Craig v. Hecht U S/Opinion of the Court
The opinions below are reported in United States v. Craig (D. C.) 266 Fed. 230; Ex parte Craig (D. C.) 274 Fed. 177; United States v. Craig (D. C.) 279 Fed. 900; Ex parte Craig %(c. c. a.) 282 f/ed. 138.

In October, 1919, petitioner Craig, Comptroller of New York City, wrote and published a letter to Public Service Commissioner Nixon, wherein he assailed United States District Judge Mayer because of certain action taken in receivership proceedings then pending. The United States district attorney filed an information charging him with criminal contempt under section 268, Judicial Code (Comp. St. § 1245).

Having heard the evidence, given the matter prolonged consideration and offered the accused opportunity to retract, on February 24, 1921-some fifteen months after the offense-Judge Mayer, holding the District Court, sentenced petitioner to jail for 60 days and committed him to the custody of the United States marshal. Immediately, without making any effort to appeal, Craig presented his verified petition, addressed 'To the Honrable Martin T. Manton, Circuit Judge of the United States,' asking for a writ of habeas corpus and final discharge. The record of all evidence and proceedings before the District Court was annexed to, or by reference made part of, the petition. The judge promptly signed and issued the following writing, which bore neither seal of court nor clerk's attestation:

'The United States of America, Second Judicial Circuit,      Southern District of New York-ss.:

'We command you that the body of Charles L. Craig, in your      custody detained, as it is said, together with the day and      cause of his caption and detention, you safely have before      Honorable Martin T. Manton, United States Circuit Judge for      the Second Judicial Circuit, within the circuit and district      aforesaid, to do and receive all and singular those things      which the said judge shall then and there consider of him in      this behalf; and have you then and there this writ.

'Witness the Honorable Martin T. Manton, United States      Circuit Judge for the Second Judicial Circuit, this 24th day      of February, 1921, and in the 145th year of the Independence      of the United States of America.

'Martin T. Manton, U.S.C. J.

The marshal made return, and set up the contempt proceedings in the District Court along with the order of commitment. This was traversed, and Judge Manton heard the cause. He said and ruled: 'Was there a cause pending within the rule of contempt   concerning libelous publications? A cause is pending   when it is still open to modifications, appeal or   rehearing, and until the final judgment is rendered. Did   the letter concern a cause pending? If it did not, it   could not obstruct the administration of justice. The   application before the court, which is the   subject-matter of the letter, was the matter of a   coreceiver. As to this the court had definitely decided   adverse to the comptroller. The court's action was   complete in respect to this matter. * * * The District   Judge pointed out, as did the information, that the   whole railroad situation was before the court, since it   was an equity proceeding; but it is not of this that the   defendant wrote. This is fully corroborated by the   testimony of the defendant. He also testified that he   had no intention of obstructing the delivery of justice   or misbehaving himself so as to obstruct the   administration of justice. He stands convicted upon his   letter alone, and such inferences as may be drawn   therefrom. His conviction rests upon an issue between   the court and the defendant, and it is one of   terminology or interpretation. There is no criminal   intent discoverable from this record to support the   interpretation placed upon it by the court, nor was   there pending sub judice a proceeding before the court   at the time the letter was written. The conclusion is   irresistible that the court exceeded its jurisdiction by   an excess of power in adjudging the defendant guilty.   The petition for discharge is granted.' 274 Fed. 187.

'It is ordered that the papers in this proceeding be filed      with the clerk of the United States District Court for the      Southern District of New York, in his office in the Post      Office Building, in the borough of Manhattan, city of New      York, and that this order be recorded in said court.'

Circuit Judge Hough allowed an appeal. Being of opinion that Circuit Judges, as such, are without power to grant writs of habeas corpus, the Circuit Court of Appeals treated the cause as determined by the District Court, to which Judge Manton had been assigned, and held:

'We find no reason why this case is not governed by the      general rule that a habeas corpus proceeding cannot be used      as a writ of error, but must be limited to jurisdictional      questions. * * * The sole question which could be considered      in the habeas corpus proceedings was as to the jurisdiction      of the District Judge. If he had jurisdiction of the person      of the petitioner, Craig, and jurisdiction of the subject and      authority to render the judgment which he pronounced, there      was no right to inquire further in the habeas corpus      proceedings, and no right to determine whether or not, in the      exercise of that jurisdiction, the District Judge had      committed error. If errors were committed, the law afforded a      remedy therefor, but not by habeas corpus.' 282 Fed. 151.

It concluded that the District Court, Judge Mayer presiding, had jurisdiction of both offense and person, and reversed the order of discharge.

