Case Citation
Legal Case Name

Caminetti v. United States Case Brief

Supreme Court of the United States1917Docket #1507946
242 U.S. 470 37 S. Ct. 192 61 L. Ed. 442 1917 U.S. LEXIS 2169 Legislation and Statutory Interpretation Criminal Law Constitutional Law Evidence

Why Top Law Students (And Those Aspiring to Be) Use LSD+ Briefs

Let's be real, law school is a marathon. Our exclusive Flash-to-Full case system is designed by Harvard Law School and MIT grads to match your pace: Quick summaries when you're slammed, detailed analysis when you need to go deep. Only LSD+ offers this kind of flexibility to genuinely fit your study flow.

Adaptive Case Views

Toggle between Flash, Standard, and Expanded. Get what you need, when you need it.

Exam-Ready IRAC Format

We deliver the precise structure professors look for in exam answers.

Complex Cases, Clarified

We break down dense legal reasoning into something digestible, helping you grasp core concepts.

Case Brief Summary & Legal Analysis

General Brief
3 min read

tl;dr: The Court held that the Mann Act, which prohibits transporting women across state lines for “any immoral purpose,” applies to non-commercial, consensual sexual activity, not just commercialized prostitution, based on the statute’s plain language.

Legal Significance: A landmark case establishing the dominance of the “plain meaning rule” in statutory interpretation, holding that clear statutory text trumps contrary evidence of legislative intent found in titles or committee reports.

Caminetti v. United States Law School Study Guide

Use this case brief structure for your own legal analysis. Focus on the IRAC methodology to excel in law school exams and cold calls.

Case Facts & Court Holding

Key Facts & Case Background

The petitioners were convicted in separate cases under the White Slave Traffic Act of 1910 (the Mann Act). Caminetti and Diggs were convicted for transporting women from California to Nevada to become their mistresses and concubines. Hays was convicted for transporting a woman from Oklahoma to Kansas for debauchery and other immoral practices. In each case, the transportation was for personal, non-commercial purposes; there was no allegation or proof of prostitution for hire or “commercialized vice.” The petitioners argued that the Act was intended solely to combat the interstate traffic of women for financial gain. They pointed to the Act’s popular title, the “White-slave traffic Act,” and a House Committee report stating the legislation was aimed at “panderers and procurers” and not intended to regulate “immorality in general.” The core legal dispute centered on the interpretation of the statutory phrase “or for any other immoral purpose.”

Court Holding & Legal Precedent

Issue: Does the White Slave Traffic Act’s prohibition against transporting women in interstate commerce “for the purpose of prostitution or debauchery, or for any other immoral purpose” extend to transportation for non-commercial immoral acts, or is it limited to commercialized vice?

Yes. The Act’s prohibition extends to transportation for non-commercial immoral purposes. The Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute ir

Master Every Case Faster

Unlock premium legal analysis that helps you quickly understand complex cases, designed by Harvard Law and MIT graduates. It's about working smarter, not just harder.

Start 14-Day Free Trial

Thousands of students are already saving time and gaining clarity. Why not you?

IRAC Legal Analysis

Premium Feature Unlock

Complete IRAC Analysis for Higher Grades

IRAC (Issue, Rule, Analysis, Conclusion) is the exact format professors want to see in your exam answers. Our exclusive Flash-to-Full briefs combine holding, analysis, and rule statements formatted to match what A+ students produce in exams. These structured briefs help reinforce the essential legal reasoning patterns expected in law school.

Legal Issue

Does the White Slave Traffic Act’s prohibition against transporting women in interstate commerce “for the purpose of prostitution or debauchery, or for any other immoral purpose” extend to transportation for non-commercial immoral acts, or is it limited to commercialized vice?

Conclusion

This case is a foundational precedent for the plain meaning rule of Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ul

Legal Rule

When the language of a statute is plain and unambiguous, the court's Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliqu

Legal Analysis

The Court employed a textualist approach, grounding its decision in the plain Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur

Flash-to-Full Case Opinions

Flash Summary

  • The Mann Act’s prohibition on transporting women across state lines for
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. E

Master Every Case Faster

Unlock premium legal analysis that helps you quickly understand complex cases, designed by Harvard Law and MIT graduates. It's about working smarter, not just harder.

Start 14-Day Free Trial

Thousands of students are already saving time and gaining clarity. Why not you?

The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is practice.

✨ Enjoy an ad-free experience with LSD+