United States v. Peters (1795)

For other uses, see United States v. Peters.

United States v. Peters
Supreme Court of the United States
Argued August 22, 1795
Full case name	The United States v. Richard Peters, District Judge
Citations	3 U.S. 121 (more) 3 Dall. 121; 1 L. Ed. 535; 1795 U.S. LEXIS 330
Holding
The Supreme Court can compel a federal trial judge to halt proceedings in a case which the Supreme Court feels is lacking sufficient evidence to proceed.
Court membership
Chief Justice John Rutledge Associate Justices James Wilson · William Cushing John Blair Jr. · James Iredell William Paterson
Case opinion
Majority	Rutledge, joined by unanimous

United States v. Peters, 3 U.S. (3 Dall.) 121 (1795), was a United States Supreme Court case determining that the federal district court has no jurisdiction over a foreign privateer where the intended captured ship was not within the jurisdiction of the court. The Supreme Court may prohibit the district court from proceeding in such a matter. In the decision the court held:

The district court has no jurisdiction of a libel for damages, against a privateer, commissioned by a foreign belligerent power, for the capture of an American vessel as prize—the captured vessel not being within the jurisdiction.

The supreme court will grant a writ of prohibition to a district judge, when he is proceeding in a cause of which the district court has no jurisdiction.

See also

• List of United States Supreme Court cases, volume 3
• Richard Peters (Continental Congress)

External links

• Text of United States v. Peters, 3 U.S. (3 Dall.) 121 (1795) is available from: Justia Library of Congress