Document: 400 U.S. 455 91 S.Ct. 499 27 L.Ed.2d 532 Richard MAYBERRY, Petitioner,v.PENNSYLVANIA. No. 121. Argued Dec. 17, 1970. Decided Jan. 20, 1971. Syllabus Under the facts of this case, a defendant in state criminal contempt proceeding who vilified judge during course defendant's trial court and was sentenced by that to 11 22 years for entitled under Due Process Clause Fourteenth Amendment public before another judge. Pp. 462—466. 434 Pa. 478, 255 A.2d 131, vacated remanded. Curtis R. Reitz, Philadelphia, Pa., petitioner. Carol Mary Los, Pittsburgh, respondent, pro hac vice, special leave Court. Mr. Justice DOUGLAS delivered opinion 1 Petitioner two codefendants were tried prison breach holding hostages penal institution. While they had appointed counsel as advisers, represented themselves. The ended with jury verdict guilty both charges on 21st day, which Friday. defendants brought sentencing following Monday. Before imposing sentence verdicts pronounced them contempt. He found petitioner committed one or more contempts 21 days him not less than nor each total years. 2 Supreme Court Pennsylvania affirmed divided vote. 131. case is here petition writ certiorari. 397 1020, 90 1266, 25 530. 3 Petitioner's conduct at comes shock those raised Western tradition considers courtroom hallowed place quiet dignity far removed possible from emotions street. 4 (1) On first day came side bar make suggestions obtain rulings procedures. said: 'It seems like has intentions railroading us' moved disqualify motion denied. other motions, including his request deputy sheriffs be dressed civilians, also Then colloquy: 5 'Mr. Mayberry: I would have fair granted Sixth Amendment. 6 'The Court: You will get trial. 7 It doesn't appear am going way you are overruling all our motions that, being hatchet man State. 8 This over. 9 Wait minute, Your Honor. 10 dirty sonofabitch.' 12 (2) second episode took eighth A codefendant cross-examining guard sustained objections certain questions: 13 Codispoti: Are trying protect authorities, Honor? Is your reason? 14 out order, Codispoti. don't want any outbursts again. justice. know how ask questions. 15 Possibly Honor rule them. 16 keep quiet. 17 ought Gilbert Sullivan sustain district attorney every time he objects 18 through? When can questions speeches.' 19 (3) next charge stemmed examination an inmate about riot apparently implicated. There many asked sustained. At point outburst occurred: 20 Now, I'm produce my defense railroaded into life dirty, tyrannical old dog yourself. may proceed questioning, Mayberry.' (4) fourth grew witness: 23 'By 24 'Q. you, Nardi, area, handball court, it open prisoner wants play handball, cares go area handball? 'A. Yes. 26 Did understand prior question when if freely accessible area? answered question. Let's on. 28 asking now understands— it. let's 29 mouth shut while questioning own witness. Will do me? 30 wish same. Proceed questioning.' 31 (5) fifth relates protest made end denied access their legal documents—a condition shortly remedied. ensued: 32 You're first. What working for? bum? 33 Livingston: pending 34 suggest— 35 Go hell. give good God damn what suggest, stumbling dog.' 36 Meanwhile told did papers night he'd 'blow head off.' Another said sit still 'kowtowed imprisonment.' transpired: 37 started bullshit beginning. 38 39 minute. 40 41 counsel. 42 43 gag 44 Take these prisoners here. We take ten minute recess, members jury.' (6) sixth happened wanted some talk witness whom called. heated exchange happened: 45 Just moment, 46 witness, Mayberry. Keep 47 Oh, yes, too. also. we penitentiary seclusion. can't witnesses putting stand District Attorney obviously opportunity, use opportunity witnesses. Now— 48 ruled, 49 care ruled. That unimportant. fact is— 50 remain quiet, sir, finish 51 No, won't try deny me right only gagged. up you; but meantime say say. speak stand. accepted law. nothing new unusual. force us testify hazy recollection back 1965. believe confer 52 finished? 53 finished. 54 examination.' (7) seventh place: 55 56 Don't conclusion because object sustain. Give facts. leads that?' Later 57 My isn't inquisition, know. Spanish Inquisition.' 58 Following exchanges 59 just call proper? questions, numerous everyone improper. adviser given me, repeated verbatim adviser's mouth, Now consider 60 educate 61 not. But you're railroad no bit, either. 62 To record— 63 Do witness? 64 need kind psychiatric treatment, think. nut. job Warden Maroney there, looking decent anyway, so obvious, Honor.' (8) returned severance. 65 66 heard before. on.' 67 (Exception noted.) 68 craziest ever seen. 69 70 whose names been submitted earlier subpoenas issued. restricted list subpoenaed: 71 ruling, whatever it, ruling record months began.' 72 (9) ninth arose concerning availability tools cells. 73 ruled argue. 74 arguing. arguing, arguing fools.' 75 (10) near ejected several times. phrased follows court: 76 'On December 7, 1966, created despicable scene refusing continue calling creating such consternation uproar cause termination trial.' (11) As prepared jury, 77 'Before begins Mayberry wishes objection whole proceedings on, known intention remaining silent continually throughout entire charge, silent. disrupt verbally Court, objecting forced terminate finished.' 78 thereupon later caused commotion adjacent room where loudspeaker system audible. follows: 79 9, constantly, boisterously, insolently interrupted its attempts thereby atmosphere utter confusion chaos.' 