Hyperlawhypertext legal databasebeta Jackson v. Twentyman 27 U.S. 136

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Jackson v. Twentyman

27 U.S. 136 2 Pet. 136 Court SCOTUS English

Delivered by Majority

Contents

Majority

p. 136
Daniel and Joseph Jackson, Plaintiffs in error vs. John Twentyman.

Syllabus

The 11th section of the act of 1789, must bo construed in connexion with and m conformity with the constitution of the United States. By this latter, the judicial power does not exténd to private suits:in Which an alien is a .party, unless a citizen be the adverse party ;• and it is indispensable to aver the citizenship of the defendants, to show, on the record, the jurisdiction of the court.
THIS cause was brought before the Court by a writ of error to the circuit court of the southern circuit of New York.
The description of the parties on the record was “John Twentyman, a subject of the king of Great Britain vs. Daniel ahd Joseph Jackson.” No citizenship of the defendants being argued.
The question was whether the circuit court under the 11th section of the judiciary act of 1789, ch. -20, which gives jurisdiction, among other cases, “ where'aji alien is a1 party,” had jurisdiction of the cause without an assumpsit on the record of the citizenship of the' defendants,
Mr Taylor, for the plaintiffs in error,
argued that the judgment of the circuit court snoiild be reversed. He cited Bingham vs. Cabot, 3 Dall. 382 . Hodgson vs. Bowerbant, 5 Cranch, 303 . Sullivan vs. The Fulton Steam Boat Company, 6 Wheaton, 450.

The Court were of opinion that the 11 th section of the act must be construed in connexion with and in ftonformity to the constitution of the United States. That by the latter, the judicial power was'not extended to private suits, in which an alien is a party, unless a citizen be the adverse party. .It was indispensable therefore. to aver the citizenship of the defendants, in order to show oh the record the jurisdiction of the court:

The omission , so to do was fatal, and according to the known course of the decisions of the Court, the judgment of the circuit court must be reversed for want of jurisdiction.

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