1816 • Case
Martin v. Hunter’s Lessee
14 U.S. (1 Wheat.) 304 (1816)
📄 Read the Actual Opinion
U.S. Reports opinion (PDF) →📋 Summary of the Opinion
Virginia courts resisted enforcing a federal treaty claim to land ownership. The Supreme Court ruled it had appellate authority to review state-court decisions on federal law.
⚖️ Why It Mattered
This decision established the Supreme Court’s power to ensure uniformity of federal law nationwide, even when state courts resisted.
✅ What It Provided or Took Away
✅ Provided:
Supreme Court authority to review state cases involving federal law.
❌ Took Away:
States’ ability to have the last word on federal questions.
🤔 Overreach or Proper Role?
This was a structural necessity. Without it, federal law would vary by state. It fit squarely within Article III’s design.
💡 Plain-English Impact Today
If a state court decides an issue under the U.S. Constitution, treaties, or federal statutes, the U.S. Supreme Court can be the final word.