In re Investigation of World Arrangements, etc., Misc. No. 19-52.

• Decision Date: 06 October 1952
• Docket Number: Misc. No. 19-52.
• Citation: 107 F. Supp. 628
• Parties: In re INVESTIGATION OF WORLD ARRANGEMENTS WITH RELATION TO PRODUCTION, ETC., OF PETROLEUM.
• Court: U.S. District Court — District of Columbia

107 F. Supp. 628

In re INVESTIGATION OF WORLD ARRANGEMENTS WITH RELATION TO PRODUCTION, ETC., OF PETROLEUM.

Misc. No. 19-52.

United States District Court District of Columbia.

October 6, 1952.

Fowler Hamilton, New York City, for Standard-Vacuum Oil Co.

Hugh B. Cox, New York City, for Standard Oil Co. of N. J.

John Cahill, New York City, for Standard Oil Co., of California.

George S. Leisure, New York City, for Socony Vacuum Co.

Leo T. Kissam, New York City, for California-Texas Oil Co.

David T. Searls, Chicago, Ill., for Arabian American Oil Co.

William D. Whitney, New York City, for Asiatic Petroleum Corp.

Leonard J. Emmerglick, Sp. Asst. to Atty. Gen., for the United States.

KIRKLAND, District Judge.

On September 3, 1952, a special grand jury was convened in the District of Columbia to investigate "production, transportation, refining, and distribution of petroleum in possible violation of Title 15 U.S.C.A. sections 1-23". On or about August 5, 1952, a four page subpoena duces tecum was served upon twenty-one large oil companies. Shortly thereafter several of the oil companies filed numerous motions. This memorandum is in response to the motions seeking a discharge of the grand jury and/ or a transfer of the proceedings to another jurisdiction.

Initially, the court wishes to make the observation that able counsel for both sides have produced extensive and full argument, supplemented by numerous briefs and documents, in stating their positions. An exhaustive review of their citations and a further independent investigation into the relevant law guided the court to its present conclusion.

It appears to be fairly well established that a judge may discharge a grand jury at any time, for any reason or for no reason and whether the grand jury has finished the matter in hand or not.

The opening sentence of Rule 6(g), Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, 18 U.S. C.A., states:

"A grand jury shall serve until discharged by the court but no grand jury may serve more than 18 months." (Italics supplied.)

This doctrine is also supported by the cases of In re National Window Glass Worker, D.C., 287 F. 219-225; United States v. Smyth, D.C., 104 F.Supp. 283-292.

This court specifically limits itself to dismissal of a grand jury only where there is good cause. The court feels that grand juries should be consistently advised of their power to act independently in investigations and their duty to diligently inquire into crimes triable in the District of Columbia. Nor should the court, without cause, intervene to discharge a grand jury to prevent an indictment. Cf. United States v. Smyth, supra.

The movants contend the discharge of this particular grand jury should be effectuated because fourteen members are employees of the United States Government and they will therefore "lack something of being an impartial jury". Frazier v. United States, 335 U.S. 497-514, 69 S.Ct. 201, 210, 93 L.Ed. 187. (Dissent by Justice Jackson.) However, the law on the latter point seems fairly well settled in this jurisdiction having been reviewed and determined in several instances. Our District of Columbia Code reads:

"All * * * persons, otherwise qualified according to law whether employed in the service of the government of the United States or of the District of Columbia * * * shall be qualified to serve as jurors in the District of Columbia and shall not be exempt from such service * * *." D.C.Code, § 11-1420, 1952 Ed.

United States v. Wood, 299 U.S. 123, 57 S. Ct. 177, 81 L.Ed. 78; Frazier v. United States, supra; Dennis v. United States, 339 U.S. 162, 70 S.Ct. 519, 94 L.Ed. 734; May v. United States, 84 U.S.App.D.C. 233, 175 F.2d 994. The court does not feel itself in a position to overrule what the United States Supreme Court has determined to be the local controlling law on three separate occasions. Accordingly, the court sees no valid reason to exercise its discretionary power of discharging the grand jury.

The principal argument submitted by the movants centers around their request that the present grand jury investigation be transferred to the Southern District of New York. They cite Rule 21(b), Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, as being the means under which the court may act. Rule 21(b) provides:

"The court upon motion of the defendant shall transfer the proceedings as to him to another district or division, if it appears from the indictment or information or from a bill of particulars that the offense was committed in more than one district or division and if the court is satisfied that in the interest of justice the proceeding should be transferred to another district or division in which the commission of the offense is charged." (Italics supplied.)

Counsel for the movants point out their principal offices and files are outside the District of Columbia and that there will be inconvenience and expense in transporting all the necessary books and records to this jurisdiction. They further state that all available data indicates that few, if any, of the alleged events to be investigated...