Southern Ry. Co. v. City of Durham, 266 U.S. 178 (1924)

U.S. Supreme Court

Southern Ry. Co. v. City of Durham, 266 U.S. 178 (1924) Southern Railway Company v. City of Durham

No. 71

Argued October 14, 1924

Decided November 17, 1924

266 U.S. 178

ERROR TO THE SUPREME COURT

OF THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA

Syllabus

1. The right of jury trial in a the court is determined by the local law, concerning which this Court accepts the decision of the highest state court. P. 266 U. S. 179.

2. When a party in a state court, with full opportunity, offer no evidence to sustain defense alleged under the Constitution, a judgment overruling the defenses does not deprive him of federal rights. Id.

185 N.C. 240 affirmed.

Error to a judgment of the Supreme Court of North Carolina sustaining a mandamus to enforce an ordinance of the city which required three railway companies to eliminate a grade crossing.

MR. JUSTICE McREYNOLDS delivered the opinion of the Court.

By ordinance, the City Council of Durham declared a certain grade crossing dangerous, and ordered plaintiffs

Page 266 U. S. 179

in error to eliminate it by constructing an underpass with proper approaches, etc. They failed to comply; the city instituted a mandamus proceeding to compel obedience.

The petition, after setting out the facts and circumstances, asked an appropriate decree. Answering, plaintiffs in error attacked the ordinance as arbitrary, unreasonable, and subversive of rights guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment; also because it conflicted with the federal Act to Regulate Commerce by imposing undue expense upon them. The facts relied upon to support these claims were specified.

Having heard the cause upon complaint, answers, and argument of counsel, the trial court, "being of the opinion that no issue of fact for trial by jury is raised upon the pleadings," made findings of fact, declared the ordinance valid, and directed compliance therewith. The railroads offered no evidence, but asked continuation of the cause until the next term, and that no further proceedings should be taken until the issues of fact raised by the answers could be decided by a jury. This was denied, and they appealed. The Supreme Court held refusal to continue the hearing, and transfer the cause to the civil docket for trial by jury was not erroneous, and said that "the judge was ready to hear and determine the action but the railroads failed to offer testimony or evidence of any kind whatever."

We are unable to find that plaintiffs in error have been deprived of any federal right. They had full opportunity to present evidence to support their contentions in the trial court, but offered none. Neither federal laws nor Constitution gave them the right to demand trial by jury when the local statutes and practice prescribed otherwise. The ordinary rule applies, and we accept the ruling of the Supreme Court as to the local law. First National Bank v. Weld County, 264 U. S. 450, 264 U. S. 454.

Affirmed.