Document: 397 U.S. 337 90 S.Ct. 1057 25 L.Ed.2d 353 State of ILLINOIS, Petitioner,v.William ALLEN. No. 606. Argued Feb. 24, 1970. Decided March 31, Rehearing Denied May 18, See 398 915, 1684. Joel M. Flaum, Chicago, Ill., for petitioner. H. Reed Harris, respondent. Mr. Justice BLACK delivered the opinion Court. 1 The Confrontation Clause Sixth Amendment to United States Constitution provides that: 'In all criminal prosecutions, accused shall enjoy right * be confronted with witnesses against him *.' We have held that Fourteenth makes guarantees this clause obligatory upon States. Pointer v. Texas, 380 400, 85 1065, 13 923 (1965). One most basic rights guaranteed by is accused's present in courtroom at every stage his trial. Lewis States, 146 370, 136, 36 L.Ed. 1011 (1892). question presented case whether an can claim benefit constitutional remain while same time he engages speech and conduct which so noisy, disorderly, disruptive it exceedingly difficult or wholly impossible carry on 2 issue arose following way. respondent, Allen, was convicted Illinois jury armed robbery sentenced serve 10 30 years Penitentiary. evidence showed August 12, 1956, entered a tavern and, after ordering drink, took $200 from bartender gunpoint. Supreme Court affirmed conviction, People 37 Ill.2d 167, 226 N.E.2d (1967), denied certiorari. 389 907, 88 226, 19 225 (1967). Later Allen filed petition writ habeas corpus federal court alleging had been wrongfully deprived trial judge throughout Finding no violation, District declined writ. Appeals reversed, 413 F.2d 232 (1969), Judge Hastings dissenting. 3 facts surrounding Allen's expulsion are set out Appeals' sustaining contention: 4 'After indictment during pretrial stage, petitioner (Allen) refused court-appointed counsel indicated several occasions wished own defense. After considerable argument petitioner, told him, 'I'll let you your lawyer, but I'll ask Kelly (court-appointed counsel) (to) sit protect record you, insofar as possible.' 5 'The began September 9, 1957. State's Attorney accepted first four jurors their voir dire examination, examining juror continued great length. Finally, interrupted requesting confine questions solely matters relating prospective juror's qualifications. At point, started argue abusive disrespectful manner. last, seemingly desperation, asked appointed proceed examination jurors. talk, proclaiming attorney not going act lawyer. He terminated remarks saying, 'When I go lunchtime, you're (the judge) corpse here.' point tore file threw papers floor. thereupon stated 'One more outbreak sort remove courtroom.' This warning effect talk back judge, 'There's trial, either. I'm here bring shackles straight jacket put them me tape my mouth, will do good because there's trial.' ordered petitioner's absence. removed courtroom. then selected absence 6 noon recess before brought into courtroom, appearing complained about fairness attorney. also said wanted In reply, would permitted if 'behaved (himself) (did) interfere introduction case.' seated. Counsel moved exclude (petitioner) protested effort part attorney, saying: 'There proceeding. start talking keep through There's like this. want sister friends testify me.' F.2d, 233 234. 7 second removal, remained presentation case-in-chief, except purposes identification. During one these latter appearances, responded judge's vile language. prosecution's presented, reiterated promise could return whenever agreed himself properly. gave some assurances proper remainder principally defense, conducted counsel. 8 went hold wrong ruling relinquished present, declaring 9 'No conditions may imposed absolute defendant stages insistence exercise under unreasonable does amount waiver. Such conditions, insisted upon, should must dealt manner compel relinquishment right. light decision Hopt Utah, 110 574, 202, 28 262 (1884) Shields 273 583, 47 478, 71 787 (1927), well mandate sixth amendment, we view excluded despite conduct. course restrained whatever means necessary, even those included being shackled gagged.' 235. 11 felt defendant's 'absolute' that, matter how unruly might be, never lost long insist it, clearly did. Therefore concluded expel ultimate remedy when faced obstreperous who determines make bind gag him.1 cannot agree Amendment, cases relied, any other handicap conducting broad dicta supra, (1892), continue expressly rejected. Diaz 223 442, 32 250, 56 500 (1912). accept instead statement Cardozo who, speaking Snyder Massachusetts, 291 97, 106, 54 330, 332, 78 674 (1934), said: doubt privilege (of personally confronting witnesses) consent times misconduct.'2 Although mindful courts indulge reasonable presumption loss rights, Johnson Zerbst, 304 458, 464, 58 1019, 1023, 82 1461 (1938), explicitly today lose if, has warned continues behavior, nevertheless insists disruptive, carried courtroom.3 Once lost, can, course, reclaimed soon willing consistently decorum respect inherent concept judicial proceedings. 