Harris v. United States, 382 U.S. 162 (1965)

U.S. Supreme Court

Harris v. United States, 382 U.S. 162 (1965) Harris v. United States

No. 6

Argued October 11-12, 1965

Decided December 6, 1965

382 U.S. 162

CERTIORARI TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE SECOND CIRCUIT

Syllabus

Petitioner, a grand jury witness, refused on self-incrimination grounds to answer certain questions. He and the grand jury were brought before the District Judge, who advised petitioner that he would receive immunity from prosecution and ordered him to answer the questions before the grand jury, but petitioner refused again. He was brought before the court again and sworn, and once more refused to answer on the ground of privilege. The District Judge thereupon adjudged petitioner guilty of criminal contempt and imposed a prison sentence under Rule 42(a) of the Rules of Criminal Procedure, which provides for summary punishment for criminal contempt committed in the court's presence.

Held:

1. Summary punishment of criminal contempt under Rule 42(a) is reserved for such acts of misconduct in the court's presence as threatening the judge or obstructing court proceedings and other exceptional circumstances requiring prompt vindication of the court's dignity and authority. P. 382 U. S. 164.

2. A refusal to testify, such as the one here, not involving a serious threat to orderly procedure, is punishable only after notice and hearing, as provided by Rule 42(b). Brown v. United States, 359 U. S. 41, overruled. Pp. 382 U. S. 164-167.

334 F.2d 460 reversed and remanded.

MR. JUSTICE DOUGLAS delivered the opinion of the Court.

This case brings back to us a question resolved by a closely divided Court in Brown v. United States, 359

Page 382 U. S. 163

U.S. 41, concerning the respective scope of Rule 42(a) and of Rule 42(b) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. Petitioner was a witness before a grand jury, and refused to answer certain questions on the ground of self-incrimination. He and the grand jury were brought before the District Court which directed him to answer the questions propounded before the grand jury, stating that petitioner would receive immunity from prosecution. He refused again to give any answers to the grand jury. He was thereupon brought before the District Court and sworn. The District Court repeated the questions and directed petitioner to answer, but he refused on the ground of privilege. The prosecution at once requested that petitioner be found in contempt of court "under Rule 42(a)." Counsel for petitioner protested, and requested an adjournment and a public hearing where he would be permitted to call witnesses. The District Court denied the motion, and thereupon adjudged petitioner guilty of criminal contempt, imposing a sentence of one year's imprisonment. [Footnote 1] The Court of Appeals affirmed,

Page 382 U. S. 164

334 F.2d 460. We granted certiorari, 379 U.S. 944.

Rule 42(a) is entitled "Summary Disposition," and reads as follows:

"A criminal contempt may be punished summarily if the judge certifies that he saw or heard the conduct constituting the contempt and that it was committed in the actual presence of the court. The order of contempt shall recite the facts, and shall be signed by the judge and entered of record."

Rule 42(a) was reserved "for exceptional circumstances," Brown v. United States, 359 U. S. 41, 359 U. S. 54 (dissenting opinion), such as acts threatening the judge or disrupting a hearing or obstructing court proceedings. Ibid. We reach that conclusion in light of "the concern long demonstrated by both Congress and this Court over the possible abuse of the contempt power," ibid., and in light of the wording of the Rule. Summary contempt is for "misbehavior" (Ex parte Terry, 128 U. S. 289, 128 U. S. 314) in the "actual presence of the Court." Then speedy punishment may be necessary in order to achieve "summary vindication of the court's dignity and authority." Cooke v. United States, 267 U. S. 517, 267 U. S. 534. But swiftness was not a prerequisite of justice here. Delay necessary for a hearing would not imperil the grand jury proceedings.

Cases of the kind involved here are foreign to Rule 42(a). The real contempt, if such there was, was contempt before the grand jury -- the refusal to answer to it when directed by the court. Swearing the witness and repeating the questions before the judge was an effort to have the refusal to testify "committed in the actual presence of the court" for the purposes of Rule

Page 382 U. S. 165

42(a). It served no other purpose, for the witness had been adamant, and had made his position known. The appearance before the District Court was not a new and different proceeding, unrelated to the other. It was ancillary to the grand jury hearing, and designed as an aid to it. Even though we assume arguendo that Rule 42(a) may at times reach testimonial episodes, nothing in this case indicates that petitioner's refusal was such an open, serious threat to orderly procedure that instant and summary punishment, as distinguished from due and deliberate procedures (Cooke v. United States, supra, at 267 U. S. 536), was necessary. Summary procedure, to use the words of Chief Justice Taft, was designed to fill "the need for immediate penal vindication of the dignity of the court." Ibid. We start from the premise long ago stated in Anderson v. Dunn, 6 Wheat. 204, 19 U. S. 231, that the limits of the power to punish for contempt are "[t]he least possible power adequate to the end proposed." [Footnote 2] In the instant case, the dignity of the court was not being affronted -- no disturbance had to be quelled, no insolent tactics had to be stopped. The contempt here committed was far outside the narrow category envisioned by Rule 42(a). [Footnote 3]

