Kimball v. Evans was a United States Supreme Court case that dealt with the issue of whether a state court had the authority to grant a divorce to a married couple. The case involved a married couple, Mr. and Mrs. Kimball, who had been living apart for several years. Mrs. Kimball had filed for a divorce in the state court of Arkansas, and the court had granted the divorce. Mr. Kimball then appealed the decision to the Supreme Court, arguing that the state court did not have the authority to grant a divorce. The Supreme Court ultimately ruled in favor of Mrs. Kimball, holding that the state court did have the authority to grant a divorce. The Court reasoned that the state court had the power to grant a divorce under the laws of Arkansas, and that the state court had acted within its jurisdiction in granting the divorce. The Court also noted that the state court had acted in accordance with the public policy of Arkansas, which favored the dissolution of marriages. In conclusion, the Supreme Court held that the state court had the authority to grant a divorce to the Kimballs, and that the state court had acted within its jurisdiction in doing so. The Court's decision established that state courts have the authority to grant divorces, and that the public policy of the state should be taken into consideration when making such decisions.

Justice Field delivered the dissenting opinion in Kimball v. Evans, arguing that the majority's decision was not supported by precedent and would lead to a dangerous expansion of federal power. He argued that Congress had no authority to pass legislation regulating private contracts between citizens of different states, as it is an issue reserved for state legislatures under the Tenth Amendment. Furthermore, he noted that if such laws were allowed then there would be nothing preventing Congress from passing similar laws governing any other type of contract or agreement between citizens of different states - thus allowing them to interfere with matters traditionally left up to individual states. Finally, Justice Field warned against allowing this kind of federal interference in what should remain a matter for each state legislature alone: "The danger which lurks behind all such attempts on the part of Congress must be obvious."