United States v. I. D. Russell Laboratories

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANTS’ MOTION TO DISMISS AND FOR JUDGMENT OF ACQUITTAL AT THE CLOSE OF THE GOVERNMENT’S CASE

JOHN W. OLIVER, Chief Judge.

I

This criminal contempt proceeding, like Morissette v. United States, 342 U.S. 246, *712247, 72 S.Ct. 240, 96 L.Ed. 288 (1952), would have remained “a profoundly insignificant case” except that the government’s basic theory of criminal liability raises questions both fundamental and far-reaching in federal criminal contempt law. The case was commenced by the filing of a petition for an order to show cause in criminal contempt for an alleged…