The California Supreme Court had jurisdiction over writs of habeas corpus (the means through which an individual can seek relief from unlawful detention), and also served as the appellate body for civil disputes involving more than $200, conflicts over taxes or tolls, and felony criminal cases. During Lincoln’s lifetime the Supreme Court dealt with legal issues ranging from gold mining claims to fugitive slaves. For instance, in 1852 the court decided the fate of Carter Perkins and two other African Americans who, while claiming to be free men, were remanded to the custody of a slave owner from Mississippi. Identification Information: WPA#3285 (Supreme Court #322), Records of the California Supreme Court
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