Document: 377 U.S. 1 84 S.Ct. 1113 12 L.Ed.2d 89 BROTHERHOOD OF RAILROAD TRAINMEN, Petitioner,v.VIRGINIA ex rel. VIRGINIA STATE BAR. No. 34. Argued Jan. 13, 1964. Decided April 20, Beecher E. Stallard, Richmond, V ., and John J. Naughton, Chicago, Ill., for petitioner. Aubrey R. Bowles, Jr., Va., respondent. Mr. Justice BLACK delivered the opinion of Court. The Virginia State Bar brought this suit in Chancery Court City Virginia, against Brotherhood Railroad Trainmen, an investigator employed by Brotherhood, attorney designated its 'Regional Counsel,' to enjoin them from carrying on activities which, charged, constituted solicitation legal business unauthorized practice law Virginia.1 It was conceded that order assist prosecution claims injured railroad workers or families killed job maintains throughout country a Department Legal Counsel which recommends members their names lawyers whom believes be honest competent. Finding Brotherhood's plan resulted 'channeling all, substantially all,' workers' chosen Counsel, court issued injunction out Virginia. Supreme Appeals affirmed summarily over objections abridges rights under First Fourteenth Amendments, guarantee freedom speech, petition assembly. We granted certiorari consider constitutional question light our recent decision NAACP v. Button, 371 415, 83 328, 9 405.2 372 905, 719, 715. 2 is not new one. Its roots go back 1883, when founded as fraternal mutual benefit society promote welfare trainmen 'to protect exercise benevolence, very needful calling so hazardous ours * *.'3 work at time indeed dangerous. In 1888 odds brakeman's dying natural death were almost four one;4 average life expectancy switchman 1893 seven years.5 quite natural, therefore, combined strength efforts provide insurance financial assistance sick seek safer working conditions. Trainmen other Brotherhoods moving forces about passage Safety Appliance Act6 make less dangerous; they also supported Federal Employers' Liability Act7 1908 recovery damages doing away with harsh technical common-law rules sometimes made difficult even impossible. soon became apparent workers, however, simply having these federal statutes books enough assure would receive full compensatory Congress intended should have. Injured often fell prey one hand persuasive adjusters eager gain quick cheap settlement employers, either competent try lawsuits able experienced counsel too willing settle case dollar. 3 obvious hazards man his widow through set up Aid Department, since renamed basic below has enjoined. Under United States divided into sixteen regions selected, advice local state judges, lawyer firm each region reputation honesty skill representing plaintiffs personal injury litigation. When worker killed, secretary lodge him children recommend claim settled without first seeing lawyer, judgment best consult selected it area.8 4 There dispute between parties exact meaning decree rendered below, but objects specifically provisions 5 '* holding only approved aid families; any manner soliciting encouraging such employment lawyers; act combination acts, formulating putting plan, pattern design, result channel particular group *.'9 6 admits advises dependents obtain before making attorneys handle claims. admits, legally morally families. behalf members, contends denies guaranteed Amendments. agree contention. 7 cannot seriously doubted Amendment's guarantees free assembly give orkers right gather together lawful purpose helping advising another asserting gave Act Act, statutory vain futile if could talk freely course follow. organization necessarily includes select spokesman number who expected wisest counsel. That role played carry program. And personally special department advise concerning need assistance—and, most importantly, what member confidently rely on—is inseparable part constitutionally other. 8 undoubtedly broad powers regulate within borders;10 we have had occasion past recognize regulating ignore individuals secured Constitution.11 For said supra, U.S., 429, S.Ct., 336, 405, 'a foreclose mere labels.' Here sought halt commercialization profession might threaten moral ethical fabric administration justice. 'ambulance chasing.' recommending other, obviously are themselves engaging law, nor business. interesting note Great Britain unions do advice; retain counsel, paid union, represent lawsuits,'12 similar upheld supra. A not, invoking power professional conduct attorneys, infringe way public fairly represented authorized effectuate interest. Laymen know how dealing practiced carefully counseled adversaries, cf. Gideon Wainwright, 335, 792, 799, associate help preserve enforce laws condemned threat ethics.13 can no more keep using cooperative than use direct means bar resorting courts vindicate rights. handicapped. 10 Only last Term earlier attempt National Association Advancement Colored People prospective litigants attorneys. fact, case, unlike one, actually association recommended them, recommendations nonmembers. held 'although petitioner amply shown fall protections, failed advance substantial regulatory interest, form substantive evils flowing petitioner's activities, justify prohibitions imposed.' 444, 343, 405.14 present again show appreciable interest preventing selects workers. just clearly protection Amendment. Constitution protects associational union precisely does those NAACP. 