Source: https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/347/442/
Timestamp: 2019-04-23 14:02:47+00:00

Document:
Pursuant to §§ 6514 and 6515 of the New York State Education Law, authorizing disciplinary action against any physician "convicted in a court of competent jurisdiction, either within or without this state, of a crime," appellant's license to practice as a physician was suspended for six months because he had been convicted in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, under 2 U.S.C. § 192, of failing to produce before a Congressional Committee certain papers subpoenaed by that Committee.
Held: the New York law, on its face or as so construed and applied, does not violate the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Pp. 347 U. S. 443-456.
(a) The decision of the highest state court that a violation of 2 U.S.C. § 192, though not a crime under New York law, was a "crime" within the meaning of § 6514-2(b) of the State Education Law, is conclusive here. P. 347 U. S. 448.
(b) Section 6514-2(b) is not unconstitutionally vague. P. 347 U. S. 448.
(c) The subsequent designation of certain other contempts of Congress as federal "crimes" (18 U.S.C. § 402) does not prevent a violation of 2 U.S.C. § 192 from being a "crime" within the meaning of the New York law. P. 449, n 8.
(d) The establishment and enforcement of standards of conduct within its borders relative to the health of its people is a vital part of a state's police power. P. 347 U. S. 449.
(e) The practice of medicine is a privilege granted by the State under its substantially plenary power to fix the terms of admission. P. 347 U. S. 451.
(f) A state's legitimate concern for maintaining high standards of professional conduct extends beyond initial licensing. P. 347 U. S. 451.
(g) The suspension of appellant's license because of his conviction in a foreign jurisdiction, for an offense not involving moral turpitude and not criminal under New York law, does not so far transcend the State's legitimate concern in professional standards as to violate the Fourteenth Amendment. Pp. 347 U. S. 451-452.
(h) The provisions of § 6515 of the State Education Law prescribing the procedure for disciplinary action are, on their face, reasonable and satisfy the requirements of due process. Pp. 347 U. S. 452-453.
(i) The record in this case does not support a conclusion that the Board of Regents, in fixing the measure of discipline at a six months' suspension of appellant's license as a physician, made an arbitrary or capricious decision or relied upon irrelevant evidence. Pp. 347 U. S. 453-456.
305 N.Y. 89, 691, 111 N.E.2d 222, 112 N.E.2d 773, affirmed.
The principal question here presented is whether the New York State Education Law, [Footnote 1] on its face or as here construed and applied, violates the Constitution of the United States by authorizing the suspension from practice, for six months, of a physician because he has been convicted, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, of failing to produce, before a Committee of the United States House of Representatives, certain papers subpoenaed by that committee. [Footnote 2] For the reasons hereafter stated, we hold that it does not.
"all books, ledgers, records and papers relating to the receipt and disbursement of money by or on account of the Joint Anti-Fascist Refugee Committee or any subsidiary or any subcommittee thereof, together with all correspondence and memoranda of communications by any means whatsoever with persons in foreign countries for the period from January 1, 1945, to March 29, 1946. [Footnote 4]"
board, he and the other officers of the Refugee Committee failed and refused to produce the subpoenaed papers.
"2. The license or registration of a practitioner of medicine, osteopathy, or physiotherapy may be revoked, suspended or annulled or such practitioner reprimanded or disciplined in accordance with the provisions and procedure of this article upon decision after due hearing in any of the following cases:"
"(b) That a physician, osteopath, or physiotherapist has been convicted in a court of competent jurisdiction, either within or without this state, of a crime; or . . ."
are violative of the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The Court of Appeals held that the rights of the petitioners under the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States had not been violated or denied."
305 N.Y. 691, 112 N.E.2d 773.
We noted probable jurisdiction, THE CHIEF JUSTICE not participating at that time. 346 U.S. 807.
That appellant was convicted of a violation of R.S. § 102, as amended, 2 U.S.C. § 192, in a court of competent jurisdiction is settled. In the New York courts, appellant argued that a violation of that section of the federal statutes was not a crime under the law of New York and that, accordingly, it was not a "crime" within the meaning of § 6514, subd. 2(b) of the New York Education Law. He argued that his conviction, therefore, did not afford the New York Board of Regents the required basis for suspending his license. That issue was settled adversely to him by the Court of Appeals of New York, and that court's interpretation of the state statute is conclusive here.
