Miller v. Schoene (1900)
- Docket
- 199
- Decided
- 1900-1940-
Summary
Question: Did Virginia's Cedar Rust Act violate the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment? Conclusion: In a unanimous decision, the Court upheld Virginia's statute and the order to remove Miller's cedar trees. A unanimous decision by Justice Harlan Stone found that the statute and the order to remove Miller's cedar trees did not violate the due process clause. The Court recognized the State's interest in preventing the cedar rust from damaging nearby apple orchards as they were the "principal agriculture pursuit" in the state. The Court held that the destruction of Miller's trees would be a taking of his property; however, the State "did not exceed its constitutional powers by deciding upon the destruction of one class of property in order to save another which, in the judgment of the legislature, is of greater value to the public." In sum, the legislature acted reasonably in determining that apples were more valuable to the state's interests than red cedar.