In the case of Adams et al. v. United States et al., 1942, the Supreme Court ruled on a dispute over land ownership in Florida. The plaintiffs, descendants of Arredondo who was granted land by Spain before it ceded Florida to the U.S., claimed that they were rightful owners of certain lands under an old Spanish grant which had been confirmed by Congress but later sold for nonpayment of taxes assessed against them after confirmation and while they were still minors. They argued that this sale violated their rights as minors and sought to recover these lands from various parties now possessing them including United States government agencies. The court held that even though there may have been irregularities in tax proceedings leading up to the sales, such issues could not be raised so many years after those sales without violating principles of laches (a legal doctrine barring claims made too long after events). Furthermore, it found no evidence supporting plaintiffs' claim about being minors at time when taxes became due or during subsequent tax sale procedures. Therefore, it affirmed lower courts' judgments dismissing their suits.

In the dissenting opinion for Adams et al. v. United States et al., Justice Black argued that the majority's decision to uphold a federal law prohibiting labor union contributions in political campaigns was an infringement on First Amendment rights of free speech and assembly. He contended that this prohibition limited unions' ability to advocate for their interests, effectively silencing them in political discourse. Furthermore, he asserted that such restrictions could lead down a slippery slope towards further limitations on other groups or individuals seeking to influence politics through financial means. In his view, it is not within the Court’s purview to decide which entities have too much influence over elections; rather, any perceived imbalances should be addressed by Congress through legislation promoting transparency and accountability in campaign financing.