Document: 416 U.S. 115 94 S.Ct. 1694 40 L.Ed.2d 1 SUPER TIRE ENGINEERING COMPANY et al., Petitioners,v.Lloyd W. McCORKLE al. No. 72—1554. Argued Jan. 15, 1974. Decided April 16, Syllabus Workers engaged in an economic strike New Jersey are eligible for public assistance through state welfare programs. Petitioners, employers whose plants were struck, brought this suit injunctive and declaratory relief against such eligibility, claiming that the regulations according benefits to striking workers invalid because they interfered with federal labor policy of free collective bargaining expressed Labor Management Relations Act other set forth Social Security Act. Before case was tried, dispute settled ended. The District Court, rejecting respondent union's contention had been mooted, dismissed complaint on grounds Congress appropriate forum claim challenged laws did not violate Supremacy Clause. Court Appeals remanded instructions vacate dismiss mootness. Held: To extent sought, case-or-controversy requirement Art. III, § 2, Declaratory Judgment is completely satisfied. Pp. 121—127. (a) Even though injunction dissolved settlement strikers' return work, petitioners officials may still retain sufficient interests injury justify relief. 121—122. (b) governmental action contingent upon executive discretion has ceased, but a fixed definite which, by its continuing presence, casts what well be substantial adverse effect petitioners' interests. Oil Unions v. Missouri, 361 363, 80 391, 4 373; Harris Battle, 348 803, 75 34, 99 L.Ed. 634, distinguished. 122—125. (c) If judicial review conditioned existence strike, most certainly would type presenting issue 'capable repetition, yet evading review,' Southern Pac. Terminal Co. ICC, 219 498, 515, 31 279, 283, 55 310. It suffices litigant show immediate or adversely affected continues affect present interest, since require presence active unduly tax slighting claims from actual immediately threatened action, otherwise affecting collective-bargaining arrangement involving fine penalty could only rarely adjudicated, purposes frustrated. 125—127. 469 F.2d 911, reversed remanded. Lawrence M. Cohen, Lederer, Fox & Grove, Chicago, Ill., petitioners. Robert F. O'Brien, Tomar, Parks, Seliger, Simonoff Adourian, Camden, N.J., Stephen Skillman, Trenton, respondents. Mr. Justice BLACKMUN delivered opinion Court. In Jersey, Employers struck instituted eligibility. came end. question presented whether 'case' 'controversy' exists, within meaning Constitution, Act, 28 U.S.C. §§ 2201, 2202. 2 * A agreement between Super Tire Engineering Company Supercap Corporation, affiliated corporations,1 Teamsters Local Union 676, certified representative two corporations' production maintenance employees, expired May 14, 1971. Because new as reached, employees promptly went out strike. Some four weeks later, continuing, corporations, their president chief officer, filed United States various officials.2 3 alleged many received continue receive programs,3 pursuant issued administered named defendants. sought declaration these interpretive regulations,4 workers, null void constituted interference 1947, 29 141 seq., pronounced provisions 1935, viz., 42 602(a)(8)(C), 606(e)(1), 607(b)(1)(B).5 also administrators' making funds available union members With complaint, motion preliminary injunction. supporting affidavit individual petitioner recited expiration agreement, failure parties reach commencement continuation application strikers benefits, receipt beginning date affidavit. affiant further stated availability infringed guaranteed 'hardened resolve said remain work support demands,' App. 32, and, addition, 5 'the current will undoubtedly longer duration than have case; impact grant involved resulted State subsidizing one party dispute; subsidization upsetting balance employer obtained dispute.' Ibid. 6 At hearing held June 24 injunction, union, now here, permitted intervene. 37. Counsel contended 'this entire matter . mooted' 'these voted scheduled tomorrow morning.'6 39. nonetheless, proceeded merits basis holding ITT Lamp Division Minter, 435 989 (CA1 1970), cert. denied, 402 933, 91 1526, 868 (1971), ruled Congress, practice aid violative Clause Constitution. court denied complaint. 45—46. On appeal, Third Circuit, divided vote, 922 (1972). We granted certiorari consider mootness issue. 414 817, 128, 38 50 (1973). II 7 invites us conclude controversy became moot when particular terminated execution late June. That conclusion, however, respect aspect lawsuit, is, request made context official during pendency 8 here very beginning, Clearly, duty decide appropriateness irrespective conclusion propriety issuance injunction.' Zwickler Koota, 389 241, 254, 88 399, 19 444 (1967); Roe Wade, 410 113, 166, 93 705, 733, 35 147 (1973); Steffel Thompson, 415 468—469, 1209, 39 505 (1974). Thus, even subsequent principal controversy, corporate officials, award 'whether facts alleged, under all circumstances, there having legal interests, immediacy reality warrant judgment.' Maryland Casualty Pacific Coal Co., 312 270, 273, 61 510, 512, 85 826 (1941). And involves we must ponder broader consideration short-term nature makes issues so government 'without chance redress.' 