Legal Document

520 U.S. 259117 S.Ct. 1219137 L.Ed.2d 432 UNITED STATES, Petitioner,v.David W. LANIER. No. 95-1717. Supreme Court of the United States Argued Jan. 7, 1997. Decided March 31, Syllabus * Respondent Lanier was convicted under 18 U.S.C. §242 criminally violating constitutional rights five women by assaulting them sexually while he served as a state judge. The jury had been instructed, inter alia, that Government to prove an element offense deprived victims their Fourteenth Amendment due process right liberty, which included be free from motivated physical assaults and coerced sexual battery. en banc Sixth Circuit set aside convictions for lack any notice public covers simple or assault crimes. Invoking general interpretive canons Screws v. States, 325 91, 65 1031, 89 L.Ed. 1495 (plurality opinion), court held criminal liability may imposed only if said have violated is first identified in decision this Court, when has apply factual situation "fundamentally similar'' one at bar. regarded these combined requirements substantially higher than "clearly established'' standard used judge qualified immunity civil cases 42 §1983. Held: employed wrong determining whether particular conduct falls within range §242. Section 242's language prohibiting "the deprivation . secured Constitution'' does not describe specific it forbids, but-like its companion conspiracy statute, §241-incorporates law reference. Before violation penal law, requires "fair warning what intends.'' McBoyle 283 25, 27, 51 340, 341, 75 816. touchstone either standing alone construed courts, made reasonably clear time charged criminal. 242 light requirement Screws, supra. erred adding gloss prior declared issue plurality referred terms "decisions interpreting'' Constitution, see U.S., 104, S.Ct., 1037; no subsequent case confined universe relevant decisions Court's opinions; specifically Appeals defining established scope §241, Anderson 417 211, 223-227, 94 2253, 2261-2264, 41 20, enquiring applying rule §1983 Bivens Six Unknown Narcotics Agents, 403 388, 91 1999, 29 619, see, e.g., Mitchell Forsyth, 472 511, 533, 105 2806, 2819, 86 411. Nor demanded precedents level specificity meant Circuit. Rather, upheld §241 despite notable distinctions between later case, so long gave reasonable rights. See, Guest, 383 745, 759, n. 17, 1170, 1179, 16 239. Circuit's view demands more test error. In effect simply adaptation fair give officials (and, ultimately, governments) same protection consequences individuals traditionally possessed face vague statutes. As with official Bivens, if, but pre-existing unlawfulness defendant's apparent. Pp. ____-____. 73 F.3d 1380 (C.A.6 1996), vacated remanded. SOUTER, J., delivered opinion unanimous Court. Seth Waxman, Petitioner. Alfred H. Knight, Nashville, TN, Respondent. Justice SOUTER 1 David reversed his on ground previously fundamentally similar facts. question Constitution requires, we hold is. 2 formerly sole Chancery two rural counties western Tennessee. trial record, read most favorably jury's verdict, shows 1989 1991, office, assaulted several judicial chambers. serious were against woman whose divorce proceedings come before daughter's custody remained subject jurisdiction. When applied secretarial job Lanier's courthouse, interviewed her suggested might reexamine custody. got up leave, grabbed her, finally committed oral rape. A few weeks later, inveigled into returning courthouse again get information about another opportunity, orally raped her. App. 44-67. On other occasions four women: secretaries, Youth Services Officer juvenile over presided, local coordinator federal program who chambers discuss matter affecting court. Id., 13-43, 67-109. 3 Ultimately, 11 violations §242, each count indictment alleging that, acting willfully color Tennessee victim "rights privileges are protected laws namely liberty without including wilful assault.'' 5-12. trial, moved dismiss void vagueness. District denied motion. 4 instructed Government's burden defendant States: 5 "Included [Due Process Clause the] concept personal bodily integrity unauthorized unlawful abuse intrusion. Thus, provides person shall lawful justification claiming act official's demeaning harmful all circumstances shock one's consci[ence]. Freedom such includes certain It not, however, every unjustified touching grabbing constitutes person's must substantial nature involves force, mental coercion, injury emotional damage shocking consci[ence].'' 186-187. 