12 It essential administration justice dignity, order, hallmarks proceedings our country. flagrant disregard elementary standards tolerated. believe judges contumacious, stubbornly defiant defendants given sufficient discretion meet circumstances each case. No formula maintaining appropriate atmosphere best situations. think there least three constitutionally permissible ways handle Allen: (1) thereby keeping present; (2) cite contempt; (3) take until promises Trying crime sits bound gagged extent comply Amendment's accords opportunity confront But contemplate such technique, much less see arouses feeling person tried last resort. Not only possible sight gags significant jury's feelings defendant, use technique itself something affront very dignity seeking uphold. Moreover, primary advantages ability communicate counsel, greatly reduced condition total physical restraint. disadvantages limitations method dealing disorderly decline However, situations need attempt foresee, binding gagging posibly fairest way acts did here. II 14 footnote suggested availability contempt behave true citing threatening contumacious stop interrupting If so, problem solved easily, Of determined prevent attempting try still identical dilemma And obvious sanction charged serious severe sentence death life imprisonment likely imposed. affected mere ultimately faces far sanction. Nevertheless, borne mind 15 Another aspect power, exercised state law, imprison civil discontinue himself. procedure consistent yet avoids shortcomings gags. recognized, however, conceivably, calculated strategy, elect spend prolonged period confinement hope adverse unavailable lapse time. A guard allowing profit III 16 decided unless promised befitting American As earlier, find nothing unconstitutional procedure. behavior extreme aggravated nature justify either removal Prior repeatedly persisted conduct, observed dissenting opinion, demonstrates dissuaded powers. constantly informed orderly Under Amendments IV 17 pleasant respondent properly banished courts, palladiums liberty they are, treated disrespectfully impunity. Nor indefinitely avoid charges him. degrade country system permit bullied, insulted, humiliated progress thwarted obstructed crimes. guardians public welfare, systems strive administer equal rich poor, bad, native foreign born race, nationality, religion. Being manned humans, perfect errors. But, what Founders intended, citadels justice, infected scurrilous, language paraded shows decorum, patience befit judge. Even holding erred, praised 'commendable provocation.' 18 removing had. hold, show completely within discretion. Deplorable man short time, commit legal error doing judgment reversed. 20 Reversed. 21 BRENNAN, concurring. 22 safeguards presuppose government sovereign prerogative faith violating valid laws. Constitutional power fundamental scheme 'ordered liberty' prerequisite social peace. History known breakdown lawful penal authority—the feud, vendetta, terror penalties meted mobs roving bands vigilantes. known, too, perversion authority. societies arm reached individual men secret denunciation followed summary punishment. others solemn condemnation confided caprice tyrants. Down corridors history echoed cries innocent irrational arbitrary procedures. These alternatives offers adopted Constitution. trial—to jury—has cherished people vital restraint authority government. doubted traditions accordance mode exercises 23 Lincoln Nation 'conceived dedicated proposition created equal'. Founders' dream society where free easy realize. degree equality exists product unceasing struggle sacrifice. Much remains done—so institutions come challenge. Hence, today, Lincoln's 'whether (this) nation conceived endure.' endure falls liberty, embodied founding documents. allow precious heritage ripped apart amid sound fury claims peace order side personal mutually resolved forum designated resolution elsewhere means, grave danger equality, both lost. 24 considered context. Thus governmental defeated prevents forward. Over half century ago 457 254—255, (1912), approved governing principle. quoted Falk App.D.C. 446 (1899), appeared fled jurisdiction completed. proceeded absence, verdict guilty returned. affirming conviction over objection Columbia 'It seem us consonant dictates common sense pleased, break up already commenced. practical result proposition, allowed pleased it. travesty (W)e rule law principle leads conclusion disastrous interests liberty. 26 policy, person, placed protected humanity sedulously surrounds impunity defy processes paralyze juries turn farce, society, its safety, restrict operation Neither nor advantage wrong.' 27 To activities wrong. none prevented acting preserve prescribes. action fully fairly intolerable, consequences misbehavior. clear persisting reprehensible surrendered 29 points out, remedies available bent disrupting bound, shackled, gagged; methods devised. join Court's require prohibit adoption courses. abused purpose frustrating Due process presence all. equally acceptable. particular, shackling surely acceptable them. offends lifeblood law. add efforts enable possible, apprised weakness mitigate technologically circumstances. 31 DOUGLAS. sense, place bedlam hurling epithets other. hallowed trials become entertainment participants, extraneous persons, modern mass media, otherwise. 