Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 29, 2026

Ex parte Jackson

Ex parte Jackson, 96 U.S. 727 (1878), was a United States Supreme Court ex parte decision. The case decided that the United States Post Office may open and inspect mail to limit the transmission of circulars on lotteries. It also extended Fourth Amendment protections to private letters, holding that letters and sealed packages sent through the mail required warrants to be searched through.

Last revised
Jun 29, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
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Wikipedia ↗
Ex parte Jackson
Supreme Court of the United States
Decided October 1, 1878
Full case nameEx parte Jackson
Citations96 U.S. 727 (more)
6 Otto 727; 24 L. Ed. 877
Court membership
Chief Justice
Morrison Waite
Associate Justices
Nathan Clifford · Noah H. Swayne
Samuel F. Miller · Stephen J. Field
William Strong · Joseph P. Bradley
Ward Hunt · John M. Harlan
Case opinion
MajorityField, joined by unanimous

Ex parte Jackson, 96 U.S. 727 (1878), was a United States Supreme Court ex parte decision.1 The case decided that the United States Post Office may open and inspect mail to limit the transmission of circulars on lotteries.2 It also extended Fourth Amendment protections to private letters, holding that letters and sealed packages sent through the mail required warrants to be searched through.1

Notes

Notes

  1. Ex parte Jackson, 96 U.S. 727 (1878).
  2. Wertheimer, John W. "Ex parte Jackson". www.mtsu.edu. Retrieved September 23, 2019.
External links