Document: 445 U.S. 684 100 S.Ct. 1432 63 L.Ed.2d 715 Thomas W. WHALEN, Petitioner,v.UNITED STATES. No. 78-5471. Argued Nov. 27, 28, 1979. Decided April 16, 1980. Syllabus Petitioner was convicted under the District of Columbia Code separate statutory offenses rape and killing same victim in perpetration rape. Under Code, latter offense is a species first-degree murder, but statute, although requiring proof commission or attempted rape, does not require an intent to kill. sentenced consecutive terms imprisonment 20 years life for murder 15 The Court Appeals affirmed convictions sentences, rejecting petitioner's contention that his sentence improper because merged purposes punishment with felony-murder offense, thus imposition cumulative punishments two contrary federal statutes Double Jeopardy Clause Fifth Amendment. Held: mistaken believing Congress authorized sentences circumstances this case, error denied petitioner right be deprived liberty as criminal conduct only extent by Congress. Pp. 686-695. (a) customary deference ordinarily afforded Appeals' construction local legislation inappropriate respect involved claim Clause, which protects against multiple cannot separated entirely from resolution question construction. If court exceeds its own authority imposing Congress, it violates specific guarantee double jeopardy, also constitutional principle separation powers manner trenches particularly harshly on individual liberty. 688-690. (b) Neither provisions specifying here indicates whether where both have been offended single episode. However, another section, when construed light history evident purpose, imposed arising out transaction unless each "requires fact other not." statute embodies rule stated Blockburger v. United States, 284 299, 304, 52 180, 182, 76 L.Ed. 306, and, leads conclusion did authorize committed course since plainly case provision A conviction had without proving all elements 690-695. 379 A.2d 1152, reversed remanded. Andrew L. Frey, Dept. Justice, Washington, D. C., respondent. Silas J. Wasserstrom, petitioner. Mr. Justice STEWART delivered opinion Court. 1 After jury trial, Superior He sentences. 1152.1 We brought consider law. 441 904, 99 1991, 60 372. 2 * laws enacted governance Columbia, human being any six specified felonies, including are offenses. but, typical such "felony murder" offenses, D.C.Code § 22-2401 (1973). It one five occurred. Ibid. punishable term life. 22-2404.2 Forcible female 22-2801. 3 position must vacated just as, example, simple assault held merge into dangerous weapon. See Waller 389 801, 808 (D.C.1978). disagreed, finding "the societal interests sought protect enactment [of statutes] distinct," "nothing th[e] . suggest[s] intended" merge. A.2d, at 1159. That legislation, argues, mistaken, he further argues that, so construed, pertinent impose him violation Cf. North Carolina Pearce, 395 711, 89 2072, 23 656. 4 come States appeals, we would matter first decide claim, if were rejected, reach issue. Simpson 435 6, 11-12, 98 909, 912-13, 55 70. But comes Appeals, controversy Acts applicable within Columbia. In cases has practice defer decisions courts matters exclusively concern. Pernell Southall Realty, 416 363, 366, 94 1723, 1725, 40 198; see Griffin 336 704, 717-718, 69 814, 820, 93 993; Fisher 328 463, 476, 66 1318, 1324, 90 1382. This stemmed creating prescribing their jurisdiction, "contemplate[d] law—both common law law—will treated similar way treat highest State questions state law." U.S., 368, S.Ct., 1726 (footnote omitted). 5 clear approach described judicial policy, power. affecting District, like laws, certainly Court's Art. III prevented reviewing interpreting those jurisdictional sense barred court's interpretation statute. Mullaney Wilbur, 421 684, 691, 95 1881, 1886, 44 508; Scripto, Inc. Carson, 362 207, 210, 80 619, 621, 660; Murdock Memphis, Wall. 590, 632-633, 22 429. 