In the 1953 case Gordon et al. v. United States, the Supreme Court ruled on a dispute involving maritime salvage rights and rewards. The appellants were members of a fishing vessel crew who had helped save another ship, SS Pan Oceanic Faith, from sinking during a storm off the coast of Alaska in 1946. They claimed they were entitled to more than $100,000 as their share of salvage reward granted by an Alaskan district court for their efforts in saving both the ship and its cargo valued at over $1 million. The Supreme Court held that while it was true that salvors are generally rewarded based on factors such as value saved and risk involved; this does not mean they are automatically entitled to any fixed proportion or percentage of property's value saved through their efforts. The high court affirmed lower courts' decisions which awarded them about $8,500 collectively - significantly less than what they demanded but still deemed fair considering all relevant circumstances including time spent (about two hours), actual services rendered (towing), risks taken etc., thereby rejecting appellants' claim for higher compensation.

In the dissenting opinion for Gordon et al. v. United States, Justice Jackson disagreed with the majority's decision to uphold a conviction based on evidence obtained through wiretapping without a warrant. He argued that such practices violated Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches and seizures, as well as Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination. Jackson expressed concern about the potential misuse of this power by law enforcement agencies and warned that it could lead to an erosion of civil liberties if left unchecked. He also criticized the Court's reliance on outdated precedents from an era before modern technology made electronic surveillance possible, arguing that these cases were not applicable in contemporary society due to significant changes in communication methods and privacy expectations.