Sumi v. Young/Opinion of the Court

by James Clark McReynolds

United States Supreme Court

300 U.S. 251

Sumi  v.  Young

 Argued: and Submitted Feb. 3, 1937. --- Decided: March 1, 1937

In the Probate Court, Fairbanks, Alaska, October, 1934, a contest arose over the appointment of a guardian for two minor children. Petitioner's application failed. Respondent was designated. The District Court heard the matter de novo and approved this action.

Upon motion, the Circuit Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit dismissed the appeal for lack of jurisdiction. The motion averred: (1) The cause involves no question arising under the Constitution, statute, or treaty of the United States, or any authority exercised thereunder; (2) no monetary value exceeding $1,000 is involved; (3) the petitioner was not a party in the Probate Court. Section 128, Judicial Code, ^[1] also section 943, Act of June 6, 1900, ^[2] were relied upon in opposition.

The Circuit Court of Appeals could find no question under the Constitution, statute or treaty of the United States, or authority exercised thereunder; nor any controversy concerning money, property, or property rights. It concluded that section 128, Judicial Code, gave no jurisdiction; also that section 943, Act June 6, 1900, confers none since it only directs that orders of the District Court of Alaska in probate cases shall be deemed judgments subject to appeal as provided by section 128.

The petitioner insists that the cause involves construction and application of several sections Alaska Civil Code, ^[3] and that jurisdiction is conferred by section 128; also that section 943, Act June 6, 1900, is applicable.

Considering Summers v. United States, 231 U.S. 92, 34 S.Ct. 38, 58 L.Ed. 137, we cannot regard provisions of the Alaska Civil Code as laws of the United States within the intendment of section 128. They are special or local laws designed to meet conditions peculiar to that Territory. It follows that this section does not authorize the appeal under consideration. This view is aided by the words 'in all other civil cases wherein the value in controversy, exclusive of interest and costs, exceeds $1,000 * * * and in all habeas corpus proceedings.' If every case arising under the Civil Code involves a statute of the United States, this clause is inappropriate.

Moreover, to bring within the appellate jurisdiction of the Circuit Court of Appeals every order of the District Court of Alaska concerning guardianship claims against estates, distributions, etc., would hinder the manifest purpose to limit and definitely establish the jurisdiction of that court disclosed by Judicial Code 1911, and the amending Act of 1925. The Alaska Civil Code is an elaborate Act of Congress-230 printed pages-which undertakes to prescribe the law on a great many subjects.

The provision of section 943, Act of June 6, 1900, applicable to appeals in probate cases in Alaska, appears in the margin ante note 2.

Counsel maintain that this must be interpreted as if it read: 'An order of the District Court made in a probate case on appeal to it, shall be deemed a judgment. Such judgment is appealable. The manner or mode of taking and perfecting such appeal shall be the same manner or mode which is provided for the taking and perfecting of an appeal from other appealable judgments made and entered in the District Court.'

This proposal is in conflict with the purpose and limitations of the later Acts of 1911 and 1925. These are of general application, and any provision of the Alaska Code concerning appeals to the Circuit Court of Appeals inconsistent with them is ineffective.

Moreover, we cannot accept the view that the words 'in the manner provided' found in section 943 were intended to permit appeals in probate matters without restriction-to relieve them of requirements generally applicable to causes in the courts of the Territory.

The court below reached the proper conclusion.

Affirmed.

Mr. Justice STONE and Mr. Justice CARDOZO concur in the result, but as they think the case made on the record is not one 'involving' provisions of the Alaska Code, it seems unnecessary to resolve the more doubtful question whether they are statutes of the United States.

Notes

1. Judicial Code, § 128, Act March 3, 1911, amended Feb. 13, 1925, c. 229, 43 Stat. 936, 28 U.S.C.A. § 225:
2. Act June 6, 1900, c. 786, 31 Stat. 480 (section 943, Carter's Annotated Code Civ.Proc.; section 1775, Compiled Laws of Alaska 1913; section 4574, Compiled Laws of Alaska 1933): 'Sec. 943. Upon such hearing the district court or judge thereof shall determine the issues so raised according to the very right of the matter and make such order in the premises as he may see fit, which order shall be entered in a docket to be kept by the clerk of the court for that purpose, properly indexed, and a copy of the same shall be forwarded to the commissioner before whom the exceptions were filed, who shall thereupon proceed in accordance with such order. Such orders shall be deemed a judgment, subject to appeal in the manner provided for appeals from judgments in the district court.'
3. 31 Stat. 321.