Legal Document

342 U.S. 1 72 Supreme Court Reporter 96 L.Ed. 3 STACK et al.v.BOYLE, Marshal. Number 400. Argued on Motions for Bail and Writs of Habeas Corpus Prior to Docketing Petition Certiorari Oct. 18, 1951. Decided Nov. 5, [Syllabus from pages 1-2 intentionally omitted] Messrs. Benjamin Margolis, Atlantic L. Wirin, Los Angeles, Cal., Stack al. Mr. Philip baron Perlman, Sol. Gen., Washington, D.C., Boyle, Chief Justice VINSON delivered the opinion Court. Indictments have been returned in Southern District California charging twelve petitioners with conspiring violate Smith Act, 18 United States Code KF62 (Supp. IV) §§ 371, 2385, Annotated KF65 U5 2385. Upon their arrest, bail was fixed each petitioner widely varying amounts $2,500, $7,500, $75,000 $100,000. On motion Schneiderman following arrest New York, his reduced $50,000 before removal California. Government increase case other petitioners, after several intermediate procedural steps not material issues presented here, uniform amount petitioner. 2 Petitioners moved reduce ground that as excessive under Eighth Amendment.1 In support motion, submitted statements financial resources, family relationships, health, prior criminal records, information. The only evidence offered by a certified record showing four persons previously convicted Act York had forfeited bail. No produced relating those this case. At hearing were examined Judge cross-examined an attorney Government. Petitioners' factual stand uncontroverted. After denied, filed applications habeas corpus same consideration bail, writs denied. Appeals Ninth Circuit affirmed. 192 Federal Reporter, 2nd Series 56. filing petition certiorari Court, DOUGLAS application alternative seeking interim relief. Both referred matter set down argument specific questions covering raised 4 Relief type must be speedy if it is effective. full are now and, since fully briefed argued, we consider appropriate dispose at time. Accordingly, granted review important administration justice.2 5 First. From passage Judiciary 1789, Statutes-at-Large 73, 91, present Rules Criminal Procedure, Rule 46(a)(1), U.S.C.A., federal law has unequivocally provided person arrested non-capital offense shall admitted This traditional right freedom conviction permits unhampered preparation defense, serves prevent infliction punishment conviction. See Hudson versus Parker, 1895, 156 277, 285, 15 450, 453, 39 424. Unless trial preserved, presumption innocence, secured centuries struggle, would lose its meaning. 6 release conditioned upon accused's giving adequate assurance he will submit sentence found guilty. Ex parte Milburn, 1835, 9 Pet. 704, 710, 280. Like ancient practice securing oaths responsible sureties accused, modern requiring bond or deposit sum money subject forfeiture additional presence accused. figure higher than reasonably calculated fulfill purpose 'excessive' Amendment. Motlow, 10 657 (1926, Butler Seventh circuit). 7 Since function limited, fixing any individual defendant based standards relevant assuring defendant. expressed Procedure3 applied charged offenses guilty, convictions scrupulous care demanded our Constitution. Dennis States, 1951, 341 494, 516, 71 857, 870, 95 1137. final judgment conviction, face imprisonment more five years fine $10,000. It denied much usually imposed like penalties yet there no justify such action asks courts depart norm assuming, without introduction evidence, pawn conspiracy will, obedience superior, flee jurisdiction. To infer fact indictment alone need unusually high arbitrary act. Such conduct inject into own system government very principles totalitarianism which Congress guard against passing statute indicted. 8 If greater serious charges crimes required should directed so constitutional rights may preserved. absence showing, these cases cannot squared statutory admission Second. proper procedure challenging unlawfully reduction appeal order denying motion. did merely invoke discretion setting within zone reasonableness, but challenged violating standards. As refuse appealable 'final decision' 28 § 1291, 1291. Cohen Beneficial Industrial Loan Corp., 1949, 337 541, 545—547, 69 1221, 1225—1226, 93 1528. case, however, take Instead, they claims Amendment corpus. While remedy one held custody violation Constitution, 2241(c)(3), withhold relief collateral where available proceeding exhausted. Royall, 1886, 117 241, 734, 29 868; Johnson Hoy, 1913, 227 245, 33 240, 57 497. concludes methods petitioners' Appeals. vacated remanded directions vacate dismiss prejudice. move reasonable 11 ordered. 12 Judgment directions. 13 MINTON took part decision 14 By JACKSON, whom FRANKFURTER joins. & N Dec. Immigration Nationality Decisions think governing allowance misunderstood too casually Courts reconsideration light determine. We heard parties conviction—two involving considerations determine two correcting departure therefrom. first govern accused pending trial. 16 evolved Anglo-American law, device keeping jail mere accusation until convenient give them contrary, spirit enable stay out Without conditional privilege, even wrongly punished period while awaiting handicapped consulting counsel, searching witnesses, preparing defense. open way escape handicap possible injustice, commands charge punishable death, Fed.Rules Crim.Proc. 46(a)(1) providing: 'A death * *' 17 Admission always involves risk flight. That takes price justice. know anticipated some escapes, because dealing them. 46(f). duty judge hold consequence. 46(c). But free make sky limit, Constitution says: 'Excessive *.' 19 generality providing precise standards, stating '* thereof commissioner court justice insure defendant, having regard nature circumstances charged, weight him, ability character defendant.' 