6 concluded reason Amendment jeopardy second trial "against offense," supra, 717, 2076 after defendant's upon charges unconstitutionally resolved determining what Legislative Branch authorized. Gore 357 386, 390, 78 1280, 1283, 1405; id., 394, 1285 (Warren, C. J., dissenting grounds); Bell 349 81, 82, 75 620, 905; Ex parte Lange, 18 163, 176, 21 872; Brown Ohio, 432 161, 165, 97 2221, 2225, 53 187; Universal I. T. Credit Corp., 344 218, 73 227, 260; 306; Ebeling Morgan, 237 625, 35 710, 59 1151. 7 uncommon, legislature provide may punished monetary fine imprisonment. situation, could seriously argued prison accordance constituted impermissible punishment. penal instead provided conviction, running afoul Constitution. 872. Bozza 330 160, 167, 67 645, 649, 91 818. present therefore, unintentional believed, impermissibly sentenced. dispositive question, provide. 8 very least precludes do so. simply aspect basic our framework legislative power, power define prescribe found guilty them, resides wholly Wiltberger, Wheat. 76, 95, 37; Hudson & Goodwin, Cranch 32, 34, 259.3 liberty.4 9 Because reverse judgment Appeals. II 10 As already noted, person separately provided. however, Moreover, sheds no question.5 issue resolved, 1970. 23-112 (1973), provides follows: 11 "A shall, expressly otherwise, run consecutively (1) arises transaction, (2) requires (Emphasis added.) 12 Although phrasing less than felicitous, message italicized clause, think, clause refers, course, consistently relied ever determine given situation cumulatively.6 assumption underlying intend punish different statutes. Accordingly, proscribe "same they absence indication intent. "[t]he act constitutes distinct provisions, test applied there Id., 182. 166, 2225; Iannelli 420 770, 1284, 43 616; 1405. 13 rather clearly confirms intended adhere strictly construing Code. House Committee Report disapproved several Circuit allowed notwithstanding test. H.R.Rep.No.91-907, p. 114 (1970). restated general "whether depends Congress." "[s]ince enacting rarely specifies matter, long adhered permit " 'requires not,' ibid., citing supra. Com mittee observed "retreated settled law" evidence congressional allow punishments, 114, 14 "To obviate need search intent, section states sentencing transaction. For entering house steal stealing therefrom shall crimes burglary larceny judge contrary." think correct read 23-112, embodying test, "shall, consecutively."7 And permitted, elsewhere specially 16 resort "each Greene, 160 U.S.App.D.C. 21, 489 F.2d 1145, 1158 Harris Oklahoma, 433 682, 682-683, 2912, 2912-13, 1054. Government contends felony "same" Blockburger, former rape; is, (1973) proscribes committing robbery kidnaping arson, etc. Where proved include rape—for robbery—the permitted Blockburger. necessary element unpersuaded should differently every offense. There regard listing lesser included alternative, proscribed provisions. doubtful imagined formal difference drafting practical significance, ascribe none it.8 To Government's argument persuades us free doubt, doubt favor lenity. 14-15, 914, 70; n. 10, infra. fashion exceptions chose enact 23-112. court, clearly, not. arguments advanced felony, speculate about considered might agreed.9 sufficient observe intention change presented nowhere appears. offend governmental embodied more go provides.10 17 foregoing reasons, reversed, remanded proceedings consistent opinion. ordered. 19 WHITE, concurring part judgment. take account exceptional entitled usual deference. 369, 1726, 198 (1974). conclusion, my opinion, rest considerations. I agree reasons history, below erred holding case. it, implicate Clause. Had violate BLACKMUN REHNQUIST respect. BLACKMUN, join much write primarily understanding effect, principles. 24 accord complete addition offered ante, 688-689, point conclusions concerning unsupported appropriate references history. ignored effect view falling class 'exceptional situations egregious committed.' (1974), quoting 718, 993 (1949), 1382 (1946). committed, neither nor past overruling Pernell, 365-369, 1724-1726. 