In Cape Girardeau County Court & Others v. Hill, the Supreme Court of the United States was asked to decide whether a state court had the authority to issue a writ of mandamus to compel a county court to perform a ministerial duty. The case arose when the county court refused to issue a writ of mandamus to compel the county court to issue a deed to a tract of land. The Supreme Court held that the state court did not have the authority to issue a writ of mandamus to compel the county court to perform a ministerial duty. The Court reasoned that the state court had no jurisdiction over the county court, and that the county court was not subject to the control of the state court. The Court further held that the county court was not required to issue a deed to the tract of land, as the county court had the discretion to determine whether or not to issue the deed. In conclusion, the Supreme Court held that the state court did not have the authority to issue a writ of mandamus to compel the county court to perform a ministerial duty. The Court reasoned that the county court was not subject to the control of the state court, and that the county court had the discretion to determine whether or not to issue the deed.

In Cape Girardeau County Court & Others v. Hill, the United States Supreme Court was asked to decide whether a state court had jurisdiction over an action brought by citizens of another state against a citizen of the forum state. The majority opinion held that it did not have such jurisdiction and reversed the judgment of the lower court. Justice Field dissented from this decision, arguing that under existing law, states were permitted to exercise jurisdiction in cases where one party is a citizen of their own state regardless of citizenship status for other parties involved in the suit. He argued further that if Congress wished to limit or restrict such power they should do so explicitly rather than relying on judicial interpretation which could lead to confusion and uncertainty about what laws applied when multiple states were involved in litigation between citizens from different jurisdictions.