| 278
F.Supp. 488 (Cite
as: 278 F.Supp. 488) United
States District Court, W.D. Washington, Northern Division. JEHOVAH’S
WITNESSES IN the STATE OF WASHINGTON
et al., Plaintiffs, v. KING
COUNTY HOSPITAL, UNIT NO. 1 (HARBOR
VIEW) et al., Defendants Civ.
No. 6595.
June 8, 1967, Addendum to Memorandum Decision of June
8, 1967, and Opinion on
the Merits Nov. 20, 1967. Religious
group and its governing agency and individual members, minors and adults, brought
action on their own behalf and as class action asking that three-judge District
Court be convened for purposes of declaring legal rights of plaintiffs and to
permanently enjoined all defendants from administering blood transfusions to plaintiffs
in the future as defendants had allegedly done in the past in violation of constitutional
rights of plaintiffs. The three- judge District Court dismissed aspects of case
relating to giving blood transfusions to adults, held that it had jurisdiction
of infant cases and held that Washington statutes empowering superior court judges
to declare children to be dependent for purpose of authorizing blood transfusions
of children against expressed objections of parents were not invalid under Constitution
of United States. Action
dismissed as to all defendants. West
Headnotes [1]
Federal Courts 991 170Bk991
Most Cited Cases (Formerly
106k101) Three-judge
district court is statutory creature with limited sphere of operation. 28 U.S.C.A.
§§ 2281, 2284. [2]
Federal Courts 991 170Bk991
Most Cited Cases (Formerly
106k101) Three-judge
district court is extraordinary court and technical requirements relating to its
jurisdiction are to be strictly construed. 28 U.S.C.A. §§ 2281, 2284. [3]
Federal Courts 991 170Bk991
Most Cited Cases (Formerly
106k101) [4]
Federal Courts 991 170Bk991
Most Cited Cases (Formerly
106k101)
Statutory requirements for three-judge district court jurisdiction are requirements
of substance, not of form. 28 U.S.C.A. §§ 2281, 2284. [5]
Federal Courts 991 170Bk992
Most Cited Cases (Formerly
106k101)
Policy behind convening of three-judge district court is that single judge ought
not to be empowered to invalidate a state statute under federal claim. 28 U.S.C.A.
§§ 2281, 2284. [6]
Federal Courts 991 170Bk991
Most Cited Cases (Formerly
106k101)
That a single district judge would have jurisdiction to hear questions arising
under Civil Rights Act is not determinative of jurisdiction of three-judge district
court. 28 U.S.C.A. § 2281; 42 U.S.C.A. § 1983. [7]
Federal Courts 993.1 170Bk993.1
Most Cited Cases (Formerly
170Bk993, 106k101)
Claim that constitutional rights have been violated by state action not based
upon or taken pursuant to specific statute is not sufficient to vest three- judge
district court with authority to consider claim. 28 U.S.C.A. §§ 2281, 2284. [8]
Federal Courts 992 170Bk992
Most Cited Cases (Formerly
106k101) Issues
properly posed for determination by three-judge district court arise from enforcement
or execution of state statute which is claimed to violate constitutional rights.
28 U.S.C.A. §§ 2281, 2284. [9]
Federal Courts 993.1 170Bk993.1
Most Cited Cases (Formerly
170Bk993, 106k1011)
Where questions involving adult members of religious sect were not predicated
on any constitutionally-challenged state statute, three-judge district court did
not have jurisdiction of proceeding. 28 U.S.C.A. §§ 2281, 2284. [10]
Federal Courts 15 170Bk15
Most Cited Cases (Formerly
106k263) That
three-judge district court was considering constitutional questions arising from
actions taken pursuant to enforcement or execution of challenged state statute
did not give it pendant jurisdiction to hear closely-related matters, where alleged
constitutional deprivations did not occur from acts taken pursuant to challenged
state's statute. 28 U.S.C.A. §§ 2281, 2284. [11]
Federal Courts 993.1 170Bk993.1
Most Cited Cases (Formerly
170Bk993) Where
pleadings of members of religious sect seeking declaration of legal rights and
injunction restraining defendants from administering blood transfusions to plaintiffs
challenged constitutionality of state statutes whereby state could order transfusion
to save life of infant, and statute was a statewide statute, plaintiffs were entitled
to have a three-judge district court to hear their complaint. 28 U.S.C.A. §§ 2281,
2284; RCWA 13.04.095. [12]
Declaratory Judgment 121 118Ak121
Most Cited Cases
Even if three-judge district court did have pendant jurisdiction to consider merits
of constitutional issues raised by compulsory transfusion of adults, where it
appeared that there were only two isolated instances of such compulsory transfusions,
court in exercise of its equity powers would not accord declaratory relief for
the future predicated thereon. 28 U.S.C.A. §§ 2281, 2284. [13]
Federal Courts 993.1 170Bk993.1
Most Cited Cases (Formerly
170Bk993, 106k101) Where
state court judge entered order finding child dependent under state statute and
authorized transfusion if doctors thought it necessary in course of operation
on infant, doctors were acting under color of state law when they performed the
operation and, even though no transfusion was given jurisdictional requirement
of claimed deprivation of constitutional rights was met and three-judge district
court had jurisdiction of doctors in action for declaration of legal rights of
plaintiffs and for injunction restraining physicians from administering blood
transfusions to plaintiffs in the future. 28 U.S.C.A. § 2281; 42 U.S.C.A. § 1983.
