Document: 338 U.S. 327 70 S.Ct. 161 94 L.Ed. 144 PARKER et al.v.LOS ANGELES COUNTY al. STEINER v. LOS Nos. 49, 50. Argued Nov. 8, 1949. Decided Dec. 5, Messrs. John T. McTernan, A. L. Wirin, Los Angeles, Cal., for petitioner. Mr. Gerald G. Kelly, respondents. Justice FRANKFURTER delivered the opinion of Court. 1 In No. twenty-five classified civil servants County Angeles brought an action in Superior Court that County, and 50, suit was by one such employee. The respective plaintiffs sought relief against enforcement its officials what is colloquially known as a loyalty test, they did so themselves 'in representative capacity * on behalf 20,000 employees similarly situated.' 2 plaintiffs, petitioners here, alleged August 26, 1947, Board Supervisors adopted part 'Loyalty Check' program requirement all execute prescribed affidavit. It consisted four parts, fully set forth Appendix. By Part A each employee required to support Constitution United States, laws State California; B he forswears since December 7, 1941, has been member any organization advocating forcible overthrow Government States or California now advocates overthrow, will future advocate directly through organization; C list his aliases; D asked indicate whether ever 'a of, indirectly supported followed' enumerated 145 organizations. Asserting fear penalizing consequences from program, claiming law barred coercive measures secure obedience affidavit requirement, these actions. Demurrers complaints were sustained judgments affirmed District Appeal Second Appellate District. 88 Cal.App.2d 481, 199 P.2d 429. After Supreme denied discretionary review we case here because, showing then before us, serious questions seemed raised scope State's power safeguard security with due regard liberty guaranteed Due Process Clause Fourteenth Amendment. 337 929, 69 1494. view, however, circumstances became manifest after cases came argument, are precluded reaching constitutional issues their merits. 3 To begin with, decision under does not tell us unambiguously compulsion, if any, order carried. unequivocally clear lower court refused decide who discloses so-called 'subversive' activities connections may reason be discharged. clear, whether, contend, meant hold discharge refuses file affidavit.1 This ambiguity renders doubtful issue at most would exercise jurisdiction obtain clarification court. See Honeyman Hanan, 300 14, 57 350, 81 476; Minnesota National Tea Co., 309 551, 60 676, 84 920; Tax Commission Utah Van Cott, 306 511, 59 605, 83 950; Herb Pitcairn, 324 117, 65 459, 89 789. But which called our attention reached leave no doubt lead bring them ripe adjudication. American Wood Paper Co. Heft, 8 Wall. 333, 19 379; Id., 131 U.S.Append. xcii, 378; Commercial Cable Burleson, 250 360, 39 512, 63 1030. 4 As July 20, 1948, nearly year original order, but 104 22,000 officers had executed On day, noncomplying advised providing (1) unless Parts A, 26 discharged, (2) time discharged 'if when test litigation pending finally concluded determination justified requiring information embodied Paragraph 'D."2 5 first explicit announcement sanctions furtherance program. entire 45 employees. Of these, 29 only C. Sixteen stood ground compliance. They invoked administrative remedy Civil Service decided them. June 24 this sixteen writ mandate Commission, prayer reinstatement back pay. We except signed C, petitioner party 6 From it appears courts have inception expressly threatens sanctions. These being challenged well Constitution. For know sustain claims local law.3 present intermediate appellate because deem records deserving review. modified pass should go contentions petitioners. relevant note unrelated those urged based law, come tribunal insensitive Communist Party America Peek, 20 Cal.2d 536, 127 889; James Marinship Corp., 25 721, 155 329, 160 A.L.R. 900. If recognized courts, course basis asserting denial Federal right. enough urge right definitively law. 7 system requires stay hand until opportunities afforded exhausted litigants invidiously technical rule. best teaching Court's experience admonishes entertain advance strictest necessity. Decent respect demands wait spoken knowledge events light bar Since writs must dismissed decision, subsidiary fall. Rescue Army Municipal City 331 549, 585, 67 1409, 1427, 91 1666; Alabama Federation Labor, Local Union 103, Brotherhood Carpenters Joiners McAdory, 325 450, 1384, 1725; C.I.O. 472, 1395, 1741. Dismissed. 