The court correctly held that United States Circuit Judges, as such, have no power to grant writs of habeas corpus.

Two sections of the Revised Statutes authorize the granting and issuing of such writs.

'Sec. 751. The Supreme Court and the Circuit and District      Courts shall have power to issue writs of habeas corpus.

'Sec. 752. The several justices and judges of said courts,      within their respective jurisdictions, shall have power to      grant writs of habeas corpus for the purpose of an inquiry      into the cause of restraint of liberty.'

Comp. St. §§ 1279, 1280.

The Judiciary Act of 1789 (1 Stat. 73) provided for the organization of Circuit Courts. Until 1869 they were presided over by District Judges and Justices of the Supreme Court. The Act of April 10, 1869, 16 Stat. 44, created the office of Circuit Judge:

'For each of the nine existing judicial circuits there shall      be appointed a Circuit Judge, who shall reside in his      circuit, and shall possess the same power and jurisdiction      therein as the justice of the Supreme Court allotted to the      circuit.' Section 2.

This provision became part of section 607, Rev. Stats:

'For each circuit there shall be appointed a Circuit Judge,      who shall have the same power and jurisdiction therein as the      justice of the Supreme Court allotted to the circuit. * * *      Every Circuit Judge shall reside within his circuit.'

The Act of March 3, 1911 (Judicial Code, §§ 289, 291, 297 [Comp. St. §§ 1266, 1268, 1274]), abolished Circuit Courts, conferred their duties, and powers upon the District Courts, and specifically repealed section 607, Rev. Stats. It also repealed 'all acts and parts of acts authorizing the appointment of United States Circuit or District Judges * * * enacted prior to February 1, 1911.' Section 118, Judicial Code (Comp. St. § 1109), provides:

'There shall be in the second, seventh, and eighth circuits,      respectively, four Circuit Judges; in the fourth circuit, two      Circuit Judges; and in each of the other circuits, three      Circuit Judges, to be appointed by the President, by and with      the advice and consent of the Senate. * * * The Circuit      Judges in each circuit shall be judges of the Circuit Court      of Appeals in that circuit, and it shall be the duty of each      Circuit Judge in each circuit to sit as one of the judges of      the Circuit Court of Appeals in that circuit from time to      time according to law: Provided, that nothing in this section      shall be construed to prevent any Circuit Judge holding      District Court or serving in the Commerce Court, or      otherwise, as provided for and authorized in other sections      of this act.'

Sections 751 and 752, Rev. Stats. give authority to grant writs of habeas corpus only to judges and justices of the courts therein specified-Supreme, Circuit and District. The Judicial Code abolished the Circuit Courts. Only justices of the Supreme Court and judges of District Courts remain within the ambit of the statute.

Section 18, Judicial Code (Comp. St. § 985):

'Whenever in the judgment of the senior Circuit Judge of the      circuit in which the district lies, or of the Circuit Justice      assigned to such circuit, or of the Chief Justice, the public      interest shall require, the said judge, or Associate Justice,      or Chief Justice, shall designate and appoint any Circuit      Judge of the circuit to hold said District Court.'

A duly executed writing designated and appointed Judge Manton -

'to hold a session of the District Court of the United States      for the Southern District of New York for the trial of causes      and the hearing and disposition of such ex parte and other      business as may come before him during the period beginning      February 21, 1921, and ending March 5, 1921.'

Petitioner's counsel took care to show this assignment, and, responding to the motion that the judge should proceed as a District Court in hearing the application for petitioner's discharge, he stated:

'Our position is, your honor, that the writ is issued by you      as a Circuit Judge. In addition thereto, you were designated      formally under the statute, and under that form of      designation you had the power and the duty in chambers of      doing the acts and proceedings of a District Court judge, and      we therefore claim that there was superadded to your powers,      if necessary, the powers and activities of a District Court      judge.'

'In issuing the writ Circuit Judge Manton, in addition to his      powers as a Circuit Judge, was exercising the powers of a      District Judge under designation.'

As Circuit Judges have no authority to issue writs of habeas corpus, Judge Manton acted unlawfully unless the proceeding was before him either as District Judge or as the District Court. The record shows he did not rely solely on his authority as Circuit Judge, and, considering his assignment and all the circumstances, we agree with the court below that he was exercising the powers of the District Court. He was not a District Judge, but Circuit Judge assigned 'to hold a session of the District Court.'

