United States of America, Appellee, v. Wilbert Eugene Proffitt, Appellant, 498 F.2d 1124 (3d Cir. 1974)

Our consideration of this case is focused on the extent to which a trial judge may enforce his authority to insist upon an orderly and expeditious trial.

The appeal is from three separate findings of contempt imposed during the course of a prosecution for attempted escape from the Lewisburg Penitentiary for which the defendant Proffitt and one Bagley had been indicated.

From the very beginning of the proceedings, the defendant determined upon a policy of obstructionism in order to delay his trial. His strategy was not to engage in violent or outrageous conduct but to employ a type of passive resistance through noncooperation.

The campaign began with his arraignment on March 15, 1973 when Proffitt refused to enter any plea to the charges brought against him. Through counsel, he then requested the appointment of a psychiatrist, but when the consultation was arranged for the day before trial, the defendant refused to cooperate despite the recommendation of his lawyer.

The selection of jurors for the joint trial of Bagley and Proffitt was scheduled for July 3, 1973. Just before that process was to begin, Proffitt advised the judge that his case could not proceed because the psychiatrist had not made an examination. Furthermore, he stated that he wished to discharge his courtappointed lawyer and secure other counsel.

The court rejected both grounds for delay and refused to appoint new counsel because of the imminence of trial. When the defendant then announced his intention to represent himself, the trial judge directed that Mr. Orso, his previous counsel, serve on a standby basis. The defendant stated that he would not talk further with his attorney.¹ 

The court then proceeded with impaneling of a jury. After the 28 prospective jurors gave brief biographical sketches in open court as was the practice in the district, Proffitt and counsel for Bagley were asked if they had any challenges for cause. Bagley's lawyer said he had none, but Proffitt refused to answer. The trial judge then asked the defendant again if he thought any of the prospective jurors should be disqualified because of their backgrounds, pointing out that the court of its own motion had already dismissed one person who had a relative employed at the prison. Defendant replied, 'I don't feel that I wish to pick a jury' and said the clerk could do it. The trial judge then warned the defendant that if he did not answer the question, the court would consider a contempt action and that it had the right to impose a jail sentence of up to six months and a fine of $500.²  The defendant made a number of evasive statements, purported not to understand, but did not answer the direct question.

In order to fill the vacancy caused by the dismissal of the one juror, another was called. When asked if he had any objection to this juror, Proffitt again refused to cooperate and said that he would not pick the jury.

After the twelve jurors were selected, the trial judge then found Proffitt in criminal contempt and sentenced him to 30 days imprisonment.

Selection of alternate jurors then commenced, and the defendant was asked if he had any objection to those who had been interviewed. Proffitt claimed that he had not been listening, and the judge then requested the prospective alternates to repeat the date which they had previously given.

Again the judge repeated the question and warned the defendant that he might be held in further contempt for failure to answer. Proffitt continued his evasive tactics and did not respond to the direct question. He was then found guilty of a second contempt and sentenced to a consecutive sentence of 45 days imprisonment.³ 

Before testimony commenced, a motion for severance was made by the codefendant Bagley on the grounds that Proffitt's conduct would be prejudicial to a fair trial. The motion was granted, the Bagley trial went forward, and Proffitt's was postponed.

On July 10, 1973, at the direction of the court, a psychiatrist was sent to the prison to examine the defendant to determine whether he was competent to stand trial rescheduled for a date some two weeks thereafter. Proffitt refused to submit to a psychiatric interview and instead presented to the doctor a written statement alleging that he might incriminate himself.⁴ 

At a later time, the defendant was given notice of a hearing on a charge of contempt arising out of this latter incident. A hearing was held on August 6, 1973, at which time testimony was taken and the defendant gave his version of the incident. At the conclusion of the hearing the trial judge found defendant to be guilty of contempt and imposed a four month sentence.

The trial of the prison breach indictment ultimately began on August 7, 1973.

This appeal involves two distinct types of criminal contempt. The first category covers the conduct which occurred in the courtroon in the presence of the judge, and the second was that which occurred at the prison when the judge was not present.

The misconduct in the courtroon was subject to summary disposition by the court upon a proper certification as provided by Fed. R. Crim. P. 42(a). The procedure followed in this case complied with the rule. Since the sentence imposed was less than six months, no jury trial was required. Frank v. United States, 395 U.S. 147, 89 S. Ct. 1503, 23 L. Ed. 2d 162 (1969).

