In Paxton v. Griswold, the Supreme Court of the United States was asked to decide whether a state court had the authority to issue an injunction against a state officer. The case arose when the state of Connecticut issued an injunction against the state treasurer, William Griswold, to prevent him from paying out funds to the plaintiff, William Paxton. Paxton had been appointed by the state legislature to serve as a trustee of a fund that was to be used to pay the salaries of certain state officers. Griswold refused to pay out the funds, arguing that the state legislature had no authority to appoint Paxton as a trustee. The Supreme Court held that the state court had the authority to issue the injunction against Griswold. The Court reasoned that the state legislature had the power to appoint trustees, and that the state court had the power to enforce the legislature's decision. The Court also held that the state court had the power to issue an injunction against a state officer in order to enforce the legislature's decision. The Court concluded that the state court had the authority to issue the injunction against Griswold, and that the injunction was valid.

In Paxton v. Griswold, the Supreme Court was asked to decide whether a state court had the authority to issue an injunction against a party who had not been served with process or given notice of the suit. The majority opinion held that it did not have such power and reversed the judgment of the lower court. Justice Field dissented from this decision, arguing that states should be allowed to use their own laws in order to protect citizens from harm caused by those who are unaware they are being sued. He argued that if parties were aware of suits against them but failed to appear in court, then they could be punished for contempt; however, when parties do not know about lawsuits brought against them due to lack of service or notice, then states should have some recourse available so as not leave individuals unprotected from potential harm caused by others’ actions.