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Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 2243', '§ 1651', '§ 2246', '§ 2243', '§ 646', '§ 2246', '§ 2245', '§ 2243', '§ 1651', '§ 2255', '§ 2255', '§ 2243']

HARRIS V. NELSON, 394 U. S. 286 (1969) - US SUPREME COURT DECISIONS ON-LINE
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HARRIS V. NELSON, 394 U. S. 286 (1969)
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1. Federal courts upon an appropriate showing must grant evidentiary hearings to petitioners for writs of habeas corpus and "the power of inquiry on federal habeas corpus is plenary." Townsend v. Sain, 372 U. S. 293, 372 U. S. 312 (1963). Pp. 394 U. S. 290-292.
2. The intended scope of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and the history of habeas corpus procedure make it clear that Rule 81(a)(2) excludes the application of Rule 33 in habeas corpus proceedings. Pp. 394 U. S. 292-298.
3. Section 2246 of 28 U.S.C. does not authorize interrogatories in habeas corpus proceedings except in limited circumstances not applicable to this case. Pp. 394 U. S. 290, 394 U. S. 296. chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
4. A district court considering a petition for habeas corpus is free to use or authorize interrogatories or other suitable discovery procedures reasonably fashioned to elicit facts to help the court "dispose of the matter as law and justice require." 28 U.S.C. § 2243. Pp. 394 U. S. 290, 394 U. S. 298-300.
5. Since Congress has not specified comprehensive procedures for securing the facts which federal courts must have to dispose of habeas corpus petitions, the court may fashion appropriate procedures for development of relevant facts, by analogy to existing rules or judicial usages. Their authority to do so is confirmed by the All Writs Act, 28 U.S.C. § 1651. Pp. 394 U. S. 298-300.
378 F.2d 141, reversed and remanded. chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
Petitioner is the Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. Respondent is the warden of the California State Prison at an Quentin. The proceeding was initiated by Alfred Walker who had been convicted in the California courts of the crime of possession of marihuana. After exhausting chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
Because of the importance of the questions presented and the diversity of views among the district and appellate courts that have considered the problem, [Footnote 1] we granted chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
certiorari. 392 U. S. 925. We agree with the Ninth Circuit that Rule 33 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure is not applicable to habeas corpus proceedings, and that 28 U.S.C. § 2246 does not authorize interrogatories except in limited circumstances not applicable to this case; but we conclude that, in appropriate circumstances, a district court, confronted by a petition for habeas corpus which establishes a prima facie case for relief, may use or authorize the use of suitable discovery procedures, including interrogatories, reasonably fashioned to elicit facts necessary to help the court to "dispose of the matter as law and justice require." 28 U.S.C. § 2243. Accordingly, we reverse and remand the case in order that the District Court may reconsider the matter before it in light of our opinion and judgment.
The writ of habeas corpus is the fundamental instrument for safeguarding individual freedom against arbitrary chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
As Blackstone phrased it, habeas corpus is "the great and efficacious writ, in all manner of illegal confinement." [Footnote 2] As this Court said in Fay v. Noia, 372 U. S. 391, 372 U. S. 401-402 (1963), the office of the writ is "to provide a prompt and efficacious remedy for whatever society deems to be intolerable restraints." See Peyton v. Rowe, 391 U. S. 54, 391 U. S. 65-67 (1968).
It is now established beyond the reach of reasonable dispute that the federal courts not only may grant evidentiary hearings to applicants, but must do so upon an appropriate showing. Townsend v. Sain, 372 U. S. 293, 372 U. S. 313 (1963); Brown v. Allen, 344 U. S. 443, 344 U. S. 464, n.19 (1953). And this Court has emphasized, taking into account the office of the writ and the fact that the petitioner, being in custody, is usually handicapped in developing the evidence needed to support in necessary detail the facts alleged in his petition, that a habeas chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
corpus proceeding must not be allowed to founder in a "procedural morass." Price v. Johnston, 334 U. S. 266, 334 U. S. 269 (1948).
Townsend v. Sain, supra at 372 U. S. 312.
such proceedings is not set forth in statutes of the United States, and has heretofore conformed to the practice in actions at law or suits in equity. [Footnote 3]"
378 F.2d 144. No such showing was made, and it is not here contended that it can be made. Walker contends, however, that the rule requires only a showing that habeas proceedings conformed generally to preexisting practice in law and equity, and he contends that this general requirement is met.
