Taney filed his "Merryman" decision with the United States Circuit Court for the District of Maryland, but it is unclear if Taney's decision was a circuit court decision. One view, based in part on Taney's handwritten copy of his decision in "Merryman", is that Taney heard the "habeas action" under special authority granted to federal judges by Section 14 of the Judiciary Act of 1789. According to this view, "Merryman" was an in-chambers opinion. Due to its vague jurisdictional locus and hastened disposition, aspects of the "Merryman" decision remain contested to this day.