In Freeman, Trustee v. Dawson, 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 a federal court. The case arose when a debtor, Dawson, filed a petition in a state court to have a federal court issue a writ of mandamus to compel a trustee, Freeman, to pay a debt. The state court issued the writ, but Freeman argued that the state court lacked the authority to do so. The Supreme Court held that the state court did not have the authority to issue the writ of mandamus. The Court reasoned that the state court lacked the power to issue a writ of mandamus to a federal court because the federal court was a court of exclusive jurisdiction. The Court further held that the state court was not authorized to interfere with the proceedings of the federal court. The Court concluded that the state court lacked the authority to issue the writ of mandamus and that the writ was therefore void. The Court also held that the state court had no power to interfere with the proceedings of the federal court. The Court's decision was unanimous.

In Freeman, Trustee v. Dawson, the Supreme Court was asked to decide whether a deed of trust created by an insolvent debtor could be enforced against his creditors in order for the trustee to collect on it. The majority opinion held that such a deed of trust was valid and enforceable under state law and should not be set aside due to insolvency. Justice Field dissented from this decision, arguing that allowing such deeds would create unfairness among creditors because those who had already received payment from the debtor would receive more than their fair share while other creditors with claims against him would get nothing at all. He argued further that if these trusts were allowed then debtors could use them as a way to evade their obligations and avoid paying their debts entirely. Ultimately, he concluded that allowing these trusts in cases of insolvency violated public policy and should not be permitted under any circumstances.