Document: 336 U.S. 155 69 S.Ct. 425 93 L.Ed. 569 FISHERv.PACE, Sheriff. No. 45. Argued and Submitted Dec. 9, 1948. Decided Feb. 7, 1949. Rehearing Denied March See 928, 653. Mr. R. Dean Moorhead, of Austin, Tex., for petitioner. Quentin Keith, Beaumont, respondent. Justice REED delivered the opinion Court. 1 While participating as counsel in trial a cause petitioner, Joe J. Fisher, was adjudged guilty contempt committed presence court by District Court Jasper County, Texas. The petitioner's client plaintiff an action under state Workmen's Compensation Law. Vernon's Ann.Civ.St.Tex. art. 8306 et seq. case being tried before jury parties had stipulated to average weekly wage claimant rate compensation per week. only remaining questions be determined were extent duration incapacity resulting from injury claimant's foot. Seven special issues, designed furnish answer these problems limited them, submitted jury. 2 Thereafter petitioner began his opening argument during which following occurrence took place, shown court's order commitment: 3 'Opening Argument Jury Plaintiff's Attorney, Fisher 4 'Now, bear mind, gentlemen, that this is what we call specific injury. A general entire body. This known injury, it confined left We have injuries where you eye, your hand, foot; foot, law states amount maximum person can receive such is, one hundred twenty-five weeks. That most Anderson Godfrey could receive, would weeks, because all are asking. Now, means weeks times rate. 5 'By Cox: Your Honor please— 6 Court: Wait minute. 7 not concerned with computation; has series issues. 8 been agreed upon. 9 Fisher: I think material, Honor, tell so they he is. 10 They interested dollars cents. 11 extent— 12 Don't argue me. Go ahead. will give exception it. 13 Note our exception. 14 All right. 15 '(By Fisher:) negro, stated, onl recover compensation, at whatever figure law. 16 am objecting discussion, recover. 17 Gentlemen! know rule, sustained objection. 18 asking— 19 Gentlemen, don't any consideration statement Fisher. 20 right explain whether or 21 declare mistrial if mess me two minutes half, fine besides. 22 take conduct 23 right; $25.00. 24 If satisfaction. 25 $50.00; $25.00 more. Sheriff come get Pay clerk $50.00. 26 You mean trying represent my client? 27 No, sir; 28 making no effort commit contempt, but merely stating argument— 29 Sheriff, him out courtroom. on three days jail. 30 satisfaction; advantage bench. 31 dollar Take out. 32 demand position audience. 33 let stand there. out.' 34 sheriff held custody upon verbal until amended conformity Texas law,1 setting forth full above proceedings together formal commitment, filed later same day. Upon application writ habeas corpus Supreme secure release judgment upheld denied relief remanded undergo punishment court. Ex parte Tex.Sup., 206 S.W.2d 1000. As alleged denial due process Fourteenth Amendment Constitution United States, granted certiorari consider its conviction contempt. 334 827, 68 1339. claimed consists refusal review facts ascertain alternative, reviewed, constituting appear. 35 Historically rationally inherent power courts punish contempts face without further proof aid open question.2 attribute essential preserve their authority prevent administration justice falling into disrepute. Such summary accords law.3 36 There must adequate support Contrary contention evaluated decide there sufficient evidence was. (206 1003), set 'for purpose determining constituted acts confer jurisdiction court' enter order.4 In other words, highest proposed satisfy itself substantial validate insure 'restrained liberty law.' After careful analysis disclosed court, conclusion reached clearly summarily presence. 37 affirmed. type transcript record cannot convey us complete picture courtroom scene. It does depict elements misbehavior expression, manner speaking, bearing, attitude Reliance placed fairness objectivity presiding judge. viewed unit appraise properly misconduct, relationship officer lost sight of.5 38 pointed practice submitting issues adopted remove jury's effect ultimate outcome answers disputed facts.6 case, might tempted find long severe knew recovery employee's compensation. Counsel required confine arguments touch matters withdrawn jury.7 Yet here, member bar, ignored rule outset address exceeded bounds permissible allow client. On objection opposing stopped judge, decision persisted answers. He switched explanation amou t words 'one rate' change obviously brought information limitation recovery—a factor judge inadmissible addition stub-born bring excluded matter knowledge jury, twice refused heed admonition point. said, 'It duty suit determine type, character Of course rulings thereon subject appellate courts, make them wrong. erroneous injured party plain, simple remedy appeal. thus abide decisions even erroneous; rights clients violated Any procedure result mockery destroy every concept orderly justice.'8 turned understanding practice. see nothing indicates disregard rights. should command respect himself well office. say, however, mildly provocative language bench puts constitutional protection around attorney show manifested record, particularly last few sentences altercation. 