United States v. Nugent/Dissent Douglas

by William O. Douglas

United States Supreme Court

346 U.S. 1

United States  v.  Nugent

 Argued: May 1 and 4, 1953. --- Decided: June 8, 1953

Mr. Justice DOUGLAS, with whom Mr. Justice BLACK concurs, dissenting.

I concur in Mr. Justice FRANKFURTER'S opinion and only add a word. The use of statements by informers who need not confront the person under investigation or accusation has such an infamous history that it should be rooted out from our procedure. A hearing at which these faceless people are allowed to present their whispered rumors and yet escape the test and torture of cross-examination is not a hearing in the Anglo-American sense. We should be done with the practice-whether the life of a man is at stake, or his reputation, or any matter touching upon his status or his rights. If FBI reports are disclosed in administrative or judicial proceedings, it may be that valuable underground sources will dry up. But that is not the choice. If the aim is to protect the underground of informers, the FBI report need not be used. If it is used, then fairness requires that the names of the accusers be disclosed. Without the identity of the informer the person investigated or accused stands helpless. The prejudices, the credibility, the passions, the perjury of the informer are never known. If they were exposed, the whole charge might without under the cross-examination.

Notes