United States Supreme Court Cases & Opinions

U.S. Supreme Court

Porterfield v. Webb, 263 U.S. 225 (1923)

Porterfield v. Webb

No. 28

Argued April 23, 24, 1923

Decided November 12, 1923

263 U.S. 225

Syllabus

1. The treaty of February 21, 1911, 37 Stat. 1504, between the United States and Japan does not confer upon Japanese subjects the privilege of acquiring or leasing land for agricultural purposes. P. 263 U. S. 232. Terrace v. Thompson, ante, 263 U. S. 197.

2. The California Alien Land Law, by permitting aliens eligible to citizenship under the laws of the United States to acquire, possess, enjoy, and transfer real property in the state, while permitting other aliens to exercise these rights only as prescribed by existing treaty between the United States and their respective countries, does not violate the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, as applied to ineligible aliens who have not such rights by treaty, or to citizens desirous of letting their land to such aliens. P. 263 U. S. 232. Terrace v. Thompson, ante, 263 U. S. 197.

279 F.1d 4 affirmed.

Appeal from an order of the district court denying a motion for a temporary injunction, in a suit brought by appellants to enjoin appellees from enforcing the California Alien Land Law.

Page 263 U. S. 231