Perez v. Campbell, 402 U.S. 637 (1971)

Perez v. Campbell

No. 5175

Argued January 19, 1971
Decided June 1, 1971
402 U.S. 637

CERTIORARI TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT

Syllabus

The provision that

discharge in bankruptcy following the rendering of any such judgment [as a result of an automobile accident] shall not relieve the judgment debtor from any of the requirements of this article,

contained in Ariz.Rev.Stat. § 28-1163(b), part of the Motor Vehicle Safety Responsibility Act, which the Arizona courts have construed as having as

its principal purpose the protection of the public using the highways from financial hardship which may result from the use of automobiles by financially irresponsible persons,

directly conflicts with § 17 of the Bankruptcy Act, which states that a discharge in bankruptcy fully discharges all but certain specified judgments, and is thus unconstitutional as violative of the Supremacy Clause. Kesler v. Department of Public Safety, 369 U.S. 153, and Reitz v. Mealey, 314 U.S. 33, have no authoritative effect to the extent they are inconsistent with the controlling principle that state legislation that frustrates the full effectiveness of federal law is invalidated by the Supremacy Clause. Pp. 644-656.

421 F.2d 619, reversed and remanded.

WHITE, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which BLACK, DOUGLAS, BRENNAN, and MARSHALL JJ., joined. BLACKMUN, J., filed an opinion concurring in the result as to petitioner Emma Perez and dissenting as to petitioner Adolfo Perez, in which BURGER, C.J., and HARLAN and STEWART, JJ., joined, post, p. 657.