Court Opinion

ID: 9421918
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-02 23:00:28.932832+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:22:33.103563
License: Public Domain

Mr. Justice Black,
whom The Chief Justice and Mr. Justice Brennan join, dissenting.
We think this controversy is not moot. As the Court’s opinion points out, the appellant unions may still be held liable for monetary penalties and their members may lose seniority because of the strike the Missouri Supreme Court held illegal under state law. Its holding was made long *372after the strike had ended. It was moot then if it is moot now. But the state court treated it as a live controversy, and so should we. Otherwise, the appellant unions and their members stand constantly under threats of penalties and continuing injunctions under the state statute the Missouri Supreme Could held validly applied in this case.
The wrongfulness in holding the case moot is' emphasized by our belief that the state court was plainly without any jurisdiction over this controversy unless the Court wants to overrule Bus Employees v. Wisconsin Board, 340 U. S. 383, and adopt the views of the three dissenters in that case. We would follow that holding and reverse this case op the merits.