Scull v. Virginia Ex Rel. Committee on Law Reform & Racial Activities

Opinion of the Court by

Mr. Justice Black, announced by Mr. Justice Harlan.

David H. Scull was convicted of contempt in the Circuit Court of Arlington County, Virginia, for refusing to obey a decision of that court ordering him to answer a number of questions put to him by a Legislative Investigative Committee of the Virginia Géneral Assembly. On appeal the Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals affirmed without opinion. . Scull contended at the Committee hearings, in the courts below, and in this Court that the Virginia statute authorizing the investigation, both on its face and as applied,…