WASHINGTON (AP) _ The Supreme Court tossed itself off a big case Monday.



The court couldn't take up an apartheid dispute involving some of the nation's largest companies because too many of the justices had investments or other ties with those corporate giants.



It appeared to be the first time in at least a quarter-century that the justices' financial holdings prevented them from taking a case.



The result is that a lawsuit will go forward accusing dozens of corporations of violating international law by assisting South Africa's former apartheid government. The companies and the Bush administration had asked the court to intervene, arguing that the lawsuit was damaging international relations, threatening to hurt South Africa's economic development and punishing the companies using a fuzzy legal concept.



Four of the nine justices sat out the court's consideration of the case. Federal law calls for at least six to hear any case.