Rule 42(b) provides the normal procedure. It reads:

"A criminal contempt except as provided in subdivision (a) of this rule shall be prosecuted on notice. The notice shall state the time and place of hearing, allowing a reasonable time for the preparation of the defense, and shall state the essential facts

Page 382 U. S. 166

constituting the criminal contempt charged and describe it as such. The notice shall be given orally by the judge in open court in the presence of the defendant or, on application of the United States attorney or of an attorney appointed by the court for that purpose, by an order to show cause or an order of arrest. The defendant is entitled to a trial by jury in any case in which an act of Congress so provides. He is entitled to admission to bail as provided in these rules. If the contempt charged involves disrespect to or criticism of a judge, that judge is disqualified from presiding at the trial or hearing except with the defendant's consent. Upon a verdict or finding of guilt, the court shall enter an order fixing the punishment."

Such notice and hearing serve important ends. What appears to be a brazen refusal to cooperate with the grand jury may indeed be a case of frightened silence. Refusal to answer may be due to fear -- fear of reprisals on the witness or his family. Other extenuating circumstances may be present. [Footnote 4] We do not suggest that there were circumstances of that nature here. We are wholly ignorant of the episode except for what the record shows and it reveals only the bare bones of demand and refusal. If justice is to be done, a sentencing judge should know all the facts. We can imagine situations where the questions are so inconsequential to the grand jury but the

Page 382 U. S. 167

fear of reprisal so great that only nominal punishment, if any, is indicated. Our point is that a hearing, and only a hearing, will elucidate all the facts and assure a fair administration of justice. Then courts will not act on surmise or suspicion, but will come to the sentencing stage of the proceeding with insight and understanding.

We are concerned solely with "procedural regularity" which, as Mr. Justice Brandeis said in Burdeau v. McDowell, 256 U. S. 465, 256 U. S. 477 (dissenting), has been "a large factor" in the development of our liberty. Rule 42(b) prescribes the "procedural regularity" for all contempts in the federal regime [Footnote 5] except those unusual situations envisioned by Rule 42(a) where instant action is necessary to protect the judicial institution itself.

We overrule Brown v. United States, supra, and reverse and remand this case for proceedings under Rule 42(b).

Reversed and remanded.

[Footnote 1]

"The Court: Anything further?"

"Mr. Maloney: No, your Honor."

"I think the record speaks for itself, and I would ask your Honor to find this witness in contempt of court under Rule 42(a) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure."

"Mr. Polakoff: Your Honor, if this is a contempt proceeding, I respectfully request an adjournment. I want to have the minutes and I want to have an opportunity to discuss them and consider them with my client, and to look up the law."

"I further request, your Honor, a hearing where I will be permitted to call witnesses, perhaps a grand juror or two or more; perhaps the places the phone calls allegedly were made as indicated by the assistant, to prove to your Honor that there could be no possible violation of the Communications Act."

"I have not been told what tariff has been violated; no law has been cited or rule or regulation to your Honor or to me, and that requires research."

"I also would request that the contempt hearing be held in public."

"The Court: Your request is denied. This is a contempt committed in open court, and I adjudge the defendant guilty of a criminal contempt rule under Rule 42(a)."

[Footnote 2]

And see Nye v. United States, 313 U. S. 33, 313 U. S. 52-53; In re Michael, 326 U. S. 224, 326 U. S. 227; Cammer v. United States, 350 U. S. 399, 350 U. S. 404.

[Footnote 3]

Rule 42(a) was described by the Advisory Committee as "substantially a restatement of existing law. Ex parte Terry, 128 U. S. 289; Cooke v. United States. . . ." We have confirmed this on more than one occasion, e.g., Offutt v. United States, 348 U. S. 11, 348 U. S. 13-14; Brown v. United States, supra, at 359 U. S. 51.

[Footnote 4]

Chief Justice Taft said in Cooke v. United States, supra, at 267 U. S. 537:

"Due process of law, therefore, in the prosecution of contempt, except of that committed in open court, requires that the accused should be advised of the charges, and have a reasonable opportunity to meet them by way of defense or explanation. We think this includes the assistance of counsel, if requested, and the right to call witnesses to give testimony, relevant either to the issue of complete exculpation or in extenuation of the offense and in mitigation of the penalty to be imposed."

