Legal Document

400 U.S. 433 91 Supreme Court Reporter 507 27 United States Reports Lawyer’s Edition 2d Series KF101.8 U54 515 WISCONSINv.Norma Grace CONSTANTINEAU. Number 95. Argued Dec. 10, 1970. Decided Jan. 19, 1971. Syllabus The police chief of Hartford, Wisconsin, pursuant to a state statute caused be posted notice in all retail liquor outlets Hartford that sales or gifts appellee, resident city, were forbidden for one year. provides such 'posting,' without hearing, with respect any person who 'by excessive drinking' produces certain conditions exhibits specified traits, as exposing himself family 'to want' becoming 'dangerous the peace' community. On appellee's suit seeking, inter alia, injunctive relief, three-judge federal court held unconstitutional violative procedural due process. Held: 1. label characterization given an individual by though mark serious illness some, is others stigma badge disgrace process requires and opportunity heard. Pp. 436—437. 2. Since here unambiguous there no uncertain issue law, properly proceeded determine constitutional claim. Zwickler versus Koota, 389 241, 250—251, 88 391, 396—397, 19 444. 510—511. 302 F.Supp. 861, affirmed. Benjamin Southwick, Asst. Atty. Gen., Madison, Wis., appellant. S. Atlantic Schapiro, Milwaukee, appellee. Mr. Justice DOUGLAS delivered opinion Court. 1 Appellee adult Wis. She brought district Wisconsin have declared unconstitutional.1 A was convened, 28 Code KF62 § 2281. That court, divided vote, Act unconstitutional, we noted probable jurisdiction. 397 985, 90 1125, 25 393. 2 Act, Wis.Stat. 176.26 (1967), designated persons may writing forbid sale gift intoxicating liquors described community.2 3 hearing appellee Thereupon this against claiming damages asking relief. State intervened defendant on phase case only tried decided, holding its face enjoining enforcement. said: 4 'In 'posting' individual, particular city official spouse doing more than denying him ability purchase alcoholic beverages within limits. In essence, he giving public has found individual's behavior fall categories enumerated statutes. It would naive not recognize will expose embarrassment ridicule, it our before acting can make quasi-judicial determination, involved must intent post present his side matter.' F.Supp., at 864. 5 We doubt power deal evils Act. over extremely broad even prior Twenty-first Amendment. Crane Campbell, 245 304, 38 98, 62 L.Ed. 304. whether agree District private interest those requirements met. 6 significant most provisions Bill Rights are procedural, procedure marks much difference between rule law fiat. 7 reviewed Cafeteria Restaurant Workers Union, Local 473, A.F.L.-C.I.O. McElroy, 367 886, 895, 81 1743, 1748, 1230, nature various 'private interest(s)' fallen other line. See also Sniadach Family Finance Corp., 395 337, 339 342, 89 1820, 1821—1823, 23 349. Generalizations hazardous some administrative procedures summary reason necessity history. Yet certainly where attaches 'a infamy' citizen, comes into play. Wieman Updegraff, 344 183, 191, 73 215, 218—219, 97 216. '(T)he right heard being condemned suffer grievous loss kind, involve hardships criminal conviction, principle basic society.' Joint Anti-Fascist Refugee Committee McGrath, 341 123, 168, 71 624, 646, 95 817 (Frankfurter, J., concurring). 8 Where person's good name, reputation, honor, integrity stake because what government him, essential. 'Posting' under merely illness, stigma, branding person. degrading one. Under all. This afforded chance defend herself. been victim official's caprice. Only when whole proceedings leading pinning unsavory aired oppressive results prevented. 9 suggested should stayed hand while aggrieved repaired courts obtain construction relief from it. fact does raise point not, course, mean lacks merit. suggestion keeping precedents. 10 Congress could, routed questions through systems, saving final say came review judgments. But First Congress3 resolved differently created system time granted heads jurisdiction,4 which today rights. Once jurisdiction granted, they enmeshed questions. 1941 gave vigor so-called abstention doctrine Railroad Commission Texas Pullman Co., 312 496, 61 643, 85 971. authoritative resolution knotty question might end litigation give rise Id., 501, 645. We, therefore, directed retain pending determination underlying question. applied recently Fornaris Ridge Tool 41, 156, 174, relatively new Puerto Rican statute, had authoritatively construed Commonwealth's courts, 'might judicially confined narrow ambit avoid questions.' ordered stay their hands until spoken. Speaking Reetz Bozanich, 82, 788, 68, 'three-judge strike down Alaska which, if Court, so infirmity.' 43, 157. applies 'the uncertain.' Harman Forssenius, 380 528, 534, 1177, 1182, 14 50. Thus cases dealt unresolved tribunal could construe. supra; City Meridian Southern Bell Tel. & 358 639, 79 455, 562. 11 contain provision whatsoever hearing. There ambiguity statute. fairly taken circumstances but others. gives do did Hence naked question, uncomplicated unconstitutional. As said 251, 397, 444, await attempt vindicate claim court. abstain proceed decide 396 397. negate history enlargement courts,5 decided 12 Affirmed. 