Document: 364 U.S. 426 81 S.Ct. 202 5 L.Ed.2d 173 Gus POLITES, Petitioner,v.UNITED STATES. No. 25. Argued Aug. 18, 1960. Decided Nov. 21, Mr. George W. Crockett, Jr., Detroit, Mich., for petitioner. Charles Gordon respondent. Justice STEWART delivered the opinion of Court. 1 Petitioner is a native Greece who came to this country in 1916. In 1942 he became naturalized citizen by decree United States District Court under provisions Nationality Act 1940.1 1952 brought proceedings § 338(a) 1940 revoke his citizenship.2 These culminated judgment denaturalization, D.C., 127 F.Supp. 768. An appeal from that was docketed Appeals Sixth Circuit. Subsequently, circumstances be related, counsel petitioner stipulated dismissal with prejudice, and dismissed accordance stipulatiom. Four years later moved vacate relying upon Rule 60(b), Fed.Rules Civ.Proc., 28 U.S.C.A.3 The denied motion, 24 F.R.D. 401, affirmed, 272 F.2d 709. Certiorari granted consider availability 60(b) relief here presented, 361 958, 80 594, 4 541. 2 Section 305 provided no person should eligible naturalization at any time within ten preceding application had been member organization advocated overthrow force or violence Government States.4 Government's complaint denaturalization charged petitioner's citizenship illegally procured because immediately Communist Party States, an which, it alleged, advised, advocated, taught States.5 3 At hearing petitioner, represented counsel, testified 'around' 1931 until 1938. He stated attended closed meetings about once month, secretary 'Greek Fraction' left 1938 only directive all aliens resign time. Other witnesses described as 'high functionary' Party, existing government violence.6 Based other testimony, found proved clear, unequivocal, convincing evidence statutory period, which 'was then advising, advocating teaching forcible violent government.' page 770. Accordingly, court held citizenship, not become certificate issued.7 A cancelling entered, 768, 770—772.8 From promptly appealed there were pending appeals three judgments same v. Sweet, 106 634; Chomiak, 108 527; Charnowola, 109 810. Petitioner's appeared argued appellants each those cases. Before brief due, affirmed them, 6 Cir., 211 118. thereafter obtained extension filing briefs on case thirty days after disposition certiorari filed When petitions denied, 348 817, 75 28, 99 L.Ed. 644, November 10, 1954. On August 6, 1958, motion 60(b)(5) (6) set aside 1953 decree. ground supported affidavit light Court's opinions two cases recently decided, Nowak 356 660, 78 955, 1048, Maisenberg 670, 960, 1056, 'it now appears * cancellation voidable' 'that longer equitable said have prospective application.' denying decisions 'do contended Polites clearly control instant warranting judgment,' (24 403) that, event, doctrine Ackermann 340 193, 71 209, 95 207, precludes reopening where movant has voluntarily abandoned appeal, reopen asserted change judicial view applicable law. 401. 'for reasons forth' Court, 7 It contention 'instant squarely controlled decision 193 (71 207), freely made may excused permitting recourse 60(b)(6) substitute appeal.' Mrs. relative, Keilbar, denaturalized joint hearing. Keilbar appealed. Ackermanns did not. against reversed stipulation insufficient support it. 144 866. them. They alleged they failed financial inability reliance advice official whom trusted, charge detention camp placed following their denaturalization. After reviewing these allegations correct judgments, holding '(s)ubsection situation petitioner.' 202, 213. 8 What obvious relevance here: 9 'Petitioner considered choice apparently feel would prove worth what thought required sacrifice home. His risk, but calculated deliberate such follows free choice. cannot relieved hindsight seems indicate him probably wrong, considering outcome case. There must end litigation someday, free, calculated, choices are from.' 198, 211. 10 present claimed anything 'free, deliberate.' Indeed, even indication case, ackermann, influenced officer. claim own seemed small likelihood its success, some four law 'clarified' favor. 11 Despite relevant persuasive Ackermann, however, we need go so far decide when taken adverse rule law, inflexibly withheld clear authoritative governing fact matter presented Without assaying how hopeless prospects abandoned,9 relied work controlling asserted. question 1056. 12 contends reject grounds revoking citzenship 1953. proceeding, illegal procurement could sustained unequivocal (a) day application, (b) munist during period. claims interpretation statute erroneous fails take into account knowledge Party's activities. establish '(a) based membership show defendant aware engaged kind advocacy proscribed period therein.' But neither nor oppose Act. Those simply do deal question. 13 acquired 1906. That specifically prohibit violence. require alien 'attached principles Constitution States' least five citizenship.10 order 'attached' constitutional principles, undertook This record contained adequate proof pertinent five-year proceeded assumption sufficient. held, established, standard cases, known governmental overthrow. concluded Nowak's 'state mind,' 666, 959, lack 'attachment' required. Cf. Schneiderman 320 118, 63 1333, 87 1796. different ultimate issue involved whether 'by concealment material (and) willful misrepresentation.'11 671, 961. there, too, state mind, her 1906 Act, vocacy.12 14 contrast, determination involve inquiry mind. Unlike Maisenberg, 1940, right particular period.13 'member Party' every meaningful sense abundantly shown. Galvan Press, 347 522, 74 737, 98 911; Rowoldt Perfetto, 355 115, 180, 140; Niukkanen McAlexander, 362 390, 799, 816. also belonged category Act.14 findings remain completely unaffected decided either Maisenberg. 