Evening star., 1950-04-10
High Court Refuses to Review
Convictions Of Movie Writers
For Contempt of House Group
Ldwton and Trumbo
Lose PIeo, Morford
Wins Reversal
By Robert K. Walsh

Ine supreme Court today re-
fused to review the contempt of
Congress convictions of John
Howard Lawson and Dalton
Trumbo, Hollywood writer's who
were indicted for contempt Of the
House Committee on Un-Amer-
lean Activities. They had re-
fused to answer questions about
Communist affiliations.
In appealing their fines and
Jail sentences, the two had con-
tended the Constitution protects
individuals from being compelled
to disclose their private beliefs
and associates.
Justices Black and Douglas IA
vored a review of the decision.
Mr.. Lawson and Mr.. Trumbo
were among 10 motion picture
producers. writer's and directors,
indicted as a result of their refusal
to answer such questions at House
committee hearings in October,
1947. The two men were convicted
in District Court here in May,
1948. Each was sentenced to one
year in prison and fined $1,000.
Eight Other Cases Delayed.
Cases of the other eight have
not yet been brought to trial.
Under a stipulation between Gov
ernment and defense lawyers, the
eight agreed to waive a jury trial
in District Court if the Supreme
Court upheld the Court of Appeals
decision. as it did today in effect.
Another District Court decision
involving contempt of Congress
conviction as a result of hearings
by the House Committee on Un-
American Activities was reversed
by the Supreme Court today. 1t
was the appeal of Richard Nor
ford, executive director of the Ma
tional Council of American-Soviet
Friendship, from a contempt of
Congress conviction in District
Court in March, 1948.
Mr.. Morford was found guilty
and sentenced to three months in
jail and q $3.50 fine for refusal
to turn over records subpoenaed
by the House committee.
Federal Workers on Jury.
In a brief per curiam opinion,
the Supreme Court declared that
Mr.. Morford was denied an op-
portunity, at the District Court
trial, to determine whether Gov
eminent employees on the jury
thought they could render an i'm
partial verdict.
That same issue came up last
week in the Supreme Courts &C
ton on the appeal of Eugene Dem
mis-, secretary of the American
Communist Party. In that case,
however, the court majority de-
cided that the presence of Gov
eminent employees on the jury that
convicted him die not deny a fair
trial to an avowed Communist.
Mr.. Dennis had complained that
Government employees would have
been afraid to acquit Communist
because they might fear loss of
job or similar retaliation under
the Federal Loyalty Program.
Justice Douglas. who recently
returned to the bench after re-
covering from serious injuries in
a riding accident last October,
stated today that he not only con-
CURED in the reversal of the Nor
ford conviction but that he would
have dlssented in the decision
upholding the Dennis conviction.
Marshall Review Refused.
In still another case involving
contempt of Congress growing out
OF hearings by the House Com
mittee on Un-American Activities
the Supreme Court today refused
to review the District Court con-
Nction of George Marshall of New
York, one-time chairman of the
former National Federation for
Constitutional Liberties.
Mr.. Marshall appeared before
the House Committee in April,
1916. but refused to provide a list
of financial contributors to the
Federation. He was cited for con-
tempt of Congress, convicted in
District Court here. in April, 1948,
and sentenced to three months in
Jail and fined $500. In this case,
too, Justice Black expressed him
self in favor of review.