Home > Great American Court Cases > Calder v. Bull

Legal Citation: 3 U.S. 386 (1798)

Petitioners
Mr. and Mrs. Calder

Respondents
Mr. and Mrs. Caleb Bull

Petitioners' Claim
That Connecticut legislation granting a rehearing of a probate dispute violated the Constitution's prohibition of ex post facto laws.

Justices for the Court
Samuel Chase (writing for the Court), William Cushing, James Iredell, William Paterson

Justices Dissenting
None (Oliver Ellsworth and James Wilson did not participate)

Place
Washington, D.C.

Date of Decision
8 August 1798

Decision
Connecticut's legislation was not a constitutional violation because the ex post facto provision applies only to criminal cases.

Significance
The Supreme Court's decision in Calder v. Bull changed the course of American jurisprudence by eliminating...