List of United States Supreme Court cases, volume 94


This is a list of cases reported in volume 94 of United States Reports, decided by the Supreme Court of the United States in 1876 and 1877.

Justices of the Supreme Court at the time of 94 U.S.

The Supreme Court is established by Article III, Section 1 of the Constitution of the United States, which says: "The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme Court...". The size of the Court is not specified; the Constitution leaves it to Congress to set the number of justices. Under the Judiciary Act of 1789 Congress originally fixed the number of justices at six. Since 1789 Congress has varied the size of the Court from six to seven, nine, ten, and back to nine justices.
When the cases in 94 U.S. were decided the Court comprised the following nine members:
PortraitJusticeOfficeHome StateSucceededDate confirmed by the Senate
Tenure on Supreme Court
Morrison WaiteChief JusticeOhioSalmon P. Chase


March 23, 1888
Nathan CliffordAssociate JusticeMaineBenjamin Robbins Curtis


July 25, 1881
Noah Haynes SwayneAssociate JusticeOhioJohn McLean


January 24, 1881
Samuel Freeman MillerAssociate JusticeIowaPeter Vivian Daniel


October 13, 1890
David DavisAssociate JusticeIllinoisJohn Archibald Campbell


March 4, 1877
Stephen Johnson FieldAssociate JusticeCalifornianewly created seat


December 1, 1897
William StrongAssociate JusticePennsylvaniaRobert Cooper Grier


December 14, 1880
Joseph P. BradleyAssociate JusticeNew Jerseynewly created seat


January 22, 1892
Ward HuntAssociate JusticeNew YorkSamuel Nelson


January 27, 1882

Notable Case in 94 U.S.

''Munn v. Illinois''

In Munn v. Illinois, , the Supreme Court upheld the power of state governments to regulate private industries that affect "the common good". The case resulted because in 1871 the Illinois legislature responded to pressure from the National Grange, an association of farmers, by setting maximum rates that private companies could charge for the storage and transport of agricultural products. The Chicago grain warehouse firm of Munn and Scott was found guilty of violating the law but appealed the conviction on the grounds that the law was an unconstitutional deprivation of property without due process of law that violated the Fourteenth Amendment. The Supreme Court of Illinois ruled in favor of the State, and the US Supreme Court upheld its judgment. In his opinion for the Court, Chief Justice Morrison Waite affirmed the constitutionality of state regulation extending to private industries that affect public interests, also stating that even though Congress alone is granted control over interstate commerce, a state could take action in the public interest without impairing that federal control. Significantly, this ruling also applied to railroads, as railroad companies were deemed private companies serving the public interest. Munn v. Illinois was a landmark precedent that state regulation of grain elevator rates and railroad rates was within the bounds of the Constitution.