It is, of course, true that habeas corpus proceedings are characterized as "civil." See, e.g., Fisher v. Baker, 203 U. S. 174, 203 U. S. 181 (1906). But the label is gross and chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
inexact. [Footnote 4] Essentially, the proceeding is unique. Habeas corpus practice in the federal courts has conformed with civil practice only in a general sense. There is no indication that with respect to pretrial proceedings for the development of evidence, habeas corpus practice had conformed to the practice at law or in equity "to the extent" that the application of rules newly developed in 1938 to govern discovery in "civil" cases should apply in order to avoid a divergence in practice which had theretofore been substantially uniform. Although there is little direct evidence, relevant to the present problem, of the purpose of the "conformity" provision of Rule 81(a)(2), the concern of the draftsmen, as a general matter, seems to have been to provide for the continuing applicability of the "civil" rules in their new form to those areas of practice in habeas corpus and other enumerated proceedings in which the "specified" proceedings had theretofore utilized the modes of civil practice. Otherwise, those proceedings were to be considered outside of the scope of the rules without prejudice, of course, to the use of particular rules by analogy or otherwise, where appropriate. [Footnote 5] chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
Such specific evidence as there is with respect to the intent of the draftsmen of the rules indicates nothing more than a general and nonspecific understanding that the rules would have very limited application to habeas corpus proceedings. At the very least, it is clear that there was no intention to extend to habeas corpus, as a matter of right, the broad discovery provisions which, even in ordinary civil litigation, were "one of the most significant innovations" of the new rules. Hickman v. Taylor, 329 U. S. 495, 329 U. S. 500 (1947). Walker does not claim that there was any general discovery practice in habeas corpus proceedings prior to adoption of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
In considering the intended application of the new rules to habeas corpus, it is illuminating to note that, in 1938 the expansion of federal habeas corpus to its present scope was only in its early stages. Mooney v. Holohan, 294 U. S. 103 (1935); Johnson v. Zerbst, 304 U. S. 458 (1938); Waley v. Johnston, 316 U. S. 101 (1942). It was not until many years later that the federal courts considering a habeas corpus petition were held to be required in many cases to make an independent determination of the factual basis of claims that state convictions had violated the petitioner's federal constitutional rights. Brown v. Allen, 344 U. S. 443 (1953); Townsend v. Sain, 372 U. S. 293 (1963). In these circumstances, it is readily understandable that, as indicated by the language and the scanty contemporary exegesis of Rule 81(a)(2) which is available, the draftsmen chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
The scope of interrogatories which may be served under Rule 33 also indicates the unsuitability of applying to habeas corpus provisions which were drafted without reference to its peculiar problems. chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
By reference to Rule 26(b), the rule would give the prisoner a right to inquire into "any matter, not privileged, which is relevant to the subject matter involved in the pending action," whether admissible at trial or not. This rule has been generously construed to provide a great deal of latitude for discovery. See Hickman v. Taylor, supra, at 329 U. S. 507; 2A Barron & Holtzoff, supra, § 646. Such a broad-ranging preliminary inquiry is neither necessary nor appropriate in the context of a habeas corpus proceeding.
It is true that the availability of Rule 33 would provide prisoners with an instrument of discovery which could be activated on their own initiative, without prior chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
court approval, and that this would be of considerable tactical advantage to them in the prosecution of their efforts to demonstrate such error in their trial as would result in their release. But despite the forceful and ingenious argument of Walker's counsel and amici curiae, [Footnote 6] this consideration cannot carry the day. It is a long march from this contention to a conclusion that the discovery provisions of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure were intended to extend to habeas corpus proceedings. We have no power to rewrite the Rules by judicial interpretations. We have no power to decide that Rule 33 applies to habeas corpus proceedings unless, on conventional principles of statutory construction, we can properly conclude that the literal language or the intended effect of the Rules indicates that this was within the purpose of the draftsmen or the congressional understanding.