He argues that § 6514, subd. 2(b) is unconstitutionally vague. As interpreted by the New York courts, the provision is extremely broad, in that it includes convictions for any crime in any court of competent jurisdiction within or without New York State. This may be stringent and harsh, but it is not vague. The professional standard is clear. The discretion left to enforcing officers is not one of defining the offense. It is merely that of matching the measure of the discipline to the specific case.
A violation of R.S. § 102, as amended, 2 U.S.C. § 192, is expressly declared by Congress to be a misdemeanor. It is punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000 nor less than $100 and imprisonment for not less than one month nor more than twelve months. See note 2 supra.
and the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York. In the present instance, the violation of § 6514, subd. 2(b) is obvious. The real problem for the state agencies is that of the appropriate disciplinary action to be applied.
The practice of medicine in New York is lawfully prohibited by the State except upon the conditions it imposes. Such practice is a privilege granted by the State under its substantially plenary power to fix the terms of admission. The issue is not before us, but it has not been questioned that the State could make it a condition of admission to practice that applicants shall not have been convicted of a crime in a court of competent jurisdiction either within or without the State of New York. It could at least require a disclosure of such convictions as a condition of admission and leave it to a competent board to determine, after opportunity for a fair hearing, whether the convictions, if any, were of such a date and nature as to justify denial of admission to practice in the light of all material circumstances before the board.
his established practice, without due process of law in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment.
He argues that New York's suspension of his license because of his conviction in a foreign jurisdiction, for an offense not involving moral turpitude [Footnote 10] and not criminal under the law of New York, so far transcends that State's legitimate concern in professional standards as to violate the Fourteenth Amendment. We disagree, and hold that New York's governmental discretion is not so restricted.
This statute is readily distinguishable from one which would require the automatic termination of a professional license because of some criminal conviction of its holder. [Footnote 11] Realizing the importance of high standards of character and law observance on the part of practicing physicians, the State has adopted a flexible procedure to protect the public against the practice of medicine by those convicted of many more kinds and degrees of crime than it can well list specifically. It accordingly has sought to attain its justifiable end by making the conviction of any crime a violation of its professional medical standards, and then leaving it to a qualified board of doctors to determine initially the measure of discipline to be applied to the offending practitioner.
standing" appointed upon the board's own nomination. § 6515, subd. 2. The others are appointed from lists of nominees submitted respectively by the New York State Medical, homeopathic, and Osteopathic Societies. Charges must be filed in writing, and a subcommittee of three or more members hears and reports on them. At least ten days' notice of a hearing is required, and opportunity is afforded the accused to appear personally, or by counsel, with the right to produce witnesses and evidence on his own programs in which the committee participated examine evidence produced against him and to have subpoenas issued by the committee. The subcommittee transmits its report, findings, and recommendation, together with a transcript of evidence, to the Committee on Grievances. That committee may take further testimony. It determines the merit of the charges and, if the practitioner is found guilty by a unanimous verdict, the record, together with the findings and determination of the committee, is transmitted to the Board of Regents. That board, "after due hearing," may accept or modify the committee's recommendation or find the practitioner not guilty and dismiss the charges. § 6515, subd. 7.
"The committee on grievances shall not be bound by the laws of evidence in the conduct of its proceedings, but the determination shall be founded upon sufficient legal evidence to sustain the same."
§ 6515, subd. 5. If the accused is found guilty, he may institute proceedings for review under Article 78 of the Civil Practice Act, returnable before the Appellate Division of the Third Judicial Department.
made on that score. Appellant nevertheless complains that, as construed and applied by the Medical Committee on Grievances and its subcommittee, his hearing violated the due process of law required by the Fourteenth Amendment. He contends that evidence was introduced which was immaterial and prejudicial, and that the committee based its determination upon that evidence. He contends, in effect, that the committee reached its determination without "sufficient legal evidence to sustain the same," thus exceeding its statutory authority. He claims further that the committee acted capriciously and arbitrarily upon immaterial and prejudicial evidence, thus not only exceeding its statutory authority but depriving him of his property without due process of law.
violation of the federal statute as to the subpoenaed papers, it was material and admissible to assist the Committee on Grievances and the other agencies in determining the appropriate disciplinary measures to be applied to appellant under the state law. Appellant recognized this materiality by endeavoring to use evidence as to the Refugee Committee's charitable activities to justify and excuse his failure to produce the subpoenaed papers.
