In Indiana ex rel. Anderson v. Brand, 303 U. S. 95 (1938), the question was whether the State's repeal of a teacher tenure law had impaired petitioner's contract of employment. The Supreme Court reversed the judgment of the State Supreme Court, notwithstanding that it rested on the state ground that petitioner had had no contractual right to continued employment: "On such a question, one primarily of state law, we accord respectful consideration and great weight to the views of the State's highest court but, in order that the constitutional mandate may not become a dead letter, we are bound to decide for ourselves whether a contract was made, what are its terms and conditions, and whether the State has, by later legislation, impaired its obligation." (Id., at 100.)