In Re Shead

302 F. Supp. 560, 1969 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13434
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. California
DecidedJune 16, 1969
DocketMisc. 10101
StatusPublished
Cited by11 cases

This text of 302 F. Supp. 560 (In Re Shead) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. California primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In Re Shead, 302 F. Supp. 560, 1969 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13434 (N.D. Cal. 1969).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM FOR ORDER

OLIVER J. CARTER, District Judge.

This matter is before the Court on a motion by the United States for an order granting immunity for several witnesses who were called to testify before the grand jury for the Northern District of California sitting in San Francisco. The witnesses were subpoenaed to appear and did appear on May 14, 1969, to testify before the grand jury. Questions relating to matters involving interstate travel to organize, promote and encourage riots and teaching and demonstrating the use and making of firearms and, explosives were then and there asked of these witnesses. They refused to answer such questions on the ground that the answers they give might tend to incriminate them. The United States Attorney for the Northern District of California has now moved this Court to order the witnesses to answer such questions pursuant to the immunity provisions of 18 U.S.C. § 2514.

In answer to the motion, the witnesses have filed a cross-motion seeking declaratory and injunctive relief against enforcement of 18 U.S.C. §§ 2514 (immunity statute), 2101 (anti-riot statute). Included in the cross-motion is the request that the constitutional attacks against these statutes be determined by a three-judge court pursuant to 28 U.S. C. § 2282.

Before discussing some of the issues raised by the witnesses, the nature of the matter before this Court should be emphasized. This proceeding is the result of a motion by the government to order the witnesses to testify at a grand jury investigation. The constitutional issues presented by the witnesses arise in opposition to the granting of such a motion. Thus, a novel situation is presented in which a three-judge court is being requested to enjoin enforcement of federal laws by persons who are already before the Court with standing to raise as a defense, the issues which form the identical basis for their claim for equitable relief. A similar situation would arise in a criminal prosecution in which the defendant files in the very court which is hearing the matter, a cross-complaint for an injunction against the enforcement of the law under which he is being prosecuted, relying on the principles of Dombrowski v. Pfister, 380 U.S. 479, 85 S.Ct. 1116, 14 L.Ed.2d 22 (1965).

Movant and cross-movants have supported their motions with arguments making some reference to the problem of “standing to challenge the constitutionality of the statutes herein.” This Court has no doubt that the witnesses have standing to challenge the constitutionality of these statutes. The government’s motion is based on 18 U.S.C. § 2514, so the constitutionality of this statute is clearly a proper issue before this Court.

As to 18 U.S.C. § 2101, constitutionality is also a proper issue, since this Court would be powerless to order the witnesses to testify if that statute is unconstitutional on its face. The Con *563 stitution is silent on the specific point of Congress’ power to provide for ordering persons to testify in federal court or before a federal grand jury after being granted immunity. The Constitution does provide, however, that Congress has power “To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.” U.S.Const. Art. I, § 8, cl. 18. Thus, Congress has the power to grant immunity coextensive with the privilege against self-incrimination if the purpose for which it is necessary and proper, is one properly within the sphere of federal power. Ullmann v. United States, 350 U.S. 422, 76 S.Ct. 497, 100 L.Ed. 511 (1966). If this purpose suffers from constitutional infirmity, the legislation attempting to grant immunity for that purpose must also fall. Compare Brown v. Walker, 161 U.S. 591, 601, 16 S.Ct. 644, 40 L.Ed. 819 (1896). (Discussion of Congress’ power to grant amnesty).

In the case before this Court, the applicable portion of 18 U.S.C. § 2514 provides :

“Whenever in the judgment of a United States attorney the * * * evidence of any witness, in any case or proceeding before any grand jury or court of the United States involving any violation of * * * any of the offenses enumerated in section 2516 or any conspiracy to violate * * * any of the offenses enumerated in section 2516 is necessary to the public interest, such United States attorney * * * shall make application to the court that the witness shall be instructed to * * * produce evidence subject to the provisions of this section * * *. No such witness shall be prosecuted or subjected to any penalty or forfeiture for or on account of any transaction, matter or thing concerning which he is compelled, after having claimed his privilege against self-incrimination, to testify or produce evidence * * *.”

The government’s application states that the “Grand jury was then and there inquiring into matters involving interstate travel to organize, promote and encourage riots and teaching and demonstrating the use and making of firearms and explosives,” when the witnesses refused to testify. Although the government has failed to specify what federal crimes the grand jury was investigating, the application can be interpreted to mean the grand jury was investigating violations of 18 U.S.C. § 2101, which is one of the offenses enumerated in 18 U.S.C. § 2516. If section 2101 is unconstitutional, the purpose for which Congress provided the grant of immunity is void and this Court cannot order the witnesses to testify under a grant of immunity coextensive with the privilege of self-incrimination. Thus, cross-movants are entitled to have the constitutionality of both statutes determined by this Court.

The Court now turns to the question of whether or not the prayer by cross-movants for injunctive relief may be honored in this case, for purposes of determining whether a three-judge court should be convened under 28 U.S.C. § 2282. It is established that if a complaint seeks an injunction restraining the enforcement, operation or execution of an Act of Congress and the constitutional questions raised are not plainly insubstantial, a three-judge court must be convened. Schneider v. Rusk, 372 U.S. 224, 83 S.Ct. 621, 9 L.Ed.2d 695 (1963).

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
302 F. Supp. 560, 1969 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13434, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-shead-cand-1969.