6 returned verdicts guilty seven counts, three (one having dismissed close evidence). also found rapes resulted "bodily injury,'' 10-year imprisonment count, addition 1-year counts conviction, He sentenced consecutive maximum totaling 25 years. 7 panel affirmed sentence, 33 639 (1994), full granted rehearing banc, 43 1033 (1995). rehearing, "lack ambiguous statute [i.e., §242] crimes coverage.'' 1380, 1384 (1996). interpreting statutes, well (1945), (not federal, state, court), "a bar.'' F.3d, 1393. "substantially established' immunity'' Rev. Stat. §1979, Finding invasions those charged, judgment conviction instructions indictment. Two judges would felony charging concurred dismissing misdemeanor members dissented dismissals. 8 We certiorari review 518 ____, 116 2522, 135 1047 now reverse. II 9 Reconstruction Era making (1) "willfully'' (2) (3) deprive States.1 §242; dealt last elements, concerned here.2 10 §242,3 referring rights, privileges, immunities States,'' matched breadth §241,4 speaks conspiracies prevent exercise enjoyment privilege [any person] States.'' lieu describing statute's incorporate reference, Kozminski, 487 931, 941, 108 2751, 2759, 101 788 (1988); Price, 787, 797, 805, 1152, 1158-1159, 1162-1163, 267 (1966), many incorporated guarantees are, course, themselves stated some catholicity phrasing. result neither statutes nor good referents delineate forbidden particularity. enforced presents point, irony prosecution enforce application spacious can threaten accused another: HOLMES spoke common world will understand, intends do line passed. To make fair, far possible should clear.'' 816 (1931). ""The principle man responsible could understand proscribed.''' Bouie City Columbia, 378 347, 351, 84 1697, 1701, 12 894 (1964) (quoting Harriss, 347 612, 617, 74 808, 811-812, 98 989 (1954)).5 There related manifestations requirement. First, vagueness doctrine bars enforcement forbids doing men intelligence necessarily guess meaning differ application.'' Connally General Constr. Co., 269 385, 391, 46 126, 127, 70 322 (1926); accord Kolender Lawson, 461 352, 357, 103 1855, 1858, 903 (1983); Lanzetta New Jersey, 306 451, 453, 59 618, 83 888 (1939). Second, sort "junior version doctrine,'' Packer, Limits Criminal Sanction 95 (1968), canon strict construction lenity, ensures resolving ambiguity clearly covered. Liparota 471 419, 427, 2084, 2089, 85 434 (1985); Bass, 404 336, 347-348, 92 515, 522-523, 30 488 (1971); McBoyle, supra, 341. Third, although clarity requisite supplied otherwise uncertain Bouie, 357-359, 1704-1706; Kolender, 355-356, 1856-1858; Lanzetta, 455-457, 619-621; J. Jeffries, Legality, Vagueness, Construction Penal Statutes, 71 Va. L.Rev. 189, 207 (1985), courts novel fairly disclosed scope, Marks 430 188, 191-192, 97 990, 992-993, 260 (1977); Rabe Washington, 405 313, 993, 31 258 (1972); 353-354, 1702-1703; cf. Const. Art. I, §9, cl. 3; id., §10, 1; 1702-1703 (Ex Post Facto Clauses bar legislatures substantive offenses retroactive). guises, construed, 13 recognized expansive basis is, reference generally ill-suited different task giving liability. affront posed employing place offense, define hence gives warning.'' 101, 1035. At time, Justices difficulty arise "right express them.'' 1037. broad "made specific'' text settled interpretations, willful violators "certainly position say they adequate advance visited punishment -[T]hey punished unknowable something.'' 105, Accordingly, limited coverage warned of, conduct. See 2759 (parallel §241).6 14 Circuit, added glosses made-specific warning. view, phrased right, then ruling facts being prosecuted. None considerations advanced persuades us extreme envisioned necessary instance 15 contrary Appeals, ibid., think unsound reasoning provide required Although examples involving 1037 our opinions. While (1988), Thirteenth did characterize ascertaining crime "by looking prohibition specified decisions,'' least purposes liability, 20 (1974). explain below, 619 (1971), Courts established.'' 411 Davis Scherer, 468 183, 104 3012, 3017-3018, 82 139 (1984); 203-205, 3023-3025 (Brennan, concurring part dissenting part); Elder Holloway, 510 510, 516, 114 1019, 1023, 127 344 (1994) (treating "relevant authority'' considered enquiry). concerned, rightly so, disparate various Circuits leave insufficiently even point widely considered, circumstance taken account deciding enough, need categorical inadequate it. using phrase. contrary, relied 759 1179 239 (1966) (prior interstate travel, address private persons); Saylor, 64 1101, 88 1341 (1944) (pre-Screws; legitimate vote counted, whereas involved dilution votes through casting fraudulent ballots); Classic, 313 299, 321-324, 61 1040-1042, 1368 (1941) counted election, primary election); 106, 1037-1038 (stating Classic met announced). 