Today in Supreme Court History: December 22, 1789

12/22/1789: Justice Levi Woodbury born.

Justice Levi Woodbury

Comments

[Dan Schiavetta]

Memphis & L. R.R. Co. v. Berry, 112 U.S. 609 (decided December 22, 1884): tax break given to railroad company formed by act of legislature does not survive such that company which purchased it can benefit from it

Blumenthal v. United States, 332 U.S. 539 (decided December 22, 1947): conspiracy prosecution doesn’t have to identify all conspirators (conspiracy here was to sell whiskey at prices above ceiling set under Emergency Price Control Act of 1942); “secrecy and concealment are essential features of successful conspiracy”

New York Belting & Packing Co. v. New Jersey Car-Spring & Rubber Co., 137 U.S. 445 (decided December 22, 1890): design of corrugated mat was not “novel” enough to warrant a patent (the opinion has a drawing of the mat which does not do justice to its properties as described — corrugated sections juxtaposed such that as one passes over it one sees “moiré patterns” and “mosaic” effects) (“If the person changes his position continuously the effects are kaleidoscopic”) (the kaleidoscope was patented, as well as various improvements to it — why not this mat?)

[Syd Henderson]

"Memphis & L. R.R. Co. v. Berry" That seems like an easy decision but I can't find a breakdown on the justices. Was it unanimous?

[F.D. Wolf]

Yes, it appears Justice Stanley Matthews wrote the opinion for the Court with no recorded concurrences or dissents.

[apedad]

Malt Whisky

https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-1942-11-04/pdf/FR-1942-11-04.pdf

Starting on pdf page 35.

[Dr. Ed 2]

FDR was a lot more fascist than people realize.

[The Margrave of Azilia]

PRISONER: "I hear you're in here for selling whisky which was too expensive."

[apedad]

Maybe that little thing - WWII - had something to do with his decisions.

[Á àß äẞç ãþÇđ âÞ¢Đæ ǎB€Ðëf ảhf]

Starting in 1934? Or 1919 as his political career was taking off? No, he admired Mussolini, Hitler, and Stalin at one point or another. He was a full-blown statist, and running for re-election in 1940 was just another indication.

[Á àß äẞç ãþÇđ âÞ¢Đæ ǎB€Ðëf ảhf]

Riiiight, he put soooo muuuuch effort into it.

[Dan Schiavetta]

One simply cannot have a balanced budget in the depths of a severe depression -- or when fighting a major war.

His only serious attempt was for 1937 and it resulted in the Great Depression worsening again.

[Dilan Esper]

Got any left over?