310 (1911). 9 A. hold provide full complete satisfaction Constitution's exist parties. Unlike situations prevailed 373 (1960), which Appeals' majority chiefly relied, 634 (1954), activity contingent, evaporated disappeared, brooding petitioning 10 both statute authorized Governor take possession utility event stoppage interest. seizure automatic every dispute. took exercise Governor's discretion. each prior time reached authority seize utility, it clear recur except circumstances where another stoppage, judgment Governor, interest required it. thus posed situation threat steps removed reality. This recurrence remote speculative no tangible prejudice existing therefore, 'want subject matter' any operate. Workers, U.S., at 371, S.Ct., 396—397. particularly apparent because, although relief, decision asked 'upheld validity own terms more three years ago.' 11 decidedly different posture. As before litigation But, unlike those cases, ceased. does rest distant contingencies discretionary act official.7 Rather, declared positively able-bodied who engaged, individually collectively benefits. definite. discretion.8 Employees know if go available. eligibility affects relationship, live process formulation, ongoing management, carefully formulated preserved statutes, altered State's beneficent toward strikers. cannot doubted pervades factor lurking background incipient contract. question, course, explicitly implicitly, calculus regulating labor-management disputes. sense allege colorable extant directive Jersey. deserves hearing. 12 Bus 374 74, 83 1657, 763 (1963), contrary. adjudicated same statutory scheme earlier Workers. utility. His order, 'remains unresolved.' Court's rationale that, ended, '(t)here exists merely possibility invocation King-Thompson some future dispute, unresolved Cf. Interstate Commerce Comm'n, 514—516, 283—284, 310; T. Grant 345 629, 632, 73 894, 897, 97 1303.' 78, 1660. important rendered concrete likelihood prejudicial union. remoteness convinced moot. us, contingent. Under view case, directly injurious positions. Where imminence status private parties, courts should render judgments parties' rights 13 B. condition our review.' 283; Grinnell Corp. Hackett, 475 449 (CA1), 858, 164, 108 879, 59, 124 F.2d, 991. too much arbitrarily (or thereof). sufficient, Otherwise, arrangement, penalty, rarely, 14 Certainly, pregnant appellants supra, Doe Bolton, 179, 739, 201 (1973), long outlasted preganancies cases Yet difficulty suggestions 125, 712—713 187, 745. Similar consistent results Storer Brown, 724, 737 n. 8, 1274, 1282—1283, 714 (1974); Rosario Rockefeller, 752, 756 5, 1245, 1249, 36 Dunn Blumstein, 405 330, 333 92 995, 274 (1972); Moore Ogilvie, 394 814, 816, 89 1493, 1494—1495, 23 (1969), concerning challenges election laws. ingredient affecting, affect, behavior citizens society. 15 different. Economic strikes comparatively short duration. There exceptions, course. See, example, 833, UAW, etc. NLRB, 112 U.S.App.D.C. 107, 300 699, sub nom. Kohler etc., 370 82 1258, (1962). But great do last enough controversies engender. Dept. Labor, bureau Statistics, Analysis Work Stoppages 1971, Table A—3, p. 16 lasts six weeks, did, seem long, termination, like pregnancy nine months elections spaced yearlong biennial intervals, preclude challenge policies force, unabated unreviewed. judiciary close door resolution questions disputes present. proceedings controversy. 17 ordered. 18 Reversed STEWART, whom THE CHIEF JUSTICE, POWELL, REHNQUIST join, dissenting. 20 today reverses holds moot, despite fact underlying gave rise ended initial appearance I think ignores limitations placed III Constitution disregards teachings cases. Accordingly, dissent. 21 repeatedly recognized inability 'to derives power depends controversy.' Liner Jafco, Inc., 375 301, 306 3, 84 347. See North Carolina Rice, 404 244, 246, 402, 404, 30 413; Powell McCormack, 395 486, 496 7, 1944, 1950, 491; Sibron York, 392 40, 1889, 1896, 917. Since precluded issuing advisory opinions, Hayburn's Case, Dall. 409, 436; Muskrat States, 346, 250, necessarily follows impotent litigants them.' 404; St. Pierre 319 41, 42, 63 910, 87 1199.1 22 These broad constitutional principles, starting point, lawsuit can after analysis precise factual involved. my task greatly simplified, several occasions past apply general principles specific closely analogous hand. first Virginia order 'possession' taken transit company conflict National trial, trial nevertheless finding constitutional. After Supreme refused review, appeal brief per curiam opinion, ordered dismissed. 