In the case of Brownlow et al., Commissioners of the District of Columbia, et al. v. Schwartz in 1922, the U.S Supreme Court ruled on a dispute regarding zoning laws in Washington D.C. The plaintiff, Mr. Schwartz, owned property that was rezoned for residential use only under new regulations by city commissioners. He sued them claiming this violated his Fifth Amendment rights as it deprived him of his property without due process and just compensation since he could no longer operate his business from there or sell to commercial buyers at higher prices than residential ones. The court held that while zoning laws can be an exercise of police power if they promote public health and safety etc., they must also respect constitutional protections for private property rights including not depriving owners unjustly or unfairly restricting their ability to use their properties profitably within reason. However, after examining evidence presented about conditions around Mr Schwartz's area being primarily residential already with few businesses left which were causing nuisances like noise pollution etc., justices concluded these factors justified its reclassification despite any potential financial losses he might suffer as a result hence dismissed his lawsuit upholding said zoning law changes instead.

In the case of Brownlow et al., Commissioners of the District of Columbia, et al. v. Schwartz, Justice McReynolds dissented from the majority opinion. He argued that it was not within the power or jurisdiction of a federal court to interfere with local administrative decisions unless there is clear evidence that such interference is necessary to prevent irreparable injury or protect constitutional rights. In this case, he believed no such necessity existed and thus deemed it inappropriate for a federal court to intervene in what he saw as essentially local matters concerning zoning regulations and building permits in Washington D.C.. Furthermore, Justice McReynolds expressed concern about setting a precedent where courts could potentially overstep their bounds by interfering too readily in administrative affairs.