20 These unconstitutional, rather established alleged exceed parties, avoid possible. For me, inadequate say what particular do so. Furthermore, whole agrees pursued inappropriate test question bring here. fair congressionally enacted correctly applied. 21 complained blanket chiefly account difference between different defendants. occurred, clear Each stands bar individual. Even defendants separateness identity. might identical ability, relation charge—elements regarded bail—I violates probabilities. entitled benefits due good record, misdeeds bad prejudice who guilty when made relates one's trustworthiness appear security supply appearance. 22 Complaint further below unduly influenced recommendations grand jury. jury fix volunteered advice governing. secret body, ordinarily prosecution's, attended counsel except prosecuting attorneys, obvious position impartial recommendation. Its suggestion indicate prosecution strongly indicative crime charged. could mean adds nothing inference indictment. better left unmade, given weight. 23 protest charges, defect proceedings appears be, that, provoked flight certain Communists demands public supports use power keep Communist Thus, said trial, also remain jail. There seems reason believe yielded, contrary policy philosophy every can provide, opportunity amount. reconsidered judges procedure. 24 argued relate misapplied. Of course, vital means vindication. view writ corpus, reluctant appropriate. best serve protected discrediting abuse reserved courts. substitute appeals optional remedies encouraged. not, extraordinary circumstances, reasonableness 25 properly limited administered, afford practical, simple, expeditious prevailing confusions conflicts practice, define limit considerable precision, flood motions cases. 26 whether 5(b), 40(a), Crim.Proc., arraignment indictment, 3141, exercise judicial discretion. often done haste—the taken surprise, just engaged, reasons inquiry deserves. Some practical necessity, court's over revocation continuing either party changing require. highly preliminary matters disposed finality tried. close scene offense, most accessible see hear witnesses personally, likely informed sound Rarely original determination disturbed, carefully made, moves revoke careful deliberation then aggrieved denial stands. 27 my conclusion appealed claim raises question. right. constitutes Berman 302 211, 212, 58 164, 165, 82 204, reviewable. decision, instances judgment. requirement piecemeal disposition basic controversy single 'where result 'to halt orderly progress cause incidentally happened cross path litigation *" Cobbledick 309 323, 326, 60 540, 542, 84 783. reviewed halting main trial—its entirely independent tried—and unless sentence, never all. analogous determining civil proceeding, 1528, interlocutory orders reviewable 1292, 1292. hold, therefore, appealable. agree, prescribed does call reexamine of. They represent exercises discretion, questions, usually, fact. Trivial differences frivolous objections dismissed. Appellate reverse mistake law. And ought noted typical problem general deserve attention supervisory power. follow course reasoning, actual experience protect expeditiously cheaply. time, floodgates multitude trivial disputes abusive 30 Having dismissed affirmed Appeals, extent affirm. thus decided excessiveness courts, measure inconsistency usual discussion us. Certainly excessive. concrete amount, defendant's testimony Government, prescribed. Justices little books help guide recurring warrant merits engage. 31 remains answer grant Justice. confusion source 32 Fed. Crim. Proc. respect noncapital state simply directs 'shall' granted. 'who' necessary turn Code. 'Power magistrates', provides: 'Bail court, magistrate authorized commit offenders, capital appellate jurisdiction thereof.' 34 offenders contained 3041, states that: 'For offender may, imprisoned, bailed, cognizance offense.' (Italics added.) section specifically grants 'any States' section, therefore 3141. 35 Reviser's Notes 3141 disclose product Rev.Stat. 1015 1016, embodied verbatim (1940 ed.) 596 597. Reviser 'Sections 597 Title U.S.C., 1940 ed., superseded rule Procedure consolidated rewritten change 80th House Report 304.' meaning intended, context old sections becomes pertinent. 36 reads: all arrests death; preceding imprison offenders.' 'The section,' 1014, predecessor reads namely: offense. *'. (Italicized words omitted 3041.) 37 Going Revised Statutes, 1016 circuit judge, district therein, circumstance usages law.' 38 evident tenor together many restricted class Section narrow included 1015. correlate Statutes scheme: 40 1. reading follows, insofar latter conviction': 41 A 42 2. directly 1014. 43 3. apropos subject. 44 scheme bodily Rules. perceive authority (and 1014) applicable speak individuals. confers construction literal one, is, well individuals empowered 3041 substantiated language 46(c), 'Amount (of bail)': 'If 45 Statutes' present—the clearly vested justices. 46 With premise Revisor exception being extension noted, follows including 47 next how assimilated foregoing. Only fourth subsections pertinence. read follows: 48 '1. Pending refusing prisoner disturbed. 49 '4. initial respecting enlargement review, recognizance taken, deemed cover court; special therefor shown disturb order, regard.' apparent conflict disappears subsection viewed reservation only, issue exceptional disturbing prisoner. Carlson Landon, 918, 744, 1353. 50 bearing, any, 46(a)(2), 'Upon Review.' allowed stubstantial determined court. Insofar seem efficacy. tried indicted, wider powers conferred statutes applicable. 46(a)(2) intended apply sought. 51 Turning back hand, treating However, sustains strictly problems actually moot. treated entertain it. required, nor fines imposed, cruel unusual punishments inflicted.' U.S.Const. Amend. VIII. granting making certiorari, occasion kind. 'AMOUNT.

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