United States Supreme Court Cases & Opinions

U.S. Supreme Court

Oklahoma v. Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe Ry. Co., 220 U.S. 290 (1911)

Oklahoma v. Gulf, Colorado

& Santa Fe Railway Company

No. 14, Original

Argued February 23, 24, 1911

Decided April 3, 1911

220 U.S. 290

Syllabus

Oklahoma v. Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Ry. Co., ante, p. 220 U. S. 277, followed to effect that a state cannot invoke the original jurisdiction of this Court by suit against individual defendants on its behalf where the primary purpose is to protect citizens generally against violation of its own laws by the defendants.

A state cannot invoke the original jurisdiction of this Court to enforce a judgment rendered in its courts for a violation of its penal or criminal laws, Wisconsin v. Pelican Insurance Company, 127 U. S. 265, or to enforce a penal statute.

A suit by a state to enjoin carriers from conveying intoxicating liquors into its territory or an Indian reservation therein, is one to enforce by injunction regulations prescribed by the state for violations of its own penal statutes and is not within the original jurisdiction of this Court, and so held as to a suit brought by the Oklahoma to enjoin railway and express companies from introducing liquor into its territory.

The facts, which involve the construction of the provisions of the Constitution of the United States conferring original jurisdiction on this Court in controversies in which a state is a party, are stated in the opinion.

Page 220 U. S. 291