Morgan v. United States

The Secretary of Agriculture (defendant) issued an order fixing maximum rates for market agencies buying and selling livestock at the Kansas City Stock Yards, but livestock traders (plaintiffs) alleged in their complaint that the Secretary never personally reviewed the administrative hearing evidence, oral arguments, or briefs, instead basing the decision on private consultations with Department employees held outside the traders' presence. The district court struck those allegations and upheld the Secretary's order; the traders appealed directly to the Supreme Court.