J. D. Hollingshead Co. v. Board of Control of State Institutions

Evans, - J.

The doctrine is universally recognized that a sovereign state may not be coerced by the exercise of judicial power. Much less may it be coerced by process from its own courts. This rule is conceded by the appellant, and we need devote no time to its discussion. The material facts appearing in the petition are that the state of Iowa, through its board of control, is engaged in certain manufactures which are calculated to utilize the labor of convicts in its penitentiaries. The plaintiff, by correspondence with the board of control, contracted to deliver ten carloads of staves, to be…