Ga. judge orders president to appear at hearing

reply to post by mrsoul2009


On the surface, it looks like a valid legal case. The Georgia court is just enforcing its election laws. I'm OK with that.

Court Orders Nixon to Yield Tapes; President Promises to Comply Fully
Justices Reject Privilege Claim in 8-to-0 Ruling

By John P. MacKenzie
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, July 25, 1974; Page A01

The Supreme Court ruled yesterday unanimously, and definitively, that President Nixon must turn over tape recordings of White House conversations needed by the Watergate special prosecutor for the trial of the President's highest aides.

Ordering compliance with a trial subpoena "forthwith," the court rejected Mr. Nixon's broad claims of unreviewable executive privilege and said they "must yield to the demonstrated, specific need for evidence in a pending criminal trial."

The President said he was "disappointed" by the decision but said he would comply. His lawyer said the time-consuming process of collecting and indexing the tapes would begin immediately.

Chief Justice Warren E. Burger delivered the historic judgment in a packed and hushed courtroom. His 31-page opinion drew heavily on both the great cases of the court's past, as well as the pro-prosecution edicts of a court dominated by Nixon appointees.

Only a few times in its history has the court grappled with such large assertions of governmental power. As in most of those encounters, the justices concluded that the judiciary must have the last word in an orderly constitutional system even though its view of the Constitution is "at variance with the construction given the document by another branch."

Brushing aside warnings by presidential lawyer James D. St. Clair that it was in an impeachment thicket, the court handed down its 8-to-0 ruling hours before the House Judiciary Committee was scheduled to open debate on proposed articles of impeachment.

One justice, William H. Rehnquist, disqualified himself because of his previous association with former Attorney General John N. Mitchell in the Justice Department.

The decision itself had implications for the impeachment proceedings. Although the court said it was not concerned with "congressional demands for information," the ruling weakened the White House legal argument against Judiciary Committee subpoenas.

Calls for prompt compliance with the Supreme Court decision came from Congress. A few voices were heard for slowing down the impeachment drive long enough to explore the remote hope that Congress could obtain the tapes from U.S. District Court Judge John J. Sirica or Watergate Special Prosecutor Leon Jaworski.

Jaworski, who has denied St. Clair's charge that his office is a mere conduit of evidence for pro-impeachment forces, was restrained in expressing satisfaction at the ruling. "It doesn't leave any doubt in anyone's mind," he said.

Only one of St. Clair's arguments came close to persuading the justices. The court declared, in its most extensive discussion of the issue to date, that executive privilege is "constitutionally based" even though it is not specifically mentioned in the Constitution.

But while communication between the President and his advisers is "presumptively privileged," the court said that this presumption can be outweighed by the demonstrated needs of the judicial process.

The court recognized a privilege for matters dealing with diplomatic or national security secrets, but stressed that federal judges may inspect such material in chambers in the course of selecting evidence the prosecutor should have.

No such security claims have been advanced in the current dispute over subpoenaed tapes and documents covering 64 conversations -- most of which implicate the President himself in the Watergate cover-up conspiracy, according to Jaworski -- between June, 1972, and April 26 of this year.

Any national security arguments must now be advanced directly to Judge Sirica, whose May 20 order to produce the material for his inspection was affirmed in all respects.

The judge initially gave St. Clair 11 days to produce the original tapes and documents along with an index showing what portions the White House contended were irrelevant, together with copies of 20 tapes for which Mr. Nixon published edited White House transcripts on April 30.

This screening process may consume most of the seven weeks that remain before the Sept. 9 trial of John N. Mitchell, H.R. Haldeman, John D. Ehrlichman and other Nixon confidants. Evidence introduced at that trial would be available to Congress, too late for the scheduled House impeachment vote but in time for a Senate trial if that occurs.

If White House lawyers disagree with any ruling by Judge Sirica on relevance or executive privilege, they are free to attempt piecemeal delaying appeals to the U.S. Court of Appeals, but the high court indicated that the judge's rulings should not be lightly overturned.

St. Clair in a statement last night at the Western White House in San Clemente indicated that collecting and organizing the tapes for submission to Judge Sirica had not yet begun. In a brief statement he told newsmen the process "will begin forthwith."

During the oral argument July 8, Justice Thurgood Marshall suggested that the process should have begun some time ago. St. Clair said he hadn't started because he did not expect to lose the appeal from Judge Sirica's order.

Among the numerous defeats suffered by Mr. Nixon was the high court's decision to ignore St. Clair's contention that the grand jury had no constitutional right to brand the President an unindicted co-conspirator in the cover-up case.

The court said the validity of Judge Sirica's order could be decided without tackling that question, so it dismissed "as improvidently granted" the writ of review it had issued on that point.

