List of United States Supreme Court cases, volume 18

Coordinates: 38°53′26″N 77°00′16″W / 38.89056°N 77.00444°W / 38.89056; -77.00444
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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

This is a list of cases reported in volume 18 (5 Wheat.) of United States Reports, decided by the Supreme Court of the United States in 1820.[1]

Nominative reports[edit]

In 1874, the U.S. government created the United States Reports, and retroactively numbered older privately published case reports as part of the new series. As a result, cases appearing in volumes 1–90 of U.S. Reports have dual citation forms; one for the volume number of U.S. Reports, and one for the volume number of the reports named for the relevant reporter of decisions (these are called "nominative reports").

Henry Wheaton[edit]

Starting with the 14th volume of U.S. Reports, the Reporter of Decisions of the Supreme Court of the United States was Henry Wheaton. Wheaton was Reporter of Decisions from 1816 to 1827, covering volumes 14 through 25 of United States Reports which correspond to volumes 1 through 12 of his Wheaton's Reports. As such, the dual form of citation to, for example, Wallace v. Anderson is 18 U.S. (5 Wheat.) 291 (1820).

Justices of the Supreme Court at the time of 18 U.S. (5 Wheat.)[edit]

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).[2] 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 18 U.S. (5 Wheat.) were decided, the Court comprised these seven justices:

Portrait Justice Office Home State Succeeded Date confirmed by the Senate
(Vote)
Tenure on Supreme Court
John Marshall Chief Justice Virginia Oliver Ellsworth January 27, 1801
(Acclamation)
February 4, 1801

July 6, 1835
(Died)
Bushrod Washington
Associate Justice Virginia James Wilson December 20, 1798
(Acclamation)
November 9, 1798
(Recess Appointment)

November 26, 1829
(Died)
William Johnson
Associate Justice South Carolina Alfred Moore March 24, 1804
(Acclamation)
May 7, 1804

August 4, 1834
(Died)
Henry Brockholst Livingston
Associate Justice New York William Paterson December 17, 1806
(Acclamation)
January 20, 1807

March 18, 1823
(Died)
Thomas Todd
Associate Justice Kentucky new seat March 2, 1807
(Acclamation)
March 3, 1807

February 7, 1826
(Died)
Gabriel Duvall
Associate Justice Maryland Samuel Chase November 18, 1811
(Acclamation)
November 23, 1811

January 12, 1835
(Resigned)
Joseph Story
Associate Justice Massachusetts William Cushing November 18, 1811
(Acclamation)
February 3, 1812

September 10, 1845
(Died)

Notable Case in 18 U.S. (5 Wheat.)[edit]

Kimbo, one of 36 men aboard La Amistad, c. 1839–1840

La Amistad[edit]

La Amistad 18 U.S. (5 Wheat.) 385 (1820) was a 19th-century two-masted schooner, owned by a Spaniard living in Cuba. It became renowned in July 1839 for a slave revolt by Mende captives. The ship was eventually taken into American custody in New Orleans. Spain requested President Martin Van Buren to return the African captives to Cuba under a treaty. Litigation followed. Because of issues of ownership and jurisdiction, the case gained international attention. The case was decided by the Supreme Court of the United States in favor of the Mende, restoring their freedom. It became a symbol in the United States in the movement to abolish slavery.

Citation style[edit]

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.

Bluebook citation style is used for case names, citations, and jurisdictions.

List of cases in 18 U.S. (5 Wheat.)[edit]

NOTE: Some decisions have alternate pagination, indicated by "{ }."

Case Name Page & year Opinion of the Court Concurring opinion(s) Dissenting opinion(s) Lower Court Disposition
Houston v. Moore 1 (1820) Washington Johnson Story Pa. affirmed
United States v. Wiltberger 76 {35} (1820) Marshall none none C.C.D. Pa. certification
M'Clung v. Ross 116 {54} (1820) Marshall none none C.C.D.E. Tenn. reversed
The Venus 127 (1820) Johnson none none C.C.D. Ga. reversed
The London Packet 132 (1820) Livingston none none C.C.D. Mass. reversed
United States v. Klintock 144 (1820) Marshall none none C.C.D. Va. certification
United States v. Smith 153 {71} (1820) Story none none C.C.D. Va. certification
United States v. Furlong 184 (1820) Johnson none none multiple certification
Stevenson's Heirs v. Sullivant 207 (1820) Washington none none C.C.D. Ohio affirmed
Perkins v. Ramsey 269 {124} (1820) Todd none none C.C.D. Ky. affirmed
Mandeville v. Welch 277 {128} (1820) Story none none C.C.D.C. reversed
Wallace v. Anderson 291 {134} (1820) Marshall none none C.C.D. Ohio reversed
Polk's Lessee v. Wendell 293 (1820) Johnson none none C.C.D.W. Tenn. reversed
Marshall v. Beverley 313 (1820) Livingston none none C.C.D. Va. reversed
Loughborough v. Blake 317 {146} (1820) Marshall none none C.C.D.C. affirmed
Mechanics' Bank v. Bank of Columbia 326 {150} (1820) Johnson none none C.C.D.C. affirmed
The Josefa Segunda 338 {156} (1820) Livingston none none D. La. affirmed
Blake v. Doherty 359 {165} (1820) Marshall none Johnson C.C.D.W. Tenn. reversed
Handly's Lessee v. Anthony 374 (1820) Marshall none none C.C.D. Ky. affirmed
La Amistad de Rues 385 (1820) Story none none D. La. reversed
Lyle v. Rodgers 394 {181} (1820) Marshall none none C.C.D.C. affirmed
United States v. Holmes 412 {189} (1820) Washington none none C.C.D. Mass. certification
Owings v. Speed 420 {192} (1820) Marshall none none C.C.D. Ky. affirmed
Conn v. Penn 424 {194} (1820) Marshall none none C.C.D. Pa. reversed
Campbell v. Pratt 429 {196} (1820) Johnson none none not indicated affirmed
The Atalanta 433 (1820) per curiam none none C.C.D. Ga. reversed
United States v. Lancaster 434 {198} (1820) Marshall none none C.C.D. Pa. dismissed

Notes and references[edit]

  1. ^ Anne Ashmore, DATES OF SUPREME COURT DECISIONS AND ARGUMENTS, Library, Supreme Court of the United States, 26 December 2018.
  2. ^ "Supreme Court Research Guide". Georgetown Law Library. Retrieved April 7, 2021.

See also[edit]

External links[edit]