[14]
Federal Civil Procedure 181 170Ak181
Most Cited Cases
Inasmuch as two physicians were named as representatives of class of medical doctors,
they must remain as defendants in action brought in three-judge district court
to declare legal rights of plaintiffs and to permanently enjoin all defendants,
individually and as a class, from administering blood transfusions to plaintiffs
in the future as they had allegedly done in the past in violation of constitutional
rights of plaintiffs. 28 U.S.C.A. § 2281; 42 U.S.C.A. § 1983. [15]
Federal Civil Procedure 1943 170Ak1943
Most Cited Cases Where
plaintiffs made no mention in pre-trial order containing admitted and disputed
facts of adult transfusion involving two plaintiffs and of two defendants concerned
only with that incident and made no mention of blood transfusion of two other
plaintiffs and another defendant concerned only with that instance, action to
declare legal rights of plaintiffs and to permanently enjoin all defendants from
administering blood transfusions to plaintiffs in the future in violation of constitutional
rights of plaintiffs should be dismissed as to such defendants. [16]
Action 70 13k70
Most Cited Cases Action
would be regarded as abandoned as to persons who were named in complaint or supplemental
complaint as defendants but as to whom no grievance was stated in pretrial order. [17]
Federal Civil Procedure 1938.1 170
Ak1938.1 Most Cited Cases (Formerly
170Ak1938)
Where pretrial order provided that it should not be amended except by order of
court pursuant to agreement of parties or to prevent manifest injustice, and plaintiffs
had not sought court authority to amend pretrial order by reinstating certain
class of physicians which had been eliminated as defendants, such class could
not be regarded as class of defendants subject to jurisdiction of court in the
cause, although they had been designated in the complaint. [18]
Constitutional Law 84.5(7.1) 92k84.5(7.1)
Most Cited Cases (Formerly
92k84.5(7), 92k84) State
may intervene in name of health and welfare in the indoctrination and participation
of children in religion. [19]
Constitutional Law 84.5(7.1) 92k84.5(7.1)
Most Cited Cases (Formerly
92k84.5(7), 92k84) Right
to practice religion freely does not include liberty to expose child to ill health
or death [20]
Courts 96(3) 106k96(3)
Most Cited Cases (Formerly
106k96, 106k365(1)) [20]
Federal Courts 371 170Bk371
Most Cited Cases .
Special three-judge district court was not bound by any judicial decisions other
than those of the United States Supreme Court. [21]
Infants 132 211k132
Most Cited Cases (Formerly
211k12) Washington
statutes empowering superior court judges to declare children dependent for purpose
of authorizing blood transfusions of children against expressed objections of
parents who opposed transfusions as contrary to their religion were not invalid
under Constitution of United States. RCWA 13.04.010(12), 13.04.095; U.S.C.A.Const.
Amends. 1, 14. [22]
Federal Courts 43 170Bk43
Most Cited Cases (Formerly
106k260.4) When
state action is challenged in federal court on federal constitutional grounds
and there are questions of state law which might dispose of case or materially
change nature of constitutional problems, federal court may decline to proceed
though it has jurisdiction under Constitution and statutes and that abstention
policy is usually referred to as the "Pullman Doctrine". [23]
Federal Courts 43 170Bk43
Most Cited Cases (Formerly
106k269.4)
Federal court's abstention from exercising federal jurisdiction in case where
state action is challenged on federal constitutional grounds and there are questions
of state law which may dispose of case is proper in order to avoid unnecessary
friction in federal-state relations, interference with important state functions,
tentative decisions on questions of state law, and premature constitutional adjudication.
