Wisconsin v. Michigan

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Wisconsin v. Michigan
Seal of the United States Supreme Court.svg
Argued March 2, 1936
Decided March 16, 1936
Full case nameThe State of Wisconsin v. The State of Michigan
Citations297 U.S. 547 ( more )
56 S. Ct. 584; 80 L. Ed. 856
Case history
Prior 295 U.S. 455 (1935).
Holding
The boundary between Michigan and Wisconsin is amended as stated
Court membership
Chief Justice
Charles E. Hughes
Associate Justices
Willis Van Devanter  · James C. McReynolds
Louis Brandeis  · George Sutherland
Pierce Butler  · Harlan F. Stone
Owen Roberts  · Benjamin N. Cardozo
Case opinion
MajorityUnanimous
Disputed area
USA Wisconsin location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Disputed area
Ships passing between Green Bay (left) and Lake Michigan (right) traveled between various islands.
Usa edcp location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Disputed area
Disputed area (the United States)
Geography
Coordinates 45°19′17″N86°54′58″W / 45.321487°N 86.916073°W / 45.321487; -86.916073
Major islands4: Detroit, Plum, Rock & Washington

Two Supreme Court cases, Wisconsin v. Michigan, 295 U.S. 455 (1935) and Wisconsin v. Michigan, 297 U.S. 547 (1936), settled a territorial dispute between Wisconsin and Michigan.

Contents

Background

The 1836 boundary description between Wisconsin and Michigan described the line through northwest Lake Michigan as "the most usual ship channel". This description needed clarification as two routes were in use into Green Bay. Multiple islands lay in between and all were claimed as part of both Door County, Wisconsin, and Delta County, Michigan. A similar case, Michigan v. Wisconsin 270 U.S. 295 (1926), had previously been brought to the Supreme Court but was dismissed.

Decision

In 1936, the Supreme Court decision chose the ship channel through the Rock Island Passage as the more common, so Wisconsin retained the intervening water area with its islands: Plum, Detroit, Washington, Hog, and Rock.

The Rock Island passage, taken on June 20, 2016 from the International Space Station. St. Martin Island in Michigan is at the top. Rock Island and the much smaller Fish Island and Fisherman's Shoal below are in Wisconsin. ISS048-E-3055 - View of Earth.jpg
The Rock Island passage, taken on June 20, 2016 from the International Space Station. St. Martin Island in Michigan is at the top. Rock Island and the much smaller Fish Island and Fisherman's Shoal below are in Wisconsin.

See also

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References