25 authorized." Ante, 688. opinions cited support proposition, pronouncing broader significant function serves challenging prevent prosecutor bringing charges, greater intended. serves, view, nothing more. "Where role limited assuring exceed authorization offense." 187 (1977).1 26 Dicta recent suggested, now wrongly, penalties 11-13, 912-913, 70 (1978); Jeffers 137, 155, 2207, 2218, 168 (1977) (plurality opinion). believe opportunity repudiate dicta squarely, hold constitutionally permissible imposed. concede seemingly caused confusion among decipher pronouncements Clause's area punishments.2 27 (3) Finally, expresses Congress' 690-693. then remains based not, Court, 693-694. hasten observe, result turns determination today surely automatically reached enacts sanctions authorizing defendant predicate felony. Nor per curiam 1054 (1977), successive prosecutions impermissible, analogous Unfortunately, obvious dictum combined spawn disorder appellate challenges here.3 hope today's will remedy, exacerbate, existing confusion. 28 REHNQUIST, whom THE CHIEF JUSTICE joins, dissenting. 29 Historians traced origins back days Demosthenes, who forbid man tried twice ." Demosthenes 589 (J Vince trans., 4th ed. 1970). Despite roots antiquity, seems understood years, most frequently litigated Bill Rights. done little alleviate confusion, opinions, ones authored me, replete mea culpa's occasioned shifts assumptions emphasis. Compare, e. g., Jenkins, 358, 1006, 250 (1975), Scott, 437 2187, 57 65 (1978) (overruling Jenkins ). alsoBurks 1, 9, 2141, 2146, (Our holdings subject "can hardly characterized models consistency clarity"). decision takes tentative step toward recognizing proper permissibility ultimately compounds plagued area. 30 "black letter three primary purposes. First, prosecution acquittal. Second, conviction. Third, 2076, 656 (1969); (1977). 688 (opinion Court). Obviously, scope these protections meaning words phrase deceptively appearance virtually kaleidoscopic application. Indeed, indicated prior occasion vary context context, preclude charge acquittal bar proceeding. 166-167, 2225-2226. 31 asked bars challenged proceeding, obviously controlled precedents developed prosecutions. Thus, rightly eschews reliance predicated enough Oklahoma prosecuting convicting 694 698-699 (BLACKMUN, judgment). 32 Having determined "multiple punishments" direction indicating "dispositive question" crimes. 689 notes concurrence, always forthright could, desired, statutes, defined "separate offenses" some abstract sense. 698. While hinted proposition see, 1285, 1405 (1958) dissenting), often hedged bets veiled hints too many "act." See, Sanabria 54, 69, 2170, 2181, thesis assumes particular made up determinable number atoms subdivide "it demands capable supplying." Westen Drubel, Toward General Theory Jeopardy, 1978 S.Ct.Rev. 113. Note, Twice Yale L.J. 262, 311-313 (1965). 33 far company, me confronting whatsoever. Axiomatically, obligated avoid rulings ruling suffice. Hagans Lavine, 415 528, 549, 1372, 1385, 39 577 (1974); Ashwander TVA, 297 288, 347, 56 466, 483, (1936) (Brandeis, concurring). exceeded merge, solely relevant vague 695 34 Like false trails followed area, inquiries precedent. contains "[w]here trial," prevents "exceed[ing] 2225. dictum, ill-considered, cases: 872 (1874); 905 (1955); doing so, tied together strands prove true Gordian knot. Lange either nevertheless paid begun serve apparently mistake, new proceeding resentenced only. Noting fully satisfied paying fine, protection "in facts, offence." Wall., 168, borne subsequent cases, interpreted increasing even though limits set legislature. Benz, 282 307, 51 113, 354 (1931). Sacco, 367 368 (CA2 1966); Adams, 210 (CA6 Kennedy (CA9 1964). 36 progeny: units divided. counts violating Mann Act, U.S.C. 2421 et seq., carrying women across lines immoral purpose. Both dealt trip car. simultaneous transportation woman Act violations subjecting offender punishments. noted hinge severity involved. Finding traditional "rule lenity" count. 