Giles v. Little
Is it still good law? What later courts have actually done to this case.
Status
More on how this was screened
The Supreme Court held that she could convey the land in fee during her widowhood. All seven flagged citations have been read. The Constitution Annotated lists Roberts as the overruling decision.
7 citations to Giles v. Little sat close to treatment language and were flagged for reading, and all of them have been read. Citations that did not sit near treatment language were not flagged and were not read one by one, so a court that weakened this case without using any of that language would not appear here.
Relying on Giles v. Little?
This page shows what later courts did to it. Ask about your specific facts and see whether it still carries your argument, with citations you can check.
Treatments
Overruled
-
The Supreme Court expressly overruled Giles's construction of the will and held that the widow could convey the land in fee during her widowhood.
Roberts v. Lewis · Supreme Court of the United States · filed
And this court, on reconsideration of the ' whole matter, with the aid of the various judicial opinions upon the subject, and of the learned briefs of counsel, is of opinion that the sound construction of this will, as to the extent of the power conferred on the widow, is in accordance with the conclusion of the state court, and not with the former decision of this court, which must, therefore, be considered as overruled. ... For the reasons above stated, this court is of opinion that the will of Jacob Dawson did give his widow such an estate in lands in Nebraska of which he died seized, that she could during her widowhood convey to third persons an estate in fee simple therein; and that the Circuit Court of Appeals, in determining the nature of the estate vested in her by the will in such lands, should be governed, not by the former decision of this court in Giles v. Little, 104 U. S. 291, but by the decision of the Supreme Court of Nebraska in Little v. Giles, 25 Nebraska, 313.
Read the full opinion on CourtListener →
Does this case still carry your argument?
Describe your facts. Ezel reads Giles v. Little and the cases that treated it, then tells you whether it still holds for your situation, with citations.
Opens in Ezel Pro.
- Checks the law as it stands today, not only this page
- Cites every source it relies on, so you can verify it
- Chat, drafting and research in one workspace