Opinion ID: 321284
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Summary Contempt

Text: 33 Assuming for the moment that appellants' behavior amounted to contempt, the language of Rule 42(a)-- 'that he saw or heard the conduct constituting the contempt and that it was committed in the actual presence of the court'-- would seem to support the district judge's actions in dealing summarily with appellants. But Rule 42(a) has been interpreted more narrowly by the Supreme Court. It has thus been said that the rule was 'reserved 'for exceptional circumstances,' Brown v. United States, 359 U.S. 41, 54, (79 S.Ct. 539, 548, 3 L.Ed.2d 609) (dissenting opinion) . . . (where) speedy punishment may be necessary in order to achieve 'summary vindication of the court's dignity and authority' Cooke v. United States, 267 U.S. 517, (534, 45 S.Ct. 390, 394, 69 L.Ed. 767) . . ..' Harris v. United States, 382 U.S. 162, 164, 86 S.Ct. 352, 354, 15 L.Ed.2d 240 (1965). Harris' assertion of a fifth amendment privilege not to testify before a grand jury, like the Sniders' claim of a first amendment privilege not to stand, was not 'such an open, serious threat to orderly procedure' nor such an 'unusual situation' that 'instant action (was) necessary to protect the judicial institution itself.' 382 U.S. at 167, 86 S.Ct. at 356. The length of time between the initial contemptuous behavior by Snider (the only such behavior by his wife) and the summary punishment (two days) together with the questionable disruptiveness of the behavior itself indicate that appellants were entitled to the full notice and hearing provided by Fed.R.Crim.P. 42(b). Groppi v. Leslie, 404 U.S. 496, 92 S.Ct. 582, 30 L.Ed.2d 632 (1972); cf. Sacher v. United States, 343 U.S. 1, 72 S.Ct. 451, 96 L.Ed. 717 (1952).