The trial judge treated the refusal to answer questions about the selection of the twelve original jurors as one offense, though two separate and distinct incidents occurred. After that part of the proceeding had been completed and Proffitt had been sentenced, the selection of alternate jurors took place. This was treated as a separate part of the trial and the prospective alternate jurors were required to recite the same type of biographical information as had those previously impaneled. The defendant did not refuse to answer the judge's questions about this group when requested but simply replied that he had not been listening to the jurors.

Thus, Proffitt did not take the position at that time of 'carving out' an area of inquiry which he had previously delineated, the situation in Yates v. United States, 355 U.S. 66, 78 S. Ct. 128, 2 L. Ed. 2d 95 (1957). His response prompted the trial judge to ask the prospective jurors to repeat their background information. Only after this had been done did Proffitt assert that he didn't care who would be picked. What the defendant had accomplished therefore was to cause further delay in the trial before returning to the ground of his original objection. If he had 'carved out' an area of refusal to respond to questions, it was waived by this misleading answer to the judge's question. Furthermore, the trial judge perceived Proffitt's tactics not so much as an attempt to withhold information as was true in Yates v. United States, supra, but rather as another separate and distinct action to delay the trial. Failure to counter that tactic would have led to further obstruction. See In re Chase, 468 F.2d 128 (7th Cir. 1972); United States v. McCloskey, 359 F.2d 788 (2d Cir. 1966).

Rule 42(b) provides for disposition upon notice and hearing when the contempt was not committed in the presence of the court. Pursuant to these requirements, Proffitt was duly given notice of a hearing, appeared at that time, and participated in his defense by cross-examination of the government witnesses and presentation of his own testimony. Here again, the sentence imposed was less than six months. Since different procedures were followed and the actions forming the basis for the contempt grew out of separate and distinctively different incidents, there need be no cumulation of the sentences. Therefore, even though the sentences for the three separate contempts totaled 6 months and 15 days, no jury trial was required for any or all of the offenses. See United States v. Seale, 461 F.2d 345 (7th Cir. 1972).⁴ (A)

Although his counsel on appeal claims that defendant did not receive a copy of the order of July 10, 1973 before the psychiatrist appeared at the prison, there is no evidence to support such an assertion, and the defendant's prepared statement which he read to the doctor on July 11, 1973 refers specifically to the order. It is significant that this point was not raised at the hearing in the district court. After a thorough review of the transcripts of the proceedings in the district court, we find no procedural irregularities in the contempt proceedings in either category.

Basically the issue which underlies this case is the extent to which the trial judge may use the power of contempt to prevent delay in the trial of a case. It is unfortunate that the use of the term 'contempt of court' has tended to convey the erroneous idea that punishment is to be imposed because of an affront to the personal dignity of the judge. The correct view of the nature of the offense which emphasizes the importance of the need to be served is found in the opinion of Lord Justice Salmon in Morris v. Master Of The Crown Office (1970) 2 W.L.R. 792, 801:

'The sole purpose of proceedings for contempt is to give our courts the power effectively to protect the rights of the public by insuring that the administration of justice shall not be obstructed or prevented.'

The American Bar Association's 'Standards Relating to the Function of the Trial Judge,' 7.1, likewise explains the nature of the judge's authority:

'Inherent power of the Court. 'The court has the inherent power to punish any contempt in order to protect the rights of the defendant and the interest of the public by assuring that the administration of criminal justice shall not be thwarted. The trial judge has the power to cite and, if necessary, punish summarily anyone who, in his presence in open court, willfully obstructs the course of criminal proceedings.'

It is true that when the defendant's actions in this case are viewed as isolated incidents, and in comparison with some of the more violent episodes of courtroom disruption of recent years, e.g., Mayberry v. Pennsylvania, 400 U.S. 455, 91 S. Ct. 499, 27 L. Ed. 2d 532 (1971), and In re Dellinger, 461 F.2d 389 (7th Cir. 1972), the happenings seem mild and perhaps not so willful or flagrant as to merit punishment by incarceration. But the incidents here were not the results of inadvertence, ignorance, or misguided advocacy. The trial judge was confronted with what he perceived to be a deliberate, calculated plan to delay the trial and thus obstruct the work of the court. The fact that threats, shouting, or violence were not employed did not make the tactics less effective. Proof of this is that as a result of the defendant's intransigence his trial had to be severed and then continued for several weeks, all of which resulted in unnecessary delay and prolongation of total trial time. A molasses defense is often better than a muscular one.

