The Late Corporation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints v. United States | |
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Argued January 16–18, 1889 Decided May 19, 1890 | |
Full case name | The Late Corporation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints et al. v. United States; Romney et al. v. United States |
Citations | 136 U.S. 1 (more) 10 S. Ct. 792; 34 L. Ed. 478; 1890 U.S. LEXIS 2199 |
Case history | |
Prior | Edmunds-Tucker Act provisions authorizing disincorporation of LDS Church upheld in U.S. v. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. 5 Utah 361, 15 P. 473 (Utah.Terr. 1887). Appeal from the Supreme Court of the Utah Territory |
Holding | |
Congress has supreme authority over territories, including power to dissolve the LDS Church's corporation and seize its property. Under parens patriae principles, Congress may redirect assets to charitable purposes within Utah Territory. Property was properly not transferred to church members because they were using it to further the outlawed practice of polygamy. | |
Court membership | |
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Case opinions | |
Majority | Bradley, joined by Miller, Harlan, Gray, Blatchford, Brewer |
Dissent | Fuller, joined by Lamar, Field |
Laws applied | |
U.S. Const. amend. I; Edmunds-Tucker Act |
Mormonism and polygamy |
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The Late Corporation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints v. United States, 136 U.S. 1 (1890), was a Supreme Court case that upheld the Edmunds–Tucker Act on May 19, 1890. Among other things, the act disincorporated the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).
The LDS Church was represented by its chief counsel Franklin S. Richards and former congressman James Broadhead.[1]