11 hold Amendments maintain specific lawyers. Since infringes rights, stand; extent forbids must fall. And, course, accepting protected like abridge. vacated remanded proceedings inconsistent opinion. ordered. 13 Judgment remanded. 14 STEWART took disposition case. 15 CLARK, HARLAN joins, dissenting. 16 By today overthrows regulation relegates level commercial enterprise. permits labor contrary law—to engage cases among membership regional president placed union's list. Local officials call suffering secure arising therefrom. Moreover president, controls appointment dismissal considerable influence fees cases. Furthermore, 1930 least 1959, required pay portion fees, usually 25%. Such arrangement may now effect ruse reimbursement investigatory services union. This affairs degrades profession, proselytes certain attitudes contravenes both accepted ethics judicial acceptable conduct. 17 excuses policy ground needs corps litigation because ordinary 'lawyers (are) tne dollar.' To me serious indictment profession. I passed here—numbering 177 during years—I dare say employee exhibited advocacy inferior opponent (although remember appeared cases). Indeed, prevailed practically all recoveries ranged high $625,000. See Gallick Baltimore & Ohio Co., 108, 659, 618 (1963); Transcript Record, p. 7. facts Court's rationale will stand up, approving patent violation cardinal flagrant disobedience States. 18 depends upon N.A.A.C.P. 405 (1963), support position. But there vital fact claimed privilege 'form political expression' secure, action, civil rights.1 Personal expression, rather procedure damage No involved. Here, involves solely long recognized belonging peculiarly State. well ancestry cited majority footnotes, apposite. 19 Finally, evil activity permitted Button. here history indicates contrary. (now Counsel) admitted purposes 'relative respecting damages' assisting 'in negotiating settlements *.' complete reporting service major injuries deaths suffered investigators reports referred, (many remain same today) channeled split significance, trial found 'that defendant still adheres design formulated implemented 1930.' 20 did operate until 1959 says reformed operation. record shows identical been several courts2 and, while repeatedly promised reform, here, consistently renewed practices. sincerely reformed, doubt, proposes follow subject deficiencies. includes: approval discharge pleasure; urge counsel; furnishing name brother Brotherhood; addresses attorneys; investigative attorney, cost indicated, comes received latter; finally, 'tooting' literature meetings. 21 read prohibiting brothers gross abuses channeling going 30 years. potential system enormous my view, bring disrepute disadvantage directing hands control man, encourage further departures standards canons procedures green groups years attempted E.g., rel., Chicago Ass'n Motor Club, 362 Ill. 50, 199 N.E. 1; Rhode Island Automobile Service Ass'n, 55 R.I. 122, 179 A. 139, 100 A.L.R. 226; Semler Oregon Board Dental Examiners, 294 608, 570, 79 L.Ed. 1086 (1935); Williamson Lee Optical Oklahoma, Inc., 348 483, 75 461, 99 563 (1955). Regional served process parties. find necessary additional argument violates Railway Labor 44 Stat. 577, amended, 45 U.S.C. §§ 151—188. Insurance Preamble. Interstate Commerce Commission, Third Annual Report (1889), 85. Griffith, 'The Vindication Nati nal Public Policy Act,' Law Contemp.Prob. 160, 163. 27 531, 46 1—43. 35 65, 51—60. An version two earlier, 34 232, unconstitutional. Cases, Howard Illinois Central Company, 207 463, 28 141, 52 297. constitutionality statute sustained Second Mondou N.Y., N.H. Hartford 223 1, 32 169, 56 327. provides staff, own expense, investigate accidents evidence family Certain sharing countenancing investigators. engaged practices compliance Illinois. re Ill.2d 391, 150 N.E.2d objecting except insofar later construed barring pass validity provisions. Because findings evidence. relies common Canons Ethics American Association, adopted 171 Va. xviii, law. refers prohibit respectively stirring litigation, exploitation lay agency aiding 28, 35, 47. qualifications injunctions 'running, capping, maintenance.' Code, 1950, 54—42, 54—83.1. 405; Konigsberg Cal., 353 252, 77 722, 810; Schware Examiners N.M. 752, 796. Feather, Essence Trade Unionism (London, 1963), 42—43. Cf. Drinker, (1953), 167; Hildebrand 36 Cal.2d 504, 15, 225 P.2d 508, 514 (Carter, J., dissenting), Cal.2d, 521, P.2d, 518 (Traynor, dissenting). Gibson Florida Legislative Investigation Comm., 539, 889, 929; Louisiana Gremillion NAACP, 366 293, 81 1333, 301; Shelton Tucker, 364 479, 247, 231; Bates Little Rock, 361 516, 80 412, 480; Alabama Petterson, 357 449, 78 1163, 1488; Schneider New Jersey, 308 147, 60 146, 155. 'In context objectives, technique resolving private differences; achieving objectives equality treatment government, federal, local, Negro community country. thus expression.' 405. Petition Committee Rule Cleveland Abst. 106 (1933); 163 (1958); O'Neill, F.Supp. 465 (E.D.N.Y.1933); Young Gulf M. O.R. 3957 (E.D.Mo.1946); Reynolds M.O. Texas Pac. 772 (E.D.Tenn.1946); North Carolina McLean Hice, Superior Ct. N.C., County Buncombe (1948).

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