Document: 334 U.S. 431 68 S.Ct. 1131 92 L.Ed. 1494 PHYLEv.DUFFY. No. 655. Argued April 20, 21, 1948. Decided June 7, Rehearing Denied Mr. Morris Lavine, of Los Angeles, Cal., for petitioner. Clarence Alinn, San Francisco, respondent. Justice BLACK delivered the opinion Court. 1 The petitioner is under sentence death murder in first degree imposed by a California superior court and affirmed State Supreme People v. Phyle, 28 Cal.2d 671, 171 P.2d 428. validity that not here challenged.1 But § 1367 Penal Code provides 'A person cannot be tried, adjudged to punishment, or punished public offense, while he insane.' Thus if insane, law prohibits his execution which received. legal questions presented relate procedures adopted determine whether sane insane as matter fact. 2 It petitioner's contention that, though having been pronounced judicial proceeding after conviction, fact still about execute because state doctor, acting authority statutes, has declared him restored sanity. doctor reached determination without notice hearings, any opportunity on part obtain an orginal hearing adjudication sanity, even review doctor's conclusion sane. This procedure it argued constitutes denial due process guaranteed Fourteenth Amendment. 3 was urged upon Court habeas corpus proceedings there instituted. That entertained considered petition, but, with two judges dissenting, denied relief, sustaining power state's executive agents follow prescribed statutory procedures. In re 30 838, 843, 186 134. We granted certiorari serious nature contentions petition. 333 841, 656. Here attorney general, supporting Court's corpus, asserts affords adequate remedy way mandamus, yet sought 4 may perhaps better understood explaining application controlling statutes case. While prison awaiting question arose concerning sanity at time. Section 3701 Code2 prescribes 'there good reason believe' defendant 'has become warden must call such attention district attorney.' attorney's 'duty' immediately institute appropriate trial defendant, 'must once' summon jury twelve 'hear inquiry.' case this course followed, held provided 3702,3 insane. accordance 37034 then ordered 'be taken hospital kept safe confinement until restored.' will noted obtained only instituted determining 'good Thus, have before judge depends instance solely warden. 5 After insanity compliance court's order commitment. 37045 suspended certified copies governor medical superintendent sent. As 3704 provides, directed when 'recovers reason,' certify fact' governor, who required issue warrant appointing day judgment. returns pending followed reference Eighteen days admission He returned custody warden, set new date execution. 6 superintendent's based own ex parte investigation, no hearings afforded behalf. thus clear scheme challenged neither administrative nor prerequisite condemned judicially adjudicated sanity; one man investigation decides hangs defendant's life, absence later request ground 'reason 7 holding was: 'There * proposition right other release from hospital. section 3700 Code6 expressly proceeding. Once certifies sane, remanded 'No judge, court, officer than Governor' can suspend judgment, 'except whom *." page 842, 137. 8 For statements its clause Amendment conferred kind primarily relied Nobles Georgia, 168 U.. 398, 18 87, 42 515. do think either actual what said would necessarily require rejection made against 9 Georgia scrutiny previously should determined tribunal formed following manner: 'The Sheriff county, concurrence assistance Ordinary thereof, (emphasis added) shall men inquire into *.' 1882, 4666. If found sheriff report action presiding judge. Restoration so justify 'by inquisition otherwise.' 'the question' case, said, 'whether constitute law' tried surrounded all safeguards requirements commonlaw trial, although full quasi created purpose investigating suggestion.' 405, 90, agency prisoner's composed sheriff, county jury, referred 'apt special tribunal.' There provision when, but 'is 10 does stand 'absolute right' mere 'suggestion.' Such absolute right, thought, make punishment 'depend fecundity making suggestion insanity, trial.' 406, reason, cited quoted commentators opinions emphasized, itself importance leaving 'discretion judge' most already sentenced death. connection statemen particularly relied, manner purely legislative regulation.' 11 Reading statement context relation procedure, we understand passed urged: bars persons submit single individual question, crucial decided parte, choose, supervision, control whatever. principle automatically block suggestions tribunal, left free exercise reasonable discretion facts inquiry death.7 12 What indicates gravity raised heretofore construed Court, both offensive fundamental principles liberty justice lie base our civil political institutions, d amson California, 332 46, 54, 67 1672, 1677, 91 1903, A.L.R. 1223; Carter Illinois, 329 173, 175, 179, 216, 218, 220, 172, different life result unreviewable excutive officer. See Ng Fung Ho White, 259 276, 492, 66 938.8 us pass constitutional if, general contends, mandamus available invoke compel initiate proceedings, hear consider evidence New York rel. Whitman Wilson, Warden, 318 688, 63 840, 87 1083; Woods Nierstheimer, 328 211, 996, 90 1177; 172. also Simon Craft, 182 427, 437, 21 836, 45 1165. 