15 As viewed occasion, inference imputation personal beliefs, concerned objective facts—the purpose. Upon basis factual issues, 'government prevail jurisdictional petition took oath *.' 772. determined, therefore, consistent many ruled cancellable if strict compliance conditions imposed Congress prerequisites acquisition citizenship. See Maney 278 17, 49 15, 73 156; Ness, 245 319, 38 62 321; Ginsberg, 243 472, 37 422, 61 853; cf. 163, 1355, 1796 (concurring opinion). 16 validity before us; directly decision. We hold effective alter 17 Affirmed. 18 BRENNAN, CHIEF JUSTICE, BLACK, DOUGLAS join, dissenting. 19 my view, exercised discretion Civ.Proc. determine application. opinion, although refers 'relevant persuasive,' expresses definite situation, instead decides merits substantially unchanged since entry I confirm power act remand cause may, first instance, effect 20 First, necessary point out point. For one thing, sought subdivisions (1) not, here, subdivision (5) well. more fundamentally, petitioners secured reversal appealing. Since deliberately chose unavailable. Here hopelessness chance success. companion certiorari. True, denial legal significance, might doggedly pursued appellate remedies end. practical course action futile. So successfully, unsuccessfully. 21 long promulgation rendition modification dissolution insofar affect future conduct. Pennsylvania Wheeling & Belmont Bridge Co., How. 421, 431 432, 435. principle rooted practice courts equity well settled vast majority States. Moore, Federal Practice (2d ed. 1955), 60.26(4); Ladner Siegel, 298 Pa. 487, 148 A. 699, 68 A.L.R. 1172. Perhaps merger proceeding 'action law.' status effect, reason why modern times governed principles. 22 (adopted 1948 amendments Rules Civil Procedure) continue history adjustment changing McGrath Potash, 91 U.S.App.D.C. 94, 199 166, (6), (5), respondent's admission, equally applicable, several enjoining Attorney General deport them without complying requirements Administrative Procedure U.S.C.A. 1001 et seq. Pending Government, Wong Yang Sung McGrath, 339 33, 70 445, 94 616, indeed apply deportation proceedings. Seeing further resistance futile, agreement. Shortly overruled expressly declared relative exclusion expulsion subject 64 Stat. 1048. injunction it, granted. seeks distinguish asserting 'the continuing derives facts fully accrued litigated original judgment.' True enough; changed, (so asserts) radically unjust give effect. 23 readily distinguishable. Title 263 359 989, 79 1118, 978; Elgin Nat'l Watch Co. Barrett, 213 776, Berryhill 217, entirely possible remedy successfully invoked. And Collins City Wichita, 254 837, retroactively disturbed rights judgment. Scotten Littlefield, 235 407, 35 125, 59 289, virtually identical actually bill review lie, universally conceded limited situations old confusing collateral available. sum, 'not abdicate modify mandate, satisfied doing turned through instrument wrong.' Swift 286 106, 114—115, 52 460, 462, 76 999. revolting attacked subsequent events rendered erroneous. finality offended disturbs concerns 25 reverse directions exercise 60(b)(5). 54 1137. 1158—1159, provided: 'It shall duty district attorneys respective districts, showing good therefor, institute purpose setting admitting canceling fraud procured.' Now 1451(a). follows: 'On terms just, relieve party representative final judgment, order, reasons: application; justifying operation 'No hereafter States— '(b) Who believes in, advises, advocates, teaches, affiliated organization, association, society, group teaches '(1) forms law; 'The section applicant is, been, clauses enumerated section, notwithstanding included classes.' 1141, 1424(b). fraudulently. illustrative examples testimony: 'Q. statement? say? say way organize, agitate—agitate workers, organize follow up comes Did ever your presence methods going use? Well, method force. we, never able get vote. April May, 1935. campaign bi-weekly paper, spoke very ardently members ahead subscribe money supposed collect reach workers wait our movement you heard Greek Fraction meeting? Yes. Do know positions defendant, Polites, time? Not positions. Bureau Fraction, recollection Secretary least, high functionary meetings. 'A. has, speeches, violence, presence.' connection fraudulent procurement, personally 772—773. respondent states does rely alternative denaturalization.' concession 'in record,' finding sufficient evidence, proceed premise. pointing out, respect whose affirmance Circuit assertedly led pursue individual record. hardly repeated late date refusal imported 'no expression merits.' Sunal Large, 332 174, 181, 67 1588, 1592, 1982; see Maryland Baltimore Radio Show, 338 912, 252, 562. Paragraph 34 596, 598, amended, U.S.C. (1934 ed.) 382, admitted unless resided continuously 'he behaved moral character, attached disposed happiness States.' 1427(a). seeking denaturalize 340(a) Immigration 1952, 66 260, 1451(a), Under specific naturalization. conclusion adequately misrepresented attachment concealed attachment. 672, note 3, 962. 4, supra. emphasized supporting allege existence new mitigating issues. Klapprott 335 601, 69 384, 93 266.

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