373, occasion explicate Battle Missouri's allowed behalf operate privately owned stoppage. while Missouri. Nonetheless, considered read requiring termination left 'no 'actual matters essential case" then us. 367, 394, quoting Alaska S.S. 253 116, 448, 449, 64 808. 25 constitutionality again 763. but, appellants' jurisdictional statement Missouri outstanding order. Consequently, appellees argued become relying rejected contention, noting Employees, contrast, unresolved, fully Hence, concluded control, law 26 serve bring teaching outside ambit Employees. Here, action—providing employees—had ceased Any might express would, amount noted undertaking ignore 'basic limitation function disregard administration established followed.' 368, 394. 27 offers essentially arguments aimed distinguishing First, says programs constitutes burden ability engage Secondly, comes rule S.Ct arguments, doctrine prevented mootness, utilities summary dismissal contentions, adhered Workers: 'In (Harris) urged abandonment unconstitutional objective accomplished forestall purported act. akin contentions. 634. Upon contentions case. Barker Painters Union, 281 462, 356, 74 967; Commercial Cable Burleson, 250 360, 1030.' 368—369, (footnotes omitted). find reason depart While inconceivable once perhaps little distinguish hypothetical 'speculative dispute'2 And, assumed repetition' test, am less confident truly characterized 'evading nothing else, teaches predictions about unreviewability often proved inaccurate. Indeed, appeals opportunity raised disputes.3 Given experience, permissible direct litigation. argument 'ongoing' fares better light decision. continued arguably significant employees' ability, threatended deprive them weapon, capacity found insufficient save No weight accorded receiving make stoppages onerous employees.4 32 short, controlled already difficult complex one, muddies waters straining unnecessarily limit few precedents 33 For reasons affirm Appeals. business truck tire sales service manufacture sale industrial polyurethane tires wheels. Corporation recapping repairing. defendants Lloyd McCorkle, Commissioner Department Institutions Agencies Jersey; Irving J. Engelman, Director Public Welfare Fred L. Streng, Camden County, Board; Juanita E. Dicks, Municipal City General Assistance Law, N.J.Stat.Ann. 44:8 107 seq. (Supp.1973—1974), program, Dependent Children Law (ADC), 44:10—1 federal-state program created amended, 602. Effective 30, elected participate unemployed parent segment AFDC enacted, place, Families Working Poor program. 44:13—1 (Supp.1973 1974). Regulations (M.A. 1.006, revised Mar. 1957), provided pertinent part: 'A. Citation Statute 'Chapter 156, P.L.1947 R.S. 44:8-108) defines reimbursable 'assistance needy persons State, willing unable secure employment due either physical disability employment.' 'The Article I, paragraph 19, guarantees 'Persons shall right organize bargain collectively.' 'B. Interpretation Policy 'It inferred quoted section unwilling ineligible assistance. However, administration, phrase 'unwilling work' defined objectively possible. '. Constitutional guarantee 'right collectively' implies bona fide unit represented. Moreover, 'strike,' lawfully conducted, inherent lawful element resolving participating he participation, refusing without just cause. 'C. 'Based foregoing interpretation policy, following established: '4. presumed wrongfully accept suitable employment, '5. An needy, assistance, himself his dependents, needy. '6. applicant investigation need conditions evaluation income resources, way instances, 'strike benefits' payments source, resource determined accounted for.' record Jersey's newly enacted Poor. Petitioners Brief 1. respondents concede this, 'a administrative application.' Tr. Oral Arg. 46. inclusion contrary law. All returned Monday, 28, normal operations resumed. Although far severe form going cripple features inexorably serving speculative. appropriately determination 'need' measurable Instead, basic allegedly prejudices position. generally Diamond, Federal Jurisdiction Decide Moot Cases, U.Pa.L.Rev. 125; Note, Mootness Appeal Harv.L.Rev. 1672; Ripeness: Postman Always Rings Twice, 65 Col.L.Rev. 867; Cases Appeal: Limit Judicial Power, 103 772. 1660, consolidated appeal; Similarly, Russo Kirby, 453 548 (CA2), decision, appellate employers' lacked jurisdiction hear suit, compel payment characterizes 'remote' 'contingent' purposes, distinction difference. thing, automatically extend workers; meet criteria. recur, least things happen: call satisfy standards statutes. viewed nature, here. concedes, ante, 123 form' served completely. understand how serious.

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