Giles V. Harris - Dissents

Dissents

Justice John Marshall Harlan and Justice David Josiah Brewer each dissented from the Court's opinion. Harlan contended that the court could have resolved the issue based on the amount-in-controversy requirement, and did not need to address the power of the Federal courts to hear the merits of this suit. Harlan and Brewer both asserted that, if the question was solely one of the power of Federal courts to hear this case, then the Court should find that such power indeed exists.