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Supreme Court · Decisions

Ex Parte Collett

337 U.S. 55 · No. 206M · 1948 term · Vinson Court

Decided May 31, 1949 · argued Feb 7, 1949

Judicial power · Venue

Majority opinion: Frederick Vinson

The voteMajorityDissent

7–27 in the majority, 2 in dissent

2 dissents (7–2)

Petition denied or appeal dismissed. The party that brought the case lost.

What this ruling means

Dismissed: after hearing the case the Supreme Court declined to decide it, so the decision of the Illinois Eastern U.S. District Court stands.

The petitioner is, the side that asked the Supreme Court to review the case. “Lost” means the Court did not give that side the result it asked for.

From the Supreme Court Database. A justice who agreed with the result but not the reasoning counts in the majority.

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Summary

The opening of the case’s Wikipedia article: what the case was about and what the Court held.

Wikipedia has no article on this case, so there is no summary.

Data notes

The text is Wikipedia’s (CC BY-SA 4.0), matched to the case by its citation, docket number or name and year, and is not checked against the opinion. The site keeps the article’s opening section, ending on its last full sentence. The one-sentence summary under the title is the Decisions list’s: Wikipedia’s own ruling sentence, or, tagged “AI-written”, one Claude wrote from this opening.

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How the justices voted

Each justice who took part, placed by their Martin–Quinn ideology score for the 1948 term. Filled: the 7 in the majority. Hollow: the 2 in dissent. Colour is the party of the president who appointed them.

More liberalMore conservativeMedianRutledgeDouglasBlackMurphyFrankfurterReedVinsonBurtonR. Jackson

Majority(7)

Dissent(2)

Data notes

Each justice’s vote and what they wrote are from the justice-centered file of the Supreme Court Database. “Wrote a concurrence” means the justice sided with the majority and wrote separately; a justice who dissented in part is counted on the side they took overall. A justice who wrote nothing is listed as joining their side.

Positions are each justice’s Martin–Quinn score for the case’s term, the same scores as the Ideology page: negative is more liberal, positive more conservative. A score sums up a justice’s votes across the whole term, so it says where they usually sit, not why they voted as they did here. The median line is the Court’s median justice that term.

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The parties

Who brought the case to the Court, who answered it, and how it got there.

Petitioner
Not named in the captionEmployee, or job applicant
Respondent
Not named in the captionCourt or judicial district (United States)
Reached the Court by
Mandamus
Data notes

The names are the two sides of the case’s title. The description under each is the Supreme Court Database’s category for that party, in its own wording. The petitioner is the side that asked the Supreme Court to review the decision below. “Why it was taken” appears only when the majority opinion says lower courts disagreed or were unsure about the question; reasons that would fit any case (“to resolve the question presented”, “an important question”) are left out.

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The law at issue

The law the Court was asked to apply, and the kind of power it used to decide.

Provision
28 U.S.C. § 1404
Kind of law
Infrequently litigated statutes
Decided by
Statutory construction
Data notes

The Supreme Court Database codes the main constitutional provision, statute or court rule each case turned on, and the basis of the decision: judicial review of a federal or state law, interpreting a statute, supervising the lower courts, and so on. A case can rest on more than one. “Overruled” counts only where the majority opinion says so.

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Timeline

What happened at the Court and how the case got there, newest first.

  1. May 31, 1949DecidedDecided · Decided 7–2: petition denied or appeal dismissed. The party that brought the case lost.
  2. Feb 7, 1949ArguedArgued · Oral argument before the Court.
  3. Not datedTaken upTaken up · Reached the Supreme Court by mandamus.
  4. Not datedCourt belowCourt below · Began in and was decided by the Illinois Eastern U.S. District Court.
Data notes

From the Supreme Court Database: the court the case began in, the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed and what that court did, how the case came to the Court, and the dates of argument and decision. The database does not date the steps in the lower courts. Court names are the database’s.

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Other decisions on the same issue

48 other argued cases since 1946 on venue, newest first.

