Legal Document

344 U.S. 178 73 Supreme Court Reporter 196 97 L.Ed. 204 MONTGOMERY BLDG. & CONST. TRADES COUNCIL et al.v.LEDBETTER ERECTION CO., Incorporated Number 43. Argued Nov. 13, 1952. Decided Dec. 8, Mr. Herbert S. Thatcher, Washington, D.C., for petitioners. Jack Crenshaw, Montgomery, Ala., respondent. Mozart G. Ratner, N.L.R.B., amicus curiae by special leave of Court. Justice MINTON delivered the opinion 1 The respondent filed a bill in equity Circuit Montgomery County, Alabama, to enjoin certain picketing activities, wholly peaceful, carried on petitioners, labor organizations. Upon sworn and without notice, court issued forthwith 'Temporary Writ Injunction.' petitioners appeared an answer motion dissolve injunction numerous grounds. Subsequently, withdrew their most grounds assigned dissolution new therefor. was denied, from this order court, appealed Alabama which affirmed trial court. 256 Ala. 678, 57 So.2d 112, rehearing 689, 121. Certiorari sought here granted, 343 962, 72 1061. 2 At very threshold, we are presented with question jurisdiction. This may grant certiorari judgment or decree highest State, only if is final. 28 United States Code KF62 § 1257, Annotated KF65 U5 1257. Was final decree? From earliest days, has refused accept jurisdiction interlocutory decrees, such as involved case. In Gibbons versus Ogden, 6 Wheat. 448, 5 302, first case presenting issue Court, had been granted Chancery State New York. defendant answered moved injunction. denied dissolve, Trial Impeachments Correction Errors affirmed. appeal dismissed because there no last resort review. 3 provision 1257 that 'Final judgments decrees rendered decision could be had, reviewed * *' almost identical language since Judiciary Act 1789, Statutes-at-Large 85, 25. 4 'This requirement not one those technicalities easily scorned. It important factor smooth working our federal system.' Radio Station WOW Johnson, 326 120, 124, 65 1475, 1478, 89 2092. distinction between preliminary temporary permanent elementary law equity. classical concept at once recognized applied supra. There room interpretation. rule remains unchanged. True, long force it effective injunction, reason appeals have authorized state legislatures Congress. But authorization does give aspect finality here, even though inadvertently certiorari. Baldwin company R. Howard Co., 35, 40, 41 405, 407, 816. 7 argued held decided now, never decided, await outcome hearing moot frustrate picketing. However appealing argument be, warrant us enlarging Only Congress do that. Furthermore, readily converted into decree, proceeded just effectively expeditiously pursued 8 Since review, writ must improvidently granted. so ordered. 9 Petition dismissed. 10 DOUGLAS whom BLACK concurs, dissenting. 11 power kind dispute. If mandamus another appropriate directed against judge who N Immigration Nationality Decisions should doubt would See Bandini Petroleum Superior 284 14, 52 103, 105, 76 136. Cf. Rescue Army Municipal 331 549, 565, 67 1409, 1417, 91 1666. see difference substance this. mischief injunctions controversies well known. done when issued. damage often irreparable. assertion act way Whether determined reference any future proceedings taken. Unless purely mechanical, date been, 2092, determine now whether National Labor Relations permits interfere controversy way, interim form, irretrievably alters status dispute fact settles it.* 'practical' rather than 'technical' construction necessary cases involving 'final decisions' system. Cohen Beneficial Industrial Loan Corp., 337 541, 545—546, 69 1221, 1225, 93 1528.

Classification Label: 8