33 My difficulty hypothesis decision, establish guidelines control. 34 stale case, having taken nearly ago. That necessarily barrier challenge constitutionality conviction. be. 35 There than intimation mental passage since 1957, date determine fact found understand 'the object him' thus competent stand trial1 answer otherwise mentally ill creates disturbance. What whose antics volitional perplexing reach record. lawyer one, though member bar represent transpired pathetic, disgusting disgraceful. merits reverse staleness affirm denial relief all, behind issuance question, full adequate Our real problems type lie kinds trials. First political They frequently recur history2 supervisory powers setting arises confrontation invades peril. 38 Anglo-American injustices done unpopular minorities judges, prosecutors. refer London 1670 William Penn, gentle Quaker, causing riot preach sermon Grace Church Street, church closed Conventicle Act: 39 'Penn. broken am Guilty laid charge; end bench, jury, myself, hear us, direct understanding procedure, desire know prosecute me, ground indictment. 40 'Recorder. Upon common-law. 41 Where commonlaw? 42 'Rec. You able run many years, adjudged cases, call common-law, curiosity. 43 sure common, hard produce. 44 Sir, plead indictment? 45 Shall Indictment hath foundation law? contain say broken, why produce determine, verdict, produced, measure truth indictment, guilt, contrary fact? saucy fellow, speak Indictment. 46 say, law; arraigned prisoner; next itself, now concerned: mouths ears hard, again, shew people, granted merely arbitrary. is, Indictment? 48 not, Indictment, legal. too general imperfect answer, knew is. For transgression; being, 49 impertinent teach is? 'Lex non scripta,' studied know, tell moment? 50 Certainly, understood, common; lord Coke Institutes consideration, tells Common-law right, Common Right Great Charter-Privileges *. 51 troublesome honour suffer on. 52 answered me; privileges Englishman concerned 53 till to-morrow morning, wiser. Penn. according answers are. 55 night. design court, heard just plea: plainly deny Oyer suggest once acknowledged whole world sacrifice Englishmen sinister designs. 57 Take away. lord, pestilent thing 'Mayor. away, bale-dock.'3 Trial How.St.Tr. 951, 958 959. 59 panel Penn were sincere, law-and-order day. Though acquitted jailed contemptuous Would tolerate insisting albeit vociferously, obnoxious philosophy bench him? uphold situation? Problems indictments raise profound heart compact. compact two-sided: majorities undertake press grievances limits accord procedures; abide procedures resisting claims. 60 Does involve defining designing putting them? singularly inadequate questions. enough resolve weighty reaches review. 61 Second used destroy existing repressive measures. Radicals left historically tactics incite fostering regime repression radicals emerge victor.4 role provocateur. designed instrument form rough-and-tumble contest. room tolerance, patience, restraint, sabotage violence. Trials involving spectacle strike 62 provide two strikingly different types cases. classical without subversive overtones. involves sick insane sense5 apparently diseased mind. And, said, late really were. referred power. subject discussed Part opinion. Infra, 344-345. Rule Federal Rules Criminal Procedure '(i)n prosecutions offenses punishable death, voluntary commenced continuing including verdict.' Murray, Power Expel Defendant From His Own Trial: Comparative View, U.Colo.L.Rev. 171—175 (1964); Goldin, Presence Rendition Verdict Felony Cases, Col.L.Rev. 18—31 (1916). n. 5, infra. Spies People, 122 Ill. 1, N.E. 865, 898, Haymarket riot; re Debs, 158 564, 900, 1092, Pullman strike; Mooney Holohan, 294 103, 340, 79 791, copper strikes 1917; Commonwealth Sacco, 255 Mass. 369, 151 839, 259 128, 156 57, 261 Red scare 20's; Dennis 341 494, 857, 95 1137, agreement Marxism. resulting J. Commons Associates, Labour 386 et seq. (1918); W. Swindler, Twentieth Century, cc. (1969). Debs L. Pfeffer, Honorable 215—216 (1965); A. Lindsey, Strike, XII XIII (1942); Commons, 502—508. January 1922, New Republic; R. Frost, Case (1968). Sacco-Vanzetti Fraenkel, Case; F. Frankfurter, Sacco Vanzetti (1927). teaching involved O. Kirchheimer. Political 132—158 (1961). Old Bailey, baledock (or baildock) 'a small corners open top; which, trials, malefactors.' Oxford Eng. Dict. respects strategy German Communists vis-a-vis Nazis 1930's, K. Heiden, Der Fuehrer 461, 462, 525, 551—552 (1944). 1956 sanity hearing, incompetent Approximately year later, October 19, competency declared sane brother testified behalf recited instances unusual past confined institution 1953, although reason given. doctor called prosecution examined shortly commission subsequent occasions, examination. admitted offense. finding. 1. tests M'Naghten supplemented so-called 'irrestible impulse test.' Carpenter, 60, 142 N.Ed.2d 11. determining '(h)e capable reference proceedings, defense rational manner,' further, 'he co-operating defenses interposed.' Burson, 360, 143 239, 244—245.

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