37 Most significantly purposes, intent; mention all. unit dispositive, acted line English Crepps Durden, Cowp. 640, Eng.Rep. 1283 (K.B.1777), Lord Mansfield, writing unanimous sale four loaves bread Sunday forbidding four. According Mansfield: "If Parliament gives levy penalty end question. 646, Eng.Rep., 1287. One hundred later, adopted reasoning completely dependent legislature's re Snow, 120 274, 283-286, 556, 560-562, 658 (1887). abided time, noting "[t]here presented" cases. Ladner 358 169, 173, 79 209, 211, 199 (1958). 260 (1952); 1151 (1915). 69-70, 2181-2182 (successive prosecutions). 38 third Brown, to, slightly from, unit-of-prosecution namely, violated issue, precise today, astonishing contexts apparent analytical consistency. States; 359 19, 560, 597 (1959); Heflin 415, 451, 407 Prince 352 322, 77 403, 370 (1957); Pereira 347 74 (1954); American Tobacco Co. 781, 1125, 1575 (1946); Holiday Johnston, 313 342, 61 1015, 85 1392 (1941); 306 (1932); Morgan Devine, 632, 712, 1153 (1915); Burton 202 344, 688, 50 1057 (1906); Carter McClaughry, 183 365, 181, 46 236 (1902). recognized attempting divine g. 328, 406; 638-639, 713; 377, 697. seemed apply evidence" borrowed involving prosecutions.1 363; 394-395, 192-193. still others difficult basis decision. erroneous raises 349, 1017. Unlike play whatsoever deciding analogize ask position. paraphrase Mansfield's statement analysis merits makes clear, 690-694, informed lenity supplants possible additional between merely semantics. concurrence appear invoke justify refusal locally Court); 696 mischief approach, believe, well illustrated footnote—fairly cryptic tautological stating Due Process Fourteenth presumably prohibit depriving persons property except 690, statements fear, raise doubts heretofore thought province States. implies can err create reviewable wrong.2 lower "misread" law, reading place. 41 before purely interpretation, "longstanding 'save (1949). suggest "egregious error," engaged sophisticated employed herein defensible, quite probably correct. 42 attempt really cramped. looks surrounding adoption finds inconclusive. 5. attempts mechanistically (1932). 691-694. deemed constitute offense" certain drugs original stamped package selling "not pursuance written order the" purchaser "Each created element." sale. Two observations especially construction, talisman.3 785, 17, 1293, 616 (1975). posited imposes restraint ability years' while setting deadly weapon "two weapon." Even crime crime—or, rubric not—neither "cumulative" years.4 useful identifying sense, satisfactory, perhaps misdirected, defining "compound" "predicate" Strictly speaking, stand relationship necessarily entails lesser. 167-168, 2226. Black's Law Dictionary 1048 (rev. 1968). weapon, entail holds regardless examines 45 On hand, compound incorporates reference present. cite 924(c)(1) "[w]hoever uses firearm commit prosecuted year ten years." Clearly, plethora felonies 924(c)(1). multiplicity predicates creates problems applies looking wording various "necessarily included" If, facts alleged indictment 924(c)(1), charged indictment, latter. 47 Fortunately, explicit, unequivocally [the predicate] 924(c). intentions explicitly. consideration provides: 48 "Whoever, sound memory discretion, kills purposely, deliberate premeditated malice means poison, perpetrating perpetrate penitentiary, purpose mayhem, robbery, kidnapping, housebreaking armed using degree." 49 reads, part: "Whoever carnal knowledge forcibly her imprisoned life." 22-2801 tests above-quoted abstract, former. murder. chooses "lesser because, never forced offenses,5 abstractly specifically framed Our seem assumed, stands falls alone. itself "The 182 (emphasis added). More recently, 'each 2226 Morey Commonwealth, 108 Mass. 433, 434 (1871) 1294 ("[T]he application [Blockburger] focuses offense"); M. Friedland, 212-213 (1969) (noting interpretations pointing word 'provision' used test" natural language drafted indictment. ambiguity case.6 offers plausible broken down 22-2401, thereby insuring "[i]t it." 694. short answer break avails enact. significantly, example illustrates central points: turning arbitrary syntactical subtleties. polestar advances inquiry. 