Citation style

Under the Judiciary Act of 1789 the federal court structure at the time comprised District Courts, which had general trial jurisdiction; Circuit Courts, which had mixed trial and appellate jurisdiction; and the United States Supreme Court, which had appellate jurisdiction over the federal District and Circuit courts—and for certain issues over state courts. The Supreme Court also had limited original jurisdiction. There were one or more federal District Courts and/or Circuit Courts in each state, territory, or other geographical region.
Bluebook citation style is used for case names, citations, and jurisdictions.
Case NamePage & yearOpinion of the CourtConcurring opinionDissenting opinionLower CourtDisposition
Wheeler v. SedgwickWaitenonenoneC.C.S.D.N.Y.affirmed
Hoadley v. City of San Franciscoper curiamnonenoneC.C.D. Cal.affirmed
Pike v. EvansBradleynonenoneC.C.D. La.reversed
Atlantic & P.R.R. Co. v. HopkinsWaitenonenoneC.C.D. Kan.multiple
Ex parte CuttingWaitenonenoneC.C.E.D. Mo.mandamus denied
Humes v. ScruggsHuntnonenoneC.C.N.D. Ala.reversed
Utley v. DonaldsonSwaynenoneStrongC.C.E.D. Mo.reversed
Doyle v. WisconsinWaitenonenoneWis.affirmed
United States v. BostwickWaitenonenoneCt. Cl.reversed
Leavenworth Cnty. v. BarnesHuntnonenoneC.C.D. Kan.affirmed
United States v. ClarkWaitenonenoneCt. Cl.reversed
Storm v. United StatesCliffordnonenoneC.C.D. Cal.affirmed
199 Barrels Whiskey v. United StatesWaitenonenoneC.C.E.D. Tex.affirmed
Consolidated F.J. Co. v. WrightSwaynenonenoneC.C.S.D.N.Y.affirmed
Smith v. United StatesWaitenonenoneSup. Ct. Terr. Wash.argument denied
City of Omaha v. HammondMillernonenoneC.C.D. Neb.affirmed
West W. Ry. Co. v. FoleyWaitenonenoneC.C.W.D. Wis.affirmed
Douglas Cnty. v. BollesStrongnonenoneC.C.D. Kan.affirmed
Hurst v. HollingsworthWaitenonenonenot indicateddismissal denied
Dayton v. LashWaitenonenoneC.C.D. Minn.dismissed
Munn v. IllinoisWaitenoneFieldIll.affirmed
Chicago et al. R.R. Co. v. IowaWaitenonenoneC.C.D. Iowaaffirmed
Peik v. Chicago & N. Ry. Co.WaitenonenoneC.C.W.D. Wis.affirmed
Chicago et al. R.R. Co. v. AckleyWaitenonenoneWis. Cir. Ct.affirmed
Winona et al. R.R. Co. v. BlakeWaitenonenoneMinn.affirmed
Stone v. WisconsinWaitenoneFieldWis. Cir. Ct.affirmed
Dunbar v. MyersCliffordnonenoneC.C.S.D.N.Y.reversed
Johnson Cnty. v. JanuarySwaynenonenoneC.C.D. Kan.affirmed
Atlantic D. Co. v. JamesStrongnonenoneC.C.D.R.I.reversed
United States v. SmithWaitenonenoneCt. Cl.affirmed
United States v. PhistererHuntnonenoneCt. Cl.affirmed
Cammeyer v. NewtonCliffordnonenoneC.C.S.D.N.Y.affirmed
Inman S.S. Co. v. TinkerSwaynenonenoneC.C.S.D.N.Y.reversed
Foster v. Port of New OrleansSwaynenonenoneLa.reversed
Ex parte JordanWaitenonenoneC.C.S.D.N.Y.mandamus granted
Selma & M.R.R. Co. v. Louisiana Nat'l BankWaitenonenoneC.C.S.D. Ala.dismissed
East Oakland Twp. v. SkinnerHuntnonenoneC.C.S.D. Ill.reversed
United States v. YoungWaitenonenoneCt. Cl.multiple
Town of S. Ottawa v. PerkinsBradleynoneWaiteCt. Cl.reversed
Muller v. DowsWaitenonenoneC.C.D. Iowaprinted argument filed
Marion Cnty. v. ClarkCliffordnonenoneC.C.D. Kan.affirmed
Fuller v. Yentzer ICliffordnonenoneC.C.N.D. Ill.affirmed
Fuller v. Yentzer IICliffordnonenoneC.C.N.D. Ill.affirmed
MacKall v. Chesapeake et al. Co.MillernonenoneSup. Ct. D.C.affirmed
Burlington Twp. v. BeasleyHuntnonenoneC.C.D. Kan.affirmed
United States v. FoxFieldnonenoneN.Y.affirmed
Hill v. ThompsonWaitenonenoneC.C.E.D. Mich.dismissed
Barney v. City of KeokukBradleynonenoneC.C.D. Iowaaffirmed
First Nat'l Bank v. WhitmanHuntnonenoneSup. Ct. D.C.reversed
Ex parte FlippinWaitenonenoneC.C.W.D. Tenn.mandamus denied
Cromwell v. Sac Cnty.FieldnoneCliffordC.C.D. Iowareversed
Johnson v. HarmonBradleyCliffordnoneSup. Ct. D.C.affirmed
Beall v. WhiteCliffordnonenoneSup. Ct. D.C.reversed
McCready v. VirginiaWaitenonenoneVa.affirmed
Chorpenning v. United StatesSwaynenonenoneCt. Cl.affirmed
United States v. MartinHuntnonenoneCt. Cl.reversed
