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United States v. Texas

United States Supreme Court
143 U.S. 621, 12 S. Ct. 488, 36 L. Ed. 285 (1892)

Written by Heather Whittemore, JD

Facts

On May 2, 1890, Congress passed an act creating a temporary government to oversee the territory of Oklahoma. The United States (plaintiff) and Texas (defendant) disagreed about the ownership of a section of land that the United States placed in Oklahoma and that Texas claimed for itself. The United States filed a lawsuit in the United States Supreme Court against Texas to resolve the property dispute. Texas filed a demurrer opposing the case, arguing that no federal court, including the United States Supreme Court, had jurisdiction over a case between the United States government and a state government.

Rule of Law

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Issue

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Holding and Reasoning (Harlan, J.)

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A "yes" or "no" answer to the question framed in the issue section;
A summary of the majority or plurality opinion, using the CREAC method; and
The procedural disposition (e.g., reversed and remanded, affirmed, etc.).

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Dissent (Fuller, C.J.)

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