USEFUL LAW CITATIONS & COURT CASES

The United States Statutes at Large.1

The Organic Laws for The United States of America.2,3,4
Nature of The United States of America,5 United States6,7,8,9,10 & government in general.11
Maxims.12,13,14,15,16,17
Miscellaneous.18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29
Rights, property, freedom, land.30,31,32,33,34,35,36,37
Terms in pari materia38: State,39,40,41 in this/the State,42 county.43,44

1
§ 112, P.L. 80-278, 61 Stat. 633. “The United States Statutes at Large shall be legal evidence of
laws, . . . treaties, . . . in all the courts of the United States, the several States, and the Territories and insular
possessions of the United States.”
2
1 Stat. 1–22, 51–53.
3
18 United States Statutes at Large, The Organic Laws of The United States of America, available at
https://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsl&fileName=018/llsl018.db&recNum=16
(click on “PREV IMAGE” and “NEXT IMAGE” hyperlinks to navigate) (last visited January 15, A.D. 2018).
4
U.S. Code Front Matter, Organic Laws (2012), available at
http://uscode.house.gov/browse/frontmatter/organiclaws (last updated January 12, A.D. 2018).
5
“The United States of America are a corporation with the capacity to sue and be sued, to convey and receive
property. 1 Marsh. Dec. 177, 181.” United States of America, para. 5, Bouvier’s Law Dictionary (6th rev. ed. 1856).
6
§ 3002(15), P.L. 101-647, 104 Stat. 4933. “ ‘United States’ means- (A) a Federal corporation; (B) an agency . . . or
other entity of the United States; or (C) an instrumentality of the United States.”
7
§ 5, P.L. 80-772, 62 Stat. 683. United States defined. “The term ‘United States’, as used in this title in a territorial
sense, includes all places and waters, continental or insular, subject to the jurisdiction of the United States,
except the Canal Zone” (emphasis added).
8
“The federal government is the ultimate parens patriae of every American citizen.” 91 C.J.S. United States § 2, 1st
para.
9
“The United States, in its sovereign capacity, has no particular place of domicile but possesses, in contemplation of
law, a ubiquity throughout the Union. The United States is, however, entirely separate and distinct from the
District of Columbia.” Id., 2d para.
10
“The United States is a body politic and corporate. . . . When the United States enters into commercial business, it
abandons its sovereign capacity and is to be treated like any other corporation.” Id., 4th para.
11
“[A]ll governments are corporations, created by usage and common consent, or grants and charters which create a
body politic for prescribed purposes . . . .” Charles River Bridge v. Warren Bridge, 36 U.S. (11 Pet.) 420 (1837),
reprinted in WESTLAW, 1837 WL 3561, with the following notation at *160 of the computer version: “West
Editorial Note: the source of the following opinion is Baldwin’s Constitutional Views, p. 134–169.” The above cited
quote appears at *161. (Justice Baldwin’s concurring opinion in this case apparently was not printed in either the
Peters Reports of this Court’s decision or subsequently in the U.S. Reports.)
12
“The chiefest part of everything is the beginning. Dig. 1, 2, 1; 10 Coke 49a.” Cujusque rei potissima pars est
principium, Black’s Law Dictionary (4th rev. ed. 1968).
13
“The claimant is always bound to prove, [the burden of proof lies on the actor.]” Semper necessitas probandi
incumbit ei qui agit, id. (alteration in original); Dig. 22, 3, 21.
14
“The burden of proof lies upon him who affirms, not upon him who denies . . . . Dig. 22, 3, 2; 1 Phill. Ev. 194; 1
Greenl. Ev. § 74; Dranguet v. Prudhomme, 3 La. 83; 2 Dan.Ch.Pr. 408.” Ei incumbit probatio qui dicit, non qui
negat  .  .  .  , id. (underscore added).
15
“9 Mod. 38. He who is silent is considered as assenting, when his interest is at stake.” Qui tacet consentire videtur,
ubi tractatur de ejus commodo, id.
16
“One who exercises jurisdiction out of his territory is not obeyed with impunity. Dig. 2, 1, 20; Branch, Princ.; 10
Coke, 77; Story, Confl.Laws, § 539. He who exercises judicial authority beyond his proper limits cannot be obeyed
with safety.” Extra territorium jus dicenti impune non paretur, id.
17
“4 Inst. 811. He who says all excludes nothing.” Qui omne dicit, nihil excludit, id.
18
“(Lat. inclaudere, to shut in, keep within). To confine within, hold as in an inclosure  . . . contain . . . ; United States
ex rel. Lyons v. Hines, 103 F.2d 737, 740, 70 App.D.C. 36, 122 A.L.R. 674.” Include, Black’s, supra note 12
(underscore added).
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Tax related.45,46,47,48
Taking related.49,50,51,52
Estoppel.53,54,55
Seven additional territorial States: The District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico,
the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and
the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.56
Residence & citizenship.57,58,59
Minor.60

