The plaintiff, a Japanese alien, appealed a judgment escheating land he purchased in California. There was no treaty allowing Japanese citizens to own land. The sole question before the court was whether California's alien land law was valid. The court held the law was valid, finding the UN Charter was not self-executing and did not impose any obligations under domestic law. The dissent argued the land law was unconstitutional.
The plaintiff, a Japanese alien, appealed a judgment escheating land he purchased in California. There was no treaty allowing Japanese citizens to own land. The sole question before the cour…