"We do not feel that we are now concerned, nor would we be able to determine, whether the books and records of that Committee would disclose whether the Committee was completely philanthropic in character, or whether it was engaged in subversive activities."
injunctive relief (Joint Anti-Fascist Refugee Committee v. McGrath, 341 U. S. 123), some of the majority justices going on the ground that a determination of this kind could not constitutionally be made without a hearing and opportunity to offer proof and disproof. In view of this decision, no evidentiary weight can be given in the present proceeding to the listing by the Attorney General."
That committee thus recognized the existence of a valid basis for disciplinary action, but found "no valid basis for discipline beyond the statutory minimum of censure and reprimand." With this recommendation before the Board of Regents, we see no reason to conclude that the board disregarded it or acted arbitrarily, capriciously, or through prejudice and deprived appellant of due process of law. The board made no specific findings. It accepted and sustained the unanimous determination of the Medical Committee on Grievances, which was that appellant was guilty. Then, in compliance with the recommendation of that committee, it fixed the measure of discipline at a six months' suspension of appellant's registration as a physician.
The Court has considered the other points raised by appellant, but finds no substantial federal constitutional objection in them, even assuming that they are before us as having been considered by the Court of Appeals, although not mentioned in its opinion or the amendment to its remittitur.
McKinney's N.Y.Laws, c. 16, Education Law, §§ 6514, 6515.
"SEC. 102. Every person who having been summoned as a witness by the authority of either House of Congress to give testimony or to produce papers upon any matter under inquiry before either House, or any joint committee established by a joint or concurrent resolution of the two Houses of Congress, or any committee of either House of Congress, willfully makes default, or who, having appeared, refuses to answer any question pertinent to the question under inquiry, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000 nor less than $100 and imprisonment in a common jail for not less than one month nor more than twelve months."
91 Cong.Rec. 10, 15. This was carried into the Rules of the House as Rule XI (q)(2), 60 Stat. 823, 828.
United States v. Bryan, 72 F.Supp. 58, 60.
For related litigation, see United States v. Bryan, 339 U. S. 323; United States v. Fleischman, 339 U. S. 349; Joint Anti-Fascist Refugee Committee v. McGrath, 341 U. S. 123.
"Since violation of the Federal statute which Respondent has been convicted of violating involves inherently no moral turpitude, and since there has been no impeachment by evidence of Respondent's explanation (sufficient if unimpeached) of his failure to produce the subpoenaed documents, we find in the record no valid basis for discipline beyond the statutory minimum of censure and reprimand; and we therefore recommend that Respondent's license be not suspended, as the Medical Committee on Grievances has recommended, but that he be censured and reprimanded."
The subsequent designation of certain other contempts of Congress as federal "crimes" 18 U.S.C. § 402, does not prevent this misdemeanor from being a crime within the meaning of the New York statute.
"§ 6514. Revocation of certificates; annulment of registrations"
"1. Whenever any practitioner of medicine, osteopathy or physiotherapy shall be convicted of a felony, as defined in section sixty-five hundred two of this article, the registration of the person so convicted may be annulled and his license revoked by the department. It shall be the duty of the clerk of the court wherein such conviction takes place to transmit a certificate of such conviction to the department. Upon reversal of such judgment by a court having jurisdiction, the department, upon receipt of a certified copy of such judgment or order of reversal, shall vacate its order of revocation or annulment."
"(a) That a physician, osteopath, or physiotherapist is guilty of fraud or deceit in the practice of medicine, osteopathy, or physiotherapy or in his admission to the practice of medicine, osteopathy or physiotherapy; or"
"(b) That a physician, osteopath, or physiotherapist has been convicted in a court of competent jurisdiction, either within or without this state, of a crime; or"
"(c) That a physician, osteopath, or physiotherapist is an habitual drunkard, or is or has been addicted to the use of morphine, cocaine or other drugs having similar effect, or has become insane; or"
"(d) That a physician, osteopath, or physiotherapist offered, undertook or agreed to cure or treat disease by a secret method, procedure, treatment or medicine or that he can treat, operate and prescribe for any human condition by a method, means or procedure which he refuses to divulge upon demand to the committee on grievances; or that he has advertised for patronage by means of handbills, posters, circulars, letters, stereopticon slides, motion pictures, radio, or magazines; or"
"(e) That a physician, osteopath, or physiotherapist did undertake or engage in any manner or by any ways or means whatsoever to perform any criminal abortion or to procure the performance of the same by another or to violate section eleven hundred forty-two of the penal law, or did give information as to where or by whom such a criminal abortion might be performed or procured."
