Pietsch v. President of the United States

434 F.2d 861, 26 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 5847, 1970 U.S. App. LEXIS 6224
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Second Circuit
DecidedNovember 25, 1970
DocketNo. 84, Docket 34605
StatusPublished
Cited by18 cases

This text of 434 F.2d 861 (Pietsch v. President of the United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Pietsch v. President of the United States, 434 F.2d 861, 26 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 5847, 1970 U.S. App. LEXIS 6224 (2d Cir. 1970).

Opinion

CLARK, Justice (retired):

Pietsch filed a timely income tax return for the year 1968 but denied liability for the amount of the income tax surcharge authorized by Section 102 of the Revenue and Expenditure Control Act of 1968, P.L. 90-364, 82 Stat. 251.

On October 23, 1969, Pietsch, acting pro se, brought this action asking a declaration that American participation in the Vietnam military conflict was un[862]*862constitutional and enjoining the President of the United States and other federal officials from collecting the income tax surcharge assessed against him. In due time the Government moved to dismiss for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted. Thereafter Pietseh filed a motion for a preliminary injunction and a memorandum in opposition to the Motion to Dismiss. On January 2, 1970, Pietseh called on Judge Rosling, the Presiding Judge before whom this action was pending, at his chambers and finding him absent, wrote him a note saying:

“Judge Rosling: I was here today. Where were you? Fifteen or more GI’s died today and twice as many Vietnamese. That numher will continue to die until you hear this case and stop the unconstitutional Vietnam war.
Walter G. Pietseh”

On January 6, 1970 the Motion to Dismiss was granted and a copy of the order was mailed to Pietseh. On January 9 he filed a “Supplementary Addition to Amended Motion for a Preliminary Injunction” in which he moved for an order “barring forthwith any and all actions by the Government of the United States which would serve to continue or otherwise perpetuate the role of the United States as a direct combatant in the war in Viet Nam.” On the same day while the Court was hearing the criminal calendar, Pietseh created some type of disturbance in the back of the courtroom which interrupted the proceedings.

The notes of the official court reporter indicate that thereupon the Judge inquired: “Who is that man? Is there a Marshal present ?” A voice replied from the rear of the courtroom: “I am due for a hearing today * * The Judge then instructed the Marshal: “Take that man outside. If he refuses, take him into the cell.” The same voice then inquired: “You refuse to give me the right to speak?”, and the Judge again directed the Marshal: “Take him outside,” indicating the street door to the courtroom. The voice then spoke up: “Before you take me away — tell me the charge.” The Judge then directed the Marshal: “Bring that man forward. What is your name?” The voice answered, “Walter Pietseh, Plaintiff in an action,” and the Judge announced: “You are disturbing the Court — ten days in prison.” Mr. Pifetsch then replied: “I didn’t disturb the court. You are the one who started shouting.” The Judge then directed the Marshal: “Take him out.” Pietseh then inquired: “For what reason ? God damn it — is this a dictatorship? You can’t hear a case in open court?” He was then removed from the courtroom.

Later in the day about six p.m., counsel, whom Pietseh had obtained in the meanwhile, approached the bench and after some discussion, Pietseh was brought back into the courtroom and his sentence was commuted to time already served. We attach as an appendix the official report of the proceeding.

I.

As to Pietsch’s complaint we find that it was properly dismissed. At the outset we are confronted with Section 7421(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 1 which provides that: “No suit for the purpose of restraining the assessment or collection of any tax shall be maintained in any court by any person * The courts have long held this mandate of the Congress to foreclose attacks— constitutional or otherwise — on revenue acts unless it be shown that “under the most liberal view of the law and the facts, the United States cannot establish its claim” and that “taxpayer would suffer irreparable injury if collection were effected.” Enochs v. Williams Packing & Navigation Co. Inc., 370 U.S. 1, 7, 82 S.Ct. 1125, 1129, 8 L.Ed.2d 292 (1962).

[863]*863Neither of these conditions is present here. Pietsch does not assert that collection of his surcharge will do more than temporarily inconvenience him. And it strikes us as most unlikely that Pietsch would prevail in a refund suit, for he does not attack the validity of the tax surcharge itself, but only of some of the uses to which its proceeds are put. Even assuming for the moment that the prosecution of the war in Vietnam were clearly illegal — a generous assumption indeed— the surtax is hardly so closely intertwined with the war that it would have to fall as well.

Perhaps aware that his suit against the collection of his surtax faces these imposing difficulties, Pietsch has also assailed the war directly, seeking declaratory and injunctive relief. As to some of the war-related measures which Pietsch would have us enjoin, such as the draft, he asserts no interest in the matter beyond that of a citizen-at-large and therefore lacks standing to contest their legality. See Massachusetts v. Mellon, 262 U.S. 447, 488, 43 S.Ct. 597, 67 L.Ed. 1078 (1923). The only measure which Pietsch is arguably in a position to challenge is the expenditure of funds in furtherance of the war. Under Flast v. Cohen, 392 U.S. 83, 88 S.Ct. 1942, 20 L.Ed.2d 947 (1968), however, Pietsch’s attack must assert the violation of “specific constitutional limitations imposed upon the exercise of the congressional taxing and spending power * * id. at 103, 88 S.Ct. at 1954. Although more than one purpose has been attributed to Congress’ war power, that power has never been seen as a “specific * * * limitation” upon the appropriation power. Pietsch’s status as a federal taxpayer therefore does not entitle him to challenge the expenditure of funds for the Vietnam war.

We therefore affirm the dismissal of the complaint.

II.

The Order and Judgment in Contempt finds that Pietsch behaved in an “unruly, loud, boisterous manner disrupting the proceedings of this Court and the administration of justice.” The Court further found that upon being instructed to leave the courtroom Pietsch “did refuse, physically resisting the efforts of the United States Marshal to escort him out of the courtroom and then having addressed this Court in a contemptuous and boisterous manner; all the foregoing occurring in the sight and sound of the court. # * * ff

Rule 42(a) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure provides that where the contempt is committed in the actual presence of the Court and the Judge certifies that he saw or heard the conduct constituting the contempt, the offense may be punished summarily. It further requires that the order of contempt recite the facts and be cited by the Judge and entered of record. It will be noted that the Order here does not recite the facts which lead to the finding and sentence of contempt but merely states that Pietsch “behaved in an unruly, loud, contemptuous and boisterous manner interrupting the proceedings.” The facts as to how the proceedings were disturbed were not recited.

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Bluebook (online)
434 F.2d 861, 26 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 5847, 1970 U.S. App. LEXIS 6224, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/pietsch-v-president-of-the-united-states-ca2-1970.