Zicarelli v. New Jersey Investigation Comm’n, 406 U.S. 472 (1972)

Name: Zicarelli v. New Jersey Investigation Comm’n, 406 U.S. 472 (1972) - Syllabus
Author: U.S. Supreme Court

Zicarelli v. New Jersey State Commission of Investigation

No. 69-4

Argued January 11, 1972
Decided May 22, 1972
406 U.S. 472

APPEAL FROM THE SUPREME COURT OF NEW JERSEY

Syllabus

After appellant invoked the Fifth Amendment and refused to answer questions concerning organized crime, racketeering, and political corruption in Long Branch, New Jersey, appellee Commission granted him statutory immunity

from having such responsive answer given by him or such responsive evidence produced by him, or evidence derived therefrom used to expose him to criminal prosecution or penalty or to a forfeiture of his estate. . . .

Appellant still refused to answer, contending that full transactional immunity was required, that the statutory ban on the use and derivative use of "responsive" answers is unconstitutionally vague, and that the immunity would not protect him from foreign prosecution, of which he has a real and substantial fear. Appellant was adjudged to be in contempt, and the judgment was upheld on appeal. The New Jersey Supreme Court, construing the responsiveness limitation, held that "the statute protects the witness against answers and evidence he in good faith believed were demanded." Commission procedure provides for an advance statement of the subject matter of the questioning, and permits a witness to have counsel present at the hearing.

Held:

1. The New Jersey statutory immunity from use and derivative use is coextensive with the scope of the privilege against self-incrimination, and is sufficient to compel testimony. Kastigar v. United States, ante, p. 441. Pp. 474-476.

2. In light of the State Supreme Court’s construction and the context in which the statute operates, the responsiveness limitation is not violative of due process. Pp. 476-478.

3. The self-incrimination privilege protects against real dangers, not remote and speculative possibilities, and here there was no showing that appellant was in real danger of being compelled to disclose information that might incriminate him under foreign law. Pp. 478-481.

55 N.J. 249, 261 A.2d 129, affirmed.

POWELL, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which BURGER, C.J., and STEWART, WHITE, and BLACKMUN, JJ., joined. DOUGLAS, J., post, p. 481, and MARSHALL, J., post, p. 481, filed dissenting statements. BRENNAN and REHNQUIST, JJ., took no part in the consideration or decision of the case.

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Chicago: U.S. Supreme Court, "Syllabus," Zicarelli v. New Jersey Investigation Comm’n, 406 U.S. 472 (1972) in 406 U.S. 472 406 U.S. 473. Original Sources, accessed May 20, 2024, http://www.originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=DEV81J1P9SRJUEN.

MLA: U.S. Supreme Court. "Syllabus." Zicarelli v. New Jersey Investigation Comm’n, 406 U.S. 472 (1972), in 406 U.S. 472, page 406 U.S. 473. Original Sources. 20 May. 2024. http://www.originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=DEV81J1P9SRJUEN.

Harvard: U.S. Supreme Court, 'Syllabus' in Zicarelli v. New Jersey Investigation Comm’n, 406 U.S. 472 (1972). cited in 1972, 406 U.S. 472, pp.406 U.S. 473. Original Sources, retrieved 20 May 2024, from http://www.originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=DEV81J1P9SRJUEN.