If it be conceded that he acted as District Judge, and not as the District Court, nevertheless his action was subject to review. Webb et al. v. York (1896) 74 Fed. 753, 21 C. C. A. 65, holds that an appeal lies to the Circuit Court of Appeals from the final orders of a judge at chambers in habeas corpus proceedings. Notwithstanding Hoskins et al. v. Funk, 239 Fed. 278, 152 C. C. A. 266, to the contrary, we approve the conclusion reached in Webb v. York and think it is supported by sound argument. The court said:

'The present motion to dismiss * * * raises the question      whether an appeal lies to this court from an order made by a      District Judge at chambers in a habeas corpus proceeding,      directing the discharge of a prisoner. Prior to the Act of      March 3, 1891, creating Circuit Courts of Appeals * * * an      appeal lay from such orders to the Circuit Court for the      district by virtue of section 763, Rev. St. * * *

"Sec. 763. From the final decision of any court, justice or      judge inferior to the Circuit Court, upon an application for      a writ of habeas corpus or upon such writ when issued, an      appeal may be taken to the Circuit Court for the district in      which the cause is heard. * * *'

'In the case of United States v. Fowkes, 3 U.S. App. 247, 3      C. C. A. 394, 53 Fed. 13, it was held that the Act of March      3, 1891, supra, operated to divest the Circuit Courts of      their appellate jurisdiction in habeas corpus cases, under      section 763, and that by virtue of the provisions of the Act      of March 3, 1891, the various Circuit Courts of Appeals had      acquired the jurisdiction to review the decisions of District      Court in habeas corpus cases that had previously been      exercised by the Circuit Courts. This conclusion, we think,      was fairly warranted by the following clause. * * *

'Sec. 4. That no appeal, whether by writ of error or      otherwise, shall hereafter be taken or allowed from any District Court to the existing Circuit Courts, and no      appellate jurisdiction shall hereafter be exercised or      allowed by said existing Circuit Courts, but all appeals by      writ of error or otherwise, from said District Courts shall      only be subject to review in the Supreme Court of the United      States or in the Circuit Court of Appeals hereby established.      * * *'

'See, also Duff v. Carrier, 5 C. C. A. 177, 55 Fed. 433.

'The result is that, unless the Act of March 3, 1891, is      construed as lodging in the Circuit Courts of Appeals the      appellate jurisdiction, under Section 763, from final      decisions of District Judges, that was previously exercised      by the Circuit Courts, the right of appeal, plainly granted      by that section, from final decisions of District Judges at      chambers in habeas corpus cases is lost, and becomes      valueless, because no court has been designated to which      appeals in such cases may be taken. We think it clear that it      was not the purpose of Congress to thus legislate. If it had      intended to abolish the right of appeal from the decisions of      District Judges in habeas corpus cases, it would doubtless      have done so in plain and direct terms.

'The fact that the right of appeal was not thus abolished      furnishes a persuasive inference that Congress intended to      designate a court to hear and determine such appeals. In      McLish v. Roff, 141 U.S. 661, 666, 12 Sup. Ct. 118, and in      Lau Ow Bew v. United States, 144 U.S. 47, 12 Sup. Ct. 517,      it was said, in substance, by the Supreme Court of the United      States that it was the purpose of the Act of March 3, 1891,      to distribute the entire appellate jurisdiction theretofore      exercised by the federal courts between the Supreme Court of      the United States and the Circuit Courts of Appeals that were      thereby established. This intent, we think, is plainly      apparent from the terms of the act. Moreover, the act in      question very much enlarged the right of appeal, and that was      one of its chief objects. In no single instance, so far as we      are aware, was a previous right of appeal abolished.

'We think, therefore, that it may be fairly concluded that it      was the intention of Congress to confer on the Circuit Courts      of Appeals the right to hear appeals from final orders made      by District Judges in habeas corpus cases, as well as to hear      appeals from final decisions of District Courts made in such      cases. We can conceive of no reason why the right should be      denied in the one case and granted in the other, and such we      believe was not the intent of the lawmaker.

'In the case of United States v. Gee Lee, 7 U.S. App. 183, 1      C. C. A. 516, 50 Fed. 271, it was held that the words 'the      judge of the District Court for the district,' as used in an      act of Congress, were equivalent to the words 'District Court      for the district.' By a similar latitude of construction, the      intent being clear, we think that section 4 of the act of      March 3, 1891, may be held to authorize an appeal to the      United States Circuit Court of Appeals from a final decision      of a District Judge at chambers in a habeas corpus case, as      well as from a final decision of a District Court.'

See also United States, Petitioner, 194 U.S. 194, 24 Sup. Ct. 629, 48 L. Ed. 931.