80 These brazen efforts denounce, insult, slander paralyze war concept justice Laymen, foolishly defend themselves, understandably create awkward embarrassing scenes. Yet character revealed downright insults judge, tactics taken street brawls transported courtroom. 'befitting American courtroom,' Illinois v. Allen, 337, 346, 1057, 1062, 353, appropriate remedy. id., 344—345, S.Ct., 1061—1062. 81 separate acts place, arsenal authority described Allen available order could, propriety, instantly acted, contempt, excluding courtroom, otherwise insulating vulgarity noted Sacher United States, 343 1, 10, 451, 455, 96 L.Ed. 717, instant action against lawyer pronounce 'not unlikely prejudice client.' Those considerations pertinent undertook represent himself. In waited until impose punishment saying: 82 'If hold summary imposed upon event, incentive pronounce, smarting irritation contemptuous act, should wellconsidered judgment. think likely unfair condemnation occur deliberate permitted.' Id., 11, 456. 83 Generalizations difficult. Instant treatment lawyers involved greatly clients wise others involved. Moreover, vicious attack qualified act. cannot driven case. Where, however, does act committed, waits trial, balance, generally marks unseemly left personal stings fellow place. Chief Taft Cooke 267 517, 539, 390, 395, 767, relevant here: 84 power must exercise protecting due orderly administration justice, maintaining most important indispensable. delicate one, needed avoid arbitrary oppressive conclusions. caution mandatory charged element criticism judgemust banish slightest impulse reprisal, bend backward, injure too great leniency. substitution either tendency always possible. Of palpably aggravated drive ulterior reasons, scheme permitted succeed. rare. All cases, present difficult matter conditions impracticable, delay private right, called him, may, without flinching duty, properly judges place.' 85 conclude followed here, marked feelings sides. 86 Whether federal state, concern process times image 'the impersonal law' (Offutt 348 15, 99 11) become 'personally embroiled' unfit judgment charge. 87 vital sitting misbehaving himself vent spleen respond grievance. subtle matters, ingredients constitutes Therefore, satisfy appearance justice.' 14, 13. 88 Offutt fit controversy activist seeking combat. Rather, target petitioner's insolence. necessarily becomes embroiled running, bitter controversy. No cruelly slandered maintain calm detachment necessary adjudication. re Murchison, 349 133, 623, 942, acted law one-man grand refused answer propounded 'judge-grand held since sat part accusatory 'cannot be, very nature things, wholly disinterested conviction acquittal accused.' 137, 626. 'Fair trials free society let prosecuting prefer.' Ibid. 89 is, course, disqualifies sitting. Ungar Sarafite, 376 575, 841, 921, lawyer's challenge, though 'disruptive, recalcitrant disagreeable commentary,' 'an insulting integrity carrying potential bias require disqualification.' 584, 847. Many words leveled highly aspersions, even 'fighting words'—'dirty sonofabitch', 'dirty dog,' 'stumbling 'fool.' running Inquisition 'Go hell' 'Keep shut.' Insults apt strike 'at vulnerable human qualities judge's temperament.' Bloom Illinois, 391 194, 202, 1477, 1482, 522. Our reason reviled contemnor. See Oliver, 333 257, 499, 92 682. requirement satisfied remand bearing sting slanderous remarks having law, sits shown record. Vacated BLACK concurs except indicates could convicted instantaneously outburst. 93 BURGER, concurring. 94 concur Court's add additional observations chiefly emphasis. Certain aspects problem courtrooms indispensable orderliness crucial. Without adversary fail. Three factors noted: said, conducted guidance afforded Black's 353; although accused asserted so; informed whether statute covering obstruction reach 95 suggests, standards supra, enabled remove after outrageous actions words, summarily punish power, limited utility dealing incorrigible, cunning psychopath, bent frustrating particular undermining processes For these, removal really effective Indeed shows, well benefit sense turn episodes. Black fixed situation feasible; plainly salutary remedy cases this. 97 98 Here acting court-appointed well. suggests wisdom role consultant. refuses counsel, seeks discharge advised—as do—to 'standby counsel' perform services trained advocate ordinarily cross-examination witnesses, evidence making closing argument. circumstance mind allows interfere absolute rights persons 'foolishly themselves,' aptly there stake interests accused; warrants exercising discretion participate rejected. matter; interest presence participation opposed accused, warranted vindicate itself. value precaution independent unwanted, underscored situations Allen. familiar least blunt claims, assuming merit, assistance then proceedings. 100 means cope grave misconduct spectators, others. Statutes defining long penalties measured confinement. Such statutes, available, obvious response seek frustrate undermine generally. 101 review comment exemplary patience provocation few beings accept equanimity. magnitude reflect performance; rather procedure. 102 HARLAN, 103 reversal solely ground convictions regarded infected unprecedented carried victim shockingly abusive conduct. deprive evenhanded core process. set aside leaving State specifications 104 unfortunate decision 353 (1970), books courses lays coping sort engaged doubtless Judge Fiok deal manner obviated regrettable necessity setting conviction.

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