The defendant's protestations of inability to understand, for example, what the trial judge wished him to do in connection with the selection of a jury may appear not unreasonable when reading the unexpressive record, but appellate courts should not forget that credibility looms large here and the printed words do not reveal the smirk, the sneer, or the clearly felt, though perhaps nonarticulated intent of the defendant.⁵ 

The defendant cites the case of Pennsylvania v. Fletcher, 441 Pa. 28, 266 A.2d 727 (1970), as authority for the proposition that he should not be found in contempt for failing to answer the trial judge's question. The state Supreme Court held that a layman should not always be held to the same standards as an attorney when failing to respond to what may seem unfair questions of legal strategy. We need not consider that case at any length because it is clearly distinguishable from the one sub judice where the conduct has been found to be not innocent but motivated by a plan to obstruct and delay.

Appellate courts must be particularly careful to see that the rights of a defendant have not been violated when the trial judge exercises his summary power to punish. This does not mean, however, that we must undermine and curtail the power of the trial court so that it loses its ability to function effectively. Conditions in the cool, intellectual atmosphere of an appellate courtroom where counsel advance reasoned arguments are quite different from those in the trial arena. Criminal defendants, particularly, are most unwilling participants in the judicial process and understandably are more interested in other considerations than the orderly disposition of their cases.

The trial judge is called upon to apply an understanding of the defendant's viewpoint, make certain that his rights are not violated, and strain the outer limits of patience. Nonetheless, the judge must be firm as well as fair because otherwise he is derelict in his duty to properly administer the laws.

The record in this case indicates that the trial judge was restrained, did not act hastily or out of personal pique, and issued fair warnings to the defendant in the courtroom before adjudging him in contempt. We find no need to disturb the findings and sentences of contempt with respect to the two incidents in the courtroom.⁶ 

The circumstances surrounding the failure to cooperate with the psychiatrist on July 11, 1973 do present some different considerations, but the decision reached by the trial judge after a hearing will be affirmed.

At the hearing on August 6, 1973, the defendant candidly admitted that he had been wrong to refuse to cooperate with the psychiatrist. He said:

'At the time I didn't know I had to submit to such an examination. Since then, I've looked into some lawbooks and I know I should have submitted to the examination, but I didn't feel like I was in contempt.'

Nevertheless, Dr. Einig, one of the government witnesses, testified that he talked to Mr. Proffitt on the afternoon before the psychiatrist was to visit and advised him that there was a possibility of contempt of court charge if the defendant did not cooperate.⁷  Proffitt claimed that he decided not to cooperate on the basis of legal advice from another inmate. The question of the credibility of the defendant at the hearing was important, and the judgment on that crucial issue was entrusted to the trial judge. There is nothing in the record of this case which leads us to think that the trial judge was other than justified in refusing to accept Proffitt's version of the incident and instead deciding that this was one more chapter in the defendant's overall strategy of obstruction.

The judgments of the district court will be affirmed.

JAMES HUNTER, III, Circuit Judge (concurring in part and dissenting in part):

I agree with the majority's affirmance of the first summary contempt citation under Rule 42(a) and I also agree with its affirmance of the finding of contempt that occurred on August 6, 1973. However, I do not believe that the second summary contempt citation, that is, the one relating to appellant's lack of cooperation in the selection of alternate jurors, should be affirmed. Accordingly, I feel constrained to register my partial dissent.

The refusal to answer separate successive questions of a court can undoubtedly support separate findings of contempt. However, this Court has indicated that,

'where the separate questions seek to establish but a single fact, or relate to but a single subject of inquiry, only one penalty for contempt may be imposed.'¹ 

I feel that this rule should be applied here.

In this case, appellant's lack of response to two separate questions formed the basis for the district court's two summary contempt citations. While the district court phrased and rephrased the two questions in slightly varying ways, it essentially made the following inquiries: 1) Do you object to any of the prospective jurors because of their backgrounds? and 2) Do you object to any of the prospective alternate jurors because of their background? The issue to be resolved is whether or not these two questions 'relate to but a single subject of inquiry'? I believe they do.