Carper v. Fitzgerald, 121 U.S. 87, 7 Sup. Ct. 825, 30 L. Ed. 882, Ex parte Lennon, 150 U.S. 393, 14 Sup. Ct. 123, 37 L. Ed. 1120, McKnight v. James, 155 U.S. 685, 15 Sup. Ct. 248, 39 L. Ed. 310, Lambert v. Barrett, 157 U.S. 697, 15 Sup. Ct. 722, 39 L. Ed. 865, and Harkrader v. Wadley, 172 U.S. 148, 19 Sup. Ct. 119, 43 L. Ed. 399, are cited by petitioner to show that no appeal lay from the order discharging petitioner. These cases relate to the jurisdiction of this court, not the Circuit Court of Appeals. The one first cited and most relied upon was decided in 1887. It recognizes the distinction between orders of a judge, as such, and decrees by the court. It denied the right to appeal here from a judge's order; it did not discuss the power of Circuit Courts to review such orders. The later cited cases go no further than to hold that appeals do not lie to this court from orders by judges at chambers.

Although in point, we cannot agree with Ex parte Jacobi (C. C.) 104 Fed. 681, where the opinion of the Circuit Judge attempts to support denial of an appeal to the Circuit Court of Appeals from an order granted at chambers.

The court below had jurisdiction of the appeal,

On the merits, there is nothing unusual about the cause now before us. Unlike Ex parte Hudgings, 249 U.S. 378, 384, 39 Sup. Ct. 337, 340 (63 L. Ed. 656, 11 A. L. R. 333), it cannot be regarded as 'an exception to the general rules of procedure.' Nor do we think it presents circumstances sufficiently extraordinary to bring it within any class of 'exceptional cases.' Henry v. Henkel, 235 U.S. 219, 228, 35 Sup. Ct. 54, 56 (59 L. Ed. 203).

The matter heard by Judge Mayer was an ordinary contempt proceeding and Toledo Newspaper Co. v. United States, 247 U.S. 402, 38 Sup. Ct. 560, 62 L. Ed. 1186 is enough to show that the District Court had power to entertain it, decide whether the evidence established an offense within the statute and determine petitioner's guilt or innocence. When the latter found himself aggrieved by the decree his remedy by appeal was plain. Neglecting that course, he asked a single judge to review and upset the entire proceedings, and now claims there was no appeal from the favorable order. As tersely stated by Judge Hough:

'There is no new matter in this record attacking      jurisdiction; what really happened was that the case was      tried over again, and the socalled writ was no more than a      device for obtaining a new trial.'

The course taken indicates studied purpose to escape review of either proceeding by an appellate court. Petitioner may not complain of unfortunate consequences to himself.

The Circuit Court of Appeals correctly applied the well-established general rule that a writ of habeas corpus cannot be utilized for the purpose of proceedings in error. Harlan v. McGourin, 218 U.S. 442, 445, 31 Sup. Ct. 44, 54 L. Ed. 1101, 21 Ann. Cas. 849; Matter of Gregory, 219 U.S. 210, 213, 217, 31 Sup. Ct. 143, 55 L. Ed. 184; Glasgow v. Moyer, 225 U.S. 420, 428, 429, 32 Sup. Ct. 753, 56 L. Ed. 1147. Its decree is affirmed, and the cause will be remanded to the District Court for the Southern District of New York, with directions to vacate the order releasing petitioner; discharge the writ, and take such further proceedings as may be necessary to carry this opinion into effect.

Affirmed.

Mr. Chief Justice TAFT, concurring.

I concur fully in the opinion of the Court.

It is of primary importance that the right freely to comment on and criticize the action, opinions and judgments of courts and judges should be preserved inviolate; but it is also essential that courts and judges should not be impeded in the conduct of judicial business by publications having the direct tendency and effect of obstructing the enforcement of their orders and judgments, or of impairing the justice and impartiality of verdicts.

If the publication criticizes the judge or court after the matter with which the criticism has to do has been finally adjudicated and the proceedings are ended so that the carrying of the court's judgment cannot be thereby obstructed, the publication is not contempt and cannot be summarily punished by the court however false, malicious or unjust it may be. The remedy of the judge as an individual is by action or prosecution for libel. If, however, the publication is intended and calculated to obstruct and embarrass the court in a pending proceeding in the matter of the rendition of an impartial verdict, or in the carrying out of its orders and judgment, the court may, and it is its duty to protect the administration of justice by punishment of the offender for contempt.

The federal statute concerning contempts as constructed by this court in prior cases vests in the trial judge the jurisdiction to decide whether a publication is obstructive or defamatory only. The delicacy there is in the judge's deciding whether an attack upon his own judicial action is mere criticism or real obstruction, and the possibility that impulse may incline his view to personal vindication are manifest. But the law gives the person convicted of contempt in such a case the right to have the whole question on facts and law reviewed by three judges of the Circuit Court of Appeals who have had no part in the proceedings, and if not successful in that court, to apply to this Court for an opportunity for a similar review here.

