In Green v. Van Buskirk, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that a state law which allowed for an appeal from a justice of the peace to be taken directly to the supreme court was unconstitutional. The case involved two parties who had entered into an agreement in 1864 and then disagreed over its terms. The defendant argued that he should have been able to take his appeal directly to the state's highest court instead of having it heard by a lower court first, as required by law at that time. In their decision, justices held that such appeals could not be taken directly because they would violate Article III Section 2 Clause 2 of the U.S Constitution which states: "In all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, and those in which a State shall be Party...the supreme Court shall have original Jurisdiction." This ruling established precedent for future cases involving similar issues regarding appeals made under state laws versus federal laws or constitutional provisions.

In Green v. Van Buskirk, the Supreme Court was asked to decide whether a state court had jurisdiction over a case involving two citizens of different states. The majority opinion held that the state court did have jurisdiction because it was based on diversity of citizenship and not on any other grounds. However, Justice Field dissented from this opinion and argued that while diversity of citizenship may be sufficient for federal courts to exercise their jurisdiction in such cases, it is not enough for state courts to do so. He further argued that since there were no other jurisdictional grounds present in this case, the decision should have been reversed and remanded back to the lower court with instructions as to how they could properly acquire jurisdiction over this matter. In conclusion, Justice Field believed that if Congress wanted states courts to possess such power then they would need pass legislation specifically granting them authority in these matters rather than relying solely upon diversity of citizenship as a basis for exercising their judicial powers.