Legal Document

357 U.S. 386 78 Supreme Court Reporter 1280 2 United States Reports Lawyer’s Edition 2d Series KF101.8 U54 1405 McKinley E. GORE, Petitioner,v.UNITED STATES of America. Number 668. Argued May 19, 1958. Decided June 30, Rehearing Denied Oct. 13, See 79 13. Messrs. Joseph L. Rauh, Jr. and James or Haw. Hawai‘i KFH45 A2 Heller, Washington, D.C., for petitioner. Miss Beatrice Rosenberg, respondent. Mr. Justice FRANKFURTER delivered the opinion Court. 1 This is a prosecution under an indictment containing six counts narcotics offenses. Four were based on provisions Internal Revenue Code 1954 two Narcotic Drugs Import Export Act, as amended. The first three derive from sale February 26, 1955, twenty capsules heroin cocaine; last thirty-five 28, 1955. Counts One charged drugs, respective dates, not 'in pursuance written order' person to whom drugs sold requisite Treasury form, in violation § 4705(a) 1954, 26 Annotated KF65 U5 4705(a). Two Five distribution dates original stamped package package,' 4704(a) 4704(a). Three Six facilitating concealment with knowledge that had been unlawfully imported, 2(c) Act,1 amended by Act November 2, 1951, 65 Statutes-at-Large 767. In short, Congress made distinct offenses connection vending illicit petitioner, having violated these independent provisions, was prosecuted all separate wrongdoings, despite fact violations what proscribed compendiously committed single transactions vending. Duty tried before jury, petitioner convicted, no question touching conviction us. controversy legality sentences imposed trial court. These imprisonment term one five years, each count, run consecutively, remaining concurrently those counts. Thus total sentence fifteen years. Petitioner moved, 28 KF62 2255, vacate sentence, claiming only count could be imposed. motion denied Appeals affirmed, 100 U.S.App.D.C. 315, 244 Federal Reporter, 2nd 763, expressions doubt judges, who felt themselves bound Blockburger versus States, 284 299, 52 180, 76 L.Ed. 306. We brought case here, 355 903, 335, 259, order consider whether some our more recent decisions, while questioning but moving related areas may have impaired its authority. adhere decision supra. considerations advanced support vigorous attack against it left justification undisturbed, nor later decisions generated counter currents. 3 That did lay out particularity course anti-narcotics legislation scant basis suggesting unaware duly heed relevant criteria statutory construction dealing specific it. innocent history legislation. prosecutions successive enactments control At time Blockburger, customary make whole legislative connected particular statutes adjudication part conventional apparatus opinion. What point about unanimous rendered then included Justices conspicuous their alertness safeguarding interests defendants criminal cases insistence compassionate regard such interests. Invidiousness implied saying Brandeis, Butler Roberts2 would joined finding established curbs tactical details strategy trade, if reasonably maintained doing merely giving different labels same thing. offender violates transaction several regulatory controls devised means social evil deleterious difficult combat does identic. indicted, cumulatively sentenced offenses: selling forbidden package' (now Code), article sold' Code). here likewise tried, convicted foregoing and, addition, violating Act. And so ten years offenses, maximum inevitably found controlling. 4 are strongly urged reconsider reading various reflecting unitary congressional purpose outlaw nonmedicinal sales narcotics. From this conclusion sought drawn since purpose, matter how numerous offender, desire should attributed punish offense when multiple infractions through sale. agree starting point, leads us opposite conclusion. Of extending over nearly half century constitute network steadily tightened enlarged, grappling powerful, subtle elusive enemy. If reveals anything, determination turn screw machinery—detection, punishment—tighter tighter. penal laws which origins both design. present derives enactment 9, 1909, 35 614. December 17, 1914, 38 785, 786. 1918, 1006, 40 1057, 1130 (1919).3 It seems daring than convincing suggest enactments, relating way closing narcotics, passed at periods, punishment declared Congress, somehow other ought carried them indication restrictions disregarded but, forsooth, transaction, defendant treated though he 5 situation toto coelo led Bell 349 81, 75 620, 99 905. involved application Mann 18 2421,—a provision making crime transport woman interstate commerce purposes prostitution. held transportation dealt offense, reason has explicitly stated unit is, will judicially resolved favor lenity. thing include units conduct statute. wholly evolve rule lenity created times, end strictly with, seeking throttle legal devices, traffic Both unfolding substantive law scale punishments, manifested attitude severity toward laws. Nor need we detained relied on, Universal C.I.T. Credit Corp., 344 218, 73 227, 231, 97 260, Prince 352 322, 77 403, 370. former construed record-keeping Fair Labor Standards 29 201 et seq., punishing 'a conduct.' case, suffices say there 'with unique statute limited purpose.' page 325, 405. 