In the United States Supreme Court case of The United States v. Thomas W. Sutherland, Guardian of Victoria, Isabel, Miguel and Helina, Minor Children of Miguel de Pedrorena Deceased, the court was asked to decide whether a guardian appointed by a state court had authority over property located in another state. At issue were four minor children whose father died intestate leaving them with an estate consisting mostly of real estate located in California but owned by their mother who lived in Mexico. The US government argued that since the minors' mother was not subject to American jurisdiction she could not appoint a guardian for her children's interests within America and thus any appointment made by Mexican authorities should be disregarded as invalid under American law. On appeal from the District Court’s decision granting guardianship rights to Thomas W Sutherland on behalf of his wards (the four minors), the Supreme Court held that while it is true that foreign laws cannot be enforced directly within U.S courts they can still have indirect effect when such laws are recognized as valid or applicable according to principles established through comity between nations; therefore because Mexican law allowed for parental appointments like those made here then these appointments must also be respected under American law so long as they do not conflict with public policy or other local laws already established within America itself

The dissenting opinion in this case argued that the United States had no right to interfere with the guardianship of Victoria, Isabel, Miguel and Helina, minor children of Miguel de Pedrorena. The dissent maintained that under Spanish law as it existed at the time when Florida was ceded to the United States by Spain in 1819, a guardian appointed for minors could not be removed without cause. In this case there was no evidence presented to show any misconduct on behalf of Thomas W. Sutherland who had been appointed guardian by a court in St Augustine prior to Florida becoming part of the US. Therefore according to Spanish law he should remain as their legal guardian until such time as his removal is justified or another person is legally appointed by competent authority.