Opinion ID: 453285
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Failure of Attorney General to Make Application for Habeas Corpus Ad Testificandum

Text: 38 Scaduto argues next that the writ of habeas corpus ad testificandum should be quashed, and the contempt order vacated, because the application for the writ by an Assistant United States Attorney rather than the Attorney General violates the terms of P.L. 98-368, Section 3. This section provides that 39 A court of the United States within the jurisdiction in which testimony of a person held in custody is sought by the Commission ... may, upon application by the Attorney General, issue a writ of habeas corpus ad testificandum requiring the custodian to produce such person before the Commission or before a member of the Commission.... 40 The Commission argues that 28 U.S.C.A. Sec. 510 confers on the Attorney General broad power to delegate his authority, and that absent clear statutory language or history demonstrating an intent to supercede that section, such authority to delegate should be respected. 41 The case law, once again, supports the Commission's position. Section 510 is presumed to control delegation by the Attorney General, unless the statutory provision in question explicitly supercedes it, see United States v. Cuomo, 525 F.2d 1285 (5th Cir.1976); United States v. Giordano, 416 U.S. 505, 94 S.Ct. 1820, 40 L.Ed.2d 341 (1974). The language of the provision in no way suggests that it was intended to supercede or narrow the power conferred in Section 510, compare with United States v. Giordano, supra (language of Section 2516 explicitly narrows Attorney General's power of delegation), and the pertinent legislative history reflects an attitude of deference toward Section 510. Under regulations promulgated pursuant to 28 U.S.C.A. Sec. 510, the Attorney General may delegate his power to Assistant and Deputy Assistant Attorneys General, who may then delegate it to United States Attorneys, who may in turn delegate it to Assistant United States Attorneys, see 28 C.F.R. 0.57; 28 U.S.C.A. Sec. 542; United States v. Cuomo, supra; United States v. Smyth, 104 F.Supp. 283 (D.C.Cal.1952). Moreover, Scaduto demonstrates no prejudice arising from the alleged failure to conform to the regulatory scheme. See F.T.C. v. Foucha, supra; Pacific Molasses Co. v. F.T.C., supra. The district court did not err in failing to quash the writ of habeas corpus ad testificandum on grounds of improper delegation.