List of United States Supreme Court cases, volume 309

This is a list of cases reported in volume 309 of United States Reports, decided by the Supreme Court of the United States in 1939 and 1940.

Supreme Court of the United States
Map
38°53′26″N 77°00′16″W / 38.89056°N 77.00444°W / 38.89056; -77.00444
EstablishedMarch 4, 1789; 235 years ago (1789-03-04)
LocationWashington, D.C.
Coordinates38°53′26″N 77°00′16″W / 38.89056°N 77.00444°W / 38.89056; -77.00444
Composition methodPresidential nomination with Senate confirmation
Authorized byConstitution of the United States, Art. III, § 1
Judge term lengthlife tenure, subject to impeachment and removal
Number of positions9 (by statute)
Websitesupremecourt.gov

Justices of the Supreme Court at the time of volume 309 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 309 were decided the Court comprised the following members:

PortraitJusticeOfficeHome StateSucceededDate confirmed by the Senate
(Vote)
Tenure on Supreme Court
Charles Evans HughesChief JusticeNew YorkWilliam Howard TaftFebruary 13, 1930
(52–26)
February 24, 1930

June 30, 1941
(Retired)
James Clark McReynoldsAssociate JusticeTennesseeHorace Harmon LurtonAugust 29, 1914
(44–6)
October 12, 1914

January 31, 1941
(Retired)
Harlan F. StoneAssociate JusticeNew YorkJoseph McKennaFebruary 5, 1925
(71–6)
March 2, 1925

July 2, 1941
(Continued as chief justice)
Owen RobertsAssociate JusticePennsylvaniaEdward Terry SanfordMay 20, 1930
(Acclamation)
June 2, 1930

July 31, 1945
(Resigned)
Hugo BlackAssociate JusticeAlabamaWillis Van DevanterAugust 17, 1937
(63–16)
August 19, 1937

September 17, 1971
(Retired)
Stanley Forman ReedAssociate JusticeKentuckyGeorge SutherlandJanuary 25, 1938
(Acclamation)
January 31, 1938

February 25, 1957
(Retired)
Felix FrankfurterAssociate JusticeMassachusettsBenjamin Nathan CardozoJanuary 17, 1939
(Acclamation)
January 30, 1939

August 28, 1962
(Retired)
William O. DouglasAssociate JusticeConnecticutLouis BrandeisApril 4, 1939
(62–4)
April 17, 1939

November 12, 1975
(Retired)
Frank MurphyAssociate JusticeMichiganPierce ButlerJanuary 16, 1940
(Acclamation)
February 5, 1940

July 19, 1949
(Died)

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 309 U.S.

