Turner v. Wilkes County Commissioners, 173 U.S. 461 (1899)

Turner v. Wilkes County Commissioners


No. 642


Submitted February 20, 1899
Decided March 20, 1899
173 U.S. 461

ERROR TO THE SUPREME COURT
OF THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA

Syllabus

On a writ of error to a state court, this Court cannot take jurisdiction under the allegation that a contract has been impaired by a decision of that court when it appeals that the state court has done nothing more than construe its own constitution and statutes existing at the time when the bonds were issued, there being no subsequent legislation touching the subject.

This Court is bound by the decision of a state court in regard to the meaning of the constitution and laws of its own state, and its decision upon such a state of facts raises no federal question, though other principles obtain when the writ of error is to a federal court.

This was a motion to dismiss. The case is stated in the opinion.