United States v. California (332 U.S. 19)
U.S. Supreme Court · decided June 23, 1947 · Supreme Court Database (Spaeth)
- Citation
- 332 U.S. 19 · 67 S. Ct. 1658
- Decided
- June 23, 1947
- Term
- October Term 1946
- Vote
- 6–2
- Majority author
- Justice Black
- Issue area
- Federalism
- Outcome
- Petitioning party won
- Ideological direction
- Liberal
- Constitutional ruling
- State/territorial law held unconstitutional
Opinion excerpt
Mr. Justice Black delivered the opinion of the Court. The United States by its Attorney General and Solicitor General brought this suit against the State of California invoking our original jurisdiction under Article III, § 2, of the Constitution which provides that “In all Cases . . . in which a State shall be Party, the supreme Court shall have original Jurisdiction.” The complaint alleges that the United States “is the owner in fee simple of, or possessed of paramount rights in and powers over, the lands, minerals and other things of value underlying the Pacific Ocean, lying seaward of the ordinary low water mark on the coast of California and outside of the inland waters of the State, extending seaward three nautical miles and bounded on the north and south, respectively, by the northern and southern boundaries of the State of California.” It is further alleged that California, acting pursuant to state statutes, but without authority from the United States, has negotiated and executed numerous leases with persons and corporations purporting to authorize them to enter upon the described ocean area to take petroleum, gas, and other mineral deposits, and that the lessees have done so, paying to California large sums of money in rents and royalties for the petroleum products taken. The prayer is for a decree declaring the rights of the United States in the area as against…
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