Martin v. Hunter's Lessee

The Court held that it has appellate authority over state courts on questions of federal law, settling a foundational dispute about the judiciary's structure.

Overview

Lord Fairfax, a British loyalist, left Virginia lands to his nephew Denny Martin. Virginia confiscated and sold part of the land, and a dispute arose over whether treaties protecting loyalist property controlled. Justice Joseph Story wrote for the Court, affirming that Section 25 of the Judiciary Act authorized Supreme Court review of state court decisions rejecting federal claims. The ruling rejected the idea that state courts could be the final arbiters of federal law, ensuring uniform interpretation of treaties, statutes, and the Constitution nationwide. Martin remains a pillar of the federal judicial system and the supremacy of federal law.