While the two questions are distinguishable as relating to different groups of prospective jurors, I do not believe that our ability to make this technical distinction should be dispositive. The more important consideration is whether the party being questioned could have reasonably viewed the two questions as related to separate subjects.² 

When the issue is viewed from this perspective, I can only conclude that appellant perceived the selection of jurors and alternate jurors as part of a single process-- that is, the jury selection process.³  Thus, when the questioning switched from the demand that he object to jurors, to the demand that he object to alternate jurors, he perceived no change in the 'subject of the inquiry.' This new line of questioning, from appellant's viewpoint, was but a reiteration of the original demand-- that is, that he participate in the selection of jurors.⁴ As a result, I would hold that the questions giving rise to appellant's two acts of defiance related to a single subject of inquiry and that the second finding of contempt cannot stand.

Moreover, I note that the same result appears to be dictated by a slightly different rule of law first enunicated in Yates v. United States, 355 U.S. 66, 78 S. Ct. 128, 2 L. Ed. 2d 95 (1957). In that case, the court held that once a witness has 'carved out' an area in which he refuses to respond to questions, the refusal to respond to further questions that are within that defined area will not support additional contempt citations.

The application of this rule here seems apparent. When asked repeatedly to participate in the selection of jurors, appellant responded by saying at various times, 'the clerk can do it. I have no wish to pick a jury.' (July 3, 1973, Transcript at 2); '. . . I have nothing to do with the jury . . .. You all can pick it.' (Tr. at 5); 'I am not going to pick the jury . . .. I don't think I am competent to pick a jury.' (Tr. 6). In my opinion, these statements indicate a clear intent to 'carve out' as an area of nonresponse all questions that require him to participate in the jury selection process.

Furthermore, while we would be technically correct if we held that appellant's statements failed to specifically extend his defiance to questions that related to the selection of alternate jurors, such a holding would not only ignore appellant's intent, it would also tend to undercut the policies that form the basis for the Court's opinion in Yates.⁵  Appellant is not a laywer and nothing in the record indicates that he has a high degree of legal sophistication. Therefore, he should not be held to a literal reading of the words he uses when he 'carves out' an area of non-response.⁶  Moreover, I again note that we are dealing with summary contempt proceedings so that any substantial doubts should be resolved in appellant's favor.⁷  As a result this second rule of law leads me to the same conclusion-- that the second summary contempt citation is improper.

Finally, I feel constrained to note that while I concur in the affirmance of the first summary contempt citation, I feel the issue is extremely close. As this court recently noted,

'summary contempt power can constitutionally reach 'only such conduct as created 'an open threat to the orderly procedure of the court and such a flagrant defiance of the person and presence of the judge before the public' that if 'not instantly suppressed and punished, demoralization of the court's authority will follow."' Jessup v. Clark, supra, 490 F.2d at 1071.

As I read the transcript of the proceedings that occurred on July 3, 1973, I find it difficult to conclude that appellant's conduct created such a serious threat. However, I do note that the events occurred in the presence of the prospective jurors and that the district court had the benefit of demeanor evidence in judging appellant's intentions and his effect on the proceedings. As a result, I cannot conclude that the district court was clearly erroneous when it found that appellant intended to obstruct the proceedings or when it concluded that the behavior had to be immediately suppressed.

However, I do feel that the district court may have had an alternate route available to it. A summary contempt citation is an extreme remedy and should only be used when more moderate means fail. In this case, appellant's responses to the court, supra at page 1131 suggest the possibility that he was merely trying to waive his right to participate in the selection of the jury.

Despite this plausible interpretation of appellant's statements, however, no attempt was made by the district court to ascertain whether this was his true intent nor was any attempt made to lay the basis for a knowing waiver.⁸  I believe the district court could possibly have acted on the assumption that appellant's responses constituted a noncontemptuous waiver and have pursued this course until its inappropriateness became clear. Only then would it have been necessary to resort to a summary contempt citation. While in fairness to the district court, I should note that it may have acted in response to circumstances that are not apparent from the record, I do urge generally that use of the summary contempt power be viewed as an extreme step, to be taken only when other more moderate methods of dealing with disruptive situations have failed.