Legal Document

329 U.S. 459 67 Supreme Court Reporter 374 91 L.Ed. 422 STATE OF LOUISIANA ex rel. FRANCISv.RESWEBER, Sheriff, et al. Number 142. Argued Nov. 18, 1946. Decided Jan. 13, 1947. Rehearing Denied Feb. 10, See 330 853, 673. Mr.James Skelly Wright, of New Orleans, La., for petitioner. Messrs. Michael E. Culligan, and L. O. Pecot, Franklin, respondents. Mr. Justice REED announced the judgment in an opinion which The CHIEF JUSTICE, BLACK JACKSON join. 1 This writ certiorari brings before this a unique situation. petitioner, Willie Francis, is colored citizen Louisiana. He was duly convicted murder September, 1945, sentenced to be electrocuted crime. Upon proper death warrant, Francis prepared execution on May 3, 1946, pursuant placed official electric chair State Louisiana presence authorized witnesses. executioner threw switch but, presumably because some mechanical difficulty, did not result. thereupon removed from returned prison where he now is. A new warrant issued by Governor Louisiana, fixing 9, 2 Applications state were filed writs certiorari, mandamus, prohibition habeas corpus, directed appropriate officials state. Execution sentence stayed. By applications petitioner claimed protection due process clause Fourteenth Amendment ground that under circumstances detailed would deny him double jeopardy provision Fifth cruel unusual punishment Eighth Amendment.1 These federal constitutional protections, claimed, denied had once gone through difficult preparation received his body current electricity intended cause death. lack any basis judicial relief. That is, court concluded there no violation or national law alleged various applications. It spoke fact 'current sufficient intensity death' passed petitioner's body. referred specifically invoked provisions Constitution against inhuman punishments putting one life liberty twice same offense. We granted petition, setting forth aforementioned contentions, consider violations rights Federal case. versus Resweber, 328 833, 66 1382. For matters law, order are binding Court. Hebert 272 312, 317, 47 103, 104, 71 270, 48 American Law Reports 1102. So far as we aware, case without precedent court. 3 To determine whether may fairly take place after experience passed, shall examine assumption, but so deciding, principles Amendments, punishment, violative Amendment.2 As nothing has been brought our attention suggest contrary, must do assume carried out their duties careful humane manner. Accidents happen man blame. turn question proposed enforcement criminal offensive requirements reference made. 4 First. Our minds rebel permitting sovereignty punish accused Ex parte Lange, 18 Wall. 163, 168, 175, 21 872; In re Bradley, 318 50, 63 470, 87 500. Compare United States Lanza, 260 377, 382, 43 141, 142, 314. But successfully seeks review conviction, upon trial. Ball, 163 662, 672, 16 1192, 1195, 41 300. People Trezza, 128 N.Y. 529, 535, 28 Northeastern KF135 N59 533, 534. Even obtains trial conviction errors, while second time, it sort hardship ac used forbidden Amendment. Palko Connecticut, supra, 302 at page 328, 58 153, 82 288.3 prosecution concerned, decisive. see difference point view between error instance results instead imprisonment follows failure equipment. When accident, with suggestion malevolence, prevents consummation sentence, state's subsequent course administration its affected account requirement find here can said amount denial execution. 5 Second. what took amounts sense. us does call examination into except Weems States, 217 349, 30 544, 54 793, 19 Ann.Cas. 705. traditional humanity modern Anglo-American forbids infliction unnecessary pain sentence. Prohibition wanton come Bill Rights 1688. identical words appear prohibit manner.4 6 Petitioner's underwent psychological strain electrocution, require undergo again subjects lingering punishment. already subjected make more sense than other cruelty protects inherent method necessary suffering involved employed extinguish humanely. unforeseeable accident prevented prompt cannot, seems us, add element There purpose inflict nor situation unfortunate victim just though h suffered mental anguish physical occurrence, such as, example, fire cell block. cannot agree imposed rises level denounced cruelty. 7 Third. also rejected contention inflicted prior sufferings equal laws, guaranteed differs argument based idea execution, attempt failed, severe others guilty like since go time have experienced nonlethal did, compel submit these experiences denies protection. Equal protect prisoner even illegal acts officers charge him, much less accidents during detention Lisenba California, 314 219, 226, 62 280, 285, 86 166. Laws prevent equally all them. long applies alike, met. right singled treatment generally applied. 8 Fourth. brief original itself unfair justify reversal claim inadequately represented counsel. record presented shows arrest, indictment, appointment counsel minute entries trial, selection jury, verdict papers show rights. Carter Illinois, 173, 216. Review sought about first effort electrocute him. Nothing ruling predicated On record, could conclude infringed. 9 Affirmed. 10 FRANKFURTER, concurring. 11 four members person safeguards, me important explicit regarding criteria State's duty obedience judged. Particularly when stake. 