19
“Agency; proxy; . . . The act by which one person gives power to another to act in his place, as he could do himself.
Clinton v. Hibb’s Ex’x, 259 S.W. 356, 358, 202 Ky. 304, 35 A.L.R. 462. . . . An implied or tacit procuration takes
place when an individual sees another managing his affairs and does not interfere to prevent it. Dig. 17, 1, 6, 2; 50,
17, 60; Code 7, 32, 2.” Procuration, 1st–2d paras., id. (underscore added).
20
“The appearance or semblance, without the substance, of legal right. State v. Brechler, 185 Wis. 599, 202 N.W.
144, 148.” Color of law, id. (underscore added).
21
“[A] condition of enforced servitude, by which the servitor is restrained of his liberty and compelled to labor in
liquidation of some debt or obligation, real or pretended, against his will. Peonage Cases, D.C.Ala., 123 F.
671; . . . Pierce v. U.S., C.C.A.Ga., 146 F.2d 84, 86.” Peonage, id. (underscores added).
22
“The condition of one who is compelled by force, coercion, or imprisonment, and against his will, to labor for
another, whether he is paid or not. See . . . Ex parte Wilson, 114 U.S. 417, 5 S.Ct. 935, 29 L.Ed. 89; . . . Robertson
v. Baldwin, 165 U.S. 275, 17 S.Ct. 326, 41 L.Ed. 715.” Involuntary servitude, id. (underscores added).
23
“Let the master answer. This maxim means that a master is liable in certain cases for the wrongful acts of his
servant, and a principal for those of his agent. Broom, Max. 843. Southern Paramount Pictures Co. v. Gaulding, 24
Ga.App. 478, 101 S.E. 311; Delaware, L. & W.R. Co. v. Pittinger, C.C.A.N.J., 293 F. 853, 855.” Respondeat superior,
id. (underscores added).
24
“To accept, appropriate, choose, or select; to make that one’s own (property or act) which was not so originally.”
Adopt, 1st para., id.; “To accept, consent to, and put into effective operation; as in the case of a constitution,
constitutional amendment, ordinance, or by-law. Real v. People, 42 N.Y. 282; People v. Norton, 59 Barb. (N.Y.) 191.
A Code. City of Albany v. Nix, 21 Ala.App. 164, 106 So. 199, 200.” Black’s, supra note 12, 3d para. (underscores
added).
25
“One whose duties are purely ministerial, as distinguished from executive, legislative, or judicial functions,
requiring obedience to the mandates of superiors and not involving the exercise of judgment or discretion. U. S. to
Use of Kinney v. Bell, C.C.Pa., 127 F. 1002; State v. Loechner, 65 Neb. 814, 91 N.W. 874, 59 L.R.A. 915; . . .”
Ministerial officer, id. (underscores added).
26
“[I]mplying or involving . . . fraud, or a design to mislead or deceive . . . or a neglect or refusal to fulfill some
duty . . . not . . . by an honest mistake . . . but by some interested or sinister motive. State v. Griffin, 100 S.C. 331,
84 S.E. 876, 877; . . .” Bad faith, id. (underscore added).
27
“[P]utting . . . a request or petition to or before a person. . . . [M]aking a request for something. In re Meyer, 166
N.Y.S. 505, 100 Misc. 587.” Application, id. (underscore added).
28
“To make a formal request or petition . . . for the granting of some favor . . . . In re Bucyrus Road Machinery Co.,
C.C.A.Ohio, 10 F.2d 333, 334.” Apply, id. (underscore added).
29
§ 6.01, Fla. Stat. (2017). “Assent to terms of admission into the union.—The State of Florida assents . . . to
the terms of admission of this state into the Confederacy and Union of the United States, and to the  . . . Acts of
Congress respecting the public lands of the United States in this state.”
30
“In old English law. Property; propriety in action; propriety in possession; mixed propriety. Hale, Anal. § 26.”
Propriety, 2d para., Black’s, supra note 12.
31
“[B]elonging or . . . relating to a certain owner or proprietor. State v. F. W. Woolworth Co., 184 Minn. 51, 237 N.W.
817, 818.” Proprietary, adj., id. (underscore added).
32
“Proprietary rights. Those rights which an owner of property has by virtue of his ownership. When proprietary
rights are opposed to acquired rights, such as easements, franchises, etc., they are more often called ‘natural
rights.’ Sweet.” Proprietary, adj., 6th para., id.
33
“As a noun, . . . in a concrete sense, a power, privilege, faculty, or demand, inherent in one person and incident
upon another. ‘Rights’ are defined generally as ‘powers of free action.’ ” Right, 2d para., id.
34
“[S]aid to extend to every species of valuable right and interest. McAlister v. Pritchard, 230 S.W. 66, 67, 287 Mo.
494. More specifically, ownership . . . and to exclude everyone else from interfering with it. Mackeld. Rom. Law,
§ 265.” Property, id. (underscore added).
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Northwest Territory settlers & inhabitants are taxed to pay gov’t expenses; States formed
therein forever are part of the Confederacy;61 the April 23, A.D. 1784 resolutions 62 in the
Northwest Ordinance are repealed and nullified.63
Connecticut cedes Fort Griswold to the Confederacy.64
Treaties.65,66
Connecticut cedes land for use (now) as U.S. Naval Submarine Base New London. 67
Character of the States68 and people’s freedom of movement.69
Subrogation via Trading With the Enemy Act.70,71,72