To conclude that the Federal Rules' discovery provisions do not apply completely and automatically by virtue of Rule 81(a)(2) is not to say that there is no way in which a district court may, in an appropriate case, arrange for procedures which will allow development, for purposes of the hearing, of the facts relevant to disposition of a habeas corpus petition. Petitioners in habeas corpus proceedings, as the Congress and this Court have emphasized, and as we have discussed, supra, at 394 U. S. 290-292, are entitled to careful consideration and plenary processing of their claims including full opportunity for presentation of the relevant facts. Congress has provided that, once a petition for a writ of habeas corpus is filed, unless chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
Flexible provision is made for taking evidence by oral testimony, by deposition, or upon affidavit and written interrogatory. 28 U.S.C. § 2246. Cf. §§ 2245, 2254(e). The court shall "summarily hear and determine the facts, and dispose of the matter as law and justice require." 28 U.S.C. § 2243. But with respect to methods for securing facts where necessary to accomplish the objective of the proceedings Congress has been largely silent. Clearly, in these circumstances, the habeas corpus jurisdiction and the duty to exercise it being present, the courts may fashion appropriate modes of procedure, by analogy to existing rules or otherwise in conformity with judicial usage. Where their duties require it, this is the inescapable obligation of the courts. Their authority is expressly confirmed in the All Writs Act, 28 U.S.C. § 1651. This statute has served since its inclusion, in substance, in the original Judiciary Act as a "legislatively approved source of procedural instruments designed to achieve the rational ends of law.'" Price v. Johnston, 334 U. S. 266, 334 U. S. 282 (1948), quoting Adams v. United States ex rel. McCann, 317 U. S. 269, 317 U. S. 273 (1942). It has been recognized that the courts may rely upon this statute in issuing orders appropriate to assist them in conducting factual inquiries. American Lithographic Co. v. Werckmeister, 221 U. S. 603, 221 U. S. 609 (1911) (subpoenas duces tecum); Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corp. v. NLRB, 120 F.2d 126, 127 (C.A. 1st Cir. 1941) (order that certain documents be produced for the purpose of pretrial discovery). In Price v. Johnston, supra, this Court held chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
We do not assume that courts, in the exercise of their discretion, will pursue or authorize pursuit of all allegations presented to them. We are aware that confinement sometimes induces fantasy which has its basis in the paranoia of prison, rather than in fact. But where specific allegations before the court show reason to believe that the petitioner may, if the facts are fully developed, be able to demonstrate that he is confined illegally and is therefore entitled to relief, it is the duty of the court to provide the necessary facilities and procedures for an adequate inquiry. Obviously, in exercising this power, the court may utilize familiar procedures, as appropriate, whether these are found in the civil or criminal rules or elsewhere in the "usages and principles of law." [Footnote 7] chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
W. Blackstone, Commentaries *131 (Lewis ed.1902). See generally Fay v. Noia, 372 U. S. 391, 399-415 (1963). Cf. Frank v. Mangum, 237 U. S. 309, 237 U. S. 346 (Holmes, J., joined by Hughes, J., dissenting) (1915),
I would affirm the Court of Appeals' holding in this case, Wilson v. Harris, 378 F.2d 141, that 28 U.S.C. 2246 does not authorize discovery in habeas corpus proceedings. Upon affirmance, I would not go further and write what appears to me to be, in effect, an advisory opinion directing the trial court to formulate some kind of new legal system for discovery in this kind of case. Fully agreeing with the Court's statement that "[w]e have no power to rewrite the Rules by judicial interpretations," I go further and doubt that we have power to chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
There have been many complaints among members of the bar about many Court-made rules of procedure, and I would venture the suggestion that in no field have the number of those complaints exceeded the complaints in this particular field of discovery. I regret that I cannot "assume," with the Court, that, given blanket authority, "courts, in the exercise of their discretion, will [not] pursue or authorize pursuit of all allegations presented to them." This case makes me skeptical about such an assumption. Here, Walker was convicted in a state court of having marihuana in his possession. After exhausting all state remedies, he asked the federal courts to let him out of jail. He apparently did not allege his innocence, does not now do so, and this Court apparently does not now consider the question of guilt or innocence in this case. What he does allege is that the trial court made an error in admitting certain evidence against him. It is not alleged that the evidence was not relevant against him or that the verdict resting on that evidence was not a truthful, honest verdict. We must, therefore, assume that he was and is guilty of the crime of which he was convicted. See my dissent in Kaufman v. United States, ante p 394 U. S. 231, decided today. What is relevant, however, and all that is alleged, is that the evidence used against him, presumably the marihuana, was found on his premises as the result of a search made after a statement by a person to a policeman, which statement the allegations now charge "was not shown to have been reliable" and which was chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
I agree that neither Rule 33 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure nor any statute authorizes the interrogatories sought in this case. I further agree that district courts do have power to require discovery when essential to render a habeas corpus proceeding effective. But I would make it explicit that such power is narrow, and should be exercised sparingly, and would not set the district courts "at large," as I fear today's opinion may be taken to do. chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
This case furnishes an apt illustration of he differences between my viewpoint and what seems to be that of the majority. As stated more fully in the Court's opinion, ante at 394 U. S. 288-28, Walker claimed that marihuana admitted at his trial was seized incident to an arrest which was based upon information supplied by an unreliable informant. After the District Court had ordered an evidentiary hearing, Walker directed to the respondent warden a series of interrogatories designed to establish the unreliability of the informant. The interrogatories asked whether the officer who arrested Walker had made previous arrests or searches on the basis of information given by the same informant; if so, whether such arrests or searches resulted in convictions, and whether the informant had ever supplied information which the officer considered unreliable.
