Court Opinion

ID: 9746976
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-27 14:48:40.473201+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:25:18.962526
License: Public Domain

KELLEY, Judge,
dissenting.
I respectfully dissent.
While it is generally conceded that it is discretionary whether or not to grant continuances wherein there is a pending criminal matter, in the present case, the civil and criminal proceedings arise from the same identical factual pattern. I believe this scenario goes to the heart of the constitutional question raised by the licensee in this case. This sentiment has been recognized in Afro-Lecon, Inc. v. The United States, 820 F.2d 1198 (Fed.Cir.1987) wherein it says:
Other than where there is specific evidence of agency bad faith or malicious governmental tactics, the strongest case for deferring civil proceedings until after completion of criminal proceedings is where a party under indictment for a serious offense is required to defend a civil or administrative action involving the same matter.
Afro-Lecon, 820 F.2d at 1203.
The inherent difference of the burdens of proof between the criminal and the civil proceeding is such that, everything that would be offered and available in a civil proceeding would again be available in the criminal proceeding.
The licensee, in order to avail himself of the maximum amount of defense to the suspension of his or her license from the action of the department arising out of the very same underlying facts is, I believe, as a matter of law, entitled to constitutional protection.
*394Being compelled to testify in the civil proceeding if he or she wishes to avail himself of the maximum defense to the suspension of his or her license would amount to a violation of the constitutional right against self-incrimination.
Accordingly, I would reverse.