35
“Freedom; . . .” Liberty, id.
36
“American Law[.] An estate of inheritance without condition, belonging to the owner, and alienable by him or
transmissible to his heirs absolutely and simply, and is an absolute estate in perpetuity and the largest possible
estate a man can have, being, in fact, allodial in its nature. Stanton v. Sullivan, 63 R.I. 216, 7 A.2d 696, 698,
699. . . . Terms ‘fee,’ ‘fee simple,’ and ‘fee simple absolute,’ are equivalent. Boon v. Boon, 348 Ill. 120, 180 N.E. 792,
794.” Fee, Black’s, supra note 12 (underscores added).
37
“Free; not holden of any lord or superior; owned without obligation of vassalage or fealty; the opposite of feudal.
Barker v. Dayton, 28 Wis. 384; Wallace v. Harmstad, 44 Pa. 499.” Allodial, id.
38
“Upon the same matter or subject. Statutes in pari materia are to be construed together. State v. Gerhardt, 145
Ind. 439, 44 N.E. 469, 33 L.R.A. 313.” In pari materia, id.
39
E.g., § 695.27(2)(f), Fla. Stat. (2017). “ ‘State’ means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto
Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, or any territory or insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the
United States.”
40
E.g., § 671.201(41), Fla. Stat. (2017). “ ‘State’ means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto
Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, or any territory or insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the
United States.”
41
E.g., § 322.44, Fla. Stat. (2017). Driver License Compact art. II, cl. (1). “ ‘State’ means a state, territory or
possession of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico”; accord Ala. Code
1975, § 32-1-1.1 (67). “STATE. A state, territory, or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia, the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a province of Canada”; Conn. Gen. Stat. § 42a-1-201(38) (2017). “ ‘State’ means a
state of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands or any territory
or insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United States”; Neb. Rev. Stat. § 8-1101(16) (2017). “State
means any state, territory, or possession of the United States as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto
Rico; . . .”
42
E.g., § 212.02(8), Fla. Stat. (2017). “ ‘In this state’ or ‘in the state’ means within the state boundaries of Florida as
defined in s. 1, Art. II of the State Constitution and includes all territory within these limits owned by or ceded to
the United States” (emphasis added).; accord Ala. Code 1975, § 40-23-60(11). “IN THIS STATE or IN THE STATE.
Within the exterior limits of the State of Alabama, and includes all territory within such limits owned by or ceded
to the United States of America” (emphasis added); Conn. Gen. Stat. § 12-407(14) (2017). “ ‘In this state’ or ‘in the
state’ means within the exterior limits of the state of Connecticut and includes all territory within these limits
owned by or ceded to the United States of America” (emphasis added); Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-2701.17 (2017). “In this
state or within the state means within the exterior limits of the State of Nebraska and includes all the territory
within these limits owned by or ceded to the United States of America” (emphasis added).
43
E.g., § 2, P.L. 80-278, 61 Stat. 633. “The word ‘county’ includes a parish, or any other equivalent subdivision of a
State or Territory of the United States” (emphasis added); accord Art. VIII, § 1(a), Fla. Const. (1968). “POLITICAL
SUBDIVISIONS. The state shall be divided by law into political subdivisions called counties”; §  1.01(8), Fla. Stat.
(2017). “The words ‘public body,’ ‘body politic,’ or ‘political subdivision’ include counties . . .” (emphasis added);
§ 119.0713(2)(a), id. “ ‘[U]nit of local government,’ . . . means a county . . . or any other local governmental body or
public body corporate and politic . . . .”
44
E.g., County of Dade v. Pedigo, 181 So. 2d 720 (Fla. 3d DCA 1966) (finding for plaintiff); Sclafani v. County of
Dade, 323 So.2d 675 (Fla. 3d DCA 1975) (finding for plaintiff).
45
“A person appointed . . . to ascertain and state the true value of goods or real estate.” Appraiser, Black’s, supra
note 12.
46
“[T]o fix and state the true value of a thing, and, usually, in writing. Vincent v. German Ins. Co., 120 Iowa[] 272,
94 N.W. 458.” Appraise, id. (underscore added).
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Mail.73,74,75,76,77,78

