Supreme Court of the United States, 1955

The Court affirmed dismissal of the union's suit because § 301 did not confer federal jurisdiction over a union action seeking accrued wages owed to individual employees under their separate employment contracts.

The Court upheld Oklahoma's challenged regulation of the optical business against due process and equal protection objections. Prescription requirements for fitting or duplicating lenses could rationally advance eye health, even if unnecessary in particular cases.

The Supreme Court held that the Missouri state court lacked jurisdiction to enjoin the International Association of Machinists because the subject matter of the alleged unfair labor practice is within the exclusive jurisdiction of the National Labor Relations Board, and therefore the state injunction was preempted.

The Court affirmed the Third Circuit, holding that § 301 of the Labor Management Relations Act does not grant federal jurisdiction over a union’s suit on behalf of employees for unpaid wages because the claim rests on individual employment contracts, not a breach of the collective bargaining agreement.

The Court held that the Tee-Hit-Tons' aboriginal use and occupancy of Alaskan lands, without congressional recognition of ownership or permanent occupancy rights, was not property protected by the Fifth Amendment and could be extinguished without compensation.

Justice Clark delivered the Court’s opinion affirming the Hollands’ tax-evasion convictions. The Court permitted net worth proof even when taxpayers maintain facially adequate books, but required reasonable certainty in establishing opening net worth, evidence connecting increases to taxable income, proof of…