"(f) That a physician, osteopath, or physiotherapist has directly or indirectly requested, received, or participated in the division, transference, assignment, rebate, splitting, or refunding of a fee for, or has directly or indirectly requested, received, or profited by means of a credit or other valuable consideration as a commission, discount, or gratuity in connection with the furnishing of medical, surgical or dental care, diagnosis, or treatment or service, including x-ray examination and treatment, or for or in connection with the sale, rental, supplying, or furnishing of clinical laboratory services or supplies, x-ray laboratory services or supplies, inhalation therapy service or equipment, ambulance service, hospital or medical supplies, physiotherapy, or other therapeutic service or equipment, artificial limbs, teeth or eyes, orthopedic or surgical appliances or supplies, optical appliances, supplies or equipment, devices for aid of hearing, drugs, medication or medical supplies or any other goods, services or supplies prescribed for medical diagnosis, care or treatment under this chapter, except payment, not to exceed thirty-three and one-third per centum of any fee received for x-ray examination, diagnosis, or treatment, to any hospital furnishing facilities for such examination, diagnosis or treatment. . . ."
See Sinclair v. United States, 279 U. S. 263, 279 U. S. 299.
A conviction for a crime which, under the law of New York, would amount to a felony has been given such an automatic effect in some instances. See McKinney's N.Y. Laws, Education Law, § 6613, subd. 12, as to dentists and McKinney's N.Y. Laws, Judiciary Law, § 90-4, as to attorneys. Cf. § 6514, subd. 1, note 9 supra, as to physicians. See In re Raab, 156 Ohio St. 158, 101 N.E.2d 294.
Joint Anti-Fascist Refugee Committee v. McGrath, 341 U. S. 123.
The character of the activities of the Joint Anti-Fascist Refugee Committee was placed in issue by appellant's amended answer. He volunteered much testimony as to the benevolent and charitable in which the committee participated, and he introduced many exhibits on the same subject. Reference to the Attorney General's list of subversives developed naturally during the resulting cross-examination of appellant.
subpoena's validity was for its executives to risk jail by refusing to produce the requested papers. Dr. Barsky was sentenced to six months in jail as punishment for his disobedience of the order to produce, and the Court of Appeals affirmed his sentence, overruling his constitutional arguments. This Court denied certiorari without approving or disapproving the constitutional contentions. 334 U.S. 843.
moral turpitude whatever, [Footnote 2/3] and that he had already been punished. The right to test the constitutional power of a Committee is itself a constitutionally protected right in this country. [Footnote 2/4] But, despite all these things, the Regents suspended Dr. Barsky's medical license for six months, giving no reason for their action.
This record reveals, in my opinion, that New York has contravened the Constitution in at least one, and possibly two respects. First, it has used in place of probative evidence against Dr. Barsky an attainder published by the Attorney General of the United States in violation of the Constitution. Second, it has permitted Dr. Barsky to be tried by an agency vested with intermingled legislative-executive-judicial powers so broad and so devoid of legislative standards or guides that it is, in effect, not a tribunal operating within the ordinary safeguards of law, but an agency with arbitrary power to decide, conceivably on the basis of suspicion, whim, or caprice, whether or not physicians shall lose their licenses.
States." It seems perfectly natural for the Grievance Committee to rely on this list, for the Regents are charged with the duty of making up their own list of "subversive" organizations for the purpose of dismissing teachers, and New York law authorizes the Regents to make use of the Attorney General's list. [Footnote 2/5] Dr. Barsky had a constitutional right to be free of any imputations on account of this illegal list. That reason alone should, in my judgment, require reversal of this case.
surveyors, and other occupational groups are also subject to discipline by the Regents, and must obey their rules. [Footnote 2/8] For example, the Department of Education, headed by the Regents, has its own investigators, detectives and lawyers to get evidence and develop cases against doctors. [Footnote 2/9] Persons appointed by the Department prefer charges and testify against an accused before a committee of doctors appointed by the Regents. This committee, after hearing evidence presented by departmental prosecutors, makes findings and recommendations which are reviewed by another Regents' committee with power to make its own findings and recommendations. Then the Regents themselves, apparently bound in no way by the recommendations of either of their committees, make the final decision as to doctors' professional fate.
