United States v. Kirby
| United States v. Kirby | |
|---|---|
| Decided December, 1868 | |
| Full case name | United States v. Kirby |
| Citations | 74 U.S. 482 (more) |
| Case history | |
| Prior | On appeal from the Circuit Court for the District of Kentucky |
| Holding | |
| All laws must be read as if they contain exceptions to prevent "an absurd consequence". In particular, it is absurd to prosecute a law enforcement officer for "obstructing the mail" because he has arrested a postal worker suspected of a serious crime. | |
| Court membership | |
| |
| Case opinion | |
| Majority | Field, joined by Chase, Nelson, Grier, Clifford, Swayne, Davis |
| Miller took no part in the consideration or decision of the case. | |
United States v. Kirby, 74 U.S. (7 Wall.) 482 (1868), was a case in which the Supreme Court of the United States held that statutes must be constructed reasonably.