Legal Document

358 U.S. 169 79 Supreme Court Reporter 209 3 United States Reports Lawyer’s Edition 2d Series KF101.8 U54 199 Lovander LADNER, Petitioner,v.UNITED STATES of America. Number 2. Argued Oct. 22, 1958. Decided Dec. 15, Mr. Harold Rosenwald, Boston, Mass., for the petitioner. Leonard baron Sand, Washington, D.C., respondent. Justice BRENNAN delivered opinion Court. 1 The petitioner was convicted in District Southern Mississippi assaulting two federal officers with a deadly weapon violation former 18 Code KF62 § 254.1 court sentenced to maximum punishment 10 years' imprisonment on each conviction assault, sentences run consecutively.2 Upon completion first 10-year sentence, made motion Court, under 28 2255, Annotated KF65 U5 correct second, and consecutive, sentence. He supported his by allegations that evidence at trial showed he fired single discharge from shotgun into front seat an automobile pellets wounded officers, who were transporting arrested prisoner. contended this circumstance guilty but one 'assault' within meaning 254 accordingly subject only punishment. denied Appeals Fifth Circuit affirmed. 230 Federal Reporter, 2nd 726. Both courts held wounding would constitute separate offense against officer statute. We granted certiorari, 352 907, 77 151, 116, consider construction light principles applied construe criminal statutes involved Bell versus States, 349 81, 75 620, 99 L.Ed. 905; Universal C.I.T. Credit Corp., 344 218, 73 227, 97 260, Prince 322, 403, 370. affirmed equally divided 355 282, 78 336, 2 270, vacated our judgment, set case reargument, when petition rehearing granted. 356 969, 1004, 1075. Reargument had Term. It is suggested remedy 2255 not available circumstances case. record does disclose Government raised question or Appeals, tender it as Question Presented Decision its brief This has often reached merits involving questions statutory similar presented proceedings way collateral attack upon consecutive sentences. In re Snow, 120 274, 7 556, 30 658, brought habeas corpus proceeding after serving seven months three six-month claimed sentencing misinterpreted applicable statute committed punishable 'the objection may be taken sentence more than convictions sought enforced.' Id., page 285, 561. supra, all fours present case, over Government's opposition certiorari could 2255. Other cases which decided construction, although sentences, include: Tinder 345 565, 911, 1250 (§ 2255); Gore 357 386, 1280, 1405 supra (Federal Rule Criminal Procedure 35, U.S.C.A.); Ebeling Morgan, 237 625, 35 710, 59 1151 (habeas corpus); Morgan Devine, 632, 712, 1153 corpus). fact so issues such suggests availability jurisdictional sense that, if properly raised, should nevertheless determine sua sponte. Moreover, there meagre argument submitted short discussion body passing reference toward close oral argument. scope important complex one, judging number decisions discussing Courts Appeals. think we have benefit full before dealing question. We, therefore, proceed without, however, intimating any view another where adequately briefed argued There no constitutional issue presented. decision given alleged Did Congress mean thus offense, regardless affected, did define affected doing act? congressional plainly open face statute, originated Act May 18, 1934. 48 Statutes-at-Large 780. seriously contend otherwise, emphasizes legislative history shows designed protect personal harm, threat performance their duties, account duties. From premise, argues must put immediate apprehension injury, i.e., assaulted, defines unit prosecution. position summed up follows: 'The legislation aimed protecting promote orderly functioning government (whose efficiency diminish proportion individual affected), also 'wards' government, harm. these objectives make protection.' 4 However, are unable read clearly illumining meaning. scant, consisting largely Attorney General's letter recommending passage legislation,3 sheds real what intended Although mentions need protection speaks 'to further legitimate purposes government.' appears, least plausible aim prevent hindrance execution official duty, assure carrying out interests, except incident aim. Support found makes unlawful assault engaged duty forcibly resist, oppose, impede, intimidate interfere officers. Clearly impede duties without placing them danger. Such would, course, served considering act prosecution regard act. For example, locking door building entry intending arrest person denounced cannot find even history, might commit many crimes entry. And supposed affecting constitutes offenses frankly conceded can treated differently other outlawed activities,4 impact though 5 interpretation assaults produce incongruous results. Punishments totally disproportionate imposed because will little bearing seriousness ordinarily merely putting harm whether actor actually intends inflict capable inflicting harm.5 Thus contends, shoots wounds imprisonment, points gun five 50 fire suffers injury. difficult, clear indication materials us provide, result. 6 therefore apparent reasonably 'assaults' affected. Neither wording nor either applies policy lenity adopts less harsh '(W)hen choice between readings conduct crime, appropriate, choose harsher alternative, require spoken language definite. derive outlawry some ambiguous implication.' 221—222, 229, 260. 83, 622, 905, expressed 'When leaves Judiciary task imputing undeclared will, ambiguity resolved favor lenity.' See supra; 391, 1283, 1405. means interpret increase penalty places based guess intended. If desires create multiple officer, clear. hold 254. follows entitled opportunity sustain allegation rested resulted gun.6 hearing admitted him assaults. But affirming same ground, correctly acknowledged erroneous law, 'there necessity determination factual (and) (at which) (petitioner) present.' 