Martin v. Hunter's Lessee

Tue, 12 Mar 1816 13:00:00 +0000

Location

Supreme Court of Virginia

2125 East Main Street Richmond VA 23223

Richmond, VA 23223

United States

37° 31' 50.16" N, 77° 25' 28.2" W

See map: Google Maps

Case Basics

Petitioner

Martin

Petitioner Type

Petitioner

Respondent

Hunter's Lessee

Respondent Type

Respondent

Heard By

Marshall Court (1812-1823)

Decided By

Marshall Court (1812-1823)

Opinion

14 U.S. 304 (1816)

Argued

Tuesday, March 12, 1816

Decided

Wednesday, March 20, 1816

Facts of the Case

Lord Fairfax held land in Virginia. He was a Loyalist and fled to England during the Revolution. He died in 1781 and left the land to his nephew, Denny Martin, who was a British subject. The following year, the Virginia legislature voided the original land grant and transferred the land back to Virginia. Virginia granted a portion of this land to David Hunter. The Jay Treaty seemed to make clear that Lord Fairfax was entitled to the property. The Supreme Court declared that Fairfax was so entitled, but the Virginia courts, where the suit arose, refused to follow the Supreme Court's decision.

Question

Does the appellate power of the Supreme Court extend to the Virginia courts?

Conclusion

Decision: 6 votes for Martin, 0 vote(s) against
Legal provision: Juidiciary Act of 1789, Sect. 25; US Const. Art. 3

The Court rejected the claim that Virginia and the national government were equal sovereigns. Reasoning from the Constitution, Justice Story affirmed the Court's power to override state courts to secure a uniform system of law and to fulfill the mandate of the Supremacy Clause.

Cases - 1816 term

Martin v. Hunter's Lessee

Location