Walker v. United States, 71 U.S. 163 (1866)

U.S. Supreme Court

Walker v. United States, 71 U.S. 4 Wall. 163 163 (1866) Walker v. United States

71 U.S. (4 Wall.) 163

ERROR TO THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR

THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA

Syllabus

The jurisdiction of this Court to reexamine judgments of the circuit courts is limited to cases where the matter in dispute exceeds $2,000. Where it but equals that sum, the jurisdiction does not exist.

The United States had recovered judgment against Walker in the Circuit Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana "for the sum of $2,000, with interest thereon at the rate of

Page 71 U. S. 164

six percent," &c., and the case was now here on writ of error.

THE CHIEF JUSTICE delivered the opinion of the Court.

By the terms of the twenty-second section of the Judiciary Act the jurisdiction of this Court to reexamine the judgments of the circuit court, is limited to cases where the matter in dispute exceeds the sum or value of two thousand dollars.

It has been a good deal controverted whether sum or value in controversy is to be determined by reference to the amount claimed or the amount of the judgment, or the amount in dispute in this Court. It has been long settled, however, that when the judgment is for the defendant or for the plaintiff, and for less than two thousand dollars, and the plaintiff sues out the writ of error, this Court has jurisdiction if the damages claimed in the declaration exceed that sum, but that if the judgment is for plaintiff and not more than two thousand dollars, and the defendant prosecutes in error, this Court has not jurisdiction, for the amount in controversy, as to the defendant, is fixed by the judgment. [Footnote 1] In determining

Page 71 U. S. 165

the jurisdictional sum or amount it is obvious that neither interest on the judgment nor costs of suit can enter into the computation, for costs form no part of the matter in dispute, and interest on the judgment can only arise after rendition, while the jurisdictional amount, if determined by the judgment, is fixed at rendition. And this was settled in Knapp v. Banks. [Footnote 2] In that case some expressions in the opinion and in the order seem to support the idea that if the amount of the matter in controversy is precisely two thousand dollars a writ of error will lie. But the attention of the court was not directed to such a case, and we are not aware that such a case until now was ever before the court. But there is nothing doubtful in the rules applicable to it. This Court has no appellate jurisdiction except such as is defined by Congress. The act of Congress limits this jurisdiction to cases where the matter in dispute exceeds two thousand dollars. We can no more take jurisdiction where the matter does not exceed than we can where it is less than that sum. The amount in controversy in the case before us, ascertained in conformity with the settled principles of the court, does not exceed two thousand dollars. We have therefore no jurisdiction of the writ of error, and it must be

Dismissed.

[Footnote 1]

Cooke v. Woodruff, 5 Cranch 13; Wise v. Columbian Turnpike Co., 7 Cranch 276; Gordon v. Ogden, 3 Pet. 33; Smith v. Honey, 3 Pet. 469.

[Footnote 2]

43 U. S. 2 How. 73.