Court Rules On Sinatra Arrest

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32214, 5 February 1970, Page 11

Court Rules On Sinatra Arrest

' (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) WASHINGTON, February 4. The United States Supreme Court in Washington has refused, by four votes to three, to prevent the arrest of the singer, Frank Sinatra, for his refusing to answer a subpoena from the New Jersey State Investigation Commission.

The singer’s lawyer (Mr Bruce Kauffman), had submitted that the subpoena was illegal, and that the commission was created unconstitutionally. He added that Sinatra would be faced with false and malicious statements purportedly connecting him with organised crime and racketeering were he to appear "The subpoena, issued more than six months ago, is a fishing expedition that could cause Sinatra grave and irreparable injury,” Mr Kauffman said. Chief Justice Warren Burger and Justices John Harlan, Potter Stewart and Byron White voted against Sinatra; Justices Hugo Black, William Douglas and Thurgood Marshall said that they were of the opinion that the application should be granted.

A warrant Issued on October 14 for Sinatra’s arrest was to compel him to answer a petition charging him with contempt. The commission, Mr Kauffman said, had subsequently indicated that it intended to seek the immediate indictment of Sinatra on a charge of criminal contempt, in order to begin extradition proceedings to compel his appearance.

Mr Kauffman’s application requested a stay of the indictment until the Circuit Court in Philadelphia considered whether to ask a Federal Court of three judges to hear his Constitutional claims. The Circuit Court will decide this on February 16. Sinatra is believed to be in California. The warrant issued for his arrest is applicable only in New Jersey.