In Newsom v. Pryor's Lessee, the United States Supreme Court ruled that a state court could not exercise jurisdiction over land located in another state. The case arose when James Newsom sued John Pryor for possession of certain lands located in Tennessee but owned by an individual who resided in Georgia. The Tennessee court had issued a writ of ejectment to remove Mr. Newsom from the property and he appealed to the U.S Supreme Court on grounds that it was unconstitutional for a state court to exercise jurisdiction over land outside its boundaries without permission from Congress or consent from both states involved (in this case, Georgia and Tennessee). In its ruling, the Court held that such action was indeed unconstitutional as it violated Article IV Section 2 of the Constitution which guarantees citizens “the full benefit” of their rights regardless of where they reside within any particular State or Territory boundary lines. Furthermore, since there was no congressional act granting authority nor mutual agreement between two states allowing one state’s courts to adjudicate matters involving lands situated beyond its borders; therefore, such actions were deemed invalid under law and thus overturned by SCOTUS decision

In the case of Newsom v. Pryor's Lessee, the Supreme Court was asked to decide whether a state law that allowed for an escheat of property from a deceased tenant in common to his surviving co-tenant violated Article IV Section 2 Clause 3 of the United States Constitution. The majority opinion held that it did not violate this clause and thus upheld the state law. However, Justice Story dissented on behalf of himself and two other justices arguing that such laws were unconstitutional as they deprived individuals who had purchased interests in land from their original owners without due process or compensation. He argued further that these laws interfered with vested rights which could only be taken away by Congress through legislation or by judicial decision after proper notice and hearing had been given to all parties involved.