Howard A. Lambert v. State of Montana

LAY, Circuit Judge:

This case presents the novel question as to whether due process considerations may affect the duration of confinement resulting from a state court’s commitment arising from a finding of civil contempt. The petitioner, Howard A. Lambert, seeks a writ of habeas corpus alleging as unconstitutional his continuing confinement in a county jail as a result of a civil contempt order entered by a Montana state judge. The federal district court found that the petition presented no constitutional questions and denied the writ. We affirm the denial of the writ of habeas, however, we…