Cole v. Violette, 319 U.S. 581 (1943)

U.S. Supreme Court

Cole v. Violette, 319 U.S. 581 (1943) Cole v. Violette

No. 892

Decided June 14, 1943

319 U.S. 581

APPEAL FROM THE SUPERIOR COURT

OF SUFFOLK COUNTY, MASSACUSETTS

Syllabus

1. In determining what is a final judgment or decree of a state supreme court within the meaning of § 237 of the Judicial Code, this Court is not controlled by the designation applied to it in state practice. P. 319 U. S. 582.

2. A rescript from the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts to the state Superior Court embodied an order directing that the final decree of the latter court dismissing a suit on the merits be modified by the insertion of a clause "to the effect that the bill is dismissed on the ground that the questions raised have become moot," and declaring that "the decree, as so modified, is affirmed with cost," held final within the meaning of § 237 of the Judicial Code, so that an appeal applied for more than three months from the date of the order was too late. P. 319 U. S. 582.

312 Mass. 523, 45 N.E.2d 400, appeal dismissed.

PER CURIAM.

The question for our decision is whether the appeal was applied for within the three months period provided by law. 28 U.S.C. § 350. The suit was dismissed on the merits by the Superior Court of Suffolk County, Massachusetts, and appealed to the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, which, on December 4, 1942, decided that the case had become moot. 312 Mass. 523, 45 N.E.2d 400. On the same day, that court sent to the Superior Court from which the appeal was taken a rescript which contained the following order:

"Ordered, that the clerk of said court . . . make the following entry under said case in the docket of said court: viz., Final Decree to be modified by the insertion of a clause to the effect that the

Page 319 U. S. 582

bill is dismissed on the ground that the questions raised have become moot; decree, as so modified, is affirmed with costs."

The rescript was filed that day in the Superior Court, which, on January 7, 1943, entered a decree as had been directed.

Applications for the allowance of an appeal to this Court, presented within three months after December 4th, were denied by the Chief Justice of the Superior Court of Massachusetts and by an Associate Justice of this Court. An application presented to another Associate Justice on March 6th was allowed. But this last application was not timely if the time to take an appeal ran from December 4th. Matton Steamboat Co. v. Murphy, 319 U. S. 412.

Massachusetts local practice regards the decree entered by the Superior Court on the rescript, rather than the order of the Supreme Judicial Court contained in the rescript, as the "final decree" in the case. See Boston v. Santosuosso, 308 Mass. 189, 194, 31 N.E.2d 564; Carilli v. Hersey, 303 Mass. 82, 84, 20 N.E.2d 492. But, in determining what is a final judgment or decree within the meaning of Section 237 of the Judicial Code, 28 U.S.C. § 344, we are not controlled by the designation applied to it in state practice. Dept. of Banking v. Pink, 317 U. S. 264, 317 U. S. 268; Gorman v. Washington University, 316 U. S. 98, 316 U. S. 101. The order of the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, incorporated in its rescript, was an order of the same nature and with the same incidents as those of the highest courts of other states which we review. It was an order of the court, and one which finally disposed of all the issues in the case, leaving nothing to be done but the ministerial act of entering judgment in the trial court. The appeal is dismissed on the ground that it was not applied for within the time provided by law. Dept. of Banking v. Pink, supra, and Matton Steamboat Co. v. Murphy, supra.

Dismissed.