Case nameCitationOpinion of the CourtVoteConcurring opinion or statementDissenting opinion or statementProcedural jurisdictionResult
Miller v. Hatfield309 U.S. 1 (1940)per curiam8-0nonenonecertiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit (6th Cir.)reversed
McGoldrick, Comptroller of the City of New York v. Gulf Oil Corporation309 U.S. 2 (1940)per curiam8-0nonenonecertiorari to the New York Supreme Court (N.Y. Sup. Ct.)dismissed
Oklahoma Packing Company v. Oklahoma Gas and Electric Company309 U.S. 4 (1939)Frankfurter8-0Hughes (opinion; joined by McReynolds and Roberts)nonecertiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit (10th Cir.)reversed
Real Estate-Land Title and Trust Company v. United States309 U.S. 13 (1940)Douglas6-0[a][b]nonenonecertiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (3d Cir.)affirmed
Yearsley v. W.A. Ross Trust Company309 U.S. 18 (1940)Hughes8-0nonenonecertiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit (8th Cir.)affirmed
Carpenter v. Wabash Railroad Company309 U.S. 23 (1940)Hughes8-0nonenonecertiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit (8th Cir.)vacated
Bell Telephone Company of Pennsylvania v. Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission309 U.S. 30 (1940)per curiam8-0nonenoneappeal from the Superior Court of Pennsylvania (Pa. Super. Ct.)dismissed
McGoldrick, Comptroller of the City of New York v. Berwind-White Coal Mining Company309 U.S. 33 (1940)Stone5-3noneHughes (opinion; joined by McReynolds and Roberts)certiorari to the New York Supreme Court (N.Y. Sup. Ct.)reversed
McGoldrick, Comptroller of the City of New York v. Felt and Tarrant Manufacturing Company309 U.S. 70 (1940)Stone5-3noneHughes, McReynolds, and Roberts (on the grounds of their dissent in McGoldrick, Comptroller of the City of New York v. Berwind-White Coal Mining Company)certiorari to the New York Supreme Court (N.Y. Sup. Ct.)reversed
Morgan v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue309 U.S. 78 (1940)Roberts8-0nonenonecertiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit (7th Cir.)affirmed
Madden v. Kentucky309 U.S. 83 (1940)Reed6-2Hughes (short statement)Roberts (short statement; joined by McReynolds)appeal from the Kentucky Court of Appeals (Ky.)affirmed
James Stewart and Company v. Sadrakula309 U.S. 94 (1940)Reed8-0nonenoneappeal from the New York Supreme Court (N.Y. Sup. Ct.)affirmed
Helvering, Commissioner of Internal Revenue v. Hallock309 U.S. 106 (1940)Frankfurter6-2Hughes (short statement)Roberts (opinion; joined by McReynolds)certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit (6th Cir.)affirmed (one case); reversed (four cases)
Federal Communications Commission v. Pottsville Broadcasting Company309 U.S. 134 (1940)Frankfurter8-0McReynolds (without opinion)nonecertiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia (D.C. Cir.)reversed
Fly v. Heitmeyer309 U.S. 146 (1940)Frankfurter8-0McReynolds (without opinion)nonecertiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia (D.C. Cir.)reversed
Helvering, Commissioner of Internal Revenue v. Fitch309 U.S. 149 (1940)Douglas7-1Reed (without opinion)McReynolds (without opinion)certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit (8th Cir.)reversed
Illinois Central Railroad Company v. Minnesota309 U.S. 157 (1940)Douglas8-0nonenoneappeal from the Minnesota Supreme Court (Minn.)affirmed
United States ex rel. Midland Loan Finance Company v. National Surety Corporation309 U.S. 165 (1940)Reed8-0nonenonecertiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit (8th Cir.)affirmed
McCarroll v. Dixie Greyhound Lines, Inc.309 U.S. 176 (1940)McReynolds8-0[c]Stone (opinion; joined by Hughes, Roberts, and Reed)noneappeal from the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit (8th Cir.)affirmed
Deitrick v. Greaney309 U.S. 190 (1940)Stone6-2[c]noneRoberts (opinion; joined by McReynolds)certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit (1st Cir.)reversed
National Labor Relations Board v. Waterman Steamship Corporation309 U.S. 206 (1940)Black8-0[c]nonenonecertiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit (1st Cir.)reversed
Chambers v. Florida309 U.S. 227 (1940)Black8-0[c]nonenonecertiorari to the Florida Supreme Court (Fla.)reversed
Federal Housing Administration v. Burr309 U.S. 242 (1940)Douglas8-0[c]nonenonecertiorari to the Michigan Supreme Court (Mich.)affirmed
South Chicago Coal and Dock Company v. Bassett309 U.S. 251 (1940)Hughes8-0[c]nonenonecertiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit (7th Cir.)affirmed
Amalgamated Utility Workers (C.I.O.) v. Consolidated Edison Company of New York309 U.S. 261 (1940)Hughes8-0[c]nonenonecertiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (2d Cir.)affirmed
Minnesota ex rel. Pearson v. Probate Court of Ramsey County309 U.S. 270 (1940)Hughes9-0nonenoneappeal from the Minnesota Supreme Court (Minn.)affirmed
Helvering, Commissioner of Internal Revenue v. Kehoe309 U.S. 277 (1940)McReynolds9-0nonenonecertiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (3d Cir.)reversed
Russel v. Todd309 U.S. 280 (1940)Stone7-1[c]noneRoberts (without opinion)certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (2d Cir.)affirmed
Fischer v. Pauline Oil and Gas Company309 U.S. 294 (1940)Roberts8-0[c]nonenonecertiorari to the Oklahoma Supreme Court (Okla.)reversed