9 JUSTICE DOUGLAS took consideration disposition cases. 10 11 follows: Oath Affidavit 12 Department .......... Office Employment 13 I, ......, do solemnly swear (or affirm) I defend California, enemies, foreign domestic; bear true faith allegiance same; take obligation freely, without mental reservation purpose evasion; faithfully duties office employment am about enter engaged. So Help Me God. B. re Subversive Activity 14 further advocate, nor member, political force violence, specified ...... during officer become violence. Aliases 15 never used names other than listed ............ D. Membership Organizations 16 followed hereinafter organizations, X mark. NAME 17 Abraham Lincoln Brigade. 18 Academic Rights Council California. School Clubs. Agitprop. 21 Artists Congress. 22 Americans. 23 Comm. Free Idonesia. Democracy Intellectual Freedom. Protection Foreign Born. Save Refugees. 27 Americans Communications Assn. 28 Party. Soviet Relations. 30 Political Unity. 31 Friends Chinese People. 32 Guard. 33 League Against War Fascism. 34 Peace Democracy. 35 Christian Women. 36 Mobilization. 37 Russian Institute. 38 Society Technical Aid Spain. Student Union. 40 Veterans 41 Writers 42 Youth 43 School. 44 Anti-Axis 46 Anti-Hearst Examiner. 47 Anti-Nazi League. 48 Hollywood. Anti-ROTC Committee 49 Arcos Limited. 50 Artist Front Win War. 51 Arts Advisory Council. 52 Authors 53 Ballila. 54 Bay Area Discrimination. 55 Conference Democratic Action. 56 Labor Legislature. 58 Centro Anti-Communists. China Citizens Better Education. 61 Defense Mexican-American Youth. 62 Earl Browder. Support Labors Right. 64 No Wars Coalition. 66 Northern Comintern. 68 Boycott Japanese Aggression. S. W. Garson. 71 Protesting Attacks 72 Defend Keeping Out 73 International. 74 Party's Little Theatre. 75 Workers 76 77 78 Consumers Federation. 79 Contemporary 80 Co-ordinating Lift Embargo (To Spain). Pan 82 Cultural Professional Projects Congress Mexican Spanish-Mexican Peoples Daily Worker. 85 86 Elizabeth Curley Flynn Club. 87 Elizalde Anti-Discrimination Emergency Trade Spanish 90 Ex Combattanti Society. Farmer 92 Architects, Engineers, Chemists Technicians. 93 Field First Spanish-American People 95 Russia. 96 97 German-American Bund. 98 Greater New York Inalienable Rights. 99 Harry Bridges Commn. 100 Hold Price Line 101 Hollywood Anti Nazi 102 Commission. 103 Community Radio Group. Independent Arts, Sciences Professions. 105 106 Theatre Alliance. 107 108 Humanist Friends. 109 110 International Defense. 111 Red Aid. 112 Order. 113 Jewish Committee. 114 Reed 115 Joint 116 Anti-Fascists Refugee 117 118 119 120 Writers. 121 Struggle Negro 122 Women Shoppers. 123 First. 124 125 126 Mooney Marine Cooks Stewards 128 Maritime Pacific. 129 Mobilization 130 Motion Picture Cooperative Buyers Guild. 132 Action 133 Abolish Poll Tax. 134 Friendship. 135 Conference. 136 Constitutional Liberties. 137 Women's 138 139 Students 140 Masses. 141 142 North 143 Pen Hammer America. Front. 146 Progressive Rebuild 147 Scholarship 148 Annual Model 149 Simon J. Lubin 150 Social Problems 151 Relief 152 153 Farmers 154 Workers. Western 156 157 World 158 159 Young Pioneers. Clearly some discharges demotions final. division authority between thus formulated court: 'In appointing wishes service reasons therefor given and, thereupon, desires entitled hearing commission. commission finds sufficient, void, despite anything can it. 'From far said, self-evident neither agents cause insufficient. Accordingly, view Supervisors, power, sole 'subversive', attempt effect if, hearing, holds otherwise. 'Whether claimed causes character enumerated, uphold discharges, causes, matters upon speculate adjudicate time. *' 493, 497, 429, 436, 438 439. Charter, Art. IX, § 34(13) Cal.Laws 1913, p. 1495, amended, Cal.Stat.1939, 3147. differed elucidated extent few organizations omitted. Article Charter provides: 'No person service, seeking admission thereto, shall appointed, reduced removed way favored discriminated religious opinions affiliations.' 1496. §§ 1, 4, 9, 10, 16, contains safeguards infringement rights claim investigation strikes.

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