United States v. Nixon美国诉尼克松案

《United States v. Nixon美国诉尼克松案》由会员上传分享，免费在线阅读，更多相关内容在学术论文-天天文库。

1、UnitedStatesv.Nixon418U.S.683(1974)Facts:OnMarch1,1974,afederalgrandjurysittingintheDistrictofColumbiainvestigatingWatergatereturnedindictmentsagainstformerAttorneyGeneralJohnMitchellandsixotherindividuals,allegingconspiracytodefraudtheUnitedStatesandobstructionofjus

2、tice.TheSpecialProsecutor,LeonJaworski,hadreservationsastowhetherasittingPresidentcouldbeindictedwithoutfirstbeingimpeachedandremovedfromoffice.JaworskithuspersuadedthegrandjurytoinsteadnamePresidentNixonasan"unindictedco-conspirator".OnApril18JaworskisoughtandDistri

3、ctJudgeJohnSiricaissuedasubpoenaducestecumdirectedatthePresidentasathirdpartytoproducecertaintaperecordingsofconversationswithspecificallynamedadvisorsandaidesonparticulardatesandothermemorandatheninhispossessionrelevanttotheupcomingtrialsofthoseindicted.ThePresident

4、challengedthesubpoenaonthegroundsofexecutiveprivilege.Theconstitutionalityofthesubpoenawasaffirmedonappeal(Nixonv.Sirica487F.2d700(D.C.Cir.1973)).OnApril30,thePresidentreleasedtothepubliceditedtranscriptsof43conversations,20ofwhichhadbeensubpoenaed.ThePresidentdeclin

5、edtoreleaseadditionalmaterialandthroughhiscounsel,JamesSt.Clair,movedtoquashthesubpoena,assertingthatthedisputedidnotproperlyliebeforethedistrictcourtbecausethecontroversywasnonjusticiable(involvingwhatwaspurportedtobeapurelyinternaldisputebetweenasuperiorofficerandh

6、issubordinatewithintheexecutivebranch).Itwasalsoclaimedanyjudicialactioninthematterwasprecludedbytheclaimofexecutiveprivilege.ThedistrictcourtrejectedthefirstargumentmadebythePresident,relyinguponaspecialregulationconcerningtheindependenceoftheSpecialProsecutordeclar

7、edbytheAttorneyGeneral.ThatcourtalsorejectedthesecondargumentbycitingtherulingoftheUScourtofAppealsfortheDistrictofColumbiainNixonvs.Sirica.Further,thedistrictcourtdeniedthePresident'smotiontoexpungethegrandjury'scharacterizationofhimasaco-conspirator.ThePresidentthe

8、nappealedtotheUSCircuitCourtofAppeals.Atthesametime,theSpecialProsecutorpetitionedtheSupremeCourtforcertiorariintheinterestoffacili