Legal Document

331 U.S. 132 67 Supreme Court Reporter 1168 91 L.Ed. 1391 AYRSHIRE COLLIERIES CORPORATION et al.v.UNITED STATES al. Number 467. Argued and Submitted April 7, 8, 1947. Decided 28, On Appeal from the Distrct of United States for Southern District Indiana. Mr. Earl baron Wilkenson, Chicago, Ill., appellants Ayrshire Collieries Corporation others. Carson L. Taylor, appellant C.M. St. Pacific KF135 P2 & P.R.R. co. Daniel W. Knowlton, Washington, D.C., appellees I.C.C. Charles Stadell, Central Illinois Coal Traffic Bureau Erle Judge Zoll, Jr., Alton R.R. company (Henry Atlantic Gardner, Trustee) Justice MURPHY delivered opinion Court. 1 Appellants filed complaints in Indiana seeking a temporary stay, an interlocutory injunction permanent against enforcement order Interstate Commerce Commission, dated July 9, 1945. This had been entered connection with findings by Commission that certain railroad tarifs were un lawful other rates should be prescribed lieu thereof. to Beloit, Wis., Northern Illinois, 263 179. 2 The requested court convene specially constituted three judges, as required Urgent Deficiencies Act October 22, 1913, 38 Statutes-at-Large 208, 220, 28 Code KF62 § 47, Annotated KF65 U5 hear motions 'for or final hearing this proceeding.' Circuit Evans Igoe then assigned sit Baltzell determine these applictions, cases consolidated all purposes. applications stay on January 3, 1946. But day, it appearing postponed effective date its 1946, ordered 'the upon petitioners' application interlocutoryinjunction heretofore set same hereby is, continued day herein said shall March 25, 1946 * *.' made further postponement carriers subject might avoid necessity preparing filing new tariffs prior termination proceeding. It also appeared illness impossible scheduled 25. And so reassigned case trial being replaced Major. 3 Argument was held 22 before Judges Major at 'final plaintiffs' petitions injunction.' June 5, fact conclusions law under signatures Igoe; Commission's sustained respects judgment dismissing complaints. following natation margin law: 'Judge Evan became ill subsequent causes he is has unable participate determination fact, have therefore remaining judges such court.' brought here direct appeal.1 We are Court's void, only two having participated case. accordingly do not reach issues involving authority merits order, argued length us. 4 applicable provisions Act, state: '* No suspending restraining enforcement, operation, execution of, setting aside, whole part, any issued granted district States, judge thereof, circuit acting judge, unless presented heard determined whom least one majority concur granting application. When aforesaid immediately call his assistance judges. Provided, That where irreparable damage would othrwise ensu e petitioner, concurring, may, hearing, allow suspension, operation more than sixty days suit suspend commission requirement procedure expedition appeal apply. *' 5 suits enjoin aside orders origin Expediting February 11, 1903, 32 823. Judges, enforce antitrust commerce laws. feature extended Hepburn 1906, 34 584, 592, 'including preliminary 18, 1910, 36 539, created vested jurisdiction over orders; composed five four them constituting quorum decisions. Finally, 1913 transferred three-judge courts, detailed above. versus Griffin, 303 226, 232, 233, 58 601, 604, 82 764. 6 policy requiring deliberation thus well-established one. grounded legislative desire guard ill-considered action single important complex situations frequently orders. Such matters deemed warrant full which likely secure. 7 requirement, course, necessarily technical. broad social measure construed liberality. technical rule applied such. See Phillips 312 246, 250— 251, 61 480, 483, 85 800. While due consideration must given statutory expediting disposition en orders, plain language compels strict adherence command 'shall judge.' we insist obedience legistive will even though some may thereby delayed. 8 framers declared judges,' assume they meant exactly what said. means adjudicate case, function implies weigh arguments testimony offered both sides vote either grant deny relief sought moving party.2 In addition, 'Compliance statute requires assent after made, evidence their announcement open sitting, followed formal tested direct.' Cumberland Tel. Louisiana Public Service 260 212, 218, 43 75, 77, 217. All words, fully perform judicial function.3 Dohany Rogers, 281 362, 369, 370, 50 299, 302, 303, 74 904, 68 American Law Reports 434. 