus, survives own policy, define case. due raised, though successfully. Both securities their locus Ohio's control items constituted 'property within state.' Pennington Fourth National Bank, 243 269, 271, 37 282, 61 713. event, Clause evaporated, borders purported affect. 20 Of go through reasoning raised reason disregard Florida's infrequently find way tangled confused order turned ground short, decide jurisdiction. analysis discloses amply rests ground, barred proceeding alleged appropriate disposition 21 BLACK, whom CHIEF JUSTICE, DOUGLAS, CLARK join, concurring. 22 takes position agree. settlement.' over complaint. fault leaving 'matrimonial domicile.' suggested guilty criminal act some money continued: 'This finds (Emphasis added.) This plainly denial open judge thought alimony.1 23 agree majority direct conflict between therefore justified 24 believe Our absence render depriving although nonresident served State, party. rule country least since Pennoyer Neff, 95 714, 565, 1878, nonresidents subjected appearance. Estin Estin, 334 541, 68 1213, 92 1561, kind 'personal judgment.' Kreiger Kreiger, 555, 1221, 1572; Barber Barber, How. 582, 588, 226; Barrett Failing, 111 523, 525, 598, 599, 28 505. much like one. There, after separation permanent New York, went Nevada accord previous Williams State North Carolina, 317 287, 63 207, 87 279, must York recognize Nevada's law dissolution marriage end order. held, could proceedings. 547—549, pages 1217—1218. considerations supporting applicable Estin's reduced prior meaningful distinction. judgment, service. Cf. Anderson, 345 528, 73 840, 97 1221. 25 seeks distinguish left domicile' residence elsewhere, kept fled argues, obtain new separate apart husband. bases argument couple resided considerable marriage, domicile,' home cause. premise, 'did legal truth fact, husband.' fiction woman 'domicile' relic old discredited idea women always play subordinate role society; does justify departure settled principles. concept repudiated cases.2 Yet asked say State's depend spouse blame other. adhere what first case: lies relevancy existence circumstances.' page 300, 214. 26 Relying Milliken Meyer, 311 457, 339, 85 278, regardless unnecessary actually domiciled time brought. there, uncontested proceeding. challenge 325 226, 65 1092, 89 1577. tried present, trial returned 'resident' statute proceedings instituted. Page's Rev.Code Ann.1954, § 3105.03. uniformly interpreted accompanied intention make home. See, e.g., Saalfeld Saalfeld, 86 225, 165. accept resident supported record. Consequently reliance Meyer misplaced. 27 nothing novel dissolve distinction grants 565.3 long lacking him.4 see why allowed her.5 Personal interests husband's. essential determination. Not Pennyoyer Neff decided, upheld validity legislative notice, hearing kind, judicial otherwise. Maynard Hill, 125 190, 723, 31 654.6 divorces attempting create destroy financial obligations incident sustained courts.7 treatment accorded well grounded history country. controlled 551, 33 347. cases, Anderson. relied, moreover, Atherton Atherton, 181 155, 544, 45 794, itself quoted extensively authorities recognizing binding "so related parts payment husband." 166, 548. stands alone States Reports proposition cuts off another.8 To extent inconsistent longer law. 29 For foregoing concur affirming recognition now relative recovery stocks concerning parties. recognizes ultimate Compare Burkhart Circuit Eleventh Judicial Circuit, 146 Fla. So.2d 872, Lucian Southern Savings Bank & Trust Co., 156 370, 674, Pawley Pawley, Fla., 46 464, A.L.R.2d 1358, Sorrells Sorrells, 82 684. Frankfurter's 'Ohio affect.' 632. 'is directed ordered return stock certificates fifteen (15) days These transfer 279; Id., latter said: 'In (State of) supra, domicil freed confusing refinements domicil' like.' U.S., 230, 1095. '* mean assert, thing authorize status citizens towards non-resident, notice non-resident. example, absolute prescribe conditions relation shall created, causes dissolved. One acts which, granted, removed permitted. complaining party defendant; tribunals complainant's offending party, injured citizen redress.' 734—735. early 1832 received court. Harding Alden, Me. 140. giving effect Rhode Island, wish understood, place decision, marriage. libel, prayed for; her. Had awarded gross sum, weekly annual allowance, paid husband, resorted enforce it, Me., 151. Kent's Commentaries (14th ed., Gould, 1896) *110, n. (a). Beard Beard, 1863, Ind. 321; Ellison Martin, 1873, 53 Mo. 575; Prosser Warner, 1875, 47 Vt. 667; Bunnell Bunnell, C.C.1885, F. 214; Anderson 1893, 55 Mo.App. 268; Dillon Starin, 1895, 44 Neb. 881, N.W. 12; De la Montanya Montanya, 1896, 112 Cal. 101, P. 345, 32 L.R.A. 82. Bishop, Marriage Divorce (6th ed. 1881), 381a; Cooley, Constitutional Limitations Angell, 1890), 497—498. Turner Turner, 1870, Ala. 437, 450; Vanderbilt Vanderbilt, 1955, App.Div.2d 3, 147 N.Y.S.2d 125, stayed appeal, 1956, 309 N.Y. 971, 132 333; Hopson Hopson, U.S.App.D.C. 285, 221 F.2d 839. 'If declaring attempt interfere vested either presented.' 206, 727. Crane Meginnis, 1829, Gill J., Md., 463; Wright Wright's Lessee, 1852, Md. 429. 693; id., 382; Schouler, Marriage, Divorce, Separation Domestic Relations Blakemore, 1921), §§ 1471—1473. noted District Columbia Appeals conceded bar Virginia void, not, theory, maintained.' 35 App.D.C. 14, 26.

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