United States Supreme Court Cases & Opinions

U.S. Supreme Court

Arrowsmith v. Harmoning, 118 U.S. 194 (1886)

Arrowsmith v. Harmoning

Submitted April 26, 1886

Decided May 10, 1886

118 U.S. 194

Syllabus

This Court has jurisdiction in error over a judgment of the supreme court of a state when it necessarily involves the decision of the question, raised in that appellate court for the first time, and not noticed in its opinion, whether a statute of the state conflicts with the Constitution of the United States.

When the legislature of a state enacts laws for the government of its courts while exercising their respective jurisdictions which, if followed, will furnish parties the necessary constitutional protection of life, liberty and property, it has performed its constitutional duty, and if one of its courts, acting within its jurisdiction, makes an erroneous decision in this respect, the state cannot be deemed guilty of violating the Constitutional provision that no state shall deprive a person of life, liberty or property without due process of law.

This was a motion to dismiss, united with a motion to affirm. The case is stated in the opinion of the Court.