Watkins v. United States
Encyclopedia
Watkins v. United States, 354 U.S. 178
(1957), was a case brought to the Supreme Court of the United States
after John Watkins was convicted under , for failing to answer questions while posed as a witness relating to people he may have known to be communist. Under a committee of the House of Representatives Committee on Un-American Activities
, Watkins stated he did not wish to answer these questions, as they were outside of the scope he had been called upon, and of the committee.
2 U.S.C. 192 states it is an offense for a witness to refuse to answer question "pertinent to the question under inquiry." Watkins claimed he had not been given sufficient time to ascertain whether he could refuse questions or not; thus branding his conviction unlawful. As a result of the appeal, a panel decided 6-1 to overturn Watkins' conviction. Chief Justice Earl Warren supported Watkins' views, saying that the power of the United States Congress
is not unlimited in conducting investigations, and that there was no authority given to expose individuals' private affairs.
Case citation
Case citation is the system used in many countries to identify the decisions in past court cases, either in special series of books called reporters or law reports, or in a 'neutral' form which will identify a decision wherever it was reported...
(1957), was a case brought to the Supreme Court of the United States
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
after John Watkins was convicted under , for failing to answer questions while posed as a witness relating to people he may have known to be communist. Under a committee of the House of Representatives Committee on Un-American Activities
House Un-American Activities Committee
The House Committee on Un-American Activities or House Un-American Activities Committee was an investigative committee of the United States House of Representatives. In 1969, the House changed the committee's name to "House Committee on Internal Security"...
, Watkins stated he did not wish to answer these questions, as they were outside of the scope he had been called upon, and of the committee.
2 U.S.C. 192 states it is an offense for a witness to refuse to answer question "pertinent to the question under inquiry." Watkins claimed he had not been given sufficient time to ascertain whether he could refuse questions or not; thus branding his conviction unlawful. As a result of the appeal, a panel decided 6-1 to overturn Watkins' conviction. Chief Justice Earl Warren supported Watkins' views, saying that the power of the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
is not unlimited in conducting investigations, and that there was no authority given to expose individuals' private affairs.