Document: 484 U.S. 72 108 S.Ct. 388 98 L.Ed.2d 327 Alan J. KARCHER, Speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly, et al., Appellantsv.Jeffrey MAY al. No. 85-1551. Argued Oct. 6, 1987. Decided Dec. 1, Syllabus Within a month after effective date statute requiring primary and secondary public school educators to permit students observe minute silence before start each schoolday "for quiet private contemplation or introspection," appellees—a teacher, several students, parents filed suit in Federal District Court under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 claiming that violated Establishment Clause First Amendment. When it became apparent neither State's Attorney nor named defendants—the State Department Education, its Commissioner, two local boards education would defend statute, then-presiding Assembly President Senate (hereafter appellants) sought obtained permission intervene as defendants on behalf legislature, thereafter carried entire burden defending statute. The declared unconstitutional, Appeals affirmed. After appellants lost their posts presiding legislative officers, they notice this appealing judgment 28 1254(2). Appellants' counsel having informed new officers were withdrawing legislature's appeal, appellees moved dismiss ground withdrawal left without case controversy. Held: 1. appeal must be dismissed for want jurisdiction. Appellants intervened participated throughout lawsuit only official capacities state legislature. They no longer hold those offices, authority pursue legislature has passed successors Rule Appellate Procedure 43(c)(1). Their have withdrawn appeal. Moreover, appellants' intervention participation does not entitle them newly asserted roles individual legislators representatives majority now-expired enacted record establishes that, proceedings case, never either capacities, real party-intervenor was incumbent Thus, are "parties" entitled Appeals' Pp. 77-81. 2. Dismissal require judgments below vacated. contention proper party-defendant ever because law authorize represent litigation is directly contrary explicit representations Court, but appears wrong matter since Supreme granted applications by parties-respondent defense enactment. Court's procedure, United States v. Munsingwear, Inc., 340 36, 71 104, 95 L.Ed. vacating lower court when becomes moot order allow future relitigation issues between parties eliminate rendered "unreviewable" happenstance inapplicable case. This controversy did become moot, here unreviewable, loss status. Rather, office, ended declined 81-83. Appeal dismissed. Reported below: 780 F.2d 240 (CA3 1985). O'CONNOR, J., delivered opinion which REHNQUIST, C.J., BRENNAN, MARSHALL, BLACKMUN, STEVENS, SCALIA, JJ., joined. WHITE, an concurring judgment, post, p. 83. Rex E. Lee, Washington, D.C., appellants. Norman L. Cantor, Trenton, N.J., appellees. Justice O'CONNOR Court. 1 Karcher Carmen A. Orechio, former Legislature, seek declaring unconstitutional. presents question whether officials who solely may adverse office. We not. 2 * In December 1982 Legislature enacted, over Governor's veto, schoolday. reads follows: 3 "Principals teachers elementary district shall period used at discretion student, opening exercises day introspection." N.J.Stat.Ann. 18A:36-4 (West Supp.1987). 4 immediately announced he if challenged. 17, 1982, within students—challenged constitutionality federal court. Appellees sued 1983, alleging Amendment seeking both declaratory injunctive relief. township education. 5 Senate, respectively, entered into stipulation dismissing against defendants, refused accept out concern effect might jurisdictional posture through 6 5-day trial, Applying test set Lemon Kurtzman, 403 602, 91 2105, 29 745 (1971), held purpose religious rather than secular, advanced inhibited religion, fostered excessive government entanglement with religion. May Cooperman, 572 F.Supp. 1561 (NJ 1983). 7 Orechio appealed from Senate. letters stating participate except extent necessary protect themselves pay attorney's fees. 8 affirmed divided vote. promote inhibit religion foster conclusion lack valid secular purpose. dissent concluded evidence sufficient prove absence affirmance 24, 1985. 9 On January 14, 1986, officers. Charles Hardwick replaced Assembly. John Russo succeeded 10 A March 19, "Alan Karcher, Assembly; Senate." App. Juris.Statement 106a-107a. By letter dated us desired continue Motion Dismiss Affirm 1a-3a. postponed consideration hearing merits. 