U.S. Supreme Court HILL v. MARTIN, 296 U.S. 393 (1935)

[Page 296 U.S. 393, 394]

Mr. Wm. A. Schnader, of Philadelphia, Pa., for appellants.

Messrs. Duane E. Minard and Geo. S. Hobart, both of Newark, N.J., for appellee.

Mr. Justice BRANDEIS delivered the opinion of the Court.

These suits were brought, on April 1, 1935, under section 266 of the Judicial Code (28 U.S.C.A. 380), to enjoin the collection of an inheritance tax in the sum of $12,247,333.52, assessed by New Jersey upon the estate of John T. Dorrance, which was valued at more than $115,000,000. The bills charge that its Transfer Inheritance Tax Act, as construed and applied, violates the full faith and credit clause of the Federal Constitution (art. 4, 1) and the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The defendants are the State Tax Commissioner and other New Jersey officials. [Footnote 1] In No. 193, the plaintiff is a daughter of the decedent and a beneficiary under his will. In No. 194, his executors are the plaintiffs. A temporary restraining order issued. An appli-

[Page 296 U.S. 393, 398]

ceedings had not passed from the administrative into the judicial stage. See City Bank armers' Trust Co. v. Schnader, 291 U.S. 24, 54 S.Ct. 259; Id., 293 U.S. 112, 55 S.Ct. 29. But they assert that the proceedings in the Supreme Court of New Jersey reviewing by certiorari the final decree of the Prerogative Court (itself a judicial tribunal) were proceedings judicial in their nature; and that the stay sought is of proceedings pending in a court of New Jersey. The defendants contend also that the judgment of the New Jersey Supreme Court to which the executors were parties is res judicata as to the domicile of the deceased and as to the liability of the estate for the taxes assessed by New Jersey; and they set up other reasons why the relief prayed should be denied. We have no occasion to consider any of these defenses, since we agree with the District Court that it was without jurisdiction to grant the injunction.

First. To determine whether a judicial proceeding was pending when these suits were brought, we turn to the law of New Jersey. The proceedings, administrative and judicial, governing the assessment and the collection of its inheritance tax are, in substance, these: The assessment is made by the State Tax Commissioner, his duty being to 'assess and fix the cash value of such estate and levy the tax to which the same is liable.' He performs this duty after receiving the report of an appraiser appointed by him. The appraiser makes the appraisal and essential findings after notice to the interested parties and hearing evidence and argument. [Footnote 4] Any person dissatisfied with the appraisal or the assessment may appeal therefrom to the 'Ordinary,' that is, the Prerogative Court. Bugbee v. Van Cleve, 99 N.J.Eq. 825, 834, 134 A. 646. Upon that court is conferred jurisdiction 'to hear and determine all questions in relation to any tax levied under the

[Page 296 U.S. 393, 399]

provisions of' the act. [Footnote 5] The decree of the Prerogative Court is reviewable on writ of certiorari by the New Jersey Supreme Court;6 and its judgment is reviewable by the Court of Errors and Appeals. [Footnote 7]

As to the collection of the tax, section 21 of the Transfer Inheritance Tax Act provides that 'if it shall appear to the State Tax Commissioner that any tax ... has not been paid according to law,' he shall report such fact to the register of the Prerogative Court, who must issue a citation citing the interested paties to 'show cause why such tax should not be paid.' [Footnote 8] The Attorney General, if he has probable cause to believe that a tax is due and unpaid, and is so notified by the commissioner, shall prosecute the proceeding before the Prerogative Court. 9 The service of the citation, and subsequent proceedings thereon, shall conform to the practice prevailing in the Prerogative Court, including the power to commit for contempt. [Footnote 10] Such proceedings would be the same in character whether the review of the original assessment had ended with the appeal to the Prerogative Court, or had been followed by certiorari to the Supreme Court; and whether or not an appeal was taken from the judgment of the Supreme Court to the Court of Errors and Appeals. Upon the making by the Prerogative Court of any decree, a copy thereof filed by the commissioner with the clerk of the Supreme Court has the same effect as a judgment at law, and execution may issue thereon. [Footnote 11]

[Page 296 U.S. 393, 400]

Thence forward, collection is pursued as prescribed for civil judgments in 'an Act respecting executions.' 2 Comp.Stats. of N.J. of 1910, p. 2243 et seq., 1 et seq. Paragraph Fifth of section 1 of the Inheritance Tax Act as amended (4 Comp.St.N.J. 1910, p. 5301, 537, par. 5 and Comp.St.Supp. 1924, 208-537, par. 5) provides hat under certain conditions executors ( and others) 'shall be personally liable for any and all such taxes until the same sahll have been paid as hereinafter directed, for which an action of debt shall lie in the name of the State of New Jersey.'

