In the 1908 case of United States v. Shipp, the U.S. Supreme Court convicted Sheriff Joseph Shipp and several others for contempt of court after they allowed a mob to lynch Ed Johnson, an African American man who was in their custody awaiting appeal on a rape conviction. The Supreme Court had previously granted a stay of execution pending review due to concerns about racial bias during his trial. However, Sheriff Shipp ignored this order and released Johnson into the hands of an angry mob that subsequently lynched him. This marked the first (and only) time in history that the Supreme Court conducted a criminal trial; it usually only hears appeals cases or issues related to constitutional law interpretation. The justices found all defendants guilty with Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes writing for unanimous court stating "the whole proceeding was nothing less than setting aside by force...a decree entered by this tribunal." This landmark case underscored federal authority over state actions and highlighted ongoing struggles against racial violence.

In the United States v. Shipp case of 1908, there was no recorded dissenting opinion. The Supreme Court unanimously found Joseph Shipp and his co-defendants guilty of contempt for their roles in facilitating a mob's lynching of Ed Johnson, a black man falsely accused of rape. This decision marked the first time that the Supreme Court held a criminal trial, demonstrating its commitment to uphold federal law and constitutional rights against local interference.