New Mexico v. Texas

State of New Mexico v. State of Texas

Argued January 4–5, 1927
Decided December 5, 1927
Full case name State of New Mexico v. State of Texas
Citations

275 U.S. 279 (more)

Prior history Original Jurisdiction
Subsequent history Modified on denial of rehearing, April 9, 1928
Holding
The Court held that the boundary line between New Mexico and Texas is the middle of the channel of the Rio Grande as it was located in 1850
Court membership
Chief Justice
William H. Taft
Case opinions
Majority Sanford, joined by Taft, Holmes, Van Devanter, McReynolds, Brandeis, Sutherland, Butler, Stone

New Mexico v. Texas, 275 U.S. 279, 48 S. Ct. 437 (1927), was a United States Supreme Court case that determined the boundary between Texas and New Mexico in the vicinity of El Paso, Texas.

Background

Map showing the disputed area

This suit was brought by the State of New Mexico against the State of Texas in 1913 to settle a controversy concerning the location of their common boundary in the valley of the Rio Grande about 15 miles (24 km) from the parallel of 32 degrees north latitude to the parallel of 31 degrees 47 minutes on the international boundary between the United States and Mexico.

Each State asserted that the true boundary line is the middle of the channel of the Rio Grande in 1850. Neither alleged that there had been any change in this line by accretions. And the only issue was as to the true location of the channel in that year. New Mexico believed it was closer to the then-present course of the river. Texas had been issuing deeds for the area known as the Country Club Area, as this was the land in dispute, the case became known by the moniker the Country Club Dispute.

History of the case

This case was filed by the State of New Mexico in the Supreme Court of the United States under the original jurisdiction provisions of Article III, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution. A master was appointed by the Supreme Court in 1924 to make determinations of fact, and the master made extensive findings. "The master concluded on all the evidence that the allegations in New Mexico's bill as to the location and course of the Rio Grande 'as it existed in the year 1850' were not sustained, and that the river did not then flow on the eastern side of the valley as claimed by New Mexico; that its location and course in 1850 was, in general, as alleged in the cross- bill of Texas."[1]

Supreme Court holding

The unanimous Court held that "the testimony of the witnesses as to their recollection of the old river is far from satisfactory, and does not, in view of the other evidence in the case, sustain the burden of proof resting upon New Mexico.

See also

External links

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References

  1. ↑ State of New Mexico v. State of Texas, 275 U.S. 279, 299.
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