List of United States Supreme Court cases, volume 18

None

This is a list of cases reported in volume 18 (5 Wheat.) of United States Reports, decided by the Supreme Court of the United States in 1820.

In 1874, the U. S. government created the United States Reports, and retroactively numbered older privately published case reports as part of the new series. As a result, cases appearing in volumes 1–90 of U. S. Reports have dual citation forms; one for the volume number of U. S. Reports, and one for the volume number of the reports named for the relevant reporter of decisions (these are called "nominative reports").

Starting with the 14th volume of U. S. Reports, the Reporter of Decisions of the Supreme Court of the United States was Henry Wheaton. Wheaton was Reporter of Decisions from 1816 to 1827, covering volumes 14 through 25 of United States Reports which correspond to volumes 1 through 12 of his Wheaton's Reports. As such, the dual form of citation to, for example, Wallace v. Anderson is 18 U. S. (5 Wheat.) 291 (1820).

La Amistad 18 U. S. (5 Wheat.) 385 (1820) was a 19th century two masted schooner, owned by a Spaniard living in Cuba. It became renowned in July 1839 for a slave revolt by Mende captives. The ship was eventually taken into American custody in New Orleans. Spain requested President Martin Van Buren to return the African captives to Cuba under a treaty. Litigation followed. Because of issues of ownership and jurisdiction, the case gained international attention. The case was decided by the Supreme Court of the United States in favor of the Mende, restoring their freedom. It became a symbol in the United States in the movement to abolish slavery.

Under the Judiciary Act of 1789 the federal court structure at the time comprised District Courts, which had general trial jurisdiction; Circuit Courts, which had mixed trial and appellate (from the US District Courts) jurisdiction; and the United States Supreme Court, which had appellate jurisdiction over the federal District and Circuit courts—and for certain issues over state courts. The Supreme Court also had limited original jurisdiction (i. e., in which cases could be filed directly with the Supreme Court without first having been heard by a lower federal or state court). There were one or more federal District Courts and/or Circuit Courts in each state, territory, or other geographical region. Bluebook citation style is used for case names, citations, and jurisdictions. "C. C. D." = United States Circuit Court for the District of . e. g.,"C. C. D. N. J." = United States Circuit Court for the District of New Jersey
"D." = United States District Court for the District of . e. g.,"D. Mass." = United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts
"E." = Eastern; "M." = Middle; "N." = Northern; "S." = Southern; "W." = Western
e. g.,"C. C. S. D. N. Y." = United States Circuit Court for the Southern District of New York
e. g.,"M. D. Ala." = United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama
"Ct. Cl." = United States Court of Claims
The abbreviation of a state's name alone indicates the highest appellate court in that state's judiciary at the time. e. g.,"Pa." = Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
e. g.,"Me." = Supreme Judicial Court of Maine

NOTE: Some decisions have alternate pagination, indicated by "{ }." Case Name Page & year Opinion of the Court Concurring opinion(s) Dissenting opinion(s) Lower Court Disposition Houston v. Moore 1 (1820) Washington Johnson Story Pa. affirmed United States v. Wiltberger 76 {35} (1820) Marshall none none C. C. D. Pa. certification M'Clung v. Ross 116 {54} (1820) Marshall none none C. C. D. E. Tenn. reversed The Venus 127 (1820) Johnson none none C. C. D. Ga. reversed The London Packet 132 (1820) Livingston none none C. C. D. Mass. reversed United States v. Klintock 144 (1820) Marshall none none C. C. D. Va. certification United States v. Smith 153 {71} (1820) Story none none C. C. D. Va. certification United States v. Furlong 184 (1820) Johnson none none multiple certification Stevenson's Heirs v. Sullivant 207 (1820) Washington none none C. C. D. Ohio affirmed Perkins v. Ramsey 269 {124} (1820) Todd none none C. C. D. Ky. affirmed Mandeville v. Welch 277 {128} (1820) Story none none C. C. D. C. reversed Wallace v. Anderson 291 {134} (1820) Marshall none none C. C. D. Ohio reversed Polk's Lessee v. Wendell 293 (1820) Johnson none none C. C. D. W. Tenn. reversed Marshall v. Beverley 313 (1820) Livingston none none C. C. D. Va. reversed Loughborough v. Blake 317 {146} (1820) Marshall none none C. C. D. C. affirmed Mechanics' Bank v. Bank of Columbia 326 {150} (1820) Johnson none none C. C. D. C. affirmed The Josefa Segunda 338 {156} (1820) Livingston none none D. La. affirmed Blake v. Doherty 359 {165} (1820) Marshall none Johnson C. C. D. W. Tenn. reversed Handly's Lessee v. Anthony 374 (1820) Marshall none none C. C. D. Ky. affirmed La Amistad de Rues 385 (1820) Story none none D. La. reversed Lyle v. Rodgers 394 {181} (1820) Marshall none none C. C. D. C. affirmed United States v. Holmes 412 {189} (1820) Washington none none C. C. D. Mass. certification Owings v. Speed 420 {192} (1820) Marshall none none C. C. D. Ky. affirmed Conn v. Penn 424 {194} (1820) Marshall none none C. C. D. Pa. reversed Campbell v. Pratt 429 {196} (1820) Johnson none none not indicated affirmed The Atalanta 433 (1820) per curiam none none C. C. D. Ga. reversed United States v. Lancaster 434 {198} (1820) Marshall none none C. C. D. Pa. dismissed