List of United States Supreme Court cases, volume 291

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Supreme Court of the United States
Seal of the United States Supreme Court.svg
EstablishedMarch 4, 1789;234 years ago (1789-03-04)
Location Washington, D.C.
Coordinates 38°53′26″N77°00′16″W / 38.89056°N 77.00444°W / 38.89056; -77.00444 Coordinates: 38°53′26″N77°00′16″W / 38.89056°N 77.00444°W / 38.89056; -77.00444
Composition methodPresidential nomination with Senate confirmation
Authorized by Constitution of the United States, Art. III, § 1
Judge term lengthlife tenure, subject to impeachment and removal
Number of positions9 (by statute)
Website supremecourt.gov

This is a list of cases reported in volume 291 of United States Reports , decided by the Supreme Court of the United States in 1934.

Contents

Justices of the Supreme Court at the time of volume 291 U.S.

The Supreme Court is established by Article III, Section 1 of the Constitution of the United States, which says: "The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme Court . . .". The size of the Court is not specified; the Constitution leaves it to Congress to set the number of justices. Under the Judiciary Act of 1789 Congress originally fixed the number of justices at six (one chief justice and five associate justices). [1] Since 1789 Congress has varied the size of the Court from six to seven, nine, ten, and back to nine justices (always including one chief justice).

When the cases in volume 291 were decided the Court comprised the following nine members:

PortraitJusticeOfficeHome StateSucceededDate confirmed by the Senate
(Vote)
Tenure on Supreme Court
Charles Evans Hughes cph.3b15401.jpg Charles Evans Hughes Chief Justice New York William Howard Taft February 13, 1930
(52–26)
February 24, 1930

June 30, 1941
(Retired)
Willis Van Devanter.jpg Willis Van Devanter Associate Justice Wyoming Edward Douglass White (as Associate Justice)December 15, 1910
(Acclamation)
January 3, 1911

June 2, 1937
(Retired)
Jamescmcreynolds.jpg James Clark McReynolds Associate Justice Tennessee Horace Harmon Lurton August 29, 1914
(44–6)
October 12, 1914

January 31, 1941
(Retired)
Brandeisl.jpg Louis Brandeis Associate Justice Massachusetts Joseph Rucker Lamar June 1, 1916
(47–22)
June 5, 1916

February 13, 1939
(Retired)
Justice George Sutherland 5.jpg George Sutherland Associate Justice Utah John Hessin Clarke September 5, 1922
(Acclamation)
October 2, 1922

January 17, 1938
(Retired)
Pierce Butler.jpg Pierce Butler Associate Justice Minnesota William R. Day December 21, 1922
(61–8)
January 2, 1923

November 16, 1939
(Died)
Chief Justice Harlan Fiske Stone photograph circa 1927-1932.jpg Harlan F. Stone Associate Justice New York Joseph McKenna February 5, 1925
(71–6)
March 2, 1925

July 2, 1941
(Continued as chief justice)
Owen J. Roberts cph.3b11988.jpg Owen Roberts Associate Justice Pennsylvania Edward Terry Sanford May 20, 1930
(Acclamation)
June 2, 1930

July 31, 1945
(Resigned)
Benjamin Cardozo.jpg Benjamin N. Cardozo Associate Justice New York Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. February 24, 1932
(Acclamation)
March 14, 1932

July 9, 1938
(Died)

Notable Case in 291 U.S.

Nebbia v. New York

In Nebbia v. New York , 291 U.S. 502 (1934), the Supreme Court ruled that New York State could regulate the price of milk for dairy farmers, dealers, and retailers.

Federal court system

Under the Judiciary Act of 1789 the federal court structure at the time comprised District Courts, which had general trial jurisdiction; Circuit Courts, which had mixed trial and appellate (from the US District Courts) jurisdiction; and the United States Supreme Court, which had appellate jurisdiction over the federal District and Circuit courts—and for certain issues over state courts. The Supreme Court also had limited original jurisdiction (i.e., in which cases could be filed directly with the Supreme Court without first having been heard by a lower federal or state court). There were one or more federal District Courts and/or Circuit Courts in each state, territory, or other geographical region.

The Judiciary Act of 1891 created the United States Courts of Appeals and reassigned the jurisdiction of most routine appeals from the district and circuit courts to these appellate courts. The Act created nine new courts that were originally known as the "United States Circuit Courts of Appeals." The new courts had jurisdiction over most appeals of lower court decisions. The Supreme Court could review either legal issues that a court of appeals certified or decisions of court of appeals by writ of certiorari. On January 1, 1912, the effective date of the Judicial Code of 1911, the old Circuit Courts were abolished, with their remaining trial court jurisdiction transferred to the U.S. District Courts.

List of cases in volume 291 U.S.

