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Missouri v. Illinois & the Sanitary District Case Brief
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Case Brief Summary & Legal Analysis
tl;dr: Missouri sued Illinois in the Supreme Court, alleging Chicago’s new drainage system would pollute the Mississippi River. The Court held it had original jurisdiction over such a dispute where one state’s actions threaten the health and welfare of another state’s citizens.
Legal Significance: This case established that the Supreme Court’s original jurisdiction extends to interstate controversies over public nuisances, like pollution, where a state sues as parens patriae to protect its citizens, even without a direct proprietary injury to the state itself.
Missouri v. Illinois & the Sanitary District 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 State of Missouri filed a bill in equity directly in the U.S. Supreme Court against the State of Illinois and the Sanitary District of Chicago. Missouri alleged that the defendants constructed a drainage canal to divert Chicago’s sewage from Lake Michigan into the Des Plaines River, which flows into the Illinois River and then the Mississippi River. Missouri claimed this would transport large quantities of untreated sewage into the Mississippi River upstream from St. Louis and other Missouri communities, poisoning their water supply, causing widespread disease, and creating a public nuisance. Missouri sought an injunction to prevent the discharge of sewage into the canal. The defendants filed a demurrer, arguing that the Supreme Court lacked original jurisdiction because the complaint did not present a “controversy between two or more States” within the meaning of Article III of the Constitution. They also argued that the alleged injury was merely contingent and that the State of Missouri was not the proper party to bring the suit.
Court Holding & Legal Precedent
Issue: Does the Supreme Court have original jurisdiction over a suit brought by one state against another to enjoin a public nuisance, created by the defendant state’s actions, that threatens the health and welfare of the plaintiff state’s inhabitants?
Yes. The Court overruled the defendants’ demurrer, holding that the allegations presented 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 la
IRAC Legal Analysis
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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 Supreme Court have original jurisdiction over a suit brought by one state against another to enjoin a public nuisance, created by the defendant state’s actions, that threatens the health and welfare of the plaintiff state’s inhabitants?
Conclusion
This decision affirmed the Supreme Court's role as the arbiter of significant 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
Legal Rule
The Supreme Court's original jurisdiction under Article III extends to "controversies between 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
Legal Analysis
The Court's analysis centered on the scope of its original jurisdiction over 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 sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor
Flash-to-Full Case Opinions
Flash Summary
- The Supreme Court has original jurisdiction over suits between states to