Hodges v. Snyder

• Citation: 43 S.Ct. 435,67 L.Ed. 819,261 U.S. 600
• Decision Date: 09 April 1923
• Docket Number: No. 432,432
• Parties: HODGES et al. v. SNYDER et al
• Court: United States Supreme Court

261 U.S. 600

43 S.Ct. 435

67 L.Ed. 819

HODGES et al.

v SNYDER et al.

No. 432.

Submitted on Motion to Dismiss or Affirm Feb. 26, 1923.

Decided April 9, 1923.

Mr. Samuel Herrick, of Washington, D. C., for plaintiffs in error.

Messrs. Max Royhl and T. H. Null, both of Huron, S. D., for defendants in error.

Mr. Justice SANFORD delivered the opinion of the Court.

The defendants in error move to dismiss the writ of error or affirm the judgment.

1. The ground of the motion to dismiss is that there is want of jurisdiction because the writ is not directed to the Supreme Court of the State. It was sued out to review a final judgment of that court reversing, on appeal, an order of the Circuit Court, and remanding the cause with direction to vacate the same. Under the local practice the original papers, that had been transmitted to the Supreme Court as the record on the appeal, were remitted to the Circuit Court, with copies of the judgment and opinion of the Supreme Court (Rev. Code S. D. 1919, § 3170); no copy of such record being retained by the Supreme Court. The rule of practice has been long established that in such case, in order to bring up the record which is essential to a review of the judgment of the appellate court, the writ of error is properly directed to the lower court in which the record is then found. Gelston v. Hoyt, 3 Wheat. 246, 304, 335, 4 L. Ed. 381; McGuire v. Commonwealth, 3 Wall. 382, 386, 18 L. Ed. 164; Atherton v. Fowler, 91 U. S. 143, 148, 23 L. Ed. 265; Polleys v. Black River Co., 113 U. S. 81, 82, 5 Sup. Ct. 369, 28 L. Ed. 938; McDonald v. Massachusetts, 1 0 U. S. 311, 312, 21 Sup. Ct. 389, 45 L. Ed. 542; Sioux Remedy Co. v. Cope, 235 U. S. 197, 200, 35 Sup. Ct. 57, 59 L. Ed. 193 (involving a similar writ of error to another circuit court of South Dakota); and other cases therein cited. Hence the motion to dismiss is denied.

2. The ground of the alternative motion to affirm the judgment of the Supreme Court is that the writ was taken for delay only and presents no substantial question for review. It should be granted if the questions on which the decision depends are so wanting in substance as not to need further argument. Rule 6, § 5 (32 Sup. Ct. v); Missouri Pacific Railway v. Castle, 224 U. S. 541, 544, 32 Sup. Ct. 606, 56 L. Ed. 875; Chicago Railway v. Devine, 239 U. S. 52, 54, 36 Sup. Ct. 27, 60 L. Ed. 140; City of Boston v. Jackson, 260 U. S. 309, 43 Sup. Ct. 129, 67 L. Ed. ——, decided by this Court December 4, 1922.

A single question is presented, which arises as follows: The plaintiffs in error, as resident taxpayers, filed a complaint in the Circuit Court challenging the validity of a consolidated school district which had been organized by the merger of several smaller districts, and praying that the defendants in error, as its officers, be enjoined from further maintaining schools or erecting school buildings therein, or issuing bonds thereof. The Supreme Court, on an appeal from the Circuit Court, held that the attempted organization of the consolidated district 'was not authorized by any law then in force * * * and was wholly futile' (43 S. D. 166, 176, 178 N. W. 575), and entered judgment remanding the cause for further proceedings in accordance with its decision. The legislature thereupon passed a curative act legalizing and validating all proceedings relating to the organization of any consolidated school district attempted to be made as this had been, as of the date when such district was organized (Laws S. D. 2d Sp. Sess. 1920, c. 47). Before this curative act went into effect the Circuit Court, in accordance with the decision of the Supreme Court, entered judgment adjudging the invalidity of the consolidation, permanently enjoining the defendants from conducting the consolidated district, as prayed in the complaint, and awarding costs to the plaintiffs. At a later day of the term, after the curative act had gone into effect, a motion by the defendants to set aside this injunction was denied. Thereafter, on a second appeal, the Supreme Court held that the curative act had validated the defective organization of the consolidated district (186 N. W. 867), and entered the judgment now sought to be reviewed, reversing the order of the Circuit Court granting the permanent injunction and remanding the cause with direction to vacate so much of its judgment as awarded such injunction; but not reversing its judgment as to costs.

The plaintiffs in error concede that the legislature, in the general exercise of its inherent power to create and alter the boundaries of school districts, may create new districts by the consolidation of others. Stephens v. Jones, 24 S. D. 97, 100, 123 N. W. 705. And they likewise recognize that, since the legislature had the power to ratify that which it might have originally authorized, there would have been no violation of due process if the curative act had been enacted and become effective before any adjudication had been made in the pending litigation as to the invalidity of the consolidated district. United States v. Heinszen & Co., 206 U. S. 370, 386, 27 Sup. Ct. 742, 51 L. Ed. 1098, 11 Ann. Cas. 688; Rafferty v. Smith, Bell & Co., 257 U. S. 226, 232, 42 Sup. Ct. 71, 66 L. Ed. 208; Charlotte Harbor Railway v. Wells, 260 U. S. 8, 43 Sup. Ct. 3, 67 L. Ed. ——, decided by this Court October 16, 1922. And see, generally as to giving effect to acts passed pendente lite but before the hearing, Stockdale v. Insurance Co., 20...