Case nameCitationOpinion of the CourtVoteConcurring opinion or statementDissenting opinion or statementProcedural jurisdictionResult
Connell v. Walker 291 U.S. 1 (1934) Stone9-0nonenone certiorari to the North Dakota Supreme Court (N.D.)judgment affirmed
Wolfle v. United States 291 U.S. 7 (1934) Stone9-0nonenone certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (9th Cir.)judgment affirmed
Federal Compress and Warehouse Company v. McLean 291 U.S. 17 (1934) Stone9-0nonenone appeal from the Mississippi Supreme Court (Miss.)judgment affirmed
City Bank Farmers Trust Company v. Schnader, Attorney General of Pennsylvania 291 U.S. 24 (1934) Roberts9-0nonenone appeal from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (E.D. Pa.)decree reversed, and cause remanded
Freuler v. Helvering, Commissioner of Internal Revenue 291 U.S. 35 (1934) Roberts6-3noneCardozo (opinion; joined by Brandeis and Stone) certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (9th Cir.)judgment reversed
Whitcomb v. Helvering, Commissioner of Internal Revenue 291 U.S. 53 (1934) Roberts6-3noneBrandeis, Stone, and Cardozo (without opinions) certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia (D.C. Cir.)judgment reversed
R.H. Stearns Company v. United States 291 U.S. 54 (1934) Cardozo8-0[a]nonenone certiorari to the United States Court of Claims (Ct. Cl.)judgment affirmed
Federal Trade Commission v. Algoma Lumber Company 291 U.S. 67 (1934) Cardozo9-0nonenone certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (9th Cir.)judgment reversed
Morrison v. California 291 U.S. 82 (1934) Cardozo9-0nonenone appeal from the California Supreme Court (Cal.)judgment reversed, and cause remanded
Snyder v. Massachusetts 291 U.S. 97 (1934) Cardozo5-4noneRoberts (opinion; with which Brandeis, Sutherland, and Butler concurred) certiorari to the Massachusetts Superior Court for Middlesex County (Mass. Super. Ct.)judgment affirmed
Pigeon River Improvement, Slide and Boom Company v. Charles W. Cox, Ltd. 291 U.S. 138 (1934) Hughes9-0nonenone appeal from the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit (8th Cir.)judgment reversed, and cause remanded
Helvering, Commissioner of Internal Revenue v. Canfield 291 U.S. 163 (1934) Hughes9-0nonenone certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit (7th Cir.), and to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (9th Cir.)judgment affirmed in one case; judgment reversed in one case
Williams v. Union Central Life Insurance Company 291 U.S. 170 (1934) Hughes9-0nonenone certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (5th Cir.)judgment affirmed
Helvering, Commissioner of Internal Revenue v. Falk 291 U.S. 183 (1934) McReynolds6-3noneStone (opinion; with which Brandeis and Cardozo concurred) certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit (7th Cir.)judgment affirmed
Reynolds, Collector of Internal Revenue v. Cooper 291 U.S. 192 (1934) McReynolds9-0Brandeis, Stone, and Cardozo (joint short statement)none certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit (10th Cir.)judgment affirmed
Brown v. Helvering, Commissioner of Internal Revenue 291 U.S. 193 (1934) Brandeis9-0nonenone certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (9th Cir.)judgment affirmed
Moore v. Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad Company 291 U.S. 205 (1934) Hughes9-0nonenone certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit (7th Cir.)judgment reversed, and cause remanded
United States v. Chambers 291 U.S. 217 (1934) Hughes9-0nonenone appeal from the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina (M.D.N.C.)judgment affirmed
Clark's Ferry Bridge Company v. Public Service Commission of Pennsylvania 291 U.S. 227 (1934) Hughes9-0nonenone appeal from the Superior Court of Pennsylvania (Pa. Super. Ct.)judgment affirmed
Standard Oil Company of California v. California 291 U.S. 242 (1934) McReynolds9-0nonenone appeal from the California Supreme Court (Cal.)judgment reversed, and cause remanded
Texas and Pacific Railroad Company v. Pottorff 291 U.S. 245 (1934) Brandeis9-0nonenone certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (5th Cir.)judgment affirmed
City of Marion v. Sneeden 291 U.S. 262 (1934) Brandeis9-0nonenone certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit (7th Cir.)judgment affirmed
United States v. Provident Trust Company 291 U.S. 272 (1934) Sutherland9-0nonenone certiorari to the United States Court of Claims (Ct. Cl.)judgment affirmed
Alabama v. Arizona and others 291 U.S. 286 (1934) Butler9-0Stone (without opinion)none original leave to file a complaint against 19 States denied
International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Local 167 v. United States 291 U.S. 293 (1934) Butler9-0nonenone appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (S.D.N.Y.)judgment affirmed
Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company v. City of Seattle 291 U.S. 300 (1934) Stone9-0nonenone appeal from the Washington Supreme Court (Wash.)judgment affirmed
Federal Trade Commission v. R.F. Keppel and Brother, Inc. 291 U.S. 304 (1934) Stone9-0nonenone certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (3d Cir.)judgment reversed