6 Finally, pressed upon doctrine offends constitutional prohibition double jeopardy. anything claim surely long Court, participated judges especially sensitive historic safeguard applying like jeopardy, rooted evolving concept due process, carries impressive Certainly sentenced, descriptions constitutionally beyond power impose, least following also overruled: Carter McClaughry, 183 365, 22 181, 46 236; Morgan Devine, 237 632, 712, 59 1153; Albrecht 273 1, 47 250, 71 505; Pinkerton 328 640, 66 1180, 90 1489; American Tobacco company 781, 1125, 1575; Michener, 331 789, 67 1509, 91 1818; Pereira 347 74 358, 98 435. 7 Suppose instead enacting us, substantially form: 'Anyone sells except drug sold, knowing shall less years' imprisonment: Provided, however, makes Provided further, provided package, imprisonment.' Is conceivable within Congress? rational find strike down violative jeopardy clause? 8 effect, asked enter domain penology, particularly tantalizing aspect it, proper apportionment punishment. Whatever views entertained regarding punishment, believes efficacy futility, see Radzinowicz, History English Criminal Law: Movement Reform, 1750—1833, passim, peculiarly questions policy. Equally much mooted problems judiciary review sentences. First Scottish Courts Appeal given revise sentences, increase well reduce them. Edw. VII, chapter 23, 4(3); 16 & 17 Geo. V, 15, 2(4). power. 9 Affirmed. 10 Chief WARREN, dissenting. 11 problem vexing recurring one. arises broad contexts: (a) portion thereof proscribes designated conduct, defendant's constitutes proscription. Thus, murdering people simultaneously might warrant punishments stealing one-dollar bills not. (b) portions proscribe certain can punished twice because his proscriptions. liquor Sunday blue law, feloniously entering bank robbing bank, statutes, 12 every instance ascertain legislature intended. Often inquiry produces few any enlightening results. Normally receive explicit consideration. But lead judiciary, obligation construing settle easy stereotyped formulae. too arbitrary apply presumption even do class another. Placing category unit-of-offense overlapping-statute up issue, resolve 13 Where failed intention manifest, courts proceed cautiously, society alike. All must considered most useful aid often common sense. N Dec. Immigration Nationality Decisions am persuaded, involved, text background amendments prescribed second third offenders, evident achieve uniformity sure prosecutor avenues prosecute traffics authorize cumulative consummates 14 DOUGLAS, BLACK concurs, 15 cover broken into crimes: (1) 'not contrary requirement 68A 551, (Supp. V) 4705(a), 4705(a); (2) requirements 550, 4704(a); (3) 'facilitated sale' 767, 21 174, 174. 19 Another sale, crimes. 20 Consecutive crimes resulting Sentences Plainly, defined crimes, facts choice. think warranted times transaction. realize 306, holds contrary. overrule case. necessary my recently expressed Hoag State New Jersey, 356 464, 829, 913. Ciucci Illinois, 571, 839, 983. Once crucial issue litigated another prosecution. Here service prosecutions. evidence test, adopted without analysis 394—395, 192—193, 236 (cf. Ex parte Nielsen, 131 176, 672, 33 118), permit practice. Yet Bishop: '* * principle, better judicial view, pronounce combinations things pleases criminal, unfrequently plurality act, others, language Cockburn, C.J., fundamental series charges preferred."* Law (9th ed. 1923) 1060. Double Jeopardy Clause liberally light great protect citizen act. 23 Ballerini Aderholt, Cir., 44 352, 353, close There sale: registration payment tax requiring order. court said: 24 'The unlawful ounce heroin. As seem follow act States. failure appellant register pay special tax, obtain order, event become material. register, secure constituted offense.' 25 Cf. Rutledge concurring District Columbia Buckley, 301, 305, 128 21. read approach. hold choice resist inferred intended square Constitution. 27 BRENNAN, Even assuming vitality dissent disposition right consequence determining applicable where test applied determine one, requires proof not.' 304, 182. (Emphasis added.) 30 Court's today inconsistent principles allows proved fact. 4704(a), provides 'the absence appropriate taxpaid stamps narcotic prima facie subsection whose possession found' 174 'whenever shown drug, deemed sufficient unless explains satisfaction jury.' 31 Therefore unstamped convict either Since sections sustained 'each not,' 182, below reversed. 614, subsequently amended, 70 570, For typical attitudes members see, e.g., Horning Columbia, 254 135, 139, 41 53, 54, 185 (dissenting J.); Burdeau McDowell, 256 465, 476, 574, 576, 1048 (same); Olmstead 277 438, 471, 485, 48 564, 575, 72 944 opinions Brandeis Butler, JJ.); Sorrells 287 435, 453, 53 210, 216, 413 (separate Roberts, J., Snyder Commonwealth Massachusetts, 291 97, 123, 54 330, 338, 674 Palko Connecticut, 302 319, 329, 58 149, 153, 82 288 (dissent J.). statute, amendatory 1914 supra, introduced 'original concept. Regina Elrington, Cox C.C. 86, 90, baron S. 688.

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