San Francisco v. Itsell/Opinion of the Court

This court has no jurisdiction to review a judgment of the highest court of a state, unless a federal question has been, either in express terms or by necessary effect, decided by that court against the plaintiff in error. Rev. St. § 709; Water-Works v. Sugar Refining Co., 125 U.S. 18, 8 Sup. Ct. Rep. 741; De Saussure v. Gaillard, 127 U.S. 216, 8 Sup. Ct. Rep. 1053; Hale v. Akers, 132 U.S. --, ante, 171. In the present case, the record of the pleadings, findings of fact, and judgment shows that it was unnecessary for that court to decide, and its opinion filed in the case and copied in the record shows that it did not decide, any question against the plaintiff in error, except the issue whether the former judgment rendered against it, and in favor of the grantor of the defendants in error, was a bar to this action. That was a question of general law only, in no wise depending upon the constitution, treaties, or statutes of the United States. Chouteau v. Gibson, 111 U.S. 200, 4 Sup. Ct. Rep. 340. Writ of error dismissed, for want of jurisdiction.