United States Supreme Court Cases & Opinions

U.S. Supreme Court

St. John v. Wisconsin Board, 340 U.S. 411 (1951)

St. John v. Wisconsin Employment Relations Board

No. 302

Argued January 9-10, 1951

Decided February 26, 1951

340 U.S. 411

Syllabus

Appellants sued in a Wisconsin State Court for a declaratory judgment that the Wisconsin Public Utility Anti-Strike Law contravened the Due Process Clause of the Federal Constitution and was invalid as in conflict with federal labor legislation. The state trial court decided against appellants on all issues. On appeal, the Wisconsin Supreme Court affirmed, but on the ground that a decision on the federal constitutional questions would be premature in the absence of a concrete factual record. Appellants did not petition this Court for certiorari. Subsequently, when a strike was in progress, appellants sued in a federal district court for declaratory and injunctive relief holding the Wisconsin Act invalid as in conflict with federal labor legislation. The Federal District Court held that the suit was barred by the doctrine of res judicata. In another suit involving the same parties and presenting the same issues, however, the State Supreme Court sustained the constitutionality of the Wisconsin Act, and its judgment is this day reversed by this Court, ante p. 340 U. S. 383.

Held:

1. The District Court's interpretation of the state law as to res judicata in this particular case was erroneous. P. 340 U. S. 414.

2. This Court having declared the Wisconsin law to be invalid under the Federal Constitution, ante p. 340 U. S. 383, a federal court judgment restraining its enforcement as prayed in this suit is neither necessary nor appropriate. Pp. 340 U. S. 414-415.

90 F.Supp. 347, judgment vacated.

The case is stated in the opinion. The judgment below is vacated, and cause remanded, p. 340 U. S. 415.

Page 340 U. S. 412