Court Opinion

ID: 9650761
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-23 15:51:07.517474+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:12:25.974590
License: Public Domain

*622'L. HAND, Circuit Judge
(concurring). I think that we have no jurisdiction to review the Commission’s order until we have decided that the respondent has disobeyed it. Section 5 of the act says that, “if such person * * * neglects to obey such order * * * the Commission, may apply to the Circuit Court of Appeals.” That is not to say that the Commission may so apply, if they merely allege that the respondent has disobeyed; it is the fact, not their assertion, which conditions our jurisdiction. Such, at least, is the form of the act, and such the decision of the Seventh Circuit. Fed. Trade Com. v. Standard Education Soc. (C. C. A.) 14 F.(2d) 947.
The answer is .that we cannot decide that question, because section 5 confines our inquiry to the proceedings before the Commis; sion up to the entry of its order, and that the respondent’s disobedience necessarily occurred theretofore. In the first place, if the fact is a condition on our jurisdiction, we have inherent power, like any other court, to decide it, else we could not act at all. In the second, we must decide it at some time anyway, and I can perceive no greater express power to act after the order has been held valid than before. We are assuming a power in either event not conferred on us in words.
Passing the form and turning to convenience, I cannot see that it is more awkward in practice to determine disobedience before validity than validity before disobedience. It is quite true that we run the chance of wasting our time either way, for we cannot decide everything at once; but it is fairer, I think, to take up the issue of disobedience first. If the respondent has in fact obeyed the order, why should he be vexed with the suit at all? Presumably the question is of little moment to him. Only after his protestation of compliance has been shown to be untrue ought he to be called on to dispute the order. At least, so it seems to me. The order has no sanction in any ease, and we are not to confuse the ease with a contempt, which presupposes some coercive power already exercised.
Therefore I think that all we should do is to enter the order of reference which we propose, and in which I concur. However, on the point of jurisdiction I am overruled, and, as in fact I agree that the order is valid, I concur also in our finding that it is, as well as in the court’s opinion so holding.