Murray v. Joe Gerrick and Company 291 U.S. 315 (1934) Roberts9-0nonenone certiorari to the Washington Supreme Court (Wash.)judgment affirmed
Manhattan Properties, Inc. v. Irving Trust Company 291 U.S. 320 (1934) Roberts9-0nonenone certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (2d Cir.)judgments affirmed
Booth v. United States 291 U.S. 339 (1934) Roberts9-0nonenone certified questions from the United States Court of Claims (Ct. Cl.) certified questions answered
Hartford Accident and Indemnity Company v. N.O. Nelson Manufacturing Company 291 U.S. 352 (1934) Cardozo9-0nonenone appeal from the Mississippi Supreme Court (Miss.)judgment affirmed
New Jersey v. Delaware 291 U.S. 361 (1934) Cardozo9-0nonenone original boundary set
United States v. Jefferson Electric Manufacturing Company 291 U.S. 386 (1934) VanDevanter9-0nonenone certiorari to the United States Court of Claims (Ct. Cl.)judgments reversed, and causes remanded
Best v. District of Columbia 291 U.S. 411 (1934) Hughes9-0nonenone certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia (D.C. Cir.)judgment reversed
Hamburg-American Line v. United States 291 U.S. 420 (1934) Hughes9-0nonenone certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (2d Cir.)judgment affirmed
Helvering, Commissioner of Internal Revenue v. American Chicle Company 291 U.S. 426 (1934) McReynolds9-0nonenone certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (2d Cir.)judgment reversed
Chase National Bank v. City of Norwalk 291 U.S. 431 (1934) Brandeis9-0nonenone certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit (6th Cir.)decree reversed, and cause remanded
Miguel v. McCarl 291 U.S. 442 (1934) Sutherland9-0nonenone certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia (D.C. Cir.)judgment affirmed in part, and reversed in part
United States v. Illinois Central Railroad Company 291 U.S. 457 (1934) Sutherland9-0Stone (opinion; with which Brandeis, Roberts, and Cardozo concurred)none appeal from the United States District Court for the District of Delaware (D. Del.)decree reversed
Trinityfarm Construction Company v. Grosjean, Supervisor of Public Accounts of Louisiana 291 U.S. 466 (1934) Butler9-0Cardozo (without opinion)none appeal from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana (E.D. La.)judgment affirmed
Pagel v. Pagel 291 U.S. 473 (1934) Butler9-0nonenone certiorari to the Minnesota Supreme Court (Minn.)judgment affirmed
Globe Indemnity Company v. United States ex rel. Steacy-Schmidt Manufacturing Company, Inc. 291 U.S. 476 (1934) Stone9-0nonenone certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (3d Cir.)judgment reversed
Helvering, Commissioner of Internal Revenue v. Newport Company 291 U.S. 485 (1934) Stone9-0nonenone certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit (7th Cir.)judgment reversed
Landress v. Phoenix Mutual Life Insurance Company 291 U.S. 491 (1934) Stone8-1noneCardozo (opinion) certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit (6th Cir.)judgment affirmed
Nebbia v. New York 291 U.S. 502 (1934) Roberts5-4noneMcReynolds (opinion; with which VanDevanter, Sutherland, and Butler concurred) appeal from the New York County Court for Monroe County (N.Y. Cnty. Ct.)judgment affirmed
Hansen v. Haff, Acting Commissioner of Immigration 291 U.S. 559 (1934) Roberts8-1noneButler (opinion) certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (9th Cir.)judgment reversed
Life and Casualty Insurance Company of Tennessee v. McCray 291 U.S. 566 (1934) Cardozo6-3noneVanDevanter, Sutherland, and Butler (without opinions) appeal from the Arkansas Supreme Court (Ark.)judgment affirmed
Life and Casualty Insurance Company of Tennessee v. Barefield 291 U.S. 575 (1934) Cardozo9-0nonenone appeal from the Arkansas Supreme Court (Ark.)judgment affirmed
Travelers Protective Association of America v. Prinsen 291 U.S. 576 (1934) Cardozo8-1noneStone (opinion) certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit (10th Cir.)judgment reversed
Chassaniol v. City of Greenwood 291 U.S. 584 (1934) Brandeis9-0nonenone appeal from the Mississippi Supreme Court (Miss.)judgment affirmed
Arrow-Hart and Hegeman Electric Company v. Federal Trade Commission 291 U.S. 587 (1934) Roberts5-4noneStone (opinion; with which Hughes, Brandeis, and Cardozo concurred) certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (2d Cir.)judgment reversed
Massey v. United States 291 U.S. 608 (1934) per curiam 9-0nonenone certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit (7th Cir.)judgment reversed, and cause remanded
Ex parte Baldwin 291 U.S. 610 (1934) Brandeis9-0nonenonepetition for writ of mandamus to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas (S.D. Tex.) mandamus denied
Puget Sound Power and Light Company v. City of Seattle 291 U.S. 619 (1934) Stone9-0VanDevanter (opinion; with which McReynolds, Sutherland, and Butler concurred)none appeal from the Washington Supreme Court (Wash.)judgment affirmed
Seattle Gas Company v. City of Seattle 291 U.S. 638 (1934) Stone9-0VanDevanter, McReynolds, Sutherland, and Butler (without opinions)none appeal from the Washington Supreme Court (Wash.)judgment affirmed
[a] Stone took no part in the case

Notes and references

    1. "Supreme Court Research Guide". Georgetown Law Library. Retrieved April 7, 2021.