47
“To ascertain; fix the value of. State ex rel. Ambrose v. Trimble, 304 Mo. 533, 263 S.W. 840, 842. To impose a
pecuniary payment upon persons or property; People v. Priest, 169 N.Y. 435, 62 N.E. 568. . . . To tax. Johnson
City v. Clinchfield R. Co., 163 Tenn. 332, 43 S.W.2d 386, 387.” Assess, id. (emphasis, underscores added).
48
“An officer chosen or appointed to appraise, value, or assess property. The assessing power, and not merely the
county assessor. Board of Com’rs of San Miguel County v. Floaten, 66 Colo. 540, 181 P. 122.” Assessor, id.
(underscore added).
49
“Taking or obtaining of anything from another by means of illegal compulsion or oppressive exaction, Daniels v. U.
S., C.C.A.Cal., 17 F.2d 339, 342; whether by an officer or otherwise, United States v. Dunkley, D.C.Cal., 235 F.
1000, 1001.” Extortion, 2d para., id. (underscores added).
50
“[H]e exacts what is not his due, when there is nothing due to him. Co. Litt. 368.” Exaction, 2d para., id.
51
“To take. The term . . . denotes a taking altogether, a seizure, a direct appropriation, dispossession of the owner.
Brown v. City of Atlanta, 167 Ga. 416, 145 S.E. 855, 857. It connotes want of consent. Sandel v. State, 104 S.E.
567, 571, 115 S.C. 168, 13 A.L.R. 1268.” Deprive, Black’s, supra note 12 (underscores added).
52
“In American law. A taking away; confiscation . . . . Thus a taking of property without due process of law; Sundlun
v. Zoning Board of Review of City of Pawtucket, 50 R.I. 108, 145 A. 451, 454; or of liberty. Lynch v. City of
Muskogee, D.C.Okl., 47 F.[ ]Supp. 589, 592.” Deprivation, 2d para., id. (underscores added).
53
“To stop, bar, or impede; to prevent; to preclude. Co.Litt 352a; Olsgard v. Lemke, 32 N.D. 551, 156 N.W. 102, 103.
See Estoppel.” Estop, id. (italics, underscores added).
54
“Preclusion from alleging or denying fact because of previous action, inaction, allegation, or denial. Steph. Pl. 239;
Spear v. Farwell, 5 Cal.App.2d 111, 42 P.2d 391, 392; . . .” Estoppel, 3d para., id. (underscore added).
55
“It arises where person is under duty to another to speak or failure to speak is inconsistent with honest dealings.
In re McArdle’s Estate, 250 N.Y.S. 276, 287, 140 Misc. 257; . . . An agreement inferred from silence rests upon
principle of ‘estoppel.’ Letres v. Washington Co-op. Chick Ass’n, 8 Wash.2d 64, 111 P.2d 594, 596. Silence, to work
‘estoppel’, must amount to bad faith. Wise v. United States, D.C.Ky., 38 F.[ ]Supp. 130, 134.” Silence, estoppel by,
1st–2d paras., id. (underscores added).
56
42 U.S.C. § 1301(a)(1) (2012). Definitions. “The term ‘State’ . . . .”
57
“It requires only bodily presence as an inhabitant of a place. In re Campbell's Guardianship, 216 Minn. 113, 11
N.W.2d 786, 789.” Residence, Black’s, supra note 12 (underscore added).
58
§ 316(b), P.L. 82-414, 66 Stat. 163. “[R]esidence is required for admission to citizenship . . . .”
59
Naturalization Act of 1802, 1st–3d paras., 2 Stat. 153. “[A]ny alien . . . may be admitted to become a citizen of the
