Caminetti v. United States, 242 U.S. 470 (1917) (Nos. 139, 163, 464)

Case name: Caminetti v. United States Opinion filed: 1917-01-22 Docket No.: 139, 163, 464 Citations: • 242 U.S. 470 • 37 S. Ct. 192 • 61 L. Ed. 442 • 1917 U.S. LEXIS 2169 Case holding summaries: • "[T]he meaning of a statute must, in the first instance be sought in the language in which the act is framed and if that is plain, . . . the sole function of the courts is to enforce it according to its terms." • "[T]he authority of Congress to keep the channels of interstate commerce free from immoral and injurious uses has been frequently sustained, and is no longer open to question." • “It may be conceded, for the purpose of argument, that Congress has no power to punish one who travels in interstate commerce merely because [that person] has the intention of 10 committing an illegal or immoral act at the conclusion of the journey.” • rejecting contention that prosecution under the Mann Act was "not within the purview of the statute when properly construed in the light of its history and the purposes intended to be accomplished by its enactment" • upholding White Slave Traffic Act of 1910 making illegal inducing interstate travel of women for 6 immoral purposes • "unless there is some ambiguity in the language of a statute, a court's analysis must end with the statute's plain language. . . ." • "[T]he rules which are to aid doubtful meanings need no discussion" when the statutory language is clear and unambiguous. • "The rules which are to aid doubtful meanings need no discussion" when the statutory language is clear and unambiguous. • upholding against a Commerce Clause challenge the Mann Act, which prohibited the transport of women "in interstate commerce" for an immoral purpose • "[W]here . . . the statute's language is plain, the `sole function of the courts is to enforce it according to its terms.'" • "[T]he sole function of the courts is to enforce [the statute] according to its terms." • "[T]he rules which are to aid doubtful meanings need no discussion" when the