[Footnote 5]

In more than one instance in the Southern District of New York, from which this case comes, witnesses cited for testimonial contempt before the grand jury were given hearings under Rule 42(b). E.g., United States v. Castaldi, 338 F.2d 883; United States v. Tramunti, 343 F.2d 548; United States v. Shillitani, 345 F.2d 290; United States v. Pappadio, 346 F.2d 5. There is no indication that this procedure impeded the functioning of the grand jury.

MR. JUSTICE STEWART, with whom MR. JUSTICE CLARK, MR. JUSTICE HARLAN, and MR. JUSTICE WHITE join, dissenting.

The issue in this case is the procedure to be followed when a witness has refused to answer questions before a grand jury after he has been ordered to do so by a district court. This issue, involving Rule 42(a) and Rule 42(b) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, was, as the Court says, resolved in Brown v. United States,

Page 382 U. S. 168

359 U. S. 41. [Footnote 2/1] That was six years ago. Since then, this Court has made no changes in Rule 42(a) or 42(b). [Footnote 2/2] But today Brown is overturned, and the question it "resolved" is now answered in the opposite way.

The particular question at issue here is of limited importance. But, in this area, the Court's duty is important, involving as it does the responsibility for clear and consistent guidance to the federal judiciary in the application of ground rules of our own making. We are not faithful to that duty, I think, when we overturn a settled construction of those rules for no better reasons than those the Court has offered in this case. [Footnote 2/3]

The limited scope of the question at issue is made clear by the present record. A grand jury in the Southern District of New York was investigating alleged violations of the Communications Act of 1934. [Footnote 2/4] The petitioner appeared before this grand jury pursuant to a subpoena. He refused to answer a number of questions about an interstate telephone call upon the ground of possible self-incrimination. The petitioner was then

Page 382 U. S. 169

granted immunity from any possible self-incrimination under § 409(l) of the Communications Act. [Footnote 2/5] Only after giving the petitioner and his lawyer full opportunity to be heard did the District Judge rule that the petitioner was clothed with complete constitutional immunity from self-incrimination, and only then did he direct the petitioner to answer the grand jury's questions. The petitioner returned to the grand jury room and again refused to answer the questions, this time in direct and deliberate disobedience of the District Judge's order.

It is common ground, I suppose, that the petitioner was then and there in contempt of court. [Footnote 2/6] Since the petitioner's refusal to obey the judge's order did not occur within the sight and hearing of the judge, a contempt proceeding could then have been initiated only under Rule 42(b). Such a proceeding would have been fully consonant with our decision in Brown, [Footnote 2/7] and a judge "more intent upon punishing the witness than aiding the grand jury in its investigation might well have taken just such a course." 359 U.S. at 359 U. S. 50. In such a proceeding all that would have been required to prove the contempt

Page 382 U. S. 170

would have been the testimony of the grand jury stenographer, and the judge could then have imposed sentence. Such a procedure is often followed. [Footnote 2/8]

Instead, however, the District Judge in this case followed the alternative procedure approved in Brown. He made one last effort to aid the grand jury in its investigation and gave the petitioner a final chance to purge himself of contempt. The petitioner and his lawyer appeared before the judge in open court. [Footnote 2/9] After the petitioner was sworn as a witness, the judge propounded the same questions which the petitioner had refused to answer before the grand jury. The petitioner again refused to answer. At the conclusion of the questioning, the judge asked, "Does anybody want to say anything further?" The only response from the petitioner's counsel, then or later, [Footnote 2/10] was a brief renewal of his attack upon the purpose of the grand jury investigation and the scope of the immunity which had been conferred upon the petitioner -- legal questions which the judge had, after a complete hearing, fully determined before he had ordered the petitioner to answer the grand jury's questions in the first place.

The procedure followed by the District Court in this case was in precise conformity with Rule 42(a) and with

Page 382 U. S. 171

long settled and consistently followed practice. [Footnote 2/11] It is a procedure which, in this context, is at least as fair as a Rule 42(b) proceeding. The petitioner, represented by counsel, was accorded an additional chance to purge himself of contempt; he and his counsel were accorded full opportunity to offer any explanation they might have had in extenuation of the contempt -- to inform the "sentencing judge of all the facts." And finally, there is no reason to assume that a sentence imposed for obduracy before a grand jury is likely to be more severe in a Rule 42(a) proceeding than one imposed after a proceeding under Rule 42(b). Indeed, the recent Rule 42(b) cases in the Southern District of New York referred to by the Court indicate the contrary. [Footnote 2/12] A sentence for contempt is reviewable on appeal in either case, [Footnote 2/13] and there is nothing to suggest that, in the exercise of this reviewing power, an appellate court will have any more information to go on in the one case than in the other.

