Ex parte Bollman

Ex parte Bollman, 8 U.S. (4 Cranch) 75 (1807), was a case brought before the United States Supreme Court. Bollman held that the constitutional definition of treason excluded mere conspiracy to levy war against the United States.[1]

Ex parte Bollman
Decided February 20, 1807
Full case nameEx parte Erick Bollman and Ex parte Samuel Swartwout
Citations8 U.S. 75 (more)
4 Cranch 75; 2 L. Ed. 554; 1807 U.S. LEXIS 369
Case history
PriorUnited States v. Bollman, 24 F. Cas. 1189 (C.C.D.C. 1807) (No. 14,622)
SubsequentNone
Holding
The petitioners' alleged conspiracy did not rise to the level of treason as defined by the Constitution.
Court membership
Chief Justice
John Marshall
Associate Justices
William Cushing · Samuel Chase
Bushrod Washington · William Johnson
H. Brockholst Livingston
Case opinions
MajorityMarshall, joined by Cushing, Chase, Washington, Livingston
DissentJohnson
Laws applied
U.S. Const. art. I, III, amends. IV, VI; Judiciary Act of 1789

Erick Bollman and Samuel Swartwout were civilians who became implicated in the Burr-Wilkinson Plot. This plot supposedly consisted of Aaron Burr and James Wilkinson attempting to create an empire in the United States, ruled by Burr. In 1806, Wilkinson informed Thomas Jefferson of the plot, ending whatever may have actually been planned. Bollman and Swartwout attempted to recruit others into the plot, but these individuals informed the military, which promptly arrested them.

The Supreme Court decided that "To constitute a levying of war, there must be an assemblage of persons for the purpose of effecting by force a treasonable purpose. Enlistments of men to serve against government is not sufficient."[1]:132

References
  1. Howell, Herbert A. (November 1917). "The Law of Treason". Virginia Law Review. 5 (2): 131–134. doi:10.2307/1064036. ISSN 0042-6601. Retrieved 8 June 2020.

See also
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