Evening star., 1951-01-01
Supreme Court
Decisions Due
Civil Rights
Tuesday Opinions
Departure From
Monday Tradition
Bv Robert X Walsh
Bv Robert X. Welsh

Bv Robert K. WoIsh
The Supreme Court returns to
the bench tomorrow to hand down
decisions that may dispose of some
major civil rights issues. particu-
larly involving Government en-
ployes and grand jury witnesses.
The Tuesday session, a rare de-
parture from the Monday opinion
day tradition. will be the tribunals
first appearance since December
IL. A total of "a argued cases
await final rulings and more than
100 petitions for. review are pend
ing.
1t is believed unlikely that a
decision will come tomorrow on
the appeal of the II Communist
Party leaders convicted of con-
spiracy to leach violent overthrow
Of the Government. Arguments
were heard less than a month ago
WAY t1uuUulICt luulH&S.
The court, however, may an
nounce its findings in the Dorothy
Bailey case and three others at
tacking the Federal loyalty pro-
gram. Those appeals were argued
In October. Miss Bailey contends
she was unfairly and Illegally dis
charged from a Government job
, on the basis OF unidentified as well
as unfounded complaints about
Communist activities.
In the three other cases, organi-
cations hit mainly at the provision
under which they were put on the
Attorney Generals list of Sub
versive" groups.
In connection with the COM
munist Party leaders case. the
Supreme Court has not yet an
nounced whether it will review
the appeal of six lawyers judged
in contempt for their conduct at
the trial in Federal Court in New
York. The lawyers received Jail
sentences of 80 days to six months
from Judge Harold r. Medina.
Appeal Decision Due.
In another case. Vincent w.
Hallinan, an attorney for Harry
Bridges, Longshoremen's Union
leader on the West Coast. was
held in contempt in Federal
Court in Los Angeles for conduct
at the Bridges trial. He appealed
to the Supreme Court. Tomorrow
1t may announce whether it will
take the appeal. Bridges was con-
victed of perjury for lying about
Communist afflliation when he
applied for citizenship in 1945.
His appeal has not reached the
Supreme Court.
. Further rulings on the rights
Of witnesses before grand juries
may develop tomorrow. The court
on December II held that Colo
RADIO woman was within her con-
stitutional rights in refusing to
answer questions about Commu-
mist membership and operations.
That far-reaching decision was
the first of its kind directly on
the right of such witness to
cite possible standardization as
q reason for refusal to reply.
The court at that time did not
act on two companion cases. In
one the specific issue was whether
q husband could legally refuse
to answer grand jury questions
as to his wife's whereabouts and
Communist activities.
The other instance concerned
q grand-jury witness who gave
responses showing her official po-
sition in the Communist Party
The question before the Supreme
Court was whether she thus
waived all right to claim self-in-
elimination in refusing to answer
further questions along the same
line.
Opinions Arouse Interest.
Opinions in those cases are be-
ing awaited with unusual inter
est because of questions left un-
answered in the Supreme Courts
short opinion of December II. One
of the questions is the extent, if
any, to which that decision might
uphold witnesses who balk at an.
swering questions at congressional
committee hearings investigating
Communist activities.
Besides these civil rights cases
others relating to fields as fal
removed as milk pasteurizatior
and Maryland State gross receipts
taxes on railroads are in the batch
that night be decided tomorrow
or within the next few weeks.
The milk case, although orig
mating in Wisconsin, could bear
on District regulations concerning
sale of milk from outside of the
Washington area. A Madison
Wis, ordinance bans city sales o1
milk not pasteurized in plants
within few miles Of that CON-
munity. The Supreme Court has
been asked to invalidate the ordi-
nance on the ground that it vio-
lates the interstate commerce ano
due process clauses of the Con-
stitution
Newsman Leaves Hospital