United States . . . on the following conditions, and not otherwise:— . . . . That he shall, at the time of his
application to be admitted, declare on oath or affirmation . . .” (emphasis added).
60
31 C.F.R. § 363.6. “Minor means an individual under the age of 18 years. The term minor is also used to refer to an
individual who has attained the age of 18 years but has not yet taken control of the securities contained in his or
her minor account.”
61
1 Stat. 51; Organic Laws, supra note 3 at 13.
62
Available at https://www.loc.gov/item/90898211/ (last visited February 2, A.D. 2018).
63
Northwest Ordinance art. VI, 2d para., Organic Laws, supra note 3 at 13.
64
9 Connecticut. General Assembly et al., The Public Records of the State of Connecticut  . . . With the Journal of the
Council of Safety . . . and an Appendix, 265 (Press of the Case, Lockwood & Brainard Co. 1953).
65
Definitive Treaty of Peace (Paris Treaty) art. 1, 8 Stat. 80. “His Britannic Majesty [George III]  . . . , his heirs and
successors, relinquishes all claims to the government, propriety and territorial rights of the same, and every part
thereof.”
66
Treaty of Amity, Settlement, and Limits art. II, 8 Stat. 252. “His Catholic Majesty [of Spain] cedes to the United
States . . . all the [Florida] territories . . . which are not private property . . .” (underscore added).
67
48 Cong. Rec. 7235 (1912).
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Chapter 63.—Mail Fraud, Public Law 80-772, 62 Stat. 683:
§ 1341. Frauds and swindles
Whoever, having devised or intending to devise any scheme or artifice to defraud, or for
obtaining money or property by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, representations,
or promises . . . or other article . . . places in any post office or authorized depository for mail
matter, any matter or thing whatever to be sent or delivered by the Post Office Department,
or takes or receives therefrom, any such matter or thing, or knowingly causes to be delivered
by mail according to the direction thereon, or at the place at which it is directed to be
delivered by the person to whom it is addressed, any such matter or thing, shall be
fined . . . or imprisoned . . . or both.
§ 1342. Fictitious name or address
Whoever, for the purpose of conducting, promoting, or carrying on by means of the Post Office
Department of the United States, any scheme or device mentioned in section 1341 of this title
or any other unlawful business, uses or assumes, or requests to be addressed by, any
fictitious, false, or assumed title, name, or address or name other than his own proper name,
or takes or receives from any post office or authorized depository of mail matter, any letter,
postal card, package, or other mail matter addressed to any such fictitious, false, or assumed
title, name, or address, or name other than his own proper name, shall be fined . . . or
imprisoned not more than five years, or both.

