Document: 351 U.S. 487 76 S.Ct. 880 100 L.Ed. 1352 Curtis REID, Superintendent of the District Columbia Jail, Appellant,v.Clarice B. COVERT. No. 701. Argued May 3, 1956. Decided June 11, Mr. Marvin E. Frankel, Washington, D.C., for appellant. Frederick Bernays Wiener, appellee. Justice CLARK delivered opinion Court. 1 Mrs. Clarice Covert was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment by a military court-martial which tried her at United States Air Force base in England murder husband, an sergeant. She brought confined Federal Reformatory Women, Alderson, West Virginia. On appeal, Court Military Appeals set aside conviction on grounds not material here, she transferred jail await rehearing Bolling Base, D.C. While there filed petition writ habeas corpus Columbia, alleging that subject jurisdiction because Article 2(11) Uniform Code Justice, 50 U.S.C. § 552, U.S.C.A. unconstitutional. The ordered issue, Government appealed directly this Postponing question until hearing merits, 350 985, 476, we scheduled case argument with Kinsella v. Krueger, 470, 886. 2 At outset, appellee questions hear direct appeal from For reasons hereafter stated, conclude have jurisdiction. 3 Appellee's principal merits is answered our decision It also contended, however, whatever may had try under lost return delivery custody civilian authorities. We circumstances without merit. I. 4 involves interpretation 28 1252, 1252: 5 'Any party Supreme interlocutory final judgment, decree or order any court * holding Act Congress unconstitutional civil action, suit, proceeding its agencies, officer employee thereof, as such employee, party.' 6 conceded that, issuing corpus, held sole contention appellant, jail, does come within requirement 1252 'the employee,' be party. 7 responsible Director Department Corrections who turn selected Board Commissioners District. Reorganization Order 34, D.C.Code 1951, App. Title 1, Supp. III, p. 34. are appointed President officers Art. II, 2, Constitution. has statutory duty 'receive keep Washington Asylum Jail all prisoners committed thereto offenses against States.' 24—410. placed orders Force, no accommodations women where trial scheduled. 8 long been settled officer, while States, 'keeper States,' Randolph Donaldson, 9 Cranch 76, 86, 662, and, such, States. Since appellant required keep' he is, extent, necessary say, do these 'agency' For, whether should maintain own utilize local facilities, simply matter administrative convenience, it would violence purpose provide 'prompt review constitutionality federal acts', Fleming Rhodes, 331 100, 104, 67 1140, 1142, 91 1368, interpret restrictively. practical purposes, case, 'jail supra, superintendent keeper. As custodian Covert, prisoner, purposes 1252. II. contends restricted geographically, therefore over expired upon contends, civilian, longer Code, since 'custody armed forces' 2(7). 10 An entirely different might presented if terminated status person 'accompanying forces continental limits States' returning country voluntarily. But case. issue here create exception general rule tribunal, once acquired, continues disposition. time courtmartial England, 2(11), Her transfer furtherance To accept Covert's result anomalous situation jurisdiction, validly exercised defeated imposition sentence 58, 639, provides confinement 'in penal correctional institution control allowed use.' unreasonable hold services retained they kept foreign countries but institutions 11 Nor reversal ordering rehearing. courts recognized rehearings continuations original proceedings, Padilla, C.M.R. 31, 42; Moore, 438, 444; Milbourne, 15 527, 528; legislative history 63 bears out fact were so intended Congress. H.R. Rep. 491, 81st Cong., 1st Sess. 30; S. 486, 27. 12 note clearly distinguishable ex rel. Toth Quarles, 1. returned honorably discharged months before specifications charging him offense soldier Korea. relinquished charge him. charged, tried, convicted, imprisoned pursuant valid exercise concededly provisions 2(11). deciding when, other circumstances, terminate. In only attached, disposition 13 Reversed. 14 [For reservation FRANKFURTER, see ante, 481.] dissent Chief WARREN, BLACK, DOUGLAS, 485.]

Category: 1