  1. Enbridge Energy, LP v. Nessel608 U.S. 67Apr 22, 2026 · 608 U.S. 67Judicial power9–0Unanimous band

  2. Chevron USA Inc. v. Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana608 U.S. 1Apr 17, 2026 · 608 U.S. 1Judicial power8–0Unanimous band

  3. TC Heartland LLC v. Kraft Foods Group Brands137 S. Ct. 1514May 22, 2017 · 137 S. Ct. 1514Judicial power8–0Unanimous band

  4. Atlantic Marine Constr. Co. v. United States Dist. Court for Western Dist. of Tex.571 U.S. 49Dec 3, 2013 · 571 U.S. 49Judicial power9–0Unanimous band
  5. Cortez Byrd Chips, Inc. v. Bill Harbert Construction Company, etc.529 U.S. 193Mar 21, 2000 · 529 U.S. 193Judicial power9–0Unanimous band

  6. United States v. Jacinto Rodriguez-Moreno526 U.S. 275Mar 30, 1999 · 526 U.S. 275Judicial power7–27–2 band
  7. United States v. Vickie S. Cabrales524 U.S. 1Jun 1, 1998 · 524 U.S. 1Judicial power9–0Unanimous band
  8. Burlington Northern Railroad Company v. William D. Ford and Thomas L. Johnson504 U.S. 648Jun 12, 1992 · 504 U.S. 648Judicial power9–0Unanimous band
  9. Ferens et ux. v. John Deere Co., aka Deere & Co.494 U.S. 516Mar 5, 1990 · 494 U.S. 516Judicial power5–45–4 band

  10. Stewart Organization, Inc., et al. v. Ricoh Corp. et al.487 U.S. 22Jun 20, 1988 · 487 U.S. 22Judicial power8–18–1 band

  11. Piper Aircraft Co. v. Reyno, Personal Representative of the Estates of Fehilly et al.454 U.S. 235Dec 8, 1981 · 454 U.S. 235Judicial power4–36–3 band
  12. Stafford, U.S. Attorney, et al. v. Briggs et al.444 U.S. 527Feb 20, 1980 · 444 U.S. 527Judicial power5–27–2 band
  13. Leroy, Attorney General of Idaho, et al. v. Great Western United Corp.443 U.S. 173Jun 26, 1979 · 443 U.S. 173Judicial power6–36–3 band
  14. Citizens & Southern National Bank v. Bougas434 U.S. 35Nov 8, 1977 · 434 U.S. 35Judicial power9–0Unanimous band
  15. Radzanower v. Touche Ross & Co. et al.426 U.S. 148Jun 7, 1976 · 426 U.S. 148Judicial power8–18–1 band
  16. American Motorists Insurance Co. v. Starnes425 U.S. 637May 19, 1976 · 425 U.S. 637Judicial power9–0Unanimous band
  17. Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad Co. v. Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen et al.387 U.S. 556Jun 5, 1967 · 387 U.S. 556Judicial power6–36–3 band
  18. Pure Oil Co. v. Suarez384 U.S. 202May 16, 1966 · 384 U.S. 202Judicial power9–0Unanimous band
  19. Federal Power Commission v. Texaco Inc. et al.377 U.S. 33Apr 20, 1964 · 377 U.S. 33Judicial power8–18–1 band
  20. Van Dusen, U.S. District Judge, et al. v. Barrack, Administratrix, et al.376 U.S. 612Mar 30, 1964 · 376 U.S. 612Judicial power9–0Unanimous band

  21. Platt, Chief Judge, U.S. District Court, v. Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Co.376 U.S. 240Mar 9, 1964 · 376 U.S. 240Judicial power9–0Unanimous band
  22. Parsons, United States District Judge, v. Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Co.375 U.S. 71Nov 12, 1963 · 375 U.S. 71Judicial power9–0Unanimous band
  23. Southern Construction Co., Inc., et al. v. Pickard, Doing Business As Pickard Engineering Co.371 U.S. 57Nov 5, 1962 · 371 U.S. 57Judicial power9–0Unanimous band
  24. Goldlawr, Inc., v. Heiman et al.369 U.S. 463Apr 30, 1962 · 369 U.S. 463Judicial power5–27–2 band