impose any discipline at all. [Footnote 2/11] Should they see fit to let a doctor repeatedly guilty of selling narcotics to his patients continue to practice, they could do so and at the same time bar for life a doctor guilty of a single minor infraction having no bearing whatever on his moral or professional character. They need give no reasons. Indeed, the Regents might discipline a doctor for wholly indefensible reasons, such as his race, religion, or suspected political beliefs, without any effective checks on their decisions.
any material right essential to the enjoyment of life at the mere will of another, seems to be intolerable in any country where freedom prevails. . . ."
And certainly, since our recent holding in United States v. Rumely, 345 U. S. 41, it cannot be said that it is "fanciful or factitious" to claim that the First Amendment bars congressional committees from seeking the names of contributors to an organization alleged to be engaged in "political propaganda."
This Court has authoritatively construed the federal offense of refusing to comply with a congressional subpoena as involving no moral turpitude. Sinclair v. United States, 279 U. S. 263, 279 U. S. 299.
See Ex parte Young, 209 U. S. 123, 209 U. S. 148, and Oklahoma Operating Co. v. Love, 252 U. S. 331, 252 U. S. 335-338.
Education Law, § 3022. See Adler v. Board of Education of the City of New York, 342 U. S. 485.
"the regents shall exercise legislative functions concerning the educational system of the state, determine its educational policies, and, except, as to the judicial functions of the commissioner of education, establish rules for carrying into effect the laws and policies of the state. . . ."
See Education Law, §§ 120 et seq., 214, 215, 216, 219, 224, 245 et seq., 704, 801 et seq. On motion picture censorship by the Regents see Joseph Burstyn, Inc. v. Wilson, 343 U. S. 495.
Education Law, §§ 211, 6501-7506. The professions of pharmacy, optometry, podiatry, nursing, shorthand reporting, architecture, and engineering are also under the Regents' jurisdiction.
For examples of entrapment of doctors by the Regents' investigators and the narrowness of judicial review afforded accused doctors, see Weinstein v. Board of Regents, 267 App.Div. 4, 44 N.Y.S.2d 917, reversed, 292 N.Y. 682, 56 N.E.2d 104; Application of Epstein, 267 App.Div. 27, 44 N.Y.S.2d 921, reversed, 295 N.Y. 154, 65 N.E.2d 756.
The Regents, with their many law enforcement duties, are plainly not a judicial body in the ordinary sense, yet court review is virtually precluded. Whether due process of law can be satisfied in this type of case by procedures from which effective review by the regular judicial branch of the government is barred is certainly not wholly clear. Compare Ohio Valley Water Co. v. Ben Avon Borough, 253 U. S. 287, Ng Fung Ho v. White, 259 U. S. 276, and St. Joseph Stock Yards Co. v. United States, 298 U. S. 38, with Yakus v. United States, 321 U. S. 414.
"The words 'understand and explain' do not provide a reasonable standard. A simple test may be given one applicant; a long, tedious, complex one to another; one applicant may be examined on one article of the Constitution; another may be called upon to 'understand and explain' every word and article and provision of the entire instrument."
"To state it plainly, the sole test is: has the applicant by oral examination or otherwise understood and explained the Constitution to the satisfaction of the particular board? To state it more plainly, the board has a right to reject one applicant and accept another, depending solely upon whether it likes or dislikes the understanding and explanation offered. To state it even more plainly, the board, by the use of the words 'understand and explain,' is given the arbitrary power to accept or reject any prospective elector that may apply. . . . Such arbitrary power amounts to a denial of equal protection of the law within the meaning of the Fourteenth Amendment. . . ."
81 F.Supp. at 878. This Court affirmed without writing an opinion of its own. 336 U.S. 933.
At the hearing before the Subcommittee of the Medical Grievance Committee, there was a great deal of testimony as to the nature and purposes of the Joint Anti-Fascist Refugee Committee. Mr. Tartikoff, assistant attorney general of New York, representing the Department of Education, repeatedly attempted to show that the Committee had engaged in "subversive" or "Un-American"
activities. However, he presented no probative evidence tending to prove this allegation. Finally, Mr. Tartikoff sought to bring out that the Committee had been listed by the Attorney General of the United States as "subversive." Excerpts from the record of his questioning of Dr. Barsky on this point are quoted below.
