Free Republic
Browse · Search
Smoky Backroom
Topics · Post Article

To: capitan_refugio; lentulusgracchus
How many judges held the President in contempt of court?

At least one.

The D.C. Circuit Court held his direct agent Andrew Porter, who was acting on his orders, in contempt for his house arrest and harassment of Judge Merrick. Lincoln subsequently intervened and prevented the court authorities from delivering the contempt summons. In responding to Lincoln's intervention, the Circuit Court formally ruled that "the President" had "arrest[ed] the process of this Court" by harassing Judge Merrick and blocking the contempt order from being served on Porter (2 Hay. & Haz. 394; 1861 U.S. App.)

The ruling also states that Lincoln "assumes the responsibility of the acts of General Porter, set forth in the rule, and sanctions them by his orders to Deputy Marshal Philips not to serve the process on the Provost Marshal." It concludes by ordering this material printed in the court's register along with a note that the court, though it has ruled against Lincoln, lacks the "physical power" to enforce it any further against a president who has the military at his disposal.

1,468 posted on 11/26/2004 9:38:51 PM PST by GOPcapitalist ("Marxism finds it easy to ally with Islamic zealotism" - Ludwig von Mises)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1455 | View Replies ]


To: GOPcapitalist; lentulusgracchus
Nice try. The judges may have considered Lincoln's actions contemptable, but I see no documentation that he was cited for "contempt of court." The judges were clear perturbed that they could not run roughshod over the Adminsitration in a time of war.

I don't even think Tommy Delusional has written that Lincoln was found in contempt of court. But since you have been supplying him with information, maybe you could give us the reference, if one exists.

1,488 posted on 11/26/2004 11:15:37 PM PST by capitan_refugio
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1468 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Smoky Backroom
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson