United States v. Coachman

Opinion for the Court filed by Chief Judge SPOTTSWOOD W. ROBINSON.

SPOTTSWOOD W. ROBINSON, Chief Judge:

Appellants were twice held in criminal contempt, first when they refused to testify during a grand jury investigation, and again when they refused to testify at a trial emanating therefrom. Each appellant asserts that his successive refusals constituted but a single offense, and resultantly that his second contempt conviction offended the Double Jeopardy Clause of the Fifth Amendment. We disagree, and affirm the convictions.

I

Appellants were separately indicted on multiple counts of mail…