Document: 358 U.S. 228 79 S.Ct. 276 3 L.Ed.2d 260 John LEE, Petitioner,v.Paul J. MADIGAN, Warden, Federal Penitentiary, Alcatraz, California. No. 42. Argued Dec. 9, 10, 1958. Decided Jan. 12, 1959. Messrs. Carl L. Rhoads, Ecorse, Mich., and Robert E. Hannon, Castro Valley, Cal., for petitioner. Mr. F. Davis, Washington, D.C., respondent. Justice DOUGLAS delivered the opinion of Court. 1 Article War 92, 10 U.S.C. (1946 ed., Supp. IV) § 1564, which, prior to adoption Uniform Code Military Justice,1 governed trials murder or rape before courts-martial,2 contained a proviso 'That no person shall be tried by court-martial committed within geographical limits States Union District Columbia in time peace.' 2 The question decision concerns meaning words 'in peace' context 92. Petitioner, while serving with United Army France, was convicted court-martial, dishonorably discharged, sentenced prison 20 years. He that sentence custody at Camp Cooke, California, when he crime conspiracy commit murder. This offense occurred on June 1949, Cooke. is whether as term used 92d Article. raised petition writ habeas corpus challenging jurisdiction court-martial. Both Court (148 F.Supp. 23) Appeals (248 F.2d 783) ruled against We granted certiorari, 356 911, 78 672, 585. 4 Germans surrendered May 8, 1945 (59 Stat. 1857), Japanese September 2, 1733). President December 31, 1946, proclaimed cessation hostilities, adding 'a state war still exists.' 61 1048, 50 U.S.C.A.Appendix, 601 note. In 1947, Senate Joint Resolution 123 passed (61 449) which terminated, inter alia, several provisions Articles War3 but did not mention Germany terminated October 19, 1951, Congress (65 451, note preceding section 1) Presidential Proclamation (66 c3, 1). And April 28, 1952, formal declaration peace termination Japan c31, 1), being effective date Peace Treaty. Since 1949 critical involved here—preceded these latter dates, since previous action political branches our Government had specifically lifted 92 from 'state war' category, it argued we were then purposes That argument gains support dictum Kahn v. Anderson, 255 1, 9—10, 41 224, 226, 65 L.Ed. 469, 'signifies complete sense, officially declared.' Of like tenor are generalized statements act' other Government, Judiciary. See Ludecke Watkins, 335 160, 169, 68 1429, 1433, 1881. do think either those authorities dispositive present controversy. A more particularized discriminating analysis must made. deal construed light precise facts each case impact particular statute involved. drafting laws may decide Nation 'at one purpose, another. It use same broadly context, narrowly problem judicial interpretation determine sense this law' arrived. 9 Wall. 56, 69, 19 615. Only mischief can result if terms given regardless statutory context. 5 case, July 29, 1918, trial started November 4, 1918—both dates Armistice.4 is, therefore, clear Moreover, military tribunal whose over attaches actual does lose because hostilities cease. Once court acquires continues until end imposition sentence. Carter McClaughry, 183 365, 383, 22 181, 188, 46 236. broad comments quite unnecessary decision. 6 1881, belongs special category cases dealing power Executive aftermath problems brings necessarily dispel. remove an alien enemy after have ended declared ended. Hamilton Kentucky Distilleries & Warehouse Co., 251 146, 40 106, 107, 64 194, involves constitutionality under prohibition law 1045, armistice signed operative 'until conclusion thereafter demobilization, determined States.' Woods Cloyd W. Miller 333 138, 421, 596, control housing rentals promulgated formally declared. These reach power, source regulatory authority national affairs, hostilities. earlier McElrath States, 102 426, 26 189, likewise irrelevant problem. suit back pay officer, outcome turned allowed dismissal officer service only made dismissal; held such action, August 20, 1866, announced rebellion existence peace, lawful, there extrinsic evidence intend Proclamation. 7 Our controlled cases. setting grant tribunals try people capital offenses. Did design narrow authority? Is soldier civil crime, rape, generously strictly construed? Cf. Duncan Kahanamoku, 327 304, 66 606, 90 688. 8 write clean slate. attitude free society toward tribunals—our reluctance give them nonmilitary offenses—has long history. reviewed both British American history, touching point, Reid Covert, 354 23—30, 77 1222, 1233—1237, 1148. pointed out great alarms sounded James II authorized soldiers crimes protests mounted courts-martial impinged domain courts country. views Blackstone became deeply imbedded thinking: 'The necessity order discipline army thing countenance; therefore ought permitted king's open all persons receive justice according land.' Blackstone's Commentaries 413. see Hale, History Analysis Common Law England (1st ed. 1713), 40—41. spoke tradition ex rel. Toth Quarles, 350 11, 22, 76 100 'Free countries world restrict narrowest deemed absolutely essential maintaining among troops active service.' withheld. Not 1863 granted. 