Home > Great American Court Cases > Trustees of Dartmouth College v. Woodward

Legal Citation: 17 U.S. 518 (1819)

Appellant
Dartmouth College

Appellee
State of New Hampshire

Appellant's Claim
That the action of the state of New Hampshire reconstituting the charter of Dartmouth College as Dartmouth University and appointing a new board of trustees was a violation of the constitutional protection against actions impairing contracts.

Chief Lawyer for Appellant
Daniel Webster

Chief Lawyers for Appellee
Joseph Hopkinson for old trustees; John Holmes and William Wirt, for State of New Hampshire

Justices for the Court
William Johnson, Henry Brockholst Livingston, John Marshall (writing for the Court), Joseph Story, Bushrod Washington

Justices Dissenting
Gabriel Duvall (Thomas Todd did not participate)

Place
Washington, D.C.

Date of Decision
12 March...