13 denying 'no except forth 3701.' requires 'become full-fledged motion directly some remedy. And 'ample remedy, support him, courts writ mandamus' 3701. 14 unequivocal declaration attempted take advantage highest non-judicial charged duty supervising administration criminal laws.9 His entitled great weight decisions.10 Nor anything need conflict general's opinion. through 3701, did hold considerwhether declare, clearly emphatically, statute mandatory obligation believe continued rest e rtification restoration superintendent. continue up very time Failure perform obligation, 'violation 1367,' man. view somewhat anomalous, say least, were wholly correct agent's abuse significance persons. 15 jurisdiction source art. VI, §§ 4, 4b, constitution. inferior act specifically enjoins. Civil Procedure 1085. secretary state, Hutchinson Brown, 122 Cal. 189, 54 P. 738, L.R.A. 232, governor. Elliott Pardee, Governor, 149 516, 520, 86 1087, 1089. 16 Petitioner however, another see Kahn Smith, 23 12, 142 13, available, hence not. fully answered test institute. Hence, far appears, 17 contends inadequate relief could hoped showing warden's non-action arbitrary capricious. know, course, just precise standards met are persuaded brief, constitution, decisions referred, probably issues drawn parties, resolved courts, provide relief. Different language used conditions California. Although generally discretion, Bank Italy Johnson, 200 1, 31—33, 251 784, 795, 796 cases cited, pointed out circumstances writs particular way. Wood Strother, 76 545, 549, 766, 769, Am.St.Rep. 249; Landsborough Kelly, 739, 744, 37 93, 95, 96 707. considering proceeding, borne mind California's less substantial equivalent11 authorized apply hearing. supra, sufficient reasons sanit death, deny consistently process. out, decision emphasized had never envisioned every suggested. Applications inquiries unsupported facts, buttressed believing lost cannot, regard society process, delays incident inquiry. satisfactorily direct 19 situation find federal ripe here. So here, being unable judgment non-federal ground, 20 Dismissed. FRANKFURTER, DOUGLAS, MURPHY, RUTLEDGE join, concurring. 22 Where stake too careful. I's dotted t's crossed. I deem proper my understanding basis concur it. dismissed brought court. assumption Amendment—more particularly, hospital, convicted conviction therefore subject execution, consistent secures. now finds claim local labeled whereby present short, dismisses below rests pursued, means secure rights claims United States Constitution. 24 Of recognize attached Attorney General's views regarding voice Whatever elegancies determined, declining grave thought us, contingent presupposes be, namely, chooses enables means, restricted scope normally associated traditional mandamus. challenging finding Superintendent Hospital Insane petition which, holds, proceed. 25 Upon thi affirming shows: arraignment Superior counsel appointed request. pleas 'Not guilty' guilty insanity.' Later informed wished withdraw these enter plea guilty. examined length, satisfied himself change voluntarily entered knowedge rights, accepted Evidence fix punishment. Two physicians testified their Other witnesses crime. committed perpetrating robbery. During entire record, participated represented 'with fidelity proficiency.' 428, 429. '3701. Insanity how determined. If, delivery situated, whose file stating believed asking inquired into. Thereupon once cause summoned impaneled, regular list '3702. Duty attend hearing, produce same grand disobedience thereto like issued court.' '3703. Convict verdict minutes, thereupon reciting defena nt '3704. sane: Duties proceed specified warrant; transmit copy mentioned last deliver together order, named order. When recovers return judgment.' '3700. Governor suspend. No officer, six succeeding sections, unless appeal taken.' collected 49 804 et seq. Yick Wo Hopkins, 118 356, 369, 370, 1064, 1070, 1071, 220; Regal Drug Corporation Wardell, 260 386, 391, 392, 43 152, 153, 318; Duncan Kahanamoku, 327 304, 322, 606, 614, 688; Dent West Virginia, 129 114, 123, 124, 231, 233, 234, 32 623; Brown Jersey, 175 176, 77, 78, 44 119; St. Joseph Stock Yards Co. States, 298 38, 49—54, 76—78, 56 720, 724—727, 736, 737, 80 1033, concurring opinion, Brandeis, J. Cf. Ju Toy, 198 253, 263, 644, 646, 1040; 436, 839, Government Code, 12510—12512, 12519, 12550 12553. Union Ins. Hoge, How. 35, 66, 61; Fox Standard Oil Co., 294 96, 55 333, 337, 79 780; Driscoll Edison Light & Power 307 104, 115, 59 715, 83 1134. N.L.R.B., 305 197, 206, 219, 126; Opp Cotton Mills, Inc., Administrator, 312 126, 61 524, 536, 85 624.

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