13 Chief BURGER, whom BLACKMUN joins, dissenting. strikes down, never challenged tested courts. judges probably surprise action since few, any, ever case. 15 Very likely reach correct result appears, application, conflict accepted concepts 16 my dissent seems me very odd business books almost 40 years, dispose problem either Constitution Constitution. For know, find invalid Constitution,1 thought discuss exhibit subject. reasonably think less fidelity Federal do, is, me, classic illustration decline act resort exhausted. At oral argument counsel Mrs. Constantineau candid saying deliberately avoided secure, indeed and, posture, appeal lie directly 17 1969 Term unanimously challenge, Equal Protection Clause Fourteenth Amendment Constitution, constitutionality restricting commercial salmon fishing licenses acted. There, here, statute's challenger wanted use 'short cut' authorized. convene invalid. Notwithstanding license applicants presented sound claim, Douglas, speaking unanimous 18 'We advised interpreted feeling sure grounds merits, held, however, proper abstention, 'if shared conviction gear licensing scheme supportable.' 297 panel distinguished one, two former lawyers. And felt prompt decision necessary 'grave irreparable' injury 'economic livelihood' appellees result, engage occupation 'during year's forthcoming season.' Ibid. 'It true whenever faced local Meredith Winter Haven, 320 228, 64 7, based diversity only. Abstention involves duplication effort expense attendant delay. England Louisiana Board, 375 411, 84 461, 440. why stems 971, 1181—1182, 50.' 86, 790, 68 (1970). 20 wise essential policy keystone federalism. Previously underscored concept, saying: 21 'Proper exercise controversies involving unsettled tribunals preliminary court's consideration * case, interpretation evaluation validity constitution obviate need consider hold hand, lest render unnecessarily.' 640—641, 457, 562 (1959). 22 174. answer contend hence abstain; plain, susceptible limiting construction. Yet, furtherance Court's firm steer around head-on collisions avoiding unnecessary decisions, reversed remanded instructions litigants exhausted remedies challenge supra. cannot N Immigration Nationality Decisions see depart principles reaffirmed.2 24 quite absolute duty abstain—to hand—until least asked construe own negation judicial administration—and unwarranted limited resource—to impose kind then, direct appeal, Indeed, view, well this, urgency large import, act. abundance important work done well, subject added pressures non-urgent called resolve. Neither historic role nor reasonable placed us, calls intervention expedited shown. Here example unwise making prima facie available, unwillingness follow precedents declining pass so. remand directions refrain 26 BLACK, substantially THE CHIEF JUSTICE. vacate judgment withhold enable file declaratory challenging chief's posting notices forbidding opinion, cited, JUSTICE's out, course justified 'where uncertain' confine law's meaning 'as appears grant authority man's wife, mayor, town's supervisors, county superintendent poor, sheriff, attorney establishments selling posted. effect sweeping powers, nothing else State's limit them, practically same old common-law bill attainder, forebears abhorence forbade Article I, 9, See, e.g., Lovett, 328 303, 66 1073, 1252 (1946). purports place arbitrary tyrannical minor officers these modern bills attainder issued ex parte, character. impossible believe uphold boundless lives liberties citizens. therefore wholly have, unfair permit denied confining limits shown provide boundaries. example, provided similar Administrative Procedure realize many interpret law. Compare Clay Sun Insurance Office, 363 207, 213—227, 80 1222, 1226—1234, 1170 (1960) (Black, dissenting), Burford Oil 319 315, 63 1098, 87 1424 (1943). Here, passed all, apply body require notice, constitutional. 1343 provides: 'The shall original civil authorized commenced person: (3) To redress deprivation, color ordinance, regulation, custom usage, right, privilege immunity secured providing equal rights citizens States.' Section reads follows: '(1) When drinking liquors, fermented malt misspend, waste lessen estate want, town, village belongs liability support family, thereby injure health, endanger thereof, personal safety comfort member person, security property shall, account beverages, become dangerous peace community, wife supervisors aldermen trustees village, poor county, chairman board may, signed her, knowingly sell away space year like manner selling, furnishing, same. copy personally served upon intended prohibited obtaining beverage. '(2) mayor sheriff made aforesaid, drinks specifying force nonresident herein village.' 176.28 makes misdemeanor. first Judiciary Statutes-at-Large 73. 1343(3) statutes 1871. 13. 1875 enlarged authorizing 'federal question' presently contained 1331. 470. 245—248, 393—395, n. 4, Although clause such, 1, equivalent limitation Due Process Clauses Pauly Keebler, 175 428, 185 Northwestern KF135 N69 554 (1921). remanding effectively precluded securing season. No instant

Classification Label: 3