FRIEDMAN t1. ISRA.EL.
801 and others.
FRIEDMAN
and others v.
ISRAEL
(OiIrcuit Court, 1lJ. D. Louisiana. January 80, 1886.) REMOVAL OF CAUSE-DIRECTING MARSIIAL TO TAKE PROPERTY FROM SHERIFF. HELD UNDER ATTACHMENT ISSUED BY STATE COURT.
Where a case has been rightfully removed from a state court, and th6 sheriff holds property under an attachment issued by that court, and one of the issues of law is as to whether the property attached was legally attached, and what privileges and rights plaintiff may have to and in such property, the circuit court may issue an order directing the marshal to take the property from the sheriff, and hold it for the circuit court.
On Motion to Remand, and to Vacate Order to Marshal, etc. JOB. P. Hornor and F. W. Baker, for A. H. Leonard and MarkB ft Bruenn, for defendants. BOARMAN, J. This suit was begun in the state court, where writs of attachment were issued, and certain property was seized, and is now held by the sheriff. The defendants caused the case to be removed on the ground of diffel'ent citizenship. The state court refused the order for removal. The transcript was filed in this court, and some days afterwards the defendants filed a petition showing that the transcript discloses the fact that the sheriff of Ascension parish had siezed certain property of the defendant, and now, notwithstanding the suit is removed to this court, pretends to hold the said property by virtue of said writs. The petitioner prayed for an order directing the marshal to take from the sheriff the said property, and hold the same for this court. That order was granted. Before this order was executed, the plaintiffs moved to remand the case, and obtained a rule to show cause why the order to the marshal should Dot be vacated. Both of these matters are now before the court. The state court, under its general jurisdictional power, was authorized to try the case. This court has jurisdiction to try the suit as an original suit, or as a case removed to it because of the different citizenship of the suitors. The motion to remand being overruled, the question as to vacating the order must be considered from the conclusion that the suit is rightfully removed, and that this court has jurisdiction to try the case, and all of its issues and controversies, just as if it had gone on in the state court. One of the issues of fact and iaw is as to whether the property attached was legally attached, and what privileges and rights the plaintiff may have to and in the said property. The life of a judgment lies in the power of the conrt to exeoute it, and it is essential to oompetent jurisdiction that the property in an attaohment suit, whether in the state or federal courts, should be in the legal custody of the court; otherwise a judgment affeoting the res in the case would be an idle formality. v.26F.no.11-51
802
FEDERAL REPORTER.
It appears that many, if not all, the difficulties suggested by the counsel, resisting the allowance of the order. grew out of the fact that the state and federal courts look to different sovereignties for the source of their judicial powers. As a rule, these courts administer the same laws; the United States courts administering the laws of the states in which they may be sitting; but the latter courts, on all questions of jurisdiction to try a particular case, look to the constitution and laws of the United States, and must for themselves, and in view of the duties and responsibilities imposed on them by the law of their sovereign, consider and decide such questions. Of course, the circuit court has no appellate power over the courts of any states; but its power to try the case, after it is properly removed, carries with it the authority to issue such orders as are necessary to make its jurisdiction effectual for. enforcing the supremacy of the constitution and laws of the United States. Rosenthal v. Walker, 111 U. S. 186; S. S.. 4 Sup. Ct. Rep. 382; Tarble's Oase, 13 Wall. 406; Ableman v. Booth, 21 How. 506; Oovell v. Heyman, 111 U. S. 179; S. C. 4 Sup. Ct. Rep. 355. It has been held that the United States courts to-day are vested with all the judicial power that congress, under the constitution, can grant to them, and the act of 1875 has been declared by the United States courts to be free from all questions as to its constitutionality. The authorities are uniform in holding that when the formalities prescribed in that act for the removal of a suit have been complied with, the suit, eo instanti, is removed to the circuit court. Insurance 00. v. Dunn, 19 Wall. 223. Logically, it must follow from the language of that act, as well as from the frequent interpretations the United States courts have been called on to give to that act, that a suit rightfully removed is all out of the state court, and that all of it-the record and res-is in the circuit court, and that the circuit court and its officers are then charged with the duty of exercising all the conservatory writs and processes necessary to maintain' its jurisdiction, and make the judgment of the court, in relation to the parties and the res, -whatever the judgment may be,-effectual. The counsel arguing the motion to vacate admits; for the sake of his argument, that the case is rightfully removed; but he contends that there is no power in this circuit court to cause the res to be brought here. In support of this proposition, he cites the following cases: & O. R. Go. v. White, 111 U. S. 134; S. C. 4 Sup. Ct. Rep. 353; Covell v. Heyman, 111 U. S. 176, 182, 184; S. C. 4 Sup. Ct. Hep. 355; Taylor v. Carryl, 20 How. 583; Com. v. Roby, 12 Pick. 506; Krippemlbrj v. Hyde, 110 U. S. 283; S. C. 4 Sup. Ct. Rep. 27. The opinions in the cases cited do not appear to have been based on a consideration of such facts as are shown in this case, and a careful reading of them does not impress us with the thought that the supreme court intended to say anything authoritatively as to what they would hold should a case involving such facts
FRIEDMAN t. ISRAEL.
803
as are in this case come before that court. The order asked for does not contemplate the taking of property by the United States court out of or away from the jurisdiction of the state court, nor will its execution bring about a conflict of jurisdiction. Such a condition, in fact or in law, could not come about unless the property now in the hands of the sheriff is in the possession of the law. If we believed the property held by him is now in the possession of the law, that it is held by the sheriff under an operative writ or under competent authority, we would go no further in this matter. The reading of the act of 1875 shows clear enough what its authors meant, and we must discharge our duty in accordance with its provisions. In Kern v. Huidekoper, 103 U. S. 485, the court, having cited a. number of cases, said: "Those cases decide that property held by an officer of one court, by virtue of process issued in a cause pending therein, cannot be taken from his possession by the officer of another court of concurrent jurisdiction, upon process in another case pending in the latter court. But here there is but one case. It is brought in the state court. It falls within the terms of the act of congress for the removal of causes. When the prerequisites for removal have been performed, the paramount law of the land says that the case shall lJe removed, and the case and the res both go to federal court. '" '" '" ·When the removal is accomplished, the state court is left without any case, authority, or process by which it can retain the res. '" '" '" The suit, and the subject-matter of the suit, are both transferred to the federal court by the same act of removal, or, when a bond for the delivery of the property has been taken, as in this case, the bond, as the representative of the property, is transferred with the suit. There is no interference with the rightful jurisdiction of the state court, and no divesting from its possession of property , which it has the right to retain."
Let it be accepted fully, that the suit in which the attachment was issued is no longer a suit pending in the state court, but that there is but one suit,and it is in this court, and the difficulties as to a conflict of jurisdiction cease to be serious. Under the operation of the act of 1875 there is but one suit, and that is now all in this court. It can hardly be seriously disputed that, when a case is rightfully removed to this court, the circuit judge can do or should do all that the state judge can do or should do if the case had remained to the end in the state court, and it follows that the federal judge possesses all facilities and powers which the state court could have exercised to disBolve the attachment if wrongfully issued, or to maintain and fix, by judgment, all the rights of the parties in the removed suit. Otherwise the suit is not removed. This view cannot be enforced unless this court has the res in its possession. Again, it is contended that the defendant, seeking relief against the refusal of the state court to allow the removal of his case, must look, on a writ of error, to the appellate power of the supreme court of the United States. Whether congress can or cannot give the circuit courts of the United States power to issue writs of injunction, writs of prohibition, or processes for contempt when the state court