In the Matter of Sylvia Jane Brown, a Witness Before the United States Grand Jury v. United States

465 F.2d 371

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
• Decided: September 27, 1972
• Docket: 72-1914
• Status: Published

Opinion

PER CURIAM:

After argument in this court of her appeal from an order adjudging Sylvia Jane Brown in contempt for refusing to testify before a grand jury, the United States Supreme Court handed down Gelbard v. United States, 408 U.S. 41, 92 S.Ct. 2357, 33 L.Ed.2d 179 (1972), reversing United States v. Gelbard, 443 F.2d 837 (9th Cir. 1971); Reed v. United States, 448 F.2d 1276 (9th Cir. 1971); Olsen v. United States, 446 F.2d 912 (9th Cir. 1971); and Bacon v. United States, 446 F.2d 667 (9th Cir. 1971).

Because Gelbard now requires a remand to the district court for a factual determination on the alleged use by the government of illegal electronic eavesdropping, it is not now necessary to decide the other issues tendered in this appeal.

The appellant has been at liberty upon a stay granted by this court, and, accordingly, no one has been prejudiced by the limitations of the thirty-day period set forth in 28 U.S.C. § 1826. Once again, we express no opinion upon the constitutional question that might be presented if a party insists upon a final decision within such a time frame. See Charleston v. United States, 444 F.2d 504 (9th Cir.), petition for cert. dismissed, 404 U.S. 916, 92 S.Ct. 241, 30 L.Ed.2d 191 (1971).

Reversed and remanded.