54 asserts lenity." assertion, suggest, forms real foundation punishment, applying insolubly ambiguous results, resolves concludes neglects source starting entire analysis: looked beyond inconclusive examine common-law protected source, "while important intent-divining mechanism" merger therefore "inappropriate." 1160 reasoning, conformity tradition Carll, 105 611, 612, 1135 (1882). Morissette 342 246, 262-263, 72 240, 249, 96 288 (1952). assistance examined consideration." 1158-1159. designed "to sexual assault" life," permissible. viewed rough proxy analysis, since, asking manifested sum, find articulated considerations persuasive capitulation supposedly hopeless ambiguity. closer, how classified error" superimposing admittedly dubious Unless going forgo applicability push well-recognized principles shape, consequences system indulged closer ascertainment affirm aside second-degree received concurrent sentence. court. death unconstitutional. Stokes, 365 615, (D.C.1976); Lee, 118, 123, 1242, 1247 say limitations Coker Georgia, 584, 2861, 982; Roe Wade, 410 164, 705, 732, 147; Stanley 394 557, 568, 1243, 1249, 542; Loving Virginia, 388 12, 87 1817, 1823, 1010; Robinson California, 660, 666-667, 82 1417, 1420-21, 758. pursuant plenary legislate I, 8, cl. 17; 11-101(2) affected salary tenure III, courts, seen fit authorize. doctrine Federal Constitution mandatory Dreyer Illinois, 71, 84, 79. Mayor Philadelphia Educational Equality League, 605, 1323, 1330, 630, 13; Sweezy New Hampshire, 234, 255, 1203, 1214, 1311; 256-257, 1214-1215 (Frankfurter, result). possible, through Amendment, circumscribe courts. Before 1962, led hanging. Mar. 3, 1901, Stat. 1321. arise 1962 replaced 22-2404 allows, alternative death, Pub.L. 87-423, 46. address amendatory legislation. parties agreement Cong.Rec. 4128-4129 (1962) (remarks Sen. Hartke), severe S.Rep.No.373, 87th Cong., 1st Sess., (1961); H.R.Rep.No.677, (1961). disagree severely counters comparison plus consecutive. Likewise, punishing harshly. resolved. mean ignore freely not" rule. literal lead authorizes offenses—an extraordinary disavows. Such improbable would, moreover, odds infra, page 1439. instances contained correctness Contrary Post, 708-712. 5, 'ambiguity ambit lenity,' Bass, 404 336, 92 515, 522, 488, Rewis 401 808, 812, 1056, 1059, 493. 199; 905. said opinion: "This policy interpret increase places guess intended." 178, 214. following (1958); (1874). Ashe Swenson, 397 436, 460, 14, 1189, 1202, 469 (1970) (BRENNAN, concurring); 205, 212 112-113, 158-159; 302-313 People Hughes, Mich.App. 674, 272 N.W.2d 567 683-687, N.W.2d, 569-571 (Bronson, 687-696, 571-575 (Walsh, dissenting); Ennis State, 364 So.2d 497 (Fla.App.1978); 500 (Grimes, Frye, 283 Md. 709, 393 1372 725-726, 1380-1381 (Murphy, panels divided respecting prohibition Compare Anderson, 62 475, 233 620 (1975) (a concluded, indicia intended), Pinder, 375 836 (Fla.1979); Innis, R.I., 391 (1978), cert. granted, 440 934, 1277, 492 (1979); Mitchell Ind., 382 N.E.2d 932 Briggs 573 S.W.2d 157 (Tenn.1978) (the decisions, erroneously gave controlling felony). formulated (1871), Supreme Judicial Massachusetts held: another, required them warrant other. act, put offence. offence statutes; exempt other." placed varying degrees prosecutions, (1977); Gavieres 220 338, 421, 422, (1911), 707-714. dealing here, "retroactive lawmaking" unforeseeable manner. Bouie City 378 84 1697, 894 (1964), Rose Locke, 423 48, 243, 185 enters canon "less felicitous" 691 regard, discussion scheme 709. (reserving 924(c)); 149-150, 2215-2216, J.) (assuming, arguendo, 846 848). 788, 1128, (1946) (finding, conspiracies §§ Sherman separately). denies asserting "rape [is] rape." 694, 8. disagreement elusive "offense." Technically, defines degree, ways. inquiry "sub-offense" purposely accidentally felonies. Only limiting feat accomplished conclude accompanying text, precedent parsing fashion.

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