Second. The Supreme Court's review of the administrative act of assessing was judicial action. It is a court created by the Constitution; and its jurisdiction to review, on certiorari, proceedings of inferior tribunals is an inheritance from the Court of Kings Bench. The Supreme Court has broad powers. It may, as recited in the New Jersey Certiorari Act of 1903, as amended (1 Comp.St.N.J. 1910, p. 402 et seq., 1 et seq., Comp.St.Supps.N.J. 1924, 1930, 32-14), 'determine disputed questions of fact, as well as of law'; and when inquiring into the facts, is not limited to the evidence introduced before the tribunal whose proceeding is under review. It may act 'by depositions taken on notice, or in such other manner as is according to the practice of the court'; and it 'may reverse or affirm, in whole or in part, such tax or assessment.' [Footnote 12] Power to review the facts is conferred in New Jersey not only upon the Supreme Court but also upon its highest appellate tribunal-the Court of Errors and Appeals. Power, upon inquiry into the facts, to take evidence additional to that introduced before the tribunal whose action is under review is a power not uncommonly possessed by appellate

[Page 296 U.S. 393, 402]

cause was remanded to the Prerogative Court. By the appeal of the executors, it had acquired jurisdiction not only to determine the tax due, but to take appropriate proceedings for its collection. Its jurisdiction continues until its decree is satisfied.

The further proceedings required to compel satisfaction of the decree establishing liability for the tax do not differ in essence from those required to satisfy any judgment for a debt recovered at law or any decree in chancery for the payment of money. The procedure of the Prerogative Court subsequent to a decree follows that of the equity courts, which had, ordinarily, no power to enforce their decrees except by citation for contempt. [Footnote 13] Chapter 148 of the laws of 1900, which provides, as a means of collection, that the Prerogative Court shall issue a citation if it appears that a tax found to be due has not been paid, is declaratory of the existing procedure. [Footnote 14] Section 21 of the Transfer Inheritance Tax Act provides that the lien created by docketing a decree 'shall have the same effect

[Page 296 U.S. 393, 403]

as a lien by judgment, and execution shall issue thereon according to the rules and practice appertaining to other judgments.' [Footnote 15]

Fourth. The prohibition of section 265 is against a stay of 'proceedings in any court of a State.' That term is comprehensive. It includes all steps taken or which may be taken in the state court or by its officers from the institution to the close of the final process. [Footnote 16] It applies to appellate as well as to original proceedings; and is independent of the doctrine of res judicata. It applies alike to action by the court and by its ministerial officers; applies not only to an execution issued on a judgment,17 but to any proceeding supplemental or ancillary taken with a view to making the suit or judgment effective. [Footnote 18] The prohibition is applicable whether such supplementary or ancillary proceeding is taken in the court which rendered the judgment or in some other. And it governs a privy to the state court proceeding-like Elinor Dorrance Hill-as well as the parties of record. Thus, the prohibition applies whatever the nature of the proceeding, unless the case presents facts which bring it within one of the recognized exceptions to section 265.19 It is not suggested that there is a basis here for any such exception.

[Page 296 U.S. 393, 404]

24, 54 S.Ct. 259; and with all the other decisions of this Court distinguishing administrative from judicial proceedings to which the plaintiffs have called our attention; with the cases which hold that this Court lacks jurisdiction where the review sought is legislative or administrative in character; with those which hold that the lower court lacked jurisdiction because the plaintiff had not exhausted his administrative remedies; and with those which hold that the assessment of taxes is not an order within the meaning of section 266 of the Judicial Code (28 U.S.C.A. 380).20

AFFIRMED.

Mr. Justice STONE took no part in the consideration or decision of this case. Footnotes

Footnote 1 These are the state supervisor of the Inheritance Tax Bureau, the Comptroller of the State, the State Treasurer, and the Attorney General.

Footnote 2 Section 265 provides: 'The writ of injunction shall not be granted by any court of the United States to stay proceedings in any court of a State, except in cases where such injunction may be authorized by any law relating to proceedings in bankruptcy.' See Smith v. Apple, 264 U.S. 274, 44 S.Ct. 311.

Footnote 3 2 Comp.Stats. of N.J. of 1910, p. 2208, 2; 2 Comp.St.Supp. 1924, p. 2818, 163-301.

Footnote 4 N.J.Laws of 1931, c. 303, 18, pp. 763, 764 (N.J.St.Annual 1931, 208-554); c. 336, p. 823 (section 208-37a(20) et seq.).