726, 728. Hayman, 342 205, 219—220, 72 263, 272, 96 232; Walker Johnston, 312 275, 61 574, 85 830. Because petitioner's transcribed7 necessary reconstruct record. decide tendered parties intimate correction different situation reconstructed disclose. 8 judgment reversed remanded consistent opinion. 9 ordered. Judgment directions. 11 CLARK (dissenting). 12 By me dubious route, permitting old 22551 proceedings, reaches agree fully Ladner's contentions. As & N Immigration Nationality Decisions see it, enlargement jurisdiction dockets rash applications prisoners completely overturn purpose adopting procedure lieu corpus. appears informs criminal, permitted borrow phrase, lives come just 'as cheap dozen.' 13 Nearly fourteen years ago, ambushed Ladner shot point-blank they sat vehicle raid illicit distillery. contends charge is, assaulted. 14 principal issue, procedural namely allow question, both Government, think, wrongly These ten Counts indictment. Count charges Officer James Buford Reed, while W. Frost. unclear, out, how discharges vehicle. Hence remand 15 error been appeal. undermine original court, indictment counts state offenses. raises issue. reveals authorized. Reference 1952, 232, gives complete picture. Judicial Conference proposed 'practical problems arisen administration courts' jurisdiction.' submitting measure noted 16 broadly covers situations 'open attack.' remedy, broad corpus.' 217, 271. 17 enacting intend enlarge grounds attack, rather serious administrative developed exercise jurisdiction. today holds law reconstruction shots Ladner. indicated, retrial fourteen-year-old Here admittedly regular faces. dispute entirely facts incident. squarely governed Sunal Large, 1947, 332 174, 67 1588, 91 1982. That attacking obtained result court. here, neither violations speaking through Douglas, said: 19 'Congress * provided regular, method errors granting appeal vesting Every potentially reversible error; rulings spell difference acquittal. defendants accept do later renew corpus, litigation interminable. Wise judicial counsels trench rights involve court.' pages 181—182, 1592. 20 show limitations jurisdictional. What enacted solve practical created 'great increases' becomes tool pry broader ever theretofore. probable much greater problem confronted enactment 21 cites 'questions construction' 'collateral *' those point my more, four corners parties. cases, 1887, 658; 1953, 1250; 1958, 1405; 1957, 370, 1915, 1151, remaining 1955, 905;2 1153, admitted. importance distinction indicated goes respondent robbery charged performed immediately bank, majority dispute. none. long settled, formerly now contrary. 22 surprising me, runs counter understanding efficient administration, Court's statement holding considered 'intimating Court.' counterpart handling precedents. Implicit therein suggestion 'properly Court'3 then conclusion different. Meanwhile, says, precedent remedy.' Despite this, permits use here. ad hoc disposition keeping good business administration. 23 reach merits. Congress, manner disposed shall always—a others follow. provides: 'Whoever intimidate, (if designated 253) imprisoned *; whoever, commission acts described section, dangerous *.' (1940 ed.) jury counts; conspiring second third officer. conspiracy count, concurrently A expiration total jail term years. instituted co-conspirator, Cameron, post-conviction relief reported 84 F.Supp. 289. letter, January 3, 1934, Senator Ashurst, Chairman Senate Committee Judiciary, 'My dear Senator: 'I wish again recommendation Department making with, kill, employee in, of, already etc., employees Bureau Animal Industry Agriculture (sec. 62, C.C., sec. 118, title U.S.C.); Customs Internal Revenue, 65, 121, beat, wound, duly authorized attempting serve process 140, 245, immigration officials 16, Feb. 5, 1917, chapter 29, 39 885, 152, 8, U.S.C.). Three cited impose increased used resisting employee. general character, specifically embraced above cited, increasingly every day. com- pelled rely however respectable well disposed, investigative law-enforcement personnel; recognized extent special cited. adequate agents division investigation, several whom assaulted course year, 'In resort usually local police affords us, circumstances, effort Government. seem preferable, instead extending piecemeal books, enact embrace proper outside existing legislation. carriers, cover Post Office past legislation; wounding, couple warden Penitentiary Leavenworth escaped convicts latter possible punish escape; punished shooting warden. honor, enclose herewith copy S. 3184, introduced request Seventy-second urge reintroduction Congress; express hope receive prompt consideration your committee. 'Respectfully, 'Homer Cummings, 'Attorney General.' See, S.Rep. 535, 73d Cong., Sess.; H.R.Rep. 1455, Cong.Rec. 8126—8127. concession seems lack differently, 111, recodification 254, lumps rest offensive actions. provides assaults, resists, opposes, impedes, intimidates, interferes with' 'while duties' committing crime. Reviser's Note indicates change substantive one. Burdick, Law Crime (1946), 342; Clark Marshall, Crimes (1958), 10.16; Miller (1934) 99. judge's recollection 'more car riding say impossible govern 58 753, recording 20, 1944, appropriated funds payment reporters time June 1944. Richard Cir., 148 895; Vickers 157 285. (1952), Though mentioned reply Bell, devoted one-half 29-page cases. My research add discussion.

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