Oliver, in Re 333 U.S. 257 (1948)

• Author: Leonard W. Levy
• Pages: 1849

Page 1849

Since 1917 Michigan had maintained a unique GRAND JURY system, allowing a single judge to be a grand jury with all its inquisitorial powers as well as retain his judicial power to punish for contempt any witness whose testimony he believed to be false or evasive. In the course of a secret grand jury proceeding, a judge summarily sentenced Oliver for contempt. The Supreme Court held the Michigan procedure a violation of SIXTH AMENDMENT rights?denial of PUBLIC TRIAL and of an opportunity to defend himself?without DUE PROCESS OF LAW, contrary to the FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT. Justice HUGO L. BLACK spoke for a 7?2 majority.

LEONARD W. LEVY

(1986)