68
Articles of Confederation art. II, 1 Stat. 4; id., Organic Laws, supra note 3 at 7. “Each State retains its sovereignty,
freedom and independence . . . .”
69
Articles art. IV, § 1, 1 Stat. 4; id., Organic Laws, supra note 3 at 7. “[T]he people of each State shall have free
ingress and regress to and from any other State, . . .”
70
TWEA § 7(e), 40 Stat. 411. “No person shall be held liable in any court for or in respect to anything done or omitted
in pursuance of any order rule, or regulation made by the President under the authority of this Act. Any payment,
conveyance, transfer, assignment, or delivery of money or property made to the alien property custodian hereunder
shall be a full acquittance and discharge for all purposes of the obligation of the person making the same to the
extent of same.”
71
50 U.S.C. § 4305(b)(2). “Any payment, conveyance, transfer, assignment, or delivery of property or interest therein,
made to or for the account of the United States, or as otherwise directed, pursuant to this subdivision or any rule,
regulation, instruction, or direction issued hereunder shall to the extent thereof be a full acquittance and
discharge for all purposes of the obligation of the person making the same; and no person shall be held liable in
any court for or in respect to anything done or omitted in good faith in connection with the administration of, or in
pursuance of and in reliance on, this subdivision, or any rule, regulation, instruction, or direction issued
hereunder.”
72
50 U.S.C. § 4307(e). “No person shall be held liable in any court for or in respect to anything done or omitted in
pursuance of any order, rule, or regulation made by the President under the authority of this chapter. Any
payment, conveyance, transfer, assignment, or delivery of money or property made to the alien property custodian
hereunder shall be a full acquittance and discharge for all purposes of the obligation of the person making the
same to the extent of same.”
73
§ 1342, P.L. 80-772, 62 Stat. 683. Fictitious name or address. “Whoever . . . takes or receives from any post office or
authorized depository of mail matter . . . mail matter addressed to any such fictitious, false, or assumed title,
name, or address . . . shall be fined . . . or imprisoned . . . or both.”
74
“We note that under section 122.32 of the U.S. Postal Service Domestic Mail Manual, the use of a zip code remains
voluntary. See United States Postal Service Domestic Mail Manual § 122.32, at 55 (Mar. 1992).” Peters v. Nat’l
R.R. Passenger Corp., 966 F.2d 1483, 1487.
75
United States Postal Service®, Domestic Mail Manual (“D.M.M.”) § 507.1.4.1 (July 1, 2020). “Mail that is
undeliverable is . . . returned to the sender . . . endorsed by the USPS with the reason for nondelivery as shown in
Exhibit 1.4.1.”
76
39 C.F.R. §§ 111.1(a), -(b) (2021). This D.M.M. edition incorporated into the C.F.R.
77
D.M.M. § 508.1.1.1. “Addressees may control delivery of their mail. Without a contrary order, the mail is delivered
as addressed.”
78
Id. § 602.1.3.e. ZIP Codes not stated as being required on noncommercial First-Class Mail.
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“Assessors of taxes are held to be ministerial officers.” Petzak v. Graves, 33 Wis.2d 175, 180 (1967)
(citing Cleveland C. C. St. L.R. Co. v. People, 212 Ill. 638, 72 N.E. 725, 726 (1904); Plumer v. Board
of Sup’rs, 46 Wis. 163, 178, 50 N.W. 416 (1879)).