17 But putting aside, lead demand degree certainty once unnecessarily high likely beget much wrangling. This danger flows Appeals' 1393, officer civilly liable Creighton, 483 635, 107 3034, 523 (1987) (Bivens action); 3012 (§1983 action). This, think, sphere, explained seeks ensure defendants "reasonably anticipate rise liability,'' 195, attaching " [t]he contours [violated are] sufficiently violates right,'' Anderson, 640, 3039. So conceived, object warning'' relates purpose validly fact role significance; both serve objective, require something clearer would, then, call beyond 19 say, single points sufficient instance. circumstances, earlier expressly leaves open applies type issue, very particularity necessary. 530-535, 12, 2817-2820, 12. statements inherently incapable warning, instances already decisional obvious question, though action [not] unlawful,'' Judge Daughtrey noted ""[t]he easiest don't arise. never section 1983 accusing welfare selling foster children slavery; follow arose, immune damages [or criminal] liability.''' 1410 K.H. Through Murphy Morgan, 914 F.2d 846, 851 (C.A.7 1990)); Colten Kentucky, 407 110, 1953, 1957, 32 584 (1972) (due "designed convert dilemma practical difficulties drawing enough take variety human kinds prohibited''); Williams 341 97, 576, 579, 774 (1951) (holding beating obtain confession plainly §242). sum, usefully "in [under is] apparent,'' Where satisfied. Because gauge respondent's actions vacate remand proper standard.7 21 ordered. syllabus prepared Reporter Decisions convenience reader. Detroit Timber & Lumber 200 321, 337, 26 282, 287, 50 499. present roots portions Civil Rights Acts, provisions consolidated 1874. Cong. Rec. 827-828 (1874) (describing derivation §§1 Act 1866, 27; §§16 1870, 144; §1 1871, 13). statutory forebears created sanctions enumerated 1874 expanded law's deprivations "customary stout assertions codifiers merely clarified reorganized changing substance.'' 803, 1161, (1966). Since recodification, Congress revisited occasions, contracting scope. 35 1092 (1909) (adding willfulness requirement); (1968) (enhancing penalties violations); 102 4396 (1988) (same); Stat.1970, 2109, 2113, 2147 (same). argument, pressed respondent, law. discussed original opinion, subsequently vacated, reach here. extent remains open, consideration remand. Whoever, ordinance, regulation, custom, subjects State, Territory, punishments, pains, penalties, alien, reason color, race, prescribed citizens,'' penalties. Insofar pertinent: "If persons conspire injure, oppress, threaten, intimidate him because exercised same,'' reflects deference legislature, possesses power punishment. Wiltberger, 76, Wheat. 95, 37 (1820); Aguilar, 515 115 2357, 2362, 132 (1995) (slip op., 5-6). 79-96 (discussing "principle legality,'' "that treated unless defined [a competent] authority place,'' implementing separation powers, providing notice, preventing abuses discretion) (quotation 80); 189 (1985). "making believed, qualify legal history majority seems [to been] willing create crime.'' 1391 Federal Congress, 939, 2757-2758; Wheat., 37, "create crime''; narrowly broadly worded policies favoring oblige carry out congressional intent admit, Huddleston 415 814, 831, 1262, 1271-1272, 39 782 (1974); Morris, 464, Pet. 475, 543 (1840). §242's pedigree tainted birth hands arguably changes 1, concluded history, 1384-1387. legislative derived structure itself, possible, directly odds language. Wells, 519 117 921, ___ (1997) 14-16). Further, conclusion intended extend "newly-created rights,'' 1387, belied increased section's times since decided, issues remain Several arguments tendered respondent here merit left open. contention excluded Due ambit contradicted itself cases. 100, 1034-1035, 1037-1038, (1945); 789, 2, 793, 1154, 1156 (§242 legislation enacted §5 encompasses guaranteed Clause). DeShaney Winnebago County Dept. Social Servs., 489 109 998, 249 (1989), limits duty protect parties where custody, hold, maintains, there outside custodial setting. claim, Graham Connor, 490 386, 394, 1865, 1870-1871, 443 claims relating physically abusive government Fourth Eighth Amendments; rather, claim covered provision, Amendment, analyzed appropriate rubric process.

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