12 Until July 28, 1868, ratified, left free carry own notions justice, insofar they limited Article I, § declares: 'No * pass Attainder, (or) post facto *'. specific restraints formulation law. restricted freedom generally, thereafter 'abridge privileges immunities citizens States,' 'deprive life, liberty, property, law', 'deny within jurisdiction laws'. 13 broad, inexplicit clauses Constitution, unlike eight amendments formulated Founders guard urrence well-defined historic grievances. broad are, generalities empty vagueness. They circumscribed partly history problems government, large dynamic be, concerned. 'privileges States' concern dual citizenship system. safeguards 'due law' 'the laws' summarize meaning struggle English-speaking peoples. run back Magna Carta contemplate advances conceptions justice progressive society. classic language Matthews Hurtado 110 516, 530, 531, 111, 118, 232. 14 When, shortly adoption, came construction, urged abridged theretofore enjoyed Constitution. If prevailed, Privileges Immunities Clause limitations articles agencies government. After fullest consideration rejected. rejection authority comes contemporaneous knowledge purposes Slaughter-House Cases, 36, 67, 68, 394; Davidson City 96 97, Otto 24 616. notion absorbed, called, limit Government never given countenance 15 Not until recently suggested Due Process merely compendious whereby devising enforcing penal code precisely amendments. view, confined codes those views safeguarding individual deemed eighteenth century. Some perduring validity. grew transient remedies might well improve. mean imprison withdraw act ways decent respect dignity man, heedless freedom. very terms accommodate authority. too serve adjudication, allow room policy. concern. adjudication narrow committed 17 impressive decisions decided expresses demand civilized standards defined enumerated guarantees Rights. neither contain particularities independent function illustrated numerous decisions, expounded opinions canvassed matter most thoroughly. supra; Twining Jersey, 211 78, 29 14, 53 97; Snyder Commonwealth Massachusetts, 291 330, 78 674, 90 575; . 319, 149, 288. Insofar requires observe 'that valid government force pledges particular amendments' 'have found implicit concept ordered thus, Amendment, become states.' pages 324, 325, 151, 152, prosecutions crimes initiated grand jury tried petty jury; being witness himself. consult policy dispensing modifying abolishing withholding privilege self-crimination. Maxwell Dow, 176 581, 20 448, 44 597; 323, 288; cf. Feldman 322 487, 64 1082, 88 1408, 154 982. short, enforce fairness unless put Cardozo, 'in doing offends principle rooted traditions conscience people ranked fundamental'. 105, 332, 575. offend brutal subjection successive retrials acquitted. Such conduct process, limits State. disputations engendered technical aspects enshrined majority dissenting 872, Again, treating crime manner violates decency universally accepted treats mode divided. penological tested scope controversy necessarily evoked 'cruel punishment'. 546, 705, particularly White Holmes, JJ. Once stating problem unbroken series escape acknowledging involves application broadly conceived. personal impersonal society alone judges, organs Law, empowered enforce. narrower 'immutable inhere government', Holden Hardy, 169 366, 389, 383, 387, 42 780, 'fundamental lie base civil political institutions', 316, 1102, 'immunities liberty', 288, great tolerance toward demanded stated controlling principles'. Chief Stone Malinski York, 324 401, 438, 65 781, 799, 89 1029, connection concurring case, ibid., 412, 416, 417, 788, 789, 1029. & N Dec. Immigration Nationality Decisions bring myself believe leave executive clemency, rather require, mitigation pronounced innocent misadventure, 'Rooted people'. Short compulsion principle, abstain interference action how strong one's feeling revulsion insistence pound flesh. One finding disapproval reflection prevailing condemnation. Strongly drawn am sentiments expressed my brother Burton, rid hold transgress if allowed, precise private consensus society's which, standard enjoined 22 reach conclusion hypothetical situation, assumes abortive attempts electrocution single, cruelly willful attempt, raise different questions. abstained venturing tentative definition process. With wise forethought indicated inevitably gradual inclusion exclusion, cases decision reasoning founded.' another way saying depend 'differences degree. whole soon civilized.' J., LeRoy Fibre company Chicago, Milwaukee St. Pacific P2 Ry., 232 340, 354, 34 415, 418, 631. Especially questions arising Clause. beyond powers starting abstractly logical extension. Since say 'repugnant mankind', exercise power she stands, withholds it. 23 BURTON, whom DOUGLAS, MURPHY RUTLEDGE concur, dissenting. Under history, relator asks stay will violate States. facts vacated remanded further proceedings inconsistent opinion. Those should include determination certain material previously determined, including extent, any, applied attempted Where taken, avoidable uncertainty fact. 25 relator's Of day, said: 26 '* Hours 12:00 o'clock noon 3:00 p.m., strapped made defect apparatus devised electrocutions, contrivance failed function, unsuccessful chair.' 27 proceedings, says: 'Through latent electrical defect, contending whatsoever reached Francis' body, body; event, death.' 