For these reasons, I would affirm the judgment of the Court of Appeals.

[Footnote 2/1]

Brown v. United States was reaffirmed and followed in Levine v. United States, 362 U. S. 610.

[Footnote 2/2]

The proposed amendments to Rules of Criminal Procedure for the United States District Courts, approved on September 22-23, 1965, by the Judicial Conference of the United States, make no changes in Rule 42(a) or Rule 42(b).

[Footnote 2/3]

No argumentation or factual data are contained in the Court's opinion today which were not fully revealed in the dissenting opinion in Brown, 359 U.S. at 359 U. S. 53-63, passim, and considered by the Court there. Nor is it suggested that the Brown rule has proved to be unclear or difficult of application. The considerations attending the overruling of Brown are quite unlike those involved in the overruling that occurred in Swift & Co., Inc. v. Wickham, 382 U. S. 111, where the Court changed a procedural rule which it found unworkable in actual practice.

[Footnote 2/4]

48 Stat. 1070 and 1100, 47 U.S.C. §§ 203(c) and 501, (1964 ed.), and 18 U.S.C. § 1952 (1964 ed.).

[Footnote 2/5]

48 Stat. 1096, 47 U.S.C. § 409(l) (1964 ed.).

[Footnote 2/6]

The prevailing opinion today says, "The real contempt, if such there was, was contempt before the grand jury. . . ." But a grand jury is without power itself to compel the testimony of witnesses. It is the court's process which summons the witness to attend and give testimony, and it is the court which must compel a witness to testify, if, after appearing, he refuses to do so.

[Footnote 2/7]

"When upon his return to the grand jury room the petitioner again refused to answer the grand jury's questions, now in direct disobedience of the court's order, he was for the first time guilty of contempt. At that point a contempt proceeding could unquestionably and quite properly have been initiated. Since this disobedience of the order did not take place in the actual presence of the court, and thus could be made known to the court only by the taking of evidence, the proceeding would have been conducted upon notice and hearing in conformity with Rule 42(b). See Carlson v. United States, 209 F.2d 209, 216 (C.A.1st Cir.)."

359 U.S. at 359 U. S. 50.

[Footnote 2/8]

See cases cited in note 5 of the Court's opinion supra, p. 167.

[Footnote 2/9]

The record shows that the court was "opened by proclamation."

[Footnote 2/10]

Before imposing sentence, the judge gave petitioner and his counsel still another opportunity to offer any explanation they might have of the petitioner's obduracy:

"The Court: I have already made my position perfectly clear, but I will say it again: I have directed you to answer these questions before the grand jury, and I have directed you to answer them here. It is my ruling that you cannot be prosecuted for any answer that you give under the circumstances of this case. Do you still refuse, Mr. Harris?"

"The Witness: I respectfully refuse to answer on the grounds it would tend to incriminate me."

"The Court: Anything further?"

[Footnote 2/11]

See, in addition to Brown v. United States, 359 U. S. 41, and Levine v. United States, 362 U. S. 610; Rogers v. United States, 340 U. S. 367; Wilson v. United States, 221 U. S. 361, 221 U. S. 369; Hale v. Henkel, 201 U. S. 43, 201 U. S. 46; United States v. Curcio, 234 F.2d 470, 473 (C.A.2d Cir.), rev'd on other grounds, 354 U. S. 354 U.S. 118 (1957); Lopiparo v. United States, 216 F.2d 87 (C.A.8th Cir.); United States v. Weinberg, 65 F.2d 394, 396 (C.A.2d Cir.). For the earlier practice at common law, see People ex rel. Phelps v. Fancher, 4 Thompson & Cook 467 (N.Y.1874); People ex rel. Hackley v. Kelly, 24 N.Y. 74, 79-80 (1861); In re Harris, 4 Utah 5, 8-9, 5 P. 129, 130-132 (1884); Heard v. Pierce, 8 Cush. 338, 342-345, 62 Mass. 338, 342-345 (1851).

[Footnote 2/12]

See note 5 of the Court's opinion supra, p. 167. United States v. Castaldi, 338 F.2d 883 (two years); United States v. Tramunti, 343 F.2d 548 (one year); United States v. Shillitani, 345 F.2d 290 (two years); United States v. Papadio, 346 F.2d 5 (two years).

[Footnote 2/13]

See Green v. United States, 356 U. S. 165, 356 U. S. 188; Yates v. United States, 356 U. S. 363; Nilva v. United States, 352 U. S. 385, 352 U. S. 396; Brown v. United States, 359 U. S. 41, 359 U. S. 52.