In United States v. Ravara (C.C.D. Pa. 1793), an indictment for sending anonymous and threatening letters to a foreign minister with a view to extort money, Justice James Wilson argued that the circuit court could be given concurrent jurisdiction; Justice James Iredell argued that it could not; Judge Richard Peters, of the District of Pennsylvania, sided with Wilson, and the case continued.
He moved to Raleigh, practiced law, and served as court reporter for the North Carolina Supreme Court from 1840 to 1852.
Justice James Iredell was upset by the governing statute and wrote to President Washington to change the law which had required that only the clerk of the Supreme Court could issue writs of error.
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In a 4 to 1 decision, the Court ruled in favor of the plaintiff, with Chief Justice John Jay and Associate Justices John Blair, James Wilson, and William Cushing constituting the majority; only Justice Iredell dissented.
The first three judges elected by the North Carolina General Assembly were Samuel Ashe of New Hanover County, Samuel Spencer of Anson County, and future U.S. Supreme Court Justice James Iredell of Chowan County.