UNITED STATES v. MAINE et al. (MASSACHUSETTS BOUNDARY CASE)
No. 35, Orig.
Decided March 17, 1975
Decree entered October 6, 1975— Supplemental decree entered June 15, 1981 — Decided February 19,1985— Supplemental decree entered April 29,1985 — Decided February 25, 1986—
Supplemental decree entered February 26, 1996
The joint motion for entry of a supplemental decree is granted.
SUPPLEMENTAL DECREE
The Court having, by its decision of February 25, 1986, adopted the recommendation of its Special Master that Vineyard Sound constitutes historic inland waters and overruled the exception of Massachusetts to the Report of its Special Master herein insofar as it challenged the Master’s determination that the whole of Nantucket Sound does not constitute historic or ancient inland waters, and having, to this extent, adopted the Master’s recommendations and confirmed his Report:
IT IS ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED as follows:
1. For the purposes of the Court’s Decree herein dated October 6, 1975, 423 U. S. 1 (affirming the title of the United States to the seabed more than three geographic miles seaward of the coastline, and of the States to the seabed within the three geographic mile zone), the coastline of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts shall be determined on the basis that the whole of Vineyard Sound constitutes state inland waters and Nantucket Sound (with the exception of interior indentations which are described in paragraphs 2(c), (d) and (e) below) is made up of territorial seas and high seas.
2. For purposes of said Decree of October 6, 1975, the coastline of Massachusetts includes the following straight lines:
(a) A line from a point on Gay Head on Martha’s Vineyard (approximately 41°21’10"N, 70°50'07"W) to the southwestern point of Cuttyhunk Island (approximately 41°24’39"N, 70°56'34"W);
(b) A line from a point on East Chop (approximately 41°28'15"N, 70°34’05"W) to a point on Cape Cod (approximately 41°33'10"N, 70°29'30"W);
(c) A line from a point southeast of East Chop (approximately 41°27'30"N, 70°33'18"W) to a point west of Cape Pogue (approximately 41°25'06"N, 70°27'56"W) on the island of Martha’s Vineyard;
(d) A line from a point on Point Gammon on Cape Cod (approximately 41°36'36"N, 70°15'40"W) to the southwestern-most point of Monomoy Island (approximately 41°33'02"N, 70°00'59"W); and
(e) A line from a point on the west coast of Great Island (approximately 41°37'08"N, 70°16'15"W) to a point on Hyannis Point on Cape Cod (approximately 41°37'27"N, 70°17'34"W).
3. The Court retains jurisdiction to entertain such further proceedings, enter such orders, and issue such writs as from time to time may be deemed necessary or advisable to effectuate and supplement the decree and the rights of the respective parties.
Justice Souter took no part in the consideration or decision of this motion and supplemental decree.
What follows is an opinion from the Supreme Court of the United States. Your task is to determine the issue area of the Court's decision. Determine the issue area on the basis of the Court's own statements as to what the case is about. Focus on the subject matter of the controversy rather than its legal basis. In specifying the issue in a legacy case, choose the one that best accords with what today's Court would consider it to be. Choose among the following issue areas: "Criminal Procedure" encompasses the rights of persons accused of crime, except for the due process rights of prisoners. "Civil rights" includes non-First Amendment freedom cases which pertain to classifications based on race (including American Indians), age, indigency, voting, residency, military or handicapped status, gender, and alienage. "First Amendment encompasses the scope of this constitutional provision, but do note that it need not involve the interpretation and application of a provision of the First Amendment. For example, if the case only construe a precedent, or the reviewability of a claim based on the First Amendment, or the scope of an administrative rule or regulation that impacts the exercise of First Amendment freedoms. "Due process" is limited to non-criminal guarantees. "Privacy" concerns libel, comity, abortion, contraceptives, right to die, and Freedom of Information Act and related federal or state statutes or regulations. "Attorneys" includes attorneys' compensation and licenses, along with trhose of governmental officials and employees. "Unions" encompass those issues involving labor union activity. "Economic activity" is largely commercial and business related; it includes tort actions and employee actions vis-a-vis employers. "Judicial power" concerns the exercise of the judiciary's own power. "Federalism" pertains to conflicts and other relationships between the federal government and the states, except for those between the federal and state courts. "Federal taxation" concerns the Internal Revenue Code and related statutes. "Private law" relates to disputes between private persons involving real and personal property, contracts, evidence, civil procedure, torts, wills and trusts, and commercial transactions. Prior to the passage of the Judges' Bill of 1925 much of the Court's cases concerned such issues. Use "Miscellaneous" for legislative veto and executive authority vis-a-vis congress or the states.
Criminal Procedure Civil Rights First Amendment Due Process Privacy Attorneys Unions Economic Activity Judicial Power Federalism Interstate Relations Federal Taxation Miscellaneous Private Action