As a result, the White House must go to the U.S. Court of Appeals with its motion to expunge the grand jury's 19-to-0 vote to name the President as a conspirator. The finding will stand in the meantime.

More important than the label of "conspirator" was the indication in Burger's opinion that the evidence at trial may link Mr. Nixon to the alleged conspiracy. If that happens, Mr. Nixon's taped statements are easily admissible as evidence against the defendants. Burger said Judge Sirica did not err in his preliminary, pre-trial estimate that the evidence was admissible and therefore should be produced now.

Burger said the pre-trial test of executive privilege was especially appropriate in this case because, although no President is "above the law," it would be "unseemly" to frame the dispute as a case of contempt for violating a court order.

The impact of the court's decision was increased by the fact that it was delivered by Burger, appointed to the nation's top judicial post by President Nixon.

Equally impressive was the court's unanimity on every issue in the case -- a tricky question of the court's jurisdiction, the enforcement of the subpoena under conventional criminal law standards and the merits of the executive privilege controversy.

The issue of jurisdiction, considered by some legal scholars to be St. Clair's strongest point, also raised a storm in Congress over whether the administration had reneged on its pledge giving Jaworski independence and the right to take the President to court over disputes on executive privilege.

St. Clair argued that the pledges, contained in published Justice Department regulations, did not and could not guarantee that the courts would have the legal power to decide contests between President Nixon and his executive branch subordinate, Jaworski.

Jaworski replied that this argument would make a "mockery" of his role, which was worked out to prevent a repetition of the "Saturday night massacre" firing last October of his predecessor, Archibald Cox.

Burger easily disposed of St. Clair's argument. He said the unique job security and authority granted to Jaworski under regulations having "the force of law" made the case far more significant that the mere "intra-branch" squabble St. Clair said it was.

Even assuming the President once had the power to order Jaworski fired, Burger said, he denied himself that authority with the regulations. And while "it is theoretically possible" to revoke the regulations, the attorney general "has not done so. So long as this regulation remains in force the executive branch is bound by it, and indeed the United States as the sovereign composed of the three branches is bound to respect and to enforce it."

This reasoning also appears to mean it was illegal to fire Cox last fall, since a similar regulation was in force then. A decision in U.S. District Court here declaring the Cox firing illegal is currently on appeal.

Although Burger did not mention it, it is widely assumed that any move now to dismiss Jaworski would result in another "firestorm" of protest and hasten President Nixon's impeachment.

Burger said that looking beneath the formal titles of the parties and their formal relationship within the same branch of government, the case was clearly "the kind of controversy courts traditionally resolve," especially since it comes up in the course of a criminal trial in a federal court.

Moving to the propriety of the subpoena under ordinary criminal law rules, Burger said Judge Sirica clearly acted within his powers in finding the requested evidence relevant to the prosecution, probably admissible as evidence and sufficiently specific to avoid being characterized as part of a "fishing expedition."

Burger said Jaworski was able to show where each of the 64 conversations fits into the prosecution's case aided by White House logs, testimony from last summer's Watergate hearings and grand jury evidence.

Burger said St. Clair's "most cogent objection to the admissibility of the taped conversations" was that they were "hearsay" statements by individuals "who will not be subject to cross-examination" at trial.

It was here that the chief justice appeared to acknowledge that President Nixon could be treated as a co-conspirator for purposes of admitting his statements in evidence, even if the President was correct in contending that the grand jury lacked power to label him a conspirator in a formal vote. Burger said:

"Declarations by one defendant may also be admissible against other defendants upon a sufficient showing, by independent evidence of a conspiracy among one or more other defendants and the declarant and if the declarations at issue were in furtherance of that conspiracy."

Burger said a blend of deference to the trial judge and to the President was appropriate in handling this delicate question. Trial judges are afforded wide discretion in ordinary cases, he noted, but added that reviewing courts "should be particularly meticulous to insure that the standards" of criminal law have been correctly applied "where a subpoena is directed to a President of the United States.

The justices have examined the record, including some grand jury material that is still under seal, and they are satisfied that Judge Sirica met the standards in evaluating the question of probable admissibility, Burger said.

Finally, Burger reached the heart of the dispute and he quickly found that President Nixon was wrong in arguing that courts must honor without question any presidential claim of executive privilege.

Burger repeatedly said the court had the utmost respect for the other branches of government but was obliged to reach its own judgment on whether the President's need for confidentiality was as great as the judiciary's need for the evidence.

Acknowledging that each branch of government "must initially interpret the Constitution and the interpretation of its powers by any branch is due great respect from the others," Burger then quoted and reaffirmed a classic phrase from the 1803 opinion of Chief Justice John Marshall in the case of Marbury vs. Madison:

"It is emphatically the province and duty of the judicial department to say what the law is."

