[227] 339 U.S. 276 (1950).
[228] Charles Warren, The Supreme Court in United States History, I, (Boston, 1922), 110-111. For the full correspondence see 3 Correspondence and Public Papers of John Jay (1890-1893), (edited by Henry Phelps Johnston), 486. According to E.F. Albertsworth, Advisory Functions in Federal Supreme Court, 23 Georgetown L.J., 643, 644-647 (May 1935), the Court rendered an advisory opinion to President Monroe in response to a request for legal advice on the power of the Government to appropriate federal funds for public improvements by responding that Congress might do so under the war and postal powers. The inhibitions of the Court against advisory opinions do not prevent the individual Justices from giving advice or aiding the political departments in their private capacities. Ever since Chief Justice Jay went on a mission to England to negotiate a treaty the members of the Court have performed various nonjudicial functions. John Marshall served simultaneously as Secretary of State and Chief Justice, and later Justice Robert Jackson served as war crimes prosecutor.
[229] For example, Muskrat v. United States, 219 U.S. 346, 354 (1911); Chicago & Southern Airlines v. Waterman Steamship Corp., 333 U.S. 103, 113 (1948); United Public Workers of America v. Mitchell, 330 U.S. 75, 89 (1947).
[230] Chicago & Southern Airlines v. Waterman Steamship Corp., 333 U.S. 103, 113-114 (1948), citing Hayburn's Case, 2 Dall. 409 (1792); United States v. Ferreira, 13 How. 40 (1852); Gordon v. United States, 117 U.S. 697 (1864); In re Sanborn, 148 U.S. 222 (1893); Interstate Commerce Commission v. Brimson, 154 U.S. 447 (1894); La Abra Silver Mining Co. v. United States, 175 U.S. 423 (1899); Muskrat v. United States, 219 U.S. 346 (1911); United States v. Jefferson Electric Co., 291 U.S. 386 (1934).
[231] Muskrat v. United States, 219 U.S. 346 (1911).
[232] United States v. Ferreira, 13 How. 40 (1852).
[233] United Public Workers of America v. Mitchell, 330 U.S. 75, 89 (1947). Here, Justice Reed, for the Court, after asserting that constitutional courts do not render advisory opinions, declared that "'concrete legal issues, presented in actual cases, not abstractions,' are requisite" for the adjudication of constitutional issues, citing Electric Bond and Share Co. v. Securities & Exchange Commission, 303 U.S. 419, 443 (1938); United States v. Appalachian Electric Power Co., 311 U.S. 377, 423 (1940); Alabama State Federation of Labor v. McAdory, 325 U.S. 450, 461 (1945); and Coffman v. Breeze Corporations, 323 U.S. 316, 324 (1945).
[234] 13 How. 40 (1852).
[235] 117 U.S. 697 (1864).
[236] 273 U.S. 70 (1927). In Willing v. Chicago Auditorium Association, 277 U.S. 274 (1928) certain lessees desired to ascertain their rights under a lease to demolish a building after the lessors had failed to admit such rights on the allegation that claims, fears, and uncertainties respecting the rights of the parties greatly impaired the value of the leasehold. Because there was no showing that the lessors had hampered the full use of the premises or had committed or threatened a hostile act, the Supreme Court sustained the decree of the lower Court dismissing the bill on the ground that the plaintiff was seeking a mere declaratory judgment. The Court admitted that the proceeding was not moot, that there were adverse parties with substantial interests, and that a final judgment could have been rendered, but held, nonetheless, that the proceeding was not a case or controversy merely because plaintiffs were thwarted by its own doubts, or by the fears of others. Ibid. 289-290.