 Galen Clark was appointed by the commission as the Grant 's first guardian , but neither Clark nor the commissioners had the authority to evict homesteaders ( which included Hutchings ) . The issue was not settled until 1872 when the homesteader land holdings were invalidated by the U.S. Supreme Court . Clark and the reigning commissioners were ousted in 1880 , this dispute also reaching the Supreme Court in 1880 . The two Supreme Court decisions affecting management of the Yosemite Grant are considered important precedents in land management law . Hutchings became the new park guardian . 
