Hall v. Russell is a United States Supreme Court case that was decided in 1879. The case involved a dispute between two parties over a contract for the sale of a slave. The plaintiff, Hall, had entered into a contract with the defendant, Russell, to purchase a slave for $1,000. Hall paid the full amount of the purchase price, but Russell refused to deliver the slave. Hall then sued Russell for breach of contract. The Supreme Court held that the contract was valid and enforceable. The Court noted that the sale of slaves was legal in the state where the contract was made, and that the contract was not against public policy. The Court also held that the contract was not void for lack of consideration, as Hall had paid the full purchase price. The Court ordered Russell to deliver the slave to Hall.

In Hall v. Russell, the United States Supreme Court was asked to determine whether a contract between two parties could be enforced when one of them had died before it was completed. The majority opinion held that the contract could not be enforced because it had not been fully executed by both parties prior to death and thus did not meet all of the requirements for enforceability under state law. Justice Field dissented from this decision, arguing that contracts should generally be binding even if they are incomplete at the time of death as long as there is evidence that both parties intended to complete them in good faith. He argued further that allowing such contracts would promote fairness and justice since those who have already performed their part of an agreement should receive what they were promised regardless of any intervening events like death or illness which may prevent completion on either side.