  25. Schnell et al. v. Peter Eckrich & Sons, Inc., et al.365 U.S. 260Feb 20, 1961 · 365 U.S. 260Judicial power9–0Unanimous band
  26. Continental Grain Co. v. Barge Fbl-585 et al.364 U.S. 19Jun 27, 1960 · 364 U.S. 19Judicial power7–27–2 band
  27. Hoffman, U.S. District Judge, v. Blaski et al.363 U.S. 335Jun 13, 1960 · 363 U.S. 335Judicial power6–36–3 band
  28. Fourco Glass Co. v. Transmirra Products Corp. et al.353 U.S. 222Apr 29, 1957 · 353 U.S. 222Judicial power8–18–1 band
  29. Riverbank Laboratories v. Hardwood Products Corp.350 U.S. 1003Apr 2, 1956 · 350 U.S. 1003Judicial power8–0Unanimous band
  30. Norwood et al. v. Kirkpatrick, U.S. District Judge349 U.S. 29Apr 11, 1955 · 349 U.S. 29Judicial power5–36–3 band
  31. Bankers Life & Casualty Co. v. Holland, Chief Judge, et al.346 U.S. 379Nov 30, 1953 · 346 U.S. 379Judicial power6–36–3 band
  32. Olberding, Doing Business As Vess Transfer Co., et al. v. Illinois Central Railroad Co., Inc.346 U.S. 338Nov 9, 1953 · 346 U.S. 338Judicial power7–27–2 band
  33. Polizzi v. Cowles Magazines, Inc.345 U.S. 663Jun 1, 1953 · 345 U.S. 663Judicial power7–0Unanimous band
  34. Pope et al. v. Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Co.345 U.S. 379Apr 27, 1953 · 345 U.S. 379Judicial power8–18–1 band
  35. Kerotest Manufacturing Co. v. C-O-Two Fire Equipment Co.342 U.S. 180Jan 2, 1952 · 342 U.S. 180Judicial power7–27–2 band
  36. American Fire & Casualty Co. v. Finn341 U.S. 6Apr 9, 1951 · 341 U.S. 6Judicial power6–36–3 band
  37. Missouri ex rel. Southern Railway Co. v. Mayfield, Circuit Court Judge340 U.S. 1Nov 6, 1950 · 340 U.S. 1Judicial power5–45–4 band
  38. Swift & Company Packers et al. v. Compania Colombiana Del Caribe, S. A. et al.339 U.S. 684Jun 5, 1950 · 339 U.S. 684Judicial power8–0Unanimous band
  39. Boyd v. Grand Trunk Western Railroad Company338 U.S. 263Nov 7, 1949 · 338 U.S. 263Judicial power7–0Unanimous band
  40. Graham et al. v. Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen & Enginemen338 U.S. 232Nov 7, 1949 · 338 U.S. 232Judicial power7–0Unanimous band
  41. United States v. National City Lines, Inc. et al.337 U.S. 78May 31, 1949 · 337 U.S. 78Judicial power7–27–2 band
  42. Kilpatrick v. Texas & Pacific Railway Co.337 U.S. 75May 31, 1949 · 337 U.S. 75Judicial power7–27–2 band
  43. Hoiness v. United States335 U.S. 297Nov 8, 1948 · 335 U.S. 297Judicial power9–0Unanimous band
  44. United States v. National City Lines, Inc. et al.334 U.S. 573Jun 7, 1948 · 334 U.S. 573Judicial power7–27–2 band
  45. Suttle, Administratrix, v. Reich Bros. Construction Co. et al.333 U.S. 163Mar 8, 1948 · 333 U.S. 163Judicial power9–0Unanimous band
  46. Koster v. (American) Lumbermens Mutual Casualty Co.330 U.S. 518Mar 10, 1947 · 330 U.S. 518Judicial power5–45–4 band
  47. Gulf Oil Corp. v. Gilbert, Doing Business As Gilbert Storage & Transfer Co.330 U.S. 501Mar 10, 1947 · 330 U.S. 501Judicial power5–45–4 band
  48. Aetna Casualty & Surety Co. et al. v. Flowers330 U.S. 464Mar 10, 1947 · 330 U.S. 464Judicial power9–0Unanimous band
Data notes

Every other orally argued case with a clear vote, from the 1946 term on, that the Supreme Court Database files under the same issue as this one. The database gives each case one issue from a list of about 270 (abortion, search and seizure of vehicles, the death penalty, and so on), whatever law it turned on.

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Official record

Read the full opinion on Justia. Case data from the Supreme Court Database, Version 2026 Release 01, through the 2025 term.