United States Supreme Court Cases & Opinions

U.S. Supreme Court

Bratton v. Chandler, 260 U.S. 110 (1922)

Bratton v. Chandler

No. 239

Argued October 10, 1922

Decided November 13, 1922

260 U.S. 110

Syllabus

1. A statute must be construed, if fairly possible, so as to avoid not only the conclusion that it is unconstitutional, but also grave doubts upon that score. P. 260 U. S. 114.

2. The law of Tennessee providing for licensing real estate brokers and salesmen and creating a real estate commission, where. it authorizes the commission to "require and procure" proof of the honesty, etc., of any applicant, before issuing him a license (Laws 1921, c. 98, § 8) does not contemplate that such proof may be procured by the commission secretly, without giving the applicant notice or opportunity to learn its nature and source and to meet it. P. 260 U. S. 114.

Reversed.

Page 260 U. S. 111

Appeal from a decree of the district court granting a temporary injunction restraining the appellant state officials from executing, as respects the appellees, a statute requiring real estate brokers to obtain licenses.