Burger also acknowledged Jaworski's argument that "executive privilege" isn't mentioned in the Constitution although some enumerated privileges have been given restricted scope by the high court. But he accepted St. Clair's argument instead and declared that "certain powers and privileges flow from the nature of enumerated powers. The protection of the confidentiality of presidential communications has similar constitutional underpinnings."

But, said Burger, "when the privilege depends solely on the broad, undifferentiated claim of public interest in the confidentiality of such conversations, a confrontation with other values arises." Without a plea to protect military, diplomatic or national security secrets, he said, "we find it difficult to accept" the argument that confidentiality would be significantly diminished by a turnover.

"We cannot conclude," he said, "that advisers will be moved to temper the candor of their remarks by the infrequent occasions of disclosure because of the possibility that such conversations will be called for in the context of a criminal prosecution."


© Copyright 1974 The Washington Post Co.

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reply to post by whisperindave


I'm not sure that your post will form the basis of any significant legal argument. It might form the basis of a good brawl if you repeat it in a Georgia bar, but that's not an experiment I'd recommend.

I understand Georgia has golf courses and fund raising opportunities. He'll campaign there at some time, why not now?

And as you know, because you've read the thread, this is not a "birther" case. It's an election law case.

As for your other points, there seem to be three:
Republicans are stupid.

Obama should intimidate his enemies.

Obama's birth certificate should have been screened by now. (Even though no one in this case is even talking about the birth certificate.)

Oh yes, and the people who post on this thread are stupid.

If you have anything you'd like to add, please let me know.

reply to post by Annee


Hey Annee, a shovel will help you bury your head deeper in the sand. The suit is all about him. The suit is against him, and if he loses there could be more charges levied against him.

If you are okay not knowing a damn thing about your POTUS then sit back and be okay with it, but don't judge others that do. This one of many people that have filed suit obviously care, and they have the right to do what they did.

You have no respect for our court system. You prefer to play Monday morning quarterback acting like everyone is your fool.

I have no issues with his US citizenship, that's why I have not filed my own suit. However, I have total respect for our judicial system sorting out each of these citizens rights! That's the issue! I also do not understand why this president would allow this charade to carry on. I hope the Georgia lawsuit settles it one way or the other. Because unlike you I see the issue!

Read my signature before responding. Thanks

Originally posted by PMNOrlando

I'm a Sr Computet Programmer of 20+ years and the .pdf, when picked apart by experts is so fake

how can a pdf file be a fake? Please explain that.

it is as silly as looking at a photocopy of a $5 bill and claiming that it is a fake....

Originally posted by whisperindave
reply to post by Iamonlyhuman

 

How about this idea: Maybe he's too busy running the government of the entire country to come to a stupid hearing with stupid country bumpkin Repubes who keep this stupid Birther situation alive because they are a bunch of white supremacists who can't bear having a half-Black president? If I was Obama I'd send some Secret Service guys around to "the citizen's" home and say "Do you REALLY want to do this? I mean REALLY? Your taxes all in order are they? Your marriage good? Everything OK on the job front!?" Do you idiots out there in Never Never a Black President Land really think for one moment that Army and Navy intelligence, the FBI, CIA, NSA and Homeland Security UNDER BUSH didn't thoroughly scrutinize Obama? Are you Repubes saying your boy Bush was SO STUPID he didn't look into the matter of Obama's birth with a frigging electron microscope!? Give me a break you bunch of losers! You all come on here acting like intellectuals because you happen to know how to write disagreeable flames and insults. Big F-ing Deal! Bunch of wanker-nerds with no lives...

edit on 21-1-2012 by whisperindave because: had to re-edit for spelling because of your dark grey on grey writing box!

Well I trying to pick which post to quote, and well yours really stood out.

Put aside the "birther" issue and the intricate details of the case itself for a minute.

At what level of government to you get to give the "bird" to a legal order vs having to comply with a legit legal order issued from a Judge?

As we can see from some of the responses here, some think the President is above the law and does not have to comply with a legal order. What about the Vice President? The Speaker of the House? Congress people in general? Governors? Supreme Court justices?

At what government level does one have the ability to ignore a legal subpena? How about a Warrant?

I would think a person who is in charge of law enforcement, or any government official for that matter has to follow the same laws as the citizenry of the country he/she is serving. This also means complying with legal orders, as any citizen would be required to do.

Originally posted by Sharpenmycleats
reply to post by Annee

 

Hey Annee, a shovel will help you bury your head deeper in the sand. The suit is all about him.

No - its not.

And you can knock off the childish intent to insult.

The suit is about challenging or clarifying the Constitutional meaning of Naturally Born.

Obama may be the catalyst - - - but the suit is about the Constitution.

I was born in a hospital in the United States of America. No one, not even my mother knows who my father is. Can I become president?

Originally posted by Kristinaso
I was born in a hospital in the United States of America. No one, not even my mother knows who my father is. Can I become president?