8, canceled, stayed pending completion proceedings. proposes issue reason that, present circumstances, provides: 'nor deprive law; *.' adopted imbedded deeply nation subjecting persons torture culminating Preconstitutional reeked extent 1791, expressly mandate 'Excessive bail required, excessive fines imposed, inflicted.' many states provisions. Section (1921). 31 capital presents clear lesser prohibited counterparts. Taking human unnecessarily means shocks fundamental instincts man. possible procedure self-governing people. Abhorrence ancient forms increased steadily until, today, altogether. unthinkable legislature times enact statute authorizing repeated separated intervals days hours finally Legislature so. did. petitions relief judical and, mistake precluded discussing us. 32 determining unconstitutional, measure lawful electrocution. contrast instantaneous installments—caused administered intervening periods complete consciousness victim. Electrocution, instantaneous, conformity Kemmler, 136 436, 930, 519. held prescribed statute, hanging. Pierre Jones, 200 La. 808, So.2d 317 633, 64, 510. also, Malloy South Carolina, 237 180, 35 507, 59 905. 33 all-important substantially painless reduced, nearly possible, itself. Electrocution approved only form eliminates suffering. makes clear. provides that: 'Every electrocution; causing death, continuance dead Code Criminal Procedure (1928), Act 1928, 569, amended 1, 1940. 36 provide interrupted several minutes. prescribes solely results. Prescribing construed strictly. implied second, third multiple current. statutory upholding delayed 37 considerations emphasized early York attacked prescribing stressed Like called continued resulting 'instantaneous' 'painless' 'humane.' 38 quoting County Courts, quoted Appeals, Kemmler Durston, 119 579, 6, L.R.A. 715, Am.St.Rep. 859, follows: 39 "We examined testimony little belief cruel, constitution, certainly unusual. below removes every reasonable doubt vital parts conditions contemplated result consequently painless, death." (Italics supplied.) 443, 444, 932, 40 Finally, speaking itself, 'Punishments involve death; word constitution. implies something barbarous—something mere extinguishment life.' Id., 447, 933, deliberately intentionally five each sufficient, final kill rival burning Although unintended, reapplication intentional. How deliberate intentional reapplications produce nusual unconstitutional punishment? While one, uniqueness demonstrates two sufficiently unusual' prohibited. unusual,' draw line two, three, five. difficult, however, contend, continuous Lack intent fatal material. lessen excuse sure failure. contrasts common precautions taken elsewhere insure electrocutions. high care evidences significance properly attached unconditional single remanding giving recognition Neither approval lethal Executive clemency avoiding otherwise questionable executions. unconstitutionality Court, apply recourse trusteeship vested over lives taken. 45 constitutes facts. released anguish, however be. petition caused relator. allegation answer evidence either side. undertook decide pleadings. 46 'Our complaint courts Inasmuch district court, up pronouncing entirely regular, set aside release sheriff's custody.'1 statement assumed lower passing f September 1945. raised primarily concerns past impending deprivation refusal prayed for. pleadings, absence evidence, acted allegations favorable contains unequivocal electrocutioner 'turned relator, witnesses.' read light 'sufficient repeated, least not, exceeds What then it, unlawful? spite thus raised, treated subject review. unconstitutional. proceed both sides recognize materiality occurred demonstrated affidavits transcript available public records publication them respective briefs Excerpts records, printed margin, indicate conflict resolved.2 49 remand entitled release. actual nature disposing 50 reasons stated, unable concur affirms below. Amendment: Nor offence limb; *' 99, 19, 445, 519; Collins Johnston, 502, 510, 649, 653, 1071. Kepner 195 100, 129, 797, 804, 114, 655; 666—670, 1193—1195, similar embodied constitution 446, 519: question, operate state, whose control almost wholly confided. offense laws manifestly stake, crucifixion, breaking wheel, like, adjudge penalties prohibition.' added, barbarous,—something 12. infringed 'In latter opposition admitted averred apparatus, out. course, Francis. fact, required Francis.' die, apparently regarded carrying purely following excerpts copies appendices behalf witnesses named charged making signed report 'proces verbal' reciting date clerk imposed. La.Code 571. statements refer happened hood eyes. 'Then turned lips puffed groaned jumped off floor. Apparently condemned yelled: 'Take off. Let breath." Affidavit Harold dated 23, 'I saw puff swell, tensed stretched. heard yell outside juice dying yelled had. Then cried breath.' eyes unstrapped 'This boy really got shock machine on.' Ignace Doucet, 30, 'After eriff Martin Parish asked anything nothing. adjusting mechanisms needle meter registered dial, pulled down 'Goodby Willie'. At moment, puffer squirmed rocked men few minutes Sheriff Parish, governor reprieve.' chaplain Reverend Maurice Rousseve, 25, Attached respondents submitted copy Pardon Board 31, support June includes who equipment effect flesh burns. included sheriff neighboring parish, accompanied chair, told leaving 'tickled him.' existence therefore rendered 15,

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