Footnote 5 N.J.Laws of 1909, 20, p. 335 (4 Comp.St.N.J. 1910, p. 5309, 556).

Footnote 6 See In re Roebling's Estate, 91 N.J.Eq. 72, 75, 108 A. 359.

Footnote 7 See Central R. Co. of New Jersey v. State Tax Department, 112 N.J. Law, 5, 169 A. 489.

Footnote 8 N.J.Laws of 1931, pp. 764, 765, amending section 21 of P.L. 1909, p. 335 (N.J.St. Annual 1931, 208-557).

Footnote 9 Id., section 22, as amended by P.L. 1931, p. 765 (N.J.St. Annual 1931, 208-558).

Footnote 10 N.J. Laws of 1900, c. 148, p. 347 (2 Comp.St.N.J. 1910, p. 1723, 82).

Footnote 11 N.J.Laws of 1902, c. 158, 44, pp. 524, 525 (1 Comp.St.N.J. 1910, p. 425, 44); N.J.Laws of 1931, P.L. pp. 764, 765, amending section 21 of P.L. 1909, p. 335 (N.J.St. Annual 1931, 208-557).

Footnote 12 See State v. Justices etc., of Middle-sex, 1 N.J.Law, 244, 248; Royal Mfg. Co. v. City of Rahway, 75 N.J.Law, 416, 67 A. 940; Dubelbeiss v. Town of West Hoboken, 82 N.J.Law, 683, 686, 82 A. 897; Trenton & Mercer County Traction Corporation v. Mercer County Board of Taxation, 92 N.J. Law, 398, 105 A. 222; Gibbs v. State Board of Taxes and Assessments, 101 N. J.Law, 371, 129 A. 189; Kearny v. State Board of Taxes and Assessments, 103 N.J. Law, 26, 27, 135 A. 61.

Footnote 13 See 2 Daniell, Chancery Pleading & Practice (6th Am.Ed. 1894) 1042 et seq.

Footnote 14 N.J. Laws of 1900, 7, p. 347 (2 Comp.St.N.J. 1910, p. 1723, 82 ): 'If any person shall neglect or refuse to obey any citation, or to perform any sentence or decree of the ordinary or judge of the prerogative court, it shall be lawful for such ordinary and such court to cause such person or persons, by process directed to any sheriff of any county of this state, to be taken and imprisoned until he shall obey the said citation, or perform the said sentence or decree; and every sheriff is hereby directed to cause all such process, to him at any time directed, to be duly executed, and to confine the person against whom such process shall be issued, as in execution, until he shall be delivered by due course of law; and if any sheriff shall neglect his duty therein, he shall be answerable to the party aggrieved in such manner as he would be answerable upon process of the like nature issuing out of the supreme Court.' Imprisonment and realization upon the tax lien are means provided for enforcing also other New Jersey taxes. See Laws of 1918 606, p. 874 ( Comp.St.Supp.N.J. 1924, 208-66d(606); McLean v. Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Coal Co., 176 A. 557, 13 N.J.Misc. 83, 84; see note 10.

Footnote 15 See note 11.

Footnote 16 Compare Hyattsville Building Ass'n v. Bouic, 44 App.D.C. 408, 413; United States v. Collins, 25 Fed.Cas. No. 14,834, p. 539; Charles Warren, 'Federal and State Court Interference,' 43 Harv. Law Review, 345, 366-378.

Footnote 17 Ruggles v. Simonton, 20 Fed.Cas. No. 12,120, p. 1325; Leathe v. Thomas (C.C.A.) 97 F. 136; Ke-Sun Oil Co. v. Hamilton (C.C.A.) 61 F.(2d) 215, 85 A.L.R. 204.

Footnote 18 Mutual Reserve Fund Life Ass'n v. Phelps, 190 U.S. 147, 159, 23 S. Ct. 707; American Ass'n v. Hurst (C.C.A.) 59 F. 1, 5; American Shipbuilding Co. v. Whitney, (C.C.) 190 F. 109.

Footnote 19 Compare Wells Fargo & Co. v. Taylor, , 182-184, 41 S. Ct. 93; Essanay Film Mfg. Co. v. Kane, 258 U.S. 358, 361, 42 S.Ct. 318; Riehle v. Margolies, 279 U.S. 218, 223, 49 S.Ct. 310.

Footnote 20 See, e.g., Prentis v. Atlantic Coast Line Co., , 29 S. Ct. 67; Keller v. Potomac Electric Power Co., 261 U.S. 428, 43 S.Ct. 445; Ex parte Williams, 277 U.S. 267, 271, 272 S., 48 S.Ct. 523.