The petitioner and his counsel have made such a review impossible. Instead of pursuing this plain remedy for injustice that may have been done by the trial judge and securing by an appellate court a review of this very serious question on the merits, they sought by applying to a single judge of only coordinate authority for a writ of habeas corpus to release the petitioner on the ground that the trial judge was without jurisdiction to make the decision he did. This raised the sole issue whether the trial judge had authority to decide the question, not whether he had rightly decided it.

Relying on a decision of this court made years ago when the statutory provisions were different from those which now apply, the petitioner and his counsel thought that if they could secure a decision from a single Circuit Judge releasing the petitioner, no appeal would lie from his decision and that thus resort to the appellate courts could be avoided. The single judge to whom they applied released the prisoner. They were, however, mistaken in supposing that no appeal lay to the judge's decision on the question of the trial court's jurisdiction. The government prosecuted its appeal, and the only issue presented in that review is the matter of the trial court's jurisdiction which the Circuit Court of Appeals and we uphold. In this way, the petitioner and his counsel threw away opportunity for a review of the case on its merits in the Circuit Court of Appeals and in this court in their purpose to make a short cut and secure final release through the act of a single judge. This is the situation the petitioner finds himself in and we are without power to relieve him.

Mr. Justice HOLMES, dissenting.

I think that the petitioner's resort to habeas corpus in this case was right and was the only proper course. Very possibly some of the cases confuse the principles that govern jurisdiction with those that govern merits. See Fauntleroy v. Lum, 210 U.S. 230, 235, 28 Sup. Ct. 641, 52 L. Ed. 1039. But I think that this should be treated as a question of jurisdiction. The statute puts it as a matter of power:

'The said courts shall have power * * * to punish * * *      contempts of their authority: Provided, that such power to      punish contempts shall not be construed to extend to any      cases except the misbehavior of any person in their presence,      or so near thereto as to obstruct struct the administration      of justice,' etc. Judicial Code, § 268 (Comp. St. § 1245).

I think that these words should be taken literally and that we do not need a better illustration of the need to treat them as jurisdictional and to confine the jurisdiction very narrowly than the present case. For we must not confound the power to punish this kind of contempts with the power to overcome and punish disobedience to or defiance of the orders of a court, although unfortunately both are called by the same name. That of course a court may and should use as fully as needed, but this, especially if it is to be extended by decisions to which I cannot agree, makes a man judge in matters in which he is likely to have keen personal interest and feeling although neither selfprotection nor the duty of going on with the work requires him to take such a part. It seems to me that the statute on its face plainly limits the jurisdiction of the judge in this class of cases to those where his personal action is necessary in a strict sense in order to enable him to go on with his work. But wherever the line may be drawn it is a jurisdictional line. 'The jurisdiction attaches only when the suit presents a substantial claim under an act of Congress.' Blumenstock Brothers Advertising Agency v. Curtis Publishing Co., 252 U.S. 436, 441, 40 Sup. Ct. 385, 387 (64 L. Ed. 649); Ex parte Hudgings, 249 U.S. 378, 39 Sup. Ct. 337, 63 L. Ed. 656, 11 A. L. R. 333.

I think that the sentence from which the petitioner seeks relief was more than an abuse of power. I think it should be held wholly void. I think in the first place that there was no matter pending before the Court in the sense that it must be to make this kind of contempt possible. It is not enough that somebody may hereafter move to have something done. There was nothing then awaiting decision when the petitioner's letter was published. The English cases show that the law of England at least is in accord with my view. Metzler v. Gounod, 30 Law Times R. (N. S.) 164. But if there had been, and giving the most unfavorable interpretation to all that the letter says, I do not see how to misstate past matters of fact of the sort charged here could be said to obstruct the administration of justice. Suppose the petitioner falsely and unjustly charged the judge with having excluded him from knowledge of the facts, how can it be pretended that the charge obstructed the administration of justice when the judge seemingly was willing to condone it if the petitioner would retract? Unless a judge while sitting can lay hold of any one who ventures to publish anything that tends to make him unpopular or to belittle him I cannot see what power Judge Mayer had to touch Mr. Craig. Even if feeling was tense there is no such thing as what Keating, J., in Metzler v. Gounod calls contingent contempt. A man cannot be summarily laid by the heels because his words may make publich feeling more unfavorable in case the judge should be asked to act at some later date, any more than he can for exciting public feeling against a judge for what he already has done.

Mr. Justice BRANDEIS concurs in this opinion. 

Notes