United States v. Florida (339 U.S. 699)
U.S. Supreme Court · decided June 5, 1950 · Supreme Court Database (Spaeth)
- Citation
- 339 U.S. 699 · 70 S. Ct. 914
- Docket
- No. No. 12, Original
- Argued
- March 27, 1950
- Decided
- June 5, 1950
- Term
- October Term 1949
- Vote
- 6–1
- Majority author
- Justice Douglas
- Issue area
- Federalism
- Disposition
- Affirmed
- Outcome
- Petitioning party won
- Ideological direction
- Liberal
How the Justices voted
- Majority
- Chief Justice Vinson, Justice Black, Justice Reed, Justice Douglas (wrote), Justice Burton, Justice Minton
- Dissenting
- Justice Frankfurter (wrote)
Opinion excerpt
Mr. Justice Douglas delivered the opinion of the Court. The United States by its Attorney General and its Solicitor General brought this suit against the State of Louisiana, invoking our jurisdiction under Art. Ill, § 2, Cl. 2 of the Constitution which provides “In all Cases . . . in which a State shall be Party, the supreme Court shall have original Jurisdiction.” The complaint alleges that the United States was and is “the owner in fee simple of, or possessed of paramount rights in, and full dominion and power over, the lands, minerals, and other things underlying the Gulf of Mexico, lying seaward of the ordinary low-water mark on the coast of Louisiana and outside of the inland waters, extending seaward twenty-seven marine miles and bounded on the east and west, respectively, by the eastern and western boundaries of the State of Louisiana.” The complaint further alleges that Louisiana, claiming rights in that property adverse to the United States, has made leases under her statutes to various persons and corporations which have entered upon said lands, drilled wells for the recovery of petroleum, gas and other hydrocarbon substances, and paid Louisiana substantial sums of money in bonuses, rent, and royalties, but that neither Louisiana nor its lessees have recognized the rights of the United States in said property. The prayer of the complaint is for a decree adjudging…
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