Court Opinion

ID: 9756412
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-28 21:27:37.976956+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:28:20.960530
License: Public Domain

NEBEKER, Associate Judge
(concurring) :
While I concur in the result I think it appropriate to discuss problems not heretofore illuminated in this relatively new area of local case law. Numerous cases have arisen here recently in diverse circumstances which to me warrant departure from the usually wise practice of avoidance of issues which do not require decision. Since my colleagues do not think the court should discuss these issues it is fair to say that these views are not rejected as a matter of law or as being contrary to the meager precedent in this field of law.
In this case neither the parties nor the trial judge appears to have considered whether alternatives to outright expungement are available and appropriate. Moreover, the realistic nature of an order of expungement has not been recognized. In*852deed, the opinion of the court might lead a reader to believe that, being a case of unusual circumstances, this court favors ex-pungement rather than some lesser form of relief. I do not read In re Alexander, D.C.App., 259 A.2d 592 (1969), as so limiting the nature of relief in these unusual cases. Nor do I believe we should leave unclear and confused the nature of such ancillary power to limit use of arrest records as exercise of such power relates to other officials not properly subject to the mandate of the court.
Irani was arrested by mistake. He now asks that this historical fact be erased. He includes in that request the physical destruction of all records along with photographs and fingerprints and that he be supplied the names of other officials who may now know of the event, presumably in order that he might seek similar relief against them. Certainly, neither this court nor any other court can order that the arrest did not occur. The fact has occurred and no system of law, possessed of integrity, can truthfully deny that it happened. Numerous examples will demonstrate this: Can he deny the arrest if properly asked, in official government inquiry, in face of 18 U.S.C. § 1001 (1964) (false statement), or 18 U.S.C. § 1621 (1964), and D.C. Code 1967, § 22-2501 (perjury) ? Can he or the arresting officer truthfully deny the arrest if properly asked about it in future litigation ?1 Indeed, it is extremely doubtful whether Irani can be given license by the trial court or by this court to deny that he was once arrested if by law he is required to answer the inquiry truthfully. Must fingerprints taken after such an arrest never be used, even for identification in the event of an untimely death or for other noncriminal public purposes ? In short, there are many legitimate and practical reasons, consistent with the public interest, why the trial court may wish not to undertake to erase an historical fact or even give the appearance of doing so.
Accordingly, it is well simply to recognize that as a practical matter an order of expungement itself has outer limits of efficacy. Such an order, in the absence of a specific statutory directive, ordinarily is thought to encompass elimination of the record of arrest from all public files and most files of officials properly before the court unless extraordinary reasons are advanced for permitting a limited nonpublic retention of a record of the historical fact. Menard v. Mitchell, 430 F.2d 486, 494-495 (D.C.Cir., 1970), recognized some of the considerations militating against judicial intrusion into this vital public function.2
In this connection it is appropriate to take note of D.C. Code 1967, § 4 — 140(a) (Supp. Ill, 1970). That provision commands that certain “detention shall not be recorded as an arrest in any official record.” It is obvious from the context and legislative history of that statute that it applies only where police make an arrest but determine that they will release the person without making a criminal charge against him in their records. See H.R. Rep. No. 387, 90th Cong., 1st Sess. 25 (1967); S.Rep. No. 912, 90th Cong., 1st Sess. 17-18 (1967). Indeed, according to the latter source, this provision
“does not mean, however, that no record is to be kept of the event. On the contrary, the committee intends that the police department or other law enforcement agency, under appropriate regulations, will keep records identifying the time and circumstances of each arrest which culminates in a release without *853charge, including the identity of the person involved.”
That statute does not control in this case since the police elected to charge Irani with an offense on their records. It is significant, however, since it is the only legislation dealing with restricted use of arrest records in the District of Columbia,3 and it is highly suggestive that Congress does not, even in cases where a statute applies, favor general expungement orders.
As reflected from Morrow v. District of Columbia, 135 U.S.App.D.C. 160, 175, 417 F.2d 728, 743 (1969), we and the trial court are free to “adopt a flexible individual case approach” to requests of this kind. Accordingly, it is my view that the trial judge, on remand, is free to consider whether some form of relief short of ex-pungement, whatever that term means, is appropriate; that is, whether the order entered is “agreeable to the usages and principles of law.” 28 U.S.C. § 1651(a) (1964). Such order, of course, must relate to the use of “ancillary”, not presumed om-nificent, power of the court.4
In that connection, the trial court may consider whether an order directing complete or limited expungement is appropriate or whether to require the Metropolitan Police Department to amend its records also to reflect that the court has determined that Irani established his complete lack of culpability and has affirmatively shown factual innocence regarding the incident. Of course, that department could also be required to forward such information to any other agency possessing a record of this arrest, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation. In that way, wherever a record of the arrest is kept so also will be the fact that Irani was by the court declared the innocent victim of a mistake. If in this case it is discovered that the Metropolitan Police Department has communicated the fact of Irani’s arrest to other federal agencies, the trial court may well consider directing that department to request recall of such records. In this way, problems of jurisdiction over other officials in the performance of their duties will be avoided and removal of the case to the United States District Court will not become a distinct possibility. See 28 U.S.C. § 1441 et seq. (1964). Of course, Irani would have the advantage of offering this adjudication whenever he may be required to disclose his arrest. If deemed appropriate another hearing could be held at which the interests of the police department and Irani could be made of record in relation to any desired alternative form of disposition.

. E. g., Michelson v. United States, 335 U.S. 469, 69 S.Ct. 213, 93 L.Ed. 168 (1948).

. Of course there are other recognized instances in which a fact will be legally ignored in lieu of attempted expungement; e. g., Youth Correction Act offenders under 18 U.S.C. § 5021 (1964), where an order setting aside the conviction is entered on official records; executive pardon by reason of innocence; and the declared annulment of a marriage pursuant to D.C.Code 1967, § 11-1141.

. See also the so-called “Duncan Report” referred to in In re Alexander, D.C.App., 259 A.2d 592 (1969).

. I do not equate this case to United States v. McLeod, 385 F.2d 734 (5th Cir., 1967), dealing with a calculated abuse of police power. But it is nonetheless noted that even in that case the court applied a broad statutory civil rights provision in ordering expungement.