Martin v. Hunter’s Lessee

Martin v. Hunter’s Lessee (1816)

1) Link to the Actual Opinion
Read the U.S. Reports opinion (PDF)

2) Summary of the Opinion
Virginia courts resisted enforcing a federal treaty claim to land ownership. The Supreme Court ruled it had appellate authority to review state-court decisions on federal law.

3) Why It Mattered
This decision established the Supreme Court’s power to ensure uniformity of federal law nationwide, even when state courts resisted.

Foundational Cases

Cohens v. Virginia

Cohens v. Virginia (1821)

1) Link to the Actual Opinion
Read the U.S. Reports opinion (PDF)

2) Summary of the Opinion
The Cohen brothers were convicted in Virginia for selling lottery tickets authorized by Congress for the District of Columbia. Virginia argued the Supreme Court could not review criminal convictions from state courts. The Court disagreed, holding it could review all state court decisions involving federal law, even criminal ones.

3) Why It Mattered
This case reaffirmed and expanded federal judicial authority, ensuring that state courts could not block Supreme Court review when federal law was at stake.