State v. State
Headline: Court appoints a special master to hold full hearings, find facts, and recommend a decree in a dispute between two States, with both States allowed to object before the Court.
Holding: The Court ordered that Charles Warren be appointed special master to hold hearings, make special findings of fact, and report recommendations for the decree, with the report to be printed and reviewed by the Court.
- Appoints a special master to gather facts and recommend a court decree.
- Requires full hearings for both sides on questions of fact and law.
- Master’s report will be printed and then reviewed by the Court with possible objections.
Summary
Background
This case involves a dispute between two States, each represented by counsel. The record names Mr. Frank W. Clancy for the complainant, Mr. W. A. Keeling for the defendant, and Mr. Thornton Hardie appearing for L. M. Crawford as an outside supporter. The parties filed documents and stipulations that are part of the printed record, and the Court chose to order further fact-finding before issuing any final court order.
Reasoning
The Court directed that Charles Warren, Esq., serve as a special master — an appointed official who will hold full hearings and make special findings on all material questions of fact. The master must hear both sides on questions of fact and law, base findings on the entire printed record (including stipulated papers), and recommend the decree the Court should enter. After the master files his report, the clerk will have it printed, and the Court will set the case for hearing on the master’s findings and any exceptions either State presents. The Court did not decide the main legal dispute at this stage.
Real world impact
For the States and their lawyers, the order adds a formal fact-finding step that gives both sides a full hearing and produces a written, printed report for the Court to review. The master’s report will become part of the official record and will be publicly printed before the Justices consider it. Because this is a procedural referral, it is not a final decision on the merits and the outcome could change after the Court reviews the report and any exceptions.
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