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UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Barbara Jean FITCH, and Robert Keelan Meisel, Jr., grand jury witnesses, Defendants-Appellants, Charles Farrell Malone, Attempted Intervenor

United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit1973-01-05No. No. 72-3074
472 F.2d 548

Summary

Holding. The court affirmed the district court's orders, rejecting all challenges to the grand jury process and upholding the civil contempt findings against Fitch and Meisel, as well as denying Malone's intervention.

Two grand jury witnesses, Fitch and Meisel, were found in civil contempt after refusing to testify despite being granted use immunity. They challenged various aspects of the grand jury process, including claims that their attorney's communications were subject to electronic surveillance, that they were denied access to prior statements, that questioning was aimed at trial preparation rather than investigation, and that they should have been allowed to have counsel present. A third party, Malone, who was already under indictment by the same grand jury, attempted to intervene in the civil contempt proceedings but was denied. All three parties appealed the district court's decisions.

The court systematically rejected each challenge. The government's affidavit denying that attorney-client conversations were monitored was deemed sufficient. The witnesses had no right to access prior statements or transcripts of their testimony. Grand jury witnesses cannot legally bring counsel into the proceeding and cannot challenge the composition of a grand jury. The court found the notice of hearing adequate and concluded that grand juries may continue investigating even after indictments are sought. Malone lacked standing to intervene in civil contempt proceedings and could not become a party to such proceedings through intervention rights.

Summary generated by law.co from the public-domain opinion. The opinion text itself is public domain.

Key issues

  • Whether grand jury witnesses may refuse to testify despite use immunity grants
  • Whether witnesses have constitutional or procedural rights to counsel before a grand jury
  • Whether grand jury witnesses may challenge the composition or process of a grand jury
  • Whether a person under indictment may intervene in civil contempt proceedings against grand jury witnesses
  • Whether electronic surveillance of attorney-client communications violated witnesses' rights

Procedural posture

Fitch and Meisel were adjudged in civil contempt for refusing to testify before a federal grand jury despite use immunity; Malone sought to intervene; all three appealed the district court's decisions.

Authorities cited

No cited authorities resolved to law.co cases yet.

Opinion

majority opinion

PER CURIAM:

Fitch and Meisel have been adjudged guilty of civil contempt (after having been granted “use” immunity) for refusal to testify before a federal grand jury. Malone, already under indictment, sought to intervene. This was denied. All three appeal.

We list most of the contentions and our responses:

1. That the witnesses claimed their sometime attorney had been subject to electronic surveillance by someone and they were denied an opportunity to substantiate their claim or to fully explore it.

The answer is that the government, by affidavit, made a showing that no conversations of counsel talking with the witnesses were monitored. The vague and speculative affidavit of counsel required no more here. Cf. Cohen v. United States, 378 F.2d 751, 9th Cir., 1967; In Re Russo, 448 F.2d 369, 9th Cir., 1971. 2. That the witnesses were denied access to statements they have made.

There is no showing on the facts of an abuse of discretion. Cf. In Re Bottari, 453 F.2d 370, 1 Cir., 1972.

3. That the questioning of appellants was an abuse of the grand jury process in that the purpose was to prepare for trial of indictments.

In Re Russo, supra, answers the contention on the facts here. The grand jury may find more indictments.

4. That appellants were not given adequate notice of hearing.

Under Russo, supra, we find the notice adequate.

5. That the witnesses were entitled to have their counsel along when appearing before the grand jury.

The point is well settled that a witness is not entitled to take his counsel along.

6. That the grand jury was improperly constituted.

It is well established that witnesses cannot complain of the composition of a grand jury.

7. That appellants were entitled to an assurance that they would receive a copy of the transcript of such testimony as they might give.

We find no abuse under Rule 6(e), Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. See United States v. Ayers, 426 F.2d 524, 2 Cir., 1970, cert. den. 400 U.S. 842, 91 S.Ct. 85, 27 L.Ed.2d 78 (1970).

8. That it was error to refuse to permit Malone, already under indictment, to intervene as a party.

The district court held Malone had no standing. We agree with the dis trict court that Malone, as a matter of right was not entitled to intervene. Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, rule 12, might permit a protective order under appropriate circumstances, but that would not permit Malone to make himself a party to a civil contempt proceedings before the district court. Ably, the appellants do make in their total of points a broad attack upon the whole grand jury system, but the law has not reached the state for which they contend.

One wonders whether the “help” of “reluctant helpers” is worth while.

But that is a policy question not consigned to us.

As indicated by- previous order, the orders appealed from are affirmed.

. Malone was indicted by the same grand jury.

. The government’s denial was addressed to the affidavits of Fitch and Meisel claiming that they had been the object of wire tap surveillance. The government has not responded directly to the attorney’s affidavit, and it has maintained that this particular affidavit does not require a response. s 7 . We do not read the doubtful question of whether the limited discovery of electronic surveillance now allowed at the grand jury stage should extend to all conversations by the attorney of the witness.

. Grand jury witnesses are not allowed access to prior statements as a matter of right except for recorded testimony. See Bursey v. United States, 466 F.2d 1059 (9th Cir., 1972).

. Rule 6(d), F.R.Civ.P., allows the district court discretion to shorten time. Here we find no abuse. Appellants have shown no prejudice from the notice, and the hearing was continued overnight from November 28 to November 29.

. Grand jury witnesses are not entitled as a matter of right to a transcript of testimony given before the grand jury.