"Q. Doctor, is it not a fact that, on or about November 24, 1947, the Attorney General of the United States, in pursuance of a directive contained in an executive order of the President of the United States, listed and published a classification of organizations deemed to be subversive and Un-American, and that included amongst those organizations at that time by the Attorney General deemed to be subversive and Un-American was the Joint Anti-Fascist Refugee Committee?"
"MR. TARTIKOFF: I think this committee is entitled to know whether this organization is listed by the Attorney General of the United States as being subversive and Un-American, particularly in light of Dr. Barsky's testimony that the activity of the organization since its inception in 1942 down to and including all through 1950 has been substantially the same during that period of time."
of this organization in whatever fashion he is supposed to review it, and has come to an opposite conclusion."
"Q. Was it so listed, Dr. Barsky?"
"A. Mr. Tartikoff, the attorney --"
"Q. Question: Was it so listed? That can take a 'yes' or 'no' answer."
"A. I just would like to bring up --"
"I ask the committee to direct him to answer that question 'yes' or 'no.'"
"Chairman Shearer: 'Yes' or 'no,' Doctor Barsky."
"A. If I may for a moment, -- off the record --"
"Q. Doctor, will you please answer the question?"
"A. The answer to the question is 'yes.'"
"Q. And was it not again so listed by the Attorney General of the United States in a release made on May 27, 1948?"
"A. The answer is I really don't know. You have the statement."
"Q. If I tell you that the statement so indicates, would you dispute it?"
"A. I certainly would not, Mr. Tartikoff."
"Q. And isn't it a fact that it was again so listed on April 21, 1949, July 20, 1949, September 26, 1949, August 24, 1950, and September 5, 1950?"
"A. I think you brought out the same list, Mr. Tartikoff. "
"Q. Well, there may have been additional ones added, for your information."
"A. I really don't remember."
"Q. And doctor, didn't you, as chairman of the Joint Anti-Fascist Refugee, bring a proceeding against the Attorney General in the United States courts?"
"Q. To restrain him from listing your organization as subversive?"
"Q. And isn't it a fact that the Circuit Court ruled against you on that on August 11, 1949?"
"Q. Wasn't there also an investigation in California by a Committee on Un-American Activities?"
"Q. The Legislative Committee in California. A Legislative Committee of the State of California, and didn't they likewise list your organization as Communistic?"
"A. What do you mean?"
"Q. The California Committee on Un-American Activities, that's the Tenney Committee, did they list your organization as Communistic?"
"A. I really don't know. If you have the record -- "
"There is, it should be noted, evidence in the record, and reliance on that evidence in the findings of the Medical Committee on Grievances, that the Refugee Committee had been listed as Communist in the list furnished by the Attorney General of the United States. . . . In view of [the decision in Joint Anti-Fascist Refugee Committee v. McGrath, 341 U. S. 123], no evidentiary weight can be given in the present proceeding to the listing by the Attorney General."
of the Grievance Committee and ordered appellant suspended for a period of six months from his right to practice medicine.
"As to the assertions, by appellants . . . that the Regents, in deciding on punishment, ignored weighty considerations and acted on matters not proper for consideration, it is enough to say that we are wholly without jurisdiction to review such questions. . . ."
305 N.Y. 89, 99, 111 N.E.2d 222, 226. Thus, the highest court of the State of New York tells us, in effect, "Yes, it may be that the Regents arbitrarily deprived a doctor of his license to practice medicine, but the courts of New York can do nothing about it." Such a rule of law, by denying all relief from arbitrary action, implicitly sanctions it; and deprivation of interests that are part of a man's liberty and property, when based on such arbitrary grounds, contravenes the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
of explaining presumably conscientious action by appropriate State authorities. Douglas v. Noble, 261 U. S. 165, 261 U. S. 169-170. Reliance on the good faith of a state agency entrusted with the enforcement of appropriate standards for the practice of medicine is not, in itself, an investiture of arbitrary power offensive to due process. Likewise, there is nothing in the United States Constitution which requires a State to provide for judicial review of the action of such agencies. Finally, when a State does establish some sort of judicial review, it can certainly provide that there be no review of an agency's discretion, so long as that discretion was exercised within the gamut of choices, however extensive, relevant to the purpose of the power given the administrative agency. So far as concerns the power to grant or revoke a medical license, that means that the exercise of the authority must have some rational relation to the qualifications required of a practitioner in that profession.
v. Elg, 307 U. S. 325, 307 U. S. 349-350; also Rex v. Northumberland Compensation Appeal Tribunal,  1 K.B. 711. The limitation against arbitrary action restricts the power of a State "no matter by what organ it acts." Missouri v. Dockery, 191 U. S. 165, 191 U. S. 171.