12 736. restricted times 'war, insurrection, rebellion.'5 theory courts, open, wholly qualified handle As Col. William Winthrop wrote Precedents (2d 1920) 667, about law: 11 'Its main object evidently provide punishment localities where, consequence occupation, prevalence martial law, suspended, their exercised promptitude efficiency required exigencies period necessities government.' Civil were, indeed, thought better than They engrained attitude, thorough indoctrination procedural safeguards necessary fair trial. important constitutional guarantees come into play once citizen—whether civilian—is charged rape. most significant right jury, tyranny has designed.6 assume Congress, well alive importance gave its phrasing. Statutory language conform near traditional protect rights citizen. Ex parte Endo, 323 283, 301—304, 208, 218, 219, 89 243; Rowoldt Perfetto, 355 115, 180, 140; Kent Dulles, 357 116, 129, 1113, 1119, 1204. will attribute purpose guard jealously dilution liberties citizen would enlarged expense courts. General Enoch H. Crowder, Judge Advocate General, testifying favor forerunner protection extended securing peers.'7 should read achieve end. 13 refused 688, construe 'martial law,' Act so supplant civilian substitute civilians violations war. imputed consonant traditions liberties. approach manner. Whatever been plan later continuing some controls ceased,8 cannot readily deny benefit jury offenses four years ceased. To hold otherwise make substantial turn fiction. presume sense. attributed common destructive rights, realization balanced scheme War. makes us consider questions presented, including issues much mooted. 14 Reversed. 15 FRANKFURTER took part consideration case. 16 HARLAN, whom CLARK joins, dissenting. 17 today holds offense, country petitioner without entertain proceeding. Believing ground upon nullifies petitioner's conviction settled squarely contrary, de novo examination also requires I respectfully dissent. 18 unanimously Givens Zerbst, 21, 227, 229, 475. now dismisses square holding 'dictum' 'quite decision,' pointing statement shows Armistice resulted World I, him convened Armistice. hardly dismissed lightly. might regarded Court, proceeding entirely different actually adopted, relied beginning dispositive. But plainly proceed any basis. Rather, accepted least arguendo contention continue even previously begun. thus sound say 'peace' declared,' Kahn. Given chose indispensable. idea decides becomes decided another novel doctrine me. implementation enforcement War, able rely construction unanimous reached lightly full consideration, shown fact nearly two pages summary counsels' report devoted discussion question, Court's expression reasoning underlying point. 1948, 27 single year prosecution here involved, reenacted change relevant language. between 1921 underwent inexplicable change, confirmed denied. warrant speculating anew motives enacting re-enacting phrase 92.1 Entirely apart Kahn, today's demonstrably wrong. consistently recognized, many contexts, denote 'war' similar legislation. prohibiting officers Although venture almost reasons could conjured up construing loosely us, 1866 although North South ceased, 'peace, contemplation exist 1866. 168—169, recognized "The treaty legislation proclamation. mode, act.' 596; Knauff Shaughnessy, 338 537, 70 309, 94 317, expressly recognizing Axis powers 1946 1947. 21 says 'Congress another.' course may. points know none, found mean anything 'peace Under circumstances, seems me unmistakable intended means what always, today, meant congressional When wished define statutes something else, explicitly done so. See, e.g., Brides Act, 59 659: 'For Second commenced 7, 1941, ceased joint resolution Congress.' Today's casts cloud federal depends 'war.' Hitherto sort well-defined principles, looking 'treaty proclamation,' US. page 168, ascertain exists. effort 'more analysis,' apparently jettisoned principles. far just taken place.2 23 constitutionally member armed forces committed. sufficient foreclosed supra, my nothing 1148, impairs score. 24 affirm. 108, 70A 36, (Supp. V) 801 et seq., U.S.C.A. enacted 5, 1950. For governing 118, 120. follows: 'Any subject guilty suffer death imprisonment life, direct; premeditated, punished direct. Any who direct: Provided, H.R.Rep. 2682, 79th Cong., 2d Sess.; 799, 80th 1st S.Rep. 339, Sess. 41, 475, companion 30, 1918. Prior Coleman Tennessee, 97 509, 514, 1118. giving exclusive jurisdiction. 'With known hostility interference regular administration intention ascribed absence direct effect.' Id. said 17—19, 5: '* * difference selected members forces. true personnel training experience especially competent infractions rules. Such doubt particularly where purely military, disobedience order, leaving post, etc. wrong, premise method determining guilt innocence laymen specialists perform task. inherent institution jury. 'Juries fairly chosen walks life bring box variety experiences, feelings, intuitions, habits. juries completely conclusions field, field. On occasions, fully Founders country, jurors plain people—have manfully stood defense liberty importunities judges despite prevailing hysteria prejudices. acquittal Penn illustrious example. Unfortunately, instances cited themselves betrayed cause verdicts based prejudice pressures. circumstances independent appellate place they set aside convictions.' 130, 64th Sess., p. 88. Crowder opposed proposal Staff said, 'We never very desirable divorce extent accountability . proper crimes.' Id., 32. employed terminating wartime terminated. dependent time. March 3, 1921, 1359, 1111, 66th 3d 706, At acted selectively. Thus S.J.Res. 123, that, specified (among certain War—but 92), list leaves enacted. failure repeal, alter, amend bearing original purpose. heavy reliance attribution courts' rendered somewhat suspect, least, Justice, 801, §§ 918, 920, 920. finds existed came being. noted proclaiming exists,' 449 (effective 25, 1947), repealed inoperative group measures (not obviously conscious deliberate yet resolution, 'the approved hereby terminated,' Treaty, President, c31.

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