It seems apparent that this discovery was not essential to an adequate habeas proceeding. All of the information sought was known to the arresting officer. Walker knew the officer's identity; in fact, the officer had testified at the preliminary hearing and at trial on the very issue of the informant's reliability. Hence, there is no reason to believe that all of the information could not have been obtained by calling the officer as a witness at the habeas hearing. Although I realize that the parties have not directed their arguments to this precise question, I am satisfied that, on the face of things, Walker cannot possibly show that this discovery is essential to a fair proceeding. Accordingly, I would affirm outright the judgment of the Court of Appeals. [Footnote 2/1] chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
There are several reasons for believing that a case-by-case approach will be unsatisfactory in the long range. It seems to me that, in fairness both to habeas petitioners and to their adversaries, the discovery procedures which are available in such actions should be uniform throughout the federal system, and not dependent upon the varying chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
Such considerations lead me to think that, in the longer view, the formulation of discovery rules can best be accomplished through use of the power which Congress has conferred upon us to establish general rules governing civil procedure in the federal district courts. By using this method of rulemaking, the advice of the Judicial Conference of the United States and its appropriate advisory committees could be obtained. [Footnote 2/2] These bodies are well equipped to assess the dimensions of the discovery problem and devise apt solutions. Their deliberations would be free from the time pressures and piecemeal character of case-by-case adjudication. And the resulting rules would be uniform throughout the federal system. chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
My conviction that this would be the best course is strengthened by recollection of our decision in Miner v. Atlass, 363 U. S. 641 (1960), and the events which followed. In Miner, we held that a District Court sitting in admiralty had no power to order the taking of an oral discovery deposition. Responding to a suggestion in our opinion, see 363 U.S. at 363 U. S. 651, and to earlier stirrings at the bar, the Judicial Conference and the Advisory Committee on General Admiralty Rules swiftly proposed new Admiralty Rules authorizing certain additional kinds of discovery, including oral depositions. After approval by this Court and submission to Congress, as required by statute, [Footnote 2/3] the new Admiralty Rules went into effect a little more than a year after our decision. [Footnote 2/4] There is no reason to think that the Judicial Conference and the advisory committees would not be equally cooperative in this instance.
My Brother STEWART bases his dissent in this case upon my own dissenting opinion in Kaufman v. United States, ante, p. 394 U. S. 242, in which I have taken the position that, in actions brought by federal prisoners under 28 U.S.C. § 2255, Fourth Amendment claims should be entertained only upon a showing of "special circumstances." I prefer to rest my disagreement with the result in this case upon other grounds, for two reasons. First, this case is not on all fours with Kaufman, since this was a federal habeas action by a state prisoner, rather than an action by a federal prisoner under § 2255. The Kaufman question has not been briefed or argued in this case, and there may conceivably be significant distinctions between the two types of proceedings. See, e.g., Amsterdam, Search, Seizure, and Section 2255: A Comment, 112 U.Pa.L.Rev. 378 (1964). Second, although this case happens, like Kaufman, to involve a search and seizure issue, the Court's reasoning here plainly applies to all claims cognizable on federal habeas corpus. Hence, it seems appropriate to rest my dissent upon broader grounds, which also appeal to my Brother WHITE.
I wholly agree that Rule 33 is inapplicable to habeas corpus proceedings. Contrary to my Brother HARLAN, I further agree that federal judges in carrying out their duty to dispose of habeas corpus applications "as law and justice require," 28 U.S.C. § 2243, should not be inhibited by inflexibly formalized procedural rules. In getting at the facts in such cases, the district courts chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
should be given wide leeway for "discretion to exercise their common sense." Machibroda v. United States, 368 U. S. 487, 368 U. S. 495. *
However, for the reasons stated in MR. JUSTICE HARLAN's dissenting opinion today in Kaufman v. United States, ante, p. 394 U. S. 242, which I have joined, I would affirm the judgment in the present case.
368 U.S. at 368 U. S. 495.