479 1062, 107 946, 93 995 (1987). now II 11 power courts hear decide cases defined Article III Constitution statutes thereunder. invoke jurisdiction That empowers review upon "appeal party relying appeals invalid repugnant Constitution, treaties laws States." One original course intervention, substitution, third-party practice. Moore, B. Ward, & Lucas, Moore's Practice ¶ 203.06 pp. 3-20 But we consistently applied general rule one been treated right therefrom. ex rel. Louisiana Jack, 244 397, 402, 37 605, 607, 61 1222 (1917); Ex parte Leaf Tobacco Board Trade, 222 578, 581, 32 833, 56 323 (1911); Cockcroft, 104 (14 Otto) 579, 26 856 (1882); Cutting, 94 (4 20-21, 24 49 (1877). 12 Legislature. do capacities. Indeed, could not, offices. belongs Davis Preston, 280 406, 407, 50 171, 74 514 (1930). 43(c)(1) provides "[w]hen officer other proceeding capacity during pendency . ceases action abate officer's successor automatically substituted party." current appellant 13 Having status 200th body leave assert, first time briefs originally litigated roles. 14 fact mean all personal professional Bender Williamsport Area School District, 475 534, 106 1326, 89 501 (1986), observed "[a]cts performed same person different 'are generally transactions legal personages.' " Id., 543, n. S.Ct., 1332, quoting F. James G. Hazard, Civil 11.6, 594 (3d ed. concept "legal personage" practical means identifying interests stake lawsuit. repeatedly recognized interest official-capacity entity represented officeholder. See Bender, supra, 543-544, 1332-1333; Kentucky Graham, 473 159, 166, 105 3099, 3105, 87 114 (1985); Brandon Holt, 469 464, 471, 873, 877, 83 878 (1985). therefore agree Solicitor General's view Orechio's Brief Amicus Curiae 10-11. unless shows below. 15 make clear At oral motion intervene, opponents intervening legislators.1 permitted partydefendants representative provided: 16 his Senate; direct defendants." 53-54. 17 merits identifies defendant-intervenors "the F.Supp., 1563. separate fees, emphasizes gave State: 18 "The itself, responsible enacting defendant willing perform task normally falls executive branch, which, branch perform." Record, Doc. 60, 20. 19 similarly appellant-intervenor Defendants-Intervenors." 64. Assembly." F.2d, 241. 20 Even statement refers Legislature." 5-6. Though assert brief Appeals, our satisfies formally sought, any sense granted, legislators. 21 think also point State, particular law. Nowhere other. 22 sum, Accordingly, 23 argue vacate advance theories support result. contend vacated so, say, litigation. Not claim Court,2 re Forsythe, N.J. 141, 144, 450 A.2d 499, 500 (1982). Since had need defendant-appellant. 25 second theory based practice Burke Barnes, 361, 365, 734, 737, 732 (1987); Treasury Galioto, 477 556, 560, 2683, 2686, 459 (1986); 39, 106, 36 (1950). explained journey will reverse remand directions dismiss. reasoned procedure "clears path eliminates prevented happenstance." 40, 107. rationale underlying Munsingwear applies renders unreviewable. reject argument premise wrong. unreviewable 43(c)(1), rules effectuating automatic substitution specifically designed prevent suits involving becoming due personnel changes. Advisory Committee Notes 1961 Amdt. Fed.Rule Civ.Proc. 25(d)(1), U.S.C., 568-569. 27 circumstances unattributable parties. losing party—the Legislature—declined Because It so ordered. judgment. 30 I disagree Mr. made representing entities Neither legislator, appear Appeals. decided attempt bring standing enough me office stead, pursuant If then existed, taken parties, Orechio. even law, required drop there cognizable Legislature; reached legislators, defunct reach maintain 31 Last June, denied schoolteacher 483 1017, 3258, 97 758 validity moment-of-silence save avoid wasting attention given prior order, granting seemingly Cf. Mullaney Anderson, 342 415, 428, 96 458 (1952). reality entertain evident movants' efforts enter came too late. bears pointing out, however, acknowledged authorized attacked Immigration Naturalization Service Chadha, 462 919, 940, 103 2764, 2778, 77 317 (1983). Otherwise, event, court, do. 33 nonrepresentative capacity, again another issue legislation voted. 34 below, concur "appeal" should "[INTERVENORS' COUNSEL]: am Lawrence Marinari intervenors. "THE COURT: Who you actually appearing now? House "As houses, empowered houses capacity? correct. "[PLAINTIFFS' don't Messrs. Orrechio [sic ] whole, entities. institution coming institution. can't come 120 individuals directly. polled them. So grant Speakers respective Houses. can entities— representing. says body." 12a-21a. You say House— charge administrative duties, numerous cooperated anytime deposition. envision problem, your Honor." 16a-17a.

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