39 accordingly 40 Affirmed. 41 DOUGLAS, whom BLACK concurs, dissenting. 42 recognized ago vindicating dignity Terry, 128 289, 301—304, 77, 78, 79, 405 cases cited. But exercise narrowly lest become instrument tyranny. Chief Taft Cooke v. 267 517, 539, 45 390, 396, 767, warned federal 'a delicate one, care needed avoid arbitrary oppressive conclusions.' restraint necessary scheme when claiming heels imprison opportunity defend. Bridges State California, 314 252, 62 190, 86 192, 159 A.L.R. 1346; Pennekamp Florida, 328 331, 66 1029, 90 1295; Craig Harney, 331 367, 67 1249, 91 1546, restricted constructive maintain freedom press speech preferred position. Freedom deserves protection. 43 Fisher's said improper. do read record. attempt appears colloquy: 44 ' y 46 47 48 49 50 51 right.' 52 never again abided ruling What next happened follows: 53 54 55 56 57 58 injury.' that, 'This law,' did mention 'dollars cents' irrelevant. new 'average compensation' meaning ruled. Sharp, dissenting Court, stated 1008), indicate relator disobeying but, contrary, shows obey same.' also seeking perfect points. 59 improper so, then Sharp dissented. point uncertain judges disagree practice, lawyer laid pressing point? divided 60 may given contemptuous flavor cold reveal. readily sacrificed, offense, too much ask ground ruling. Certainly purport objection, tone voice, facial expression. dispute over comment having another strategy. acting role resourceful lawyer. penalizes zeal sanctions censorship inside courthouse ideals flourish. 61 fair inference record—that picked quarrel used high wreak vengeance him. shown, think, commencement critical 63 64 $25.00.' 65 victim pique hotheadedness judicial who supposed serenity keeps battle crowd. perversion function sat pecuniary interest litigation. Tumey Ohio, 273 510, 437, 71 749, 1243. MURPHY, Petitioner told times, entitled discussion compensation,' 'not cents.' To excepted, believing possible considered repeated before, different subject, shouldn't 'mess with' Quite naturally, objected conduct; clear remarks 'calculated reflect prejudice client's * constitute reversible error.' Dallas Consol. Electric St. Co. McAllister, Tex.Civ.App. 131, 137, S.W. 933, 936. And objected, penalty successively raised. Finally sheriff: 'Don't wide latitude punishing interference justice. 405; 767. nature proceedings, risk imprisonment trial, hearing, drastic weapon entrusted sanction patent increase objections, believe, extraordinary remedy, tradition hearings. Its use carefully actual obstruction. opinion, petty disagreement approach serious justifies weapon. Whatever situations necessary, plain them. An rarely correct abuse this. 'If intends unfair, farce how many detailed rules provide him.' McElroy, Some Observations Concerning Discretions Reposed Trial Judges American Law Institute's Model Code Evidence, pp. 356, 358. printed reveal inflections gestures, tenor judge's trial—matters responsible daily system. Rheinstein, Who Watches Watchmen? Interpretations Modern Legal Philosophies (New York, 1947), p. 589. recent years seen pronounced tendency leave discretion MrElroy, supra; Yankwich, Increasing Judicial Discretion Criminal Proceedings, F.R.D. 746. movement, rests assumption wise impartial, quick upset determinations demonstrate light regard principles guide jurist. 70 reverse judgment. RUTLEDGE, 72 Without recounting than done opinions unfortunate episode, concluded here discloses made which, some instances, justified circumstance. regret con lusion forced whole colloquy especially rapid succession fines, commitment jail, removal courtroom, unjudicial employed acted heat temper calm control office commands circumstances. 73 Lawyers owe large, obsequious, breach obligation correction act intemperate character, overriding Since comes sequence events taken entirety, undertake separate portion another. Accordingly, stands sentence infected fault noted. follows, view, reversed. provocation, absence action,untinged anger, Kearby, Tex.Cr.R. 531, 635; Ray, 101 432, 276 709. Bl.Com. 286; 302—304, 313, 314, 82, 83, Savin, 131 267, 277, 699, 701, 150; Eilenbecker Plymouth Iowa, 134 31, 36, 37, 424, 426, 801; 534, 536, 394, 767; re Oliver, 333 257, 274, 275, 499, 508. 405: 'We settled doctrine jurisprudence both England country, conflict citizen, direct least superior jurisdiction, offender may, discretion, instantly apprehended immediately imprisoned, issue, occurred; according unbroken chain authorities, reaching back earliest power, although liable abuse, absolutely discharge functions. it, tribunals mercy disorderly violent, neither laws enacted vindication public private rights, nor officers charged administering them.' supra, Hudgings, 249 378, 383, 337, 339, 656, 333. established Testard, Tex. 250, 106 319; Dulaney, 203 203. For instant 1000, 1003. Clark 289 1, 12, 465, 468, 77 993. 1004, 1005. Rule 269, Rules Civil Procedure; Ramirez Acker, 647, 138 1054. 1005; cf. States Mine Workers America, 330 258, 293, 302, 303, 677, 700, 884.

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