United Mine Workers of America v. Bagwell

United Mine Workers of America v. Bagwell
United Mine Workers of America v. Bagwell
Seal of the United States Supreme Court.svg
Supreme Court of the United States
Argued November 29, 1993
Decided June 30, 1994
Full case name International Union, United Mine Workers Of America, et al., Petitioners v. John L. Bagwell, et al.
Citations 512 U.S. 821 (more)
114 S. Ct. 2552; 129 L. Ed. 2d 642; 1994 U.S. LEXIS 5086; 62 U.S.L.W. 4705; 128 Lab. Cas. (CCH) P11,120; 146 L.R.R.M. 2641; 94 Cal. Daily Op. Service 5027; 94 Daily Journal DAR 9264; 8 Fla. L. Weekly Fed. S 399
Prior history Appeal from the Supreme Court of Virginia
Holding
A fine for contempt that could not be purged by compliance with the order of the court was a criminal contempt, and could not be assessed without a jury trial.
Court membership
Case opinions
Majority Blackmun, joined by unanimous (parts I, II-A, II-C, III); Stevens, O'Connor, Scalia, Kennedy, Souter, Thomas (part II-B)
Concurrence Scalia
Concurrence Ginsburg, joined by Rehnquist
Laws applied
U.S. Const. amend. XIV

United Mine Workers of America v. Bagwell, 512 U.S. 821 (1994)[1], was a case in which the United States Supreme Court laid out the constitutional limitations for the use of contempt powers by courts.

Contents

Facts

A trial court enjoined striking unions in Virginia from undertaking certain unlawful activities (throwing things, threatening, obstructing, and picketing without supervision); when union members repeatedly violated the injunction, the trial court established a schedule of $100,000 fine for future violent breaches, $20,000 fine for future non-violent breaches; after more violations of the injunction, the trial court ended up assessing $64 million, including $12 million to the plaintiff in the civil case and $52 million to the county and the commonwealth of Virginia. The parties settled, but the trial court refused to vacate the fines to be paid to the county and commonwealth. The Virginia appellate court reversed the trial court, but the Virginia Supreme Court reversed the appellate court. Appeal was then taken to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Issue

Were these fines civil, or were they criminal (in which case due process and jury would be required)?

Opinion of the Court

The Court, in an opinion by Justice Blackmun, held that a contempt sanction is civil if it is remedial and for the benefit of the complainant—if it either coerces the defendant into compliance with the court’s order or compensates the complainant for losses sustained. But where a fine is not compensatory, it is civil only if the contemnor is afforded an opportunity to "purge" (avoid or reduce fine through compliance); otherwise, it is criminal contempt.

Therefore, there could be no compensation to the plaintiff as there was no opportunity for the defendant to purge the contempt. Therefore, these were criminal fines, which required appropriate due process—a trial by jury—which had not been afforded.

Justice Scalia wrote a concurring opinion, expressing concern about the judge also acting as rulemaker and enforcer. Justice Ginsburg also wrote a concurring opinion, joined by Chief Justice Rehnquist, further elucidating the distinction between civil and criminal fines.

See also

External links

  • ^ 512 U.S. 821 (Text of the opinion on Findlaw.com)

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Bagwell — is a surname.Bagwell may also refer to:* United Mine Workers of America v. Bagwell , United States Supreme Court case * Bagwell Island, a small island in Eagle Hill River, Ipswich, Massachusetts, USAPeople with the surname Bagwell* Buff Bagwell,… …   Wikipedia

  • John Roberts Supreme Court nomination — The Senate hearings on the nomination of John Roberts to the Supreme Court, began on September 12, 2005, with U.S. Senators posing questions to Roberts, who was nominated by President George W. Bush to fill the vacancy of Chief Justice of the… …   Wikipedia

  • March 2011 — was the third month of the current year. It began on a Tuesday and ended after 31 days on a Thursday. International holidays (See Holidays and observances, on sidebar at right, below) Portal:Current events This is an archived version of Wikipedia …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”