Germantown Trust Company v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue309 U.S. 304 (1940)Roberts9-0nonenonecertiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (3d Cir.)reversed
Mayo, Commissioner of Agriculture of Florida v. Lakeland Highlands Canning Company309 U.S. 310 (1940)Roberts5-3[c]noneFrankfurter (opinion; joined by Black and Douglas)appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida (S.D. Fla.)reversed
Cobbledick v. United States309 U.S. 323 (1940)Frankfurter8-0[c]nonenonecertiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (9th Cir.)affirmed
Helvering, Commissioner of Internal Revenue v. Clifford309 U.S. 331 (1940)Douglas7-2noneRoberts (opinion; joined by McReynolds)certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit (8th Cir.)reversed
Helvering, Commissioner of Internal Revenue v. Wood309 U.S. 344 (1940)Douglas9-0Roberts (without opinion)nonecertiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (2d Cir.)affirmed
National Licorice Company v. National Labor Relations Board309 U.S. 350 (1940)Stone8-0[c]Douglas (short statement; joined by Black)nonecertiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (2d Cir.)affirmed as modified
Paramino Lumber Company v. Marshall309 U.S. 370 (1940)Reed7-1[c]noneMcReynolds (without opinion)appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington (W.D. Wash.)affirmed
Dickinson Industrial Site, Inc. v. Cowan309 U.S. 382 (1940)Douglas9-0nonenonecertiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit (7th Cir.)affirmed
Sheldon v. Metro-Goldwyn Pictures Corporation309 U.S. 390 (1940)Hughes8-0[d]nonenonecertiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (2d Cir.)affirmed
Helvering, Commissioner of Internal Revenue v. Price309 U.S. 409 (1940)Hughes8-0[d]nonenonecertiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit (4th Cir.)reversed
McGoldrick, Comptroller of the City of New York v. Gulf Oil Corporation309 U.S. 414 (1940)Stone8-0[d]nonenonecertiorari to the New York Supreme Court (N.Y. Sup. Ct.)affirmed
McGoldrick, Comptroller of the City of New York v. Compagnie Generale Transatlantique309 U.S. 430 (1940)Stone7-0[c][d]Hughes and Roberts (joint short statement)nonecertiorari to the New York Supreme Court (N.Y. Sup. Ct.)reversed
Ethyl Gasoline Corp. v. United States309 U.S. 436 (1940)Stone7-0[a][d]nonenoneappeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (S.D.N.Y.)affirmed
Helvering, Commissioner of Internal Revenue v. Bruun309 U.S. 461 (1940)Roberts8-0[d]Hughesnonecertiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit (8th Cir.)reversed
Federal Communications Commission v. Sanders Brothers Radio Station309 U.S. 470 (1940)Roberts8-0[d]nonenonecertiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia (D.C. Cir.)reversed
Thompson v. Magnolia Petroleum Company309 U.S. 478 (1940)Black8-0[d]nonenonecertiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit (8th Cir.)reversed
Kersh Lake Drainage District v. Johnson309 U.S. 485 (1940)Black8-0[d]nonenonecertiorari to the Arkansas Supreme Court (Ark.)affirmed
United States v. Shaw309 U.S. 495 (1940)Reed8-0[d]nonenonecertiorari to the Michigan Supreme Court (Mich.)reversed
United States v. United States Fidelity and Guaranty Company309 U.S. 506 (1940)Reed8-0[d]nonenonecertiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit (10th Cir.)reversed
Inland Waterways Corporation v. Young309 U.S. 517 (1940)Frankfurter4-3[b][c]noneRoberts (opinion; joined by Hughes and McReynolds)certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia (D.C. Cir.)reversed
Woodring, Secretary of War v. Wardell309 U.S. 527 (1940)Frankfurter4-3[b][c]noneHughes, McReynolds, and Roberts (for the reasons stated in their dissent in Inland Waterways Corporation v. Young)certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia (D.C. Cir.)affirmed reversed
Whitney v. State Tax Commission of New York309 U.S. 530 (1940)Frankfurter7-1[d]noneRoberts (short statement)appeal from the New York Surrogate's Court (N.Y. Sur. Ct.)affirmed
Puerto Rico v. Rubert Hermanos, Inc.309 U.S. 543 (1940)Frankfurter8-0[d]nonenonecertiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit (1st Cir.)reversed
Minnesota v. National Tea Company309 U.S. 551 (1940)Douglas5-3[d]noneHughes (opinion; joined by Stone and Roberts)certiorari to the Minnesota Supreme Court (Minn.)vacated
Tradesmens National Bank v. Oklahoma Tax Commission309 U.S. 560 (1940)Murphy9-0nonenoneappeal from the Oklahoma Supreme Court (Okla.)affirmed
Wisconsin v. Illinois309 U.S. 569 (1940)per curiam9-0nonenoneoriginal jurisdictionspecial master appointed
Wyoming v. Colorado309 U.S. 572 (1940)Hughes9-0nonenoneoriginal jurisdictionpetition of Wyoming denied
Western Union Telegraph Company v. Nester309 U.S. 582 (1940)McReynolds9-0nonenonecertiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (9th Cir.)reversed
City of Yonkers v. Downey309 U.S. 590 (1940)McReynolds9-0nonenonecertiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (2d Cir.)affirmed
Maurer v. Hamilton, Secretary of Revenue of Pennsylvania309 U.S. 598 (1940)Stone9-0nonenoneappeal from the Pennsylvania Supreme Court (Pa.)affirmed
[a] Roberts took no part in the case
[b] Reed took no part in the case
[c] Murphy took no part in the case
[d] McReynolds took no part in the case

Notes and references