In re Neagle

Case Overview

Ordered the release on federal habeas of a deputy U.S. marshal held for murder by California after he shot a man attacking Justice Field, whom he had been assigned to protect. The executive's duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed includes protecting federal officers even without a specific statute, and an officer acting under federal authority cannot be prosecuted by a state for those acts. A foundational case on implied executive power and federal-officer immunity.