“[A] police . . . officer’s role is ministerial and mechanical . . . .” Gerhardt v. Mares, 179 F. Supp. 3d
1006, 1060 (D.N.M. 2016).

“No Court or officer can acquire jurisdiction by the mere assertion of it or by falsely alleging the
existence of facts on which jurisdiction depends. . . . No officer can acquire jurisdiction by deciding
that he has it. In all such cases, every officer, whether judicial or ministerial, decides at his peril.”
Middleton v. Low, 30 Cal. 596, 607 (1866) (quoting People v. Cassels, 5 Hill (N.Y.) 164, 168 (1843);
Prosser v. Secor, 5 Barb. (N.Y.) 607, 608 (1849)) (internal quotation marks omitted).
“[S]ince the sexual conduct occurred in the District of Columbia, the State of Maryland did not have
territorial jurisdiction.” West v. State, 369 Md. 150, 153, 797 A.2d 1278, 1279 (2002).

“Territorial jurisdiction ‘may never be waived’ and must be established beyond a reasonable doubt.”
People v. Thomas, 997 N.Y.S.2d 53, 55, 124 A.D.3d 56, 59 (N.Y. App. Div. 2014) (quoting People v.
McLaughlin, 80 N.Y.2d 466, 470–71, 591 N.Y.S.2d 966, 606 N.E.2d 1357 (1992)).

“When it clearly appears that the court lacks jurisdiction, the court has no authority to reach the
merits. In such a situation the action should be dismissed for want of jurisdiction.” Melo v. United
States, 505 F.2d 1026, 1030 (8th Cir. 1974).

“A court lacking jurisdiction cannot render judgment but must dismiss the cause at any stage of the
proceedings in which it becomes apparent that jurisdiction is lacking.” Basso v. Utah Power and
Light Company, 495 F.2d 906, 909 (10th Cir. 1974) (citing Bradbury v. Dennis, 310 F.2d 73 (10th
Cir. 1962)).

“Although defendant did not present evidence to support dismissal for lack of jurisdiction, the
burden rested with the plaintiffs to prove affirmatively that jurisdiction did exist. The defendant's
failure to raise the issue before final judgment did not amount to a waiver, since a court may
dismiss a case for lack of jurisdiction at any stage of the proceeding.” Basso, 495 F.2d at 910 (citing
F & S Construction Co. v. Jensen, 337 F.2d 160 (10th Cir. 1964)).

“The parties cannot, even by stipulation, confer jurisdiction upon a court where no jurisdiction
exists. . . . ‘[J]urisdiction is established solely by general law.’ ” Evans v. State, 647 So.2d 180, 180
(Fla. 1st DCA 1994) (per curiam) (quoting White v. State, 404 So.2d 804, 805 (Fla. 2d DCA 1981))
(citing Sclafani v. County of Dade, 323 So.2d 675 (Fla. 3d DCA 1975)).

“No judicial process, whatever form it may assume, can have any lawful authority outside of the
limits of the jurisdiction of the court or judge by whom it is issued; and an attempt to enforce it
beyond these boundaries is nothing less than lawless violence.” Ableman v. Booth, 62 U.S. (21
How.) 506, 524 (1858).

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