9 significant makes no provision less Two appeals, hand, ordinarily constitute cases.4 212. absence courts strong corroborating indication participation necessary render valid decision. provides, true, decision reached if 'majority judges' concur. need unanimous; does imply alone 10 Moreover, cannot say failure third agreement result, without significance. benefit views judge. latter publicly indicated differing colleagues, position helpful litigants appealed. 11 readily apparent met oral argument, approval, concurrence dissent He missed very essence case—the actual adjudication fact. enough there They lack order. Any theirs denying void similar supra, 219, 217; Stratton Louis S.W.R. Co., 282 10, 16, 51 75 135. 12 suggested, however, applies injunctions since injunction, complaint can rendered Reference respect 266 Judicial Code, 380, deals state statutes administrative ground unconstitutionality involved. Prior 1925, section pass injunctions. A cause permitting him reconsider decide questions already passed injunction. To end anomalous situation, amendment added 13, 938, effect 'The respecting presence apply problem arose whether words 'such suit' referred been, but not, requested. series decisions clear former interpretation correct convened hearings pressed hearing. Moore Fidelity Deposit 272 317, 47 105, 71 273; Smith Wilson, 273 388, 385, 699; Wisconsin Telephone 289 67, 53 514, 77 1036; McCart Indianapolis Water 302 419, 324, 336. Where pressed, 13 By analogy, claimed obtain pressed. admitted argument eliminated postoponement emphasis like directed toward prevention improvident issuance Since uch danger conclusion underlying reason convening absent here. 14 answer found itself. provides simply: 'and apply.' Unlike reference suit'—to Rather unambiguous 'any mean relief, regardless suit, matter. 15 portion part original enactment meet Code. drawn background provided injunctive regard request relief. 'all' injunction,'—a sought. Court, inherited instance, 'cases' making distinction those conclude require including 16 Time again Lambert Run Baltimore Ohio R. 258 377, 381, 382, 42 349, 350, 351, 66 671; 279 781, 784, 785, 49 492, 493, 73 954; Indeed, passing precise problem, affirmed judgments See, e.g., State Idaho, 298 56 690, 80 1070. see Hudson Manhattan F.Supp. 137, 140. 17 augmented consistent understanding Court,5 combine use particular whether, asked, seeks judges; prevent issuing injunctions.6 end, Congress bound carry out letter spirit requirement. might, give protection single-judge justify i gnoring relaxing If rather 18 authority, alternative vacate dismiss appeal. free, suggest reconvened accordance issue. So ordered. 19 Judgment vacated dismissed. 20 RUTLEDGE dissents. 45 47a, §§ 45, 47a; 238, amended 936, 345, 345. 386, 392 498, 54 792, 78 cas discussions leading One died announced. An written who among papers death published court, concurred pursuant arrangement conference law, time opinion, signed surviving matter, raised parties considered decided mere entertained basis considering authoritative jurisdictional issue, firm recognize exercise precedent issue ignored. More, Cranch 159, 172, 397; Snow 118 346, 354, 355, 1059, 1063, 1064, 30 207; Cross Burke, 146 82, 87, 23, 896; Louisville Trust Knott, 191 225, 236, 24 119, 123, 48 159; ex rel. Arant Lane, 245 166, 170, 94, 96, 62 223. Cf. Frellsen Crandell, 217 71, 490, 670, Brewer's death, adopted previously him. James Clement, Cir., Federal KF105 F3 51, submitted appeals divided vote. petition rehearing erroneous opposite result announced briefs argument. could promulgated, died. views, restored bench Ryan Pennsylvania Utility 44 912, 914. 823, 272, 29, senior next seniority 'hear determine' consider because quorum. Aluminum America, 148 Reporter, 2nd Series 416. understanding, while injunctions, shown remarks Van Devanter Hearing Subcommittee Senate Committee Judiciary S. 2060 2061, 68th Cong., 1st Sess., Page 33 (S. later 1925): 'Section 238 reenacted bill permit falling within classes, only, come directly first fourth classes confined interstate covered second act etc., Commission. These character make go through appeals. class wherein board suspended Applications now review, continues procedure. Devanter's House H.R.8206, 2d 15. 752, 380a, providing

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