Gaca v. United States

411 U.S. 618, 93 S. Ct. 2156, 36 L. Ed. 2d 541, 1973 U.S. LEXIS 76

• Court: Supreme Court of the United States
• Decided: May 7, 1973
• Docket: 72-6011
• Status: Published

Opinion

Per Curiam.

Petitioner was convicted in United States District Court of illegal wiretapping under 18 U. S. C. § 2511. His appeal was dismissed for want of timely prosecution when he failed to pay a $25 filing fee. Petitioner contends that he thought payment of the fee unnecessary because he had been granted leave to appeal in forma pauperis by the District Judge.

In his memorandum before this Court, the Solicitor General states that the United States does not oppose a remand to reinstate the appeal in the exercise of this Court’s supervisory powers in order to avoid possible injustice and the possibility of collateral attack upon the conviction. In light of this representation, and upon our independent examination of the record, the motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis and the petition for certiorari are granted and the case is vacated and remanded with instructions that the appeal be reinstated.

It is so ordered.

Mr. Justice White and Mr. Justice Rehnquist dissent.