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

Heading: 'Contempt' within the Statute

Text: 34 The federal contempt statute, 18 U.S.C. 401, provides 35 A court of the United States shall have power to punish by fine or imprisonment, at its discretion, such contempt of its authority, and none other, as-(1) Misbehavior of any person in its presence or so near thereto as to obstruct the administration of justice . . .. 36 This statute rests on the unquestioned premise that courts must be free to conduct their business without interruption, interference or obstruction. Wood v. Georgia, 370 U.S. 375, 383, 82 S.Ct. 1364, 8 L.Ed.2d 569 (1962). The contempt power which it grants is inherent in all courts of general jurisdiction, state as well as federal,  United States v. Shipp, 203 U.S. 563, 27 S.Ct. 165, 51 L.Ed. 319 (1906), but the fact that the authority of federal courts to punish contempt has been codified is recognition of the fact that such a power, unrestrained by judicial discretion, can encroach upon the very rights and privileges which the courts are designed to foster. For that reason the language of the statute defining the authority to use such power must be closely considered and the judges who are given that authority are admonished to be 'men of fortitude, able to thrive in a hardy climate,' Craig v. Harney, 331 U.S. 367, 376, 67 S.Ct. 1249, 1255, 91 L.Ed. 1546 (1947), and continually 'on guard against confusing offenses to their sensibilities with obstruction to the administration of justice.' Brown v. Unitted States, 356 U.S. 148, 153, 78 S.Ct. 622, 2 L.Ed.2d 589 (1958). 37 The record in this case shows no attempt on the part of appellants to make Snider's trial a forum or a circus for the expression of their own political or religious beliefs. Never was their conduct anything but quiet and respectful. Neither by word nor sign did they do anything 'to obstruct the administration of justice'-- except they would not stand. When ordered to do so, their response was a simple 'I cannot, in good conscience, stand' or words of similar content. Nothing in the record reveals that these words were spoken maliciously, antagonistically, belligerently or were, in the slightest degree, disrespectful in tone or decibel volume or by reason of gesture or demeanor. This case thus presents the bald question whether a failure to stand (accompanied only by such interruption of proceedings as are thought necessary by the district judge to explain the consequences of contempt and cite the alleged contemnor for his actions) is 'misbehavior' within the meaning of 18 U.S.C. 401. 38 We are inclined to think it is not, but at least one circuit has reached a conclusion directly to the contrary. 26 In United States ex rel. Robson v. Malone, 412 F.2d 848 (1969), the Seventh Circuit, in the context of a refusal to stand, expressed some doubt that a district judge was empowered to require spectators to perform 'purely ceremonial or symbolic acts,' citing West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, 319 U.S. 624, 63 S.Ct. 1178, 87 L.Ed. 1628 (1942). 412 F.2d at 850. Yet the court overcame came its doubt and held in a per curiam opinion, without citation of authority, that a district court may require such rising and that, if 'the requirement is proper, it follows that it can be enforced.' 27 412 F.2d at 850. 39 Subsequently, in United States v. Seale, 461 F.2d 345, 371 (7th Cir. 1972), the Seventh Circuit recognized that its own prior decisions required 'an actual material obstruction' and in a companion case, In re Dellinger, 461 F.2d 389, 401 (7th Cir. 1972), conceded that a symbolic act such as refusal to stand, 'when not coupled with further disturbance or disruption, sometimes might not rise to the level of an actual and material obstruction of the judicial process.' 40 Finally, in In re Chase, 468 F.2d 128 (7th Cir. 1972), the Seventh Circuit found that a refusal to stand coupled with what the court deemed to be necessary interruption of the trial by reason of the time consumed in citing the defendant for contempt constituted misbehavior obstructing the administration of justice. 468 F.2d at 132. The court declined, however, to create a per se rule that failure to stand was itself contempt, although the government argued that without such a rule 'the determination of the offense would not rest on the wrongful character of the conduct, but upon the resulting reaction of the judge.' 468 F.2d at 133. Under Chase, the same conduct in one court would be contempt while in another it would not, depending upon the judge. We find it difficult to accept such a subjective interpretation of 'misbehavior.' Either it is or it is not contemptuous, and such a judgment should rest not on the judge's sensibility but upon the purposes served by the requirement. 41 That the custom of rising contributes to the functioning of the court by 'marking the beginning and end of the session' and by 'serving to remind all that attention must be concentrated upon the business before the court.' United States ex rel. Robson v. Malone, 412 F.2d 848, 850 (7th Cir. 1969), we do not question. But the words of the clerk or the judge may serve this function as well. The rising requirement seems to us not essential to the functioning of the court; as such, the failure to rise does not constitute a material obstruction. If the failure to rise distracts others, provokes a reaction on their part or even causes 'a failure to become silent or focus attention on the business before the court,' 468 F.2d at 133, we think the fault may better be resolved by compelling silence and attention than by coercing a gesture of respect. What others do may constitute misbehavior on their part, but it does not justify the finding of criminal contempt as to the person who simply refuses to stand and does nothing more. Of course, improper language or gestures accompanying such a refusal may be separately punishable as contempt. 42 We share the doubt expressed by the Ninth Circuit in Comstock v. United States, 419 F.2d 1128 (1969), that failure to rise per se, whether stemming from religious belief, conscience or symbolic protest, can be punished as 'misbehavior' within the meaning of 18 U.S.C. 401 without violating the Constitution. Where behavior in the courtroom reaches the level of speech or expression, it is protected, absent 'an imminent . . . threat to the administration of justice.' In re Little, 404 U.S. 553, 555, 92 S.Ct. 659, 660, 30 L.Ed.2d 708 (1972); 28 see In re McConnell, 370 U.S. 230, 82 S.Ct. 1288, 8 L.Ed.2d 434 (1962). If Snider's refusal to rise constitutes symbolic speech, 29 and if we should construe the statute so as to embrace that refusal to rise within the meaning of 'misbehavior,' a very serious constitutional question would be presented-- not unlike that in West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, 319 U.S. 624, 63 S.Ct. 1178, 87 L.Ed. 1628 (1942). It is not easy to distinguish the rising requirement from the flag salute. Both seem to require affirmation, if not of a belief, at least of 'an attitude of mind.' 30 319 U.S. at 633, 63 S.Ct. 1178. As Mr. Justice Jackson said in Barnette, 43 If there is any fixed star in our constitutional constellation, it is that no official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion or force citizens to confess by word or act their faith therein. If there are any circumstances which permit an exception, they do not now occur to us. 44 319 U.S. at 642, 63 S.Ct. at 1187. 45 We are thus led to the conclusion, and so hold, that the mere failure to rise upon command of the marshal in a United States courtroom is not misbehavior within the meaning of 18 U.S.C. 401 and does not constitute criminal contempt of the court. To so hold will not, we think, tend to diminish respect for the judiciary and for the administration of justice. We do not envision, as the result of our decision today, disorder flourishing in the courtroom. Instead, we anticipate the custom of rising upon the convening and adjournment of court will continue and become more significant because wholly voluntary. There was a time when an unwary parishioner was tapped by the warden to enforce traditional religious observance, including rising, the bowing of knee and head. The gestures of piety are still observed-- but without coercion. 46 We have no doubt that the judges of this circuit will continue to maintain order in the courtroom and to conduct business expeditiously. We think they fully share our belief that 'real respect of the citizenry for the judiciary is earned, not commanded.' In re Chase, 468 F.2d 128, 137 (7th Cir. 1972) (Stevens, J., dissenting). 47 Reversed.