OTHER TIDBITS: One of the most famous cases fought at this courthouse was Biddle Boggs v. Merced Mining Company in 1859. Biddle Boggs, who had received a lease to mine for gold on John C. Frémont’s Rancho las Mariposas, sued the Merced Mining Company, which had already started digging without permission! They argued that, under Mexican law, which had been in effect when the rancho was established, gave land rights to the owner but not mineral rights. Those belonged to the state!
The case went to the California Supreme Court, where Justice Peter Burnett sided with the Merced Mining Company and said that land rights and mineral rights were not the same, and that mineral rights belonged to the US government! Colonel Frémont pushed for a re-hearing. Meanwhile, two seats shifted in the Supreme Court: Justice Burnett was replaced, and Justice Terry resigned after his duel with Senator David Broderick!

Led by Justice Stephen J. Field, the court declared that the previous decision gave miners the equivalent of eminent domain, which discouraged development. So, they reversed their ruling in favor of land owners, and Colonel Frémont kept the mineral rights to his land!

This landmark is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places!

• Volunteer with the Mariposa Museum & History Center!
• Donate to the Mariposa Museum & History Center!
• Be a responsible visitor! Please respect the signs and pathways, and treat all structures and artifacts with respect. They’ve endured a lot to survive into the present. They’ll need our help to make it into the future!

ANNOTATIONS:
5088 Bullion St
Mariposa, CA 95338

From Los Angeles: ~300mi (483km) — 5hrs
From Sacramento: ~146mi (235km) — 2.5hrs
From San Diego: ~413mi (665km) — 6.9hrs
From San Francisco: ~167mi (269km) — 2.8hrs