Gould v. DayFieldnonenoneC.C.E.D. Mich.affirmed
New York v. CommissionersHuntnonenoneN.Y.affirmed
Ex parte LoringWaitenonenoneC.C.E.D. Mich.mandamus denied
Selden v. Equitable T. Co.StrongnonenoneC.C.D. Conn.affirmed
Davis v. BrownFieldnonenoneC.C.N.D. Ill.affirmed
McClure v. Oxford Twp.WaitenonenoneC.C.D. Kan.affirmed
Stewart v. SalamonFieldnonenoneC.C.S.D. Ga.reversed
National Bank v. Mechanics' Nat'l BankSwaynenonenoneC.C.S.D.N.Y.affirmed
Conro v. CraneWaitenonenoneC.C.N.D. Ill.dismissed
Muller v. DowsStrongnonenoneC.C.D. Iowaaffirmed
Ex parte SmithWaitenonenoneC.C.W.D. Tenn.mandamus denied
Connecticut et al. Co. v. SchaeferWaitenonenoneC.C.S.D. Ohioaffirmed
Howell v. Western R.R. Co.MillernonenoneC.C.E.D.N.C.reversed
Hinckley v. Gilman et al. R.R. Co.WaitenonenoneC.C.S.D. Ill.dismissal denied
Milwaukee et al. Ry. Co. v. KelloggStrongnonenoneC.C.D. Iowaaffirmed
Stark v. StarrFieldnonenoneC.C.D. Or.affirmed
Clark v. HancockWaitenonenoneCal.dismissed
The MargaretSwaynenonenoneC.C.E.D. Mich.affirmed
Wayne Cnty. v. KennicottWaitenonenoneC.C.S.D. Ill.affirmed
Eyster v. Centennial Bd.WaitenonenoneC.C.E.D. Pa.reversed
Allore v. JewellFieldnoneStrongC.C.E.D. Mich.reversed
Davis v. CrouchWaitenonenoneVa.dismissed
The EdithStrongnonenoneC.C.S.D.N.Y.affirmed
Hyde v. WoodsMillernonenoneC.C.D. Cal.affirmed
Waite v. DowleyMillernonenoneVt.affirmed
Doyle v. Continental Ins. Co.HuntnoneBradleyC.C.W.D. Wis.reversed
Davis v. AlvordFieldnonenoneSup. Ct. Terr. Mont.reversed
Southern E. Co. v. DicksonHuntnonenoneC.C.S.D. Ala.affirmed
Dutcher v. WrightCliffordnonenoneC.C.E.D. Wis.affirmed
Aetna L. Ins. Co. v. FranceBradleynonenoneC.C.E.D. Pa.affirmed
Merrill v. YeomansMillernoneCliffordC.C.D. Mass.affirmed
Relief F. Ins. Co. v. ShawBradleynonenoneC.C.D. Mass.affirmed
Seitz v. MitchellStrongnonenoneSup. Ct. D.C.affirmed
Maclay v. SandsWaitenonenoneSup. Ct. Terr. Mont.reversed
Clapp v. MasonHuntnonenoneC.C.D. Mass.affirmed
Connecticut M.L. Ins. Co. v. SchwenkStrongnonenoneC.C.E.D. Pa.affirmed
The Stephen MorganCliffordnonenoneC.C.D. Md.affirmed
Glenny v. LangdonWaitenonenoneC.C.S.D. Ohiodismissal set aside
Russell v. PlaceFieldnonenoneC.C.N.D.N.Y.affirmed
New Jersey M.L. Ins. Co. v. BakerHuntnonenoneC.C.N.D.N.Y.affirmed
United States v. JosephMillernonenoneSup. Ct. Terr. N.M.affirmed
Erskine v. Milwaukee & S.P. Ry. Co.WaitenonenoneC.C.E.D. Wis.affirmed
Eames v. Home Ins. Co.BradleynonenoneC.C.S.D. Ill.reversed
Johnson Cnty. v. ThayerHuntnonenoneC.C.D. Kan.affirmed
Boyd v. AlabamaFieldnonenoneAla.affirmed
Lowe v. WilliamsWaitenonenoneNeb.dismissal denied
Crim v. HandleyCliffordnonenoneC.C.S.D. Ga.affirmed
Dallas Cnty. v. MackenzieHuntnonenoneC.C.W.D. Mo.reversed
Gunn v. PlantWaitenonenoneC.C.S.D. Ga.reversed
Goddard v. OrdwayWaitenonenoneSup. Ct. D.C.supersedeas denied
Casey v. GalliSwaynenonenoneoriginaljudgment for plaintiff
Scotland Cnty. v. ThomasBradleynonenoneC.C.E.D. Mo.affirmed
Cawood Patent CasesStrongnoneFieldC.C.N.D. Ill.multiple
Pike v. WassellWaitenonenoneC.C.E.D. Ark.reversed
City of Memphis v. BrownWaitenonenoneC.C.W.D. Tenn.dismissal denied
Chesapeake & O.R.R. Co. v. VirginiaStrongnonenoneVa.affirmed
Blake v. RobertsonSwaynenonenoneC.C.E.D.N.Y.affirmed
Jerome v. McCarterStrongnonenoneC.C.E.D. Mich.affirmed
Corcoran v. Chesapeake & O.C. Co.MillernonenoneSup. Ct. D.C.affirmed
Tate v. NortonSwaynenonenoneC.C.E.D. Ark.affirmed
Collins v. GilbertCliffordnonenoneC.C.W.D. Pa.affirmed
Forbes v. GraceyMillernonenoneC.C.D. Nev.affirmed
Lippincott v. MitchellSwaynenonenoneC.C.S.D. Ala.affirmed
Hogan v. KurtzCliffordnonenoneSup. Ct. D.C.affirmed
Cochrane v. DeenerBradleynoneCliffordSup. Ct. D.C.reversed
Davis v. IndianaMillernonenoneInd.affirmed
Melendy v. RiceWaitenonenoneIowaaffirmed
American B. Co. v. HeidelbachSwaynenonenoneC.C.D. Kan.reversed
Town of E. Lincoln v. DavenportHuntnonenoneC.C.S.D. Ill.affirmed
Sullivan v. Portland & K.R.R. Co.SwaynenonenoneC.C.D. Me.affirmed
Bowen v. ChaseBradleynonenoneC.C.S.D.N.Y.reversed