United States v. Lucchese/Opinion of the Court

by William J. Brennan, Jr.

United States Supreme Court

365 U.S. 290

United States  v.  Lucchese

 Argued: Dec. 8 and 12, 1960. --- Decided: Feb 20, 1961

This denaturalization proceeding was brought in the District Court for the Eastern District of New York under § 338(a) of the Nationality Act of 1940. 8 U.S.C. (1946 ed.) § 738. ^[1] The 'good cause' affidavit was not filed with the complaint. The District Court dismissed the complaint following our decision in United States v. Zucca, 351 U.S. 91, 76 S.Ct. 671, 100 L.Ed. 964, 'without prejudice to the government's right to institute a proceeding to denaturalize the defendant upon the filing of the required affidavit.' 149 F.Supp. 952. The Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit reversed, holding that the dismissal motion should have been denied. 247 F.2d 123. We reversed and ordered the case 'remanded to the District Court with directions to dismiss' the complaint. 356 U.S. 256, 78 S.Ct. 713, 2 L.Ed.2d 741. The District Court on the remand declined to order a dismissal 'without prejudice' and instead entered an order which did not specify whether the dismissal was with or without prejudice. The Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit dismissed the Government's appeal in an unreported opinion which stated that 'there was no basis for (the district judge) to take action other than he did, namely, to comply with the clear command of the Supreme Court, without attempted embellishment. We have no occasion now to pass on the effect of that command upon possible later litigation.'

The Government filed its petition for certiorari only to assure its right to proceed against the respondent in a new proceeding in the event that we should rule in Costello v. United States, 365 U.S. 265, 81 S.Ct. 534, 5 L.Ed.2d 551, that the order entered by the District Court for the Southern District of New York in that case precluded the institution of the second denaturalization action against Costello. Our decision today in Costello establishes that such a form of dismissal does not bar a subsequent proceeding against the respondent. The writ is therefore dismissed.

Dismissed.

Mr. Justice HARLAN took no part in the consideration or decision of this case.

Notes

1. Now 8 U.S.C.A. § 1451.