YES

If your mother was an illegal alien - - illegally sneaked across the border - - birthed you on American soil.

You can be president.

Originally posted by Kristinaso
I was born in a hospital in the United States of America. No one, not even my mother knows who my father is. Can I become president?

It depends, are you white? then the answer is yes.

If you are black then the answer is no.

According to some people, that is.

reply to post by PMNOrlando

OK, this is hilarious! Not your opinion, but the fact that the last time I said the exact same thing, I was flamed by several posters as being a 'birther'. I find it funny that I get corrected by both sides, and interesting that your correction was much more civil and polite than the others.

It brings to mind the old saying, "a bit dog hollers first"... but that's neither here nor there...

I really don't know if his birth certificate is fake or not. At one point I was following the issue, but as time went on I decided it really doesn't matter any more. I realize we disagree on this point, but that's OK. It would be a dull boring world if everyone agreed on everything.

At this point, my major concern is minimizing the damage he has already done to our country. Just as a doctor, when coming across an accident victim, first chooses to stop the bleeding before worrying about how the accident happened. I will be watching to see what this case decides, however, and if his BC is false... well... we will have a serious problem in this country...

Serious as in 2012 serious...

TheRedneck

Originally posted by spoor
It depends, are you white? then the answer is yes.

If you are black then the answer is no.

According to some people, that is.

Clearly

Anyone claiming race and religion has nothing to do with anti-Obama - - - are in serious denial.

reply to post by Annee

Anyone claiming race and religion has nothing to do with anti-Obama - - - are in serious denial.

I find that comment highly offensive Annee.

I am quite capable of judging others based on criteria other than their race or religion. I find it offensive that anyone makes the assumption otherwise, and quite disturbing that anyone would use race or religious intolerance to demean those who disagree with them only because of the disagreement.

Perhaps if a spagetti-monster-worshiping purple person didn't claim racism every time they disagreed with someone else, there would be less distrust of purple spagetti-monster-worshippers.

TheRedneck

Originally posted by TheRedneck
reply to post by Annee

Anyone claiming race and religion has nothing to do with anti-Obama - - - are in serious denial.

I find that comment highly offensive Annee.

I don't mean everyone - - and I don't mean those who actually study the issues and make their decisions based on their belief of how this country should be run.

But I stand firm - - - that many have an issue with both Obama's race and consider him Muslim.

I think it would be clear denial to claim otherwise.

EDIT: Responding to posts can lead one off topic. I'm getting back on target. Will not respond to any more posts along this line.

reply to post by Annee

Many do have an issue with his skin color, and many do believe him to be a Muslim. I know several who do. But nowhere in this case does it mention his race or religion. That's a good thing, because nowhere does the Constitution mention either as eligibility requirements for the Office of President.

Many also disagree with his actions, his character, and his policies. I find it very strange that the racism card is played so much more often by Obama's supporters than by his critics. In a world where color did not matter, that would not happen.

I think I said it above: "a bit dog hollers first."

TheRedneck

reply to post by Annee


Like I said deep in the sand. This suit is all about the man. Obama! It may be a back door attack but it is about him.

You seem rooted in denial. You also feel you have the right to decide court cases in an Internet forum. Pulling no punches to protect your position. Even using the race card. I see how you also feel you are qualified to determine who has done their research and who is race tainted. Wow, can you make predictions too!

The more I read your posts, I can only conclude Goverment Troll. I would say Government Paid Troll, but I doubt you would be paid for your week arguments.

The court will sift through this case and I for one will watch and wait, with an open mind, and see how it plays out.

Originally posted by TheRedneck
reply to post by Annee

Many do have an issue with his skin color, and many do believe him to be a Muslim. I know several who do. But nowhere in this case does it mention his race or religion.

Sorry - - No - I was not talking about the case in Georgia. Was just responding to another posters post - - that can get one in off-topic trouble sometimes.

And to make it clear - - I have no problem with the case in question or anyone filing a suit.

But the suit itself is not about Obama. He may be the catalyst - - but its not directly about Obama.

reply to post by Annee


Not showing up would only mean two things, he's stalling till he can produce very hard to prove forgery's or he's hiding something. If it was me or you and we didn't show up, you could guarantee we'd be jailed.

Originally posted by TheRedneck
The day we allow a sitting President to thumb his nose at the law or the Constitution is the day we no longer have a law or a Constitution... or a republic.

You must not have been paying attention during the Bush presidency. He was subpoenaed, as was Dick Cheney. Neither appeared. And this was a federal subpoena issued by congress- not a state court. I believe their people used executive privilege as the reason for declining to appear, and argued that if a sitting president could be dragged in front of any court that could summon him, the operation of the government could easily be disrupted. I happen to think that is a valid argument since obviously anyone can file suit for any nonsensical reason they want.