283 U. S. 359, 283 U. S. 368; Williams v. North Carolina, 317 U. S. 287, 317 U. S. 292.
MR. JUSTICE Holmes, while a member of the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, coined a dictum that has pernicious implications. "The petitioner may have a constitutional right to talk politics," he said, "but he has no constitutional right to be a policeman." See McAuliffe v. City of New Bedford, 155 Mass. 216, 220, 29 N.E. 517. By the same reasoning, a man has no constitutional right to teach, to work in a filling station, to be a grocery clerk, to mine coal, to tend a furnace, or to be on the assembly line. By that reasoning, a man has no constitutional right to work.
The right to work, I had assumed, was the most precious liberty that man possesses. Man has indeed as much right to work as he has to live, to be free, to own property. The American ideal was stated by Emerson in his essay on Politics, "A man has a right to be employed, to be trusted, to be loved, to be reversed." It does many men little good to stay alive and free and propertied if they cannot work. To work means to eat. It also means to live. For many, it would be better to work in jail than to sit idle on the curb. The great values of freedom are in the opportunities afforded man to press to new horizons, to pit his strength against the forces of nature, to match skills with his fellow man.
or policemen. But it does say that certain rights are protected, that certain things shall not be done. And so the question here is not what government must give, but rather what it may not take away.
So far as we can tell on the present record, Dr. Barsky's license to practice medicine has been suspended not because he was a criminal, not because he was a Communist, not because he was a "subversive," but because he had certain unpopular ideas and belonged to and was an officer of the Joint Anti-Fascist Refugee Committee, which was included in the Attorney General's "list." If, for the same reason, New York had attempted to put Dr. Barsky to death or to put him in jail or to take his property, there would be a flagrant violation of due process. I do not understand the reasoning which holds that the State may not do these things, but may nevertheless suspend Dr. Barsky's power to practice his profession. I repeat, it does a man little good to stay alive and free and propertied, if he cannot work.
"barren of evidence reflecting upon appellant as a man or a citizen, much less upon his professional capacity or his past or anticipated conduct towards his patients."
305 N.Y. 89, 111 N.E.2d 228.
Neither the security of the State nor the wellbeing of her citizens justifies this infringement of fundamental rights. S o far as I know, nothing in a man's political beliefs disables him from setting broken bones or removing ruptured appendixes safely and efficiently. A practicing surgeon is unlikely to uncover many state secrets in the course of his professional activities. When a doctor cannot save lives in America because he is opposed to Franco in Spain, it is time to call a halt and look critically at the neurosis that has possessed us.
As to the right to work, See also Cummings v. Missouri, 4 Wall. 277; Ex parte Garland, 4 Wall. 333; Yick Wo v. Hopkins, 118 U. S. 356; Truax v. Raich, 239 U. S. 33; Takahashi v. Fish and Game Commission, 334 U. S. 410.
"the advice given to Dr. Barsky by the attorney, Mr. Wolf, was not an opinion which he held alone, nor was it at that time an unreasonable construction of law on his part."
The advice given was that the subpoenas were unconstitutionally issued, and that Dr. Barsky was not legally required to respond. The Assistant Attorney General admitted that this opinion was held by many lawyers, and by some judges. The Committee on Discipline pointed out that refusal to produce the subpoenaed records was "the only method by which the legal objections to the Congressional Committee's course could be judicially determined."

References: § 192
 § 192
 § 6514
 § 402
 § 192
 § 6515
 § 102
 § 192
 § 6514
 § 6514
 § 102
 § 192
 § 6514
 § 6515
 § 6515

§ 6515
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 § 402
 v. 
 § 6613
 § 90
 § 6514
 v. 
 v. 
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 v. 
 § 3022
 v. 
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 v. 
 v. 

v. 
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