Watkins v. United States
Significance, Supreme Court Rules That Congressional Power Of Investigation Is Not Unlimited, Further Readings
Petitioner
John T. Watkins
Respondent
United States
Petitioner's Claim
That Congress does not have unlimited power to investigate the private lives of individual citizens.
Chief Lawyer for Petitioner
Joseph L. Rauh, Jr.
Chief Lawyer for Respondent
J. Lee Rankin, U. S. Solicitor General
Justices for the Court
Hugo Lafayette Black, William J. Brennan, Jr., William O. Douglas, Felix Frankfurter, John Marshall Harlan II, Earl Warren (writing for the Court)
Justices Dissenting
Tom C. Clark (Harold Burton and Charles Evans Whittaker did not participate)
Place
Washington, D.C.
Date of Decision
17 June 1957
Decision
The Supreme Court ruled that the congressional power of investigation is not unlimited and should not intrude upon law enforcement, a function of the executive branch, or try cases, thus assuming a judicial role.
Related Cases
- Kilbourn v. Thompson, 103 U.S. 168 (1881).
- American Communications Association v. Douds, 339 U.S. 382 (1950).
Additional topics
- Wiener v. United States - A "quasi-judicial" Body, Shifting Precedents, Justice Felix Frankfurter
- Ullmann v. United States - Significance, Court Holds That The Privilege Against Self-incrimination Only Protects Against Criminal Prosecution, Prima Facie Evidence
- Watkins v. United States - Significance
- Watkins v. United States - Further Readings
- Watkins v. United States - Supreme Court Rules That Congressional Power Of Investigation Is Not Unlimited
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