George M. Tronsrue, III v. Elsa M. Tronsrue
May a state court enforce a contractual agreement entered into between a disabled veteran and his former spouse, which agreement obligates the veteran to use restricted federal benefits to indemnify his former spouse, where there is no federal statute expressly authorizing the state to exercise jurisdiction or authority over such benefits; where a federal statute (38 U.S.C. § 5301) expressly prohibits the state court from using "any legal or equitable power whatever" to compel the veteran to abide by such an agreement; and where that same statute expressly prohibits and voids any and all such agreements?
May a state court enforce a contractual agreement entered into between a disabled veteran and his former spouse, which agreement obligates the veteran to use restricted federal benefits to indemnify his former spouse, where there is no federal statute expressly authorizing the state to exercise jurisdiction or authority over such benefits; where a federal statute (38 U.S.C. § 5301) expressly prohibits the state court from using 'any legal or equitable power whatever' to compel the veteran to abide by such an agreement; and where that same statute expressly prohibits and voids any and all such agreements?