In the 1941 case of Georgia v. Evans et al., the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of Georgia, reversing a lower court's decision that had dismissed an indictment against several individuals for violating state antitrust laws. The defendants were charged with conspiring to fix prices and control competition in the ice industry within Augusta, Georgia. They argued that their actions did not violate state law because they involved interstate commerce which was under federal jurisdiction according to the Commerce Clause of the Constitution. The Supreme Court disagreed, stating that while some aspects of their business may involve interstate commerce, this specific conspiracy took place entirely within one city and therefore fell under state jurisdiction. Furthermore, it held that even if there was a connection to interstate commerce, states still have authority over local trade practices unless Congress has specifically legislated otherwise or if such regulation would conflict with national policy on foreign or interstate trade.

In the dissenting opinion for Georgia v. Evans, Justice Roberts argued that the majority's decision to strike down a state law prohibiting out-of-state companies from buying and transporting in-state scrap iron without first offering it to local foundries was incorrect. He contended that this law did not violate the Commerce Clause of the Constitution as it did not discriminate against interstate commerce but rather sought to conserve resources within its borders for use by its own industries during a time of national emergency (World War II). He further stated that states should have authority over their natural resources and be able to regulate them as they see fit unless Congress has explicitly legislated otherwise. In his view, striking down such laws could lead to wasteful exploitation of these resources with no regard for future needs or consequences.