[24]
Federal Courts 43 170Bk43
Most Cited Cases (Formerly
106k260.4) "Equitable
abstention doctrine" is designed to restrict exercise of federal jurisdiction,
at least in first instance, by having federal courts defer to state courts in
consideration and interpretation of state statutes. [25]
Federal Civil Procedure 2582 170Ak2582
Most Cited Cases Award
of equitable relief is a discretionary matter. [26]
Federal Courts 43 170Bk43
Most Cited Cases (Formerly
106k260.4) Federal
court should properly consider whether circumstances warrant initial construction
of state statute by highest court of state and, if so, abstain from exercise of
federal jurisdiction. [27]
Federal Courts 43 170Bk43
Most Cited Cases (Formerly
106k260.4) Where
constitutionality of state statute is involved, any uncertainty as to its meaning
should first be resolved by state, in view of policy of comity between state and
federal governments, that state courts ideally should be better informed about
state policies and purposes so that construction of statute may be achieved more
accurately and meaningfully, and that resolution of uncertain statutory authority
by state courts may obviate federal adjudication of constitutional questions arising
from the enactment. [28]
Federal Courts 43 170Bk43
Most Cited Cases (Formerly
106k260.4)
Since practical effect of federal court's decision to abstain in case over which
it has been given jurisdiction by law is to deny plaintiff his right to federal
forum, decision to abstain not only requires reasonably uncertain issues of state
statutory interpretation, but also availability of adequate state procedures for
resolving the uncertainty. [29]
Federal Courts 43 170Bk43
Most Cited Cases (Formerly
106k260.4) Abstention
doctrine becomes applicable in those situations where it is uncertain that state
enactment authorized restrictions imposed on persons bringing federal action or
on their activities. [30]
Appeal and Error 843(1) 30k843(1)
Most Cited Cases
When matter of public interest is involved, Supreme Court of State of Washington
has jurisdiction to decide broad issues even though particular case raising them
is moot. [31]
Federal Courts 54 170Bk54
Most Cited Cases Even
if prior decision were not controlling, thereby precluding injunction restraining
physicians from administering blood transfusions to infant plaintiffs under Washington
statutes, in view of fact that application of statutes to plaintiffs in blood
transfusion cases appeared to be uncertain and that adequate state procedures
existed to resolve uncertainty, federal court, under doctrine of abstention, would
deny relief. *491
Kenneth A. MacDonald, Frederic C. Tausend, Seattle, Wash., W. Glen How, Q.C.,
Toronto, Canada, Daniel Brink, Seattle, Wash., for plaintiffs. John
J. O'Connell, State Atty. Gen., James B. Wilson, Asst. Atty. Gen., Seattle, Wash.,
Robert E. Schillberg, Snohomish County Pros. Atty., Donald E. Priest, Deputy Snohomish
County Pros. Atty., Everett, Wash., Charles O. Carroll, King County Pros. Atty.,
John M. Watson, James E. Kennedy, Deputy Pros. Attys. for King County, Seattle,
Wash., Anderson & Hunter, Everett, Wash., Little & Jones, Charles T. Sharp,
Clarkston, Wash., Williams, Lanza, Kastner & Gibbs, Holman, Marion, Perkins,
Coie & Stone, Seattle, Wash., for defendants. MEMORANDUM
DECISION PER
CURIAM.
The Jehovah's Witnesses, a minority religious group; the Watch Tower Bible and
Tract Society of Pennsylvania, legal governing agency for the Jehovah's Witnesses;
and individually-named Jehovah's Witnesses, including minors as well as adults;
have brought the above-entitled action on their own behalf and as a class action
on behalf of all Jehovah's Witnesses in the State of Washington. The prayer of
the complaint asks that a special three-judge district court be convened pursuant
to 28 U.S.C. §§ 2281 and 2284 for the purposes of declaring the legal rights of
the plaintiffs and permanently enjoining all defendants, individually and as a
class, from administering blood transfusions to plaintiffs in the future, as defendants
allegedly have done in the past, in violation of certain constitutional rights
of the plaintiffs.
The parties defendant are individually-named Superior Court judges, Juvenile Court
employees, hospitals and hospital personnel, and physicians; also physicians named
as representatives of a class which includes all medical doctors in the State
of Washington who are employed in and paid by public institutions operating directly
with funds raised entirely or in part from the taxpayers of the State of Washington,
or operating under funds granted to said hospitals by the United States government;
physicians named as representatives of a class that includes all medical doctors
licensed to practice medicine or surgery in the State of Washington; hospitals
named as representatives of a class which includes all hospitals in the State
of Washington operated by the state, a county, or by any public hospital district;
and hospitals named as representatives of a class which includes all licensed
hospitals in the State of Washington excepting the type of 'public' hospitals
immediately referred to. The
state statute challenged as unconstitutional and giving rise to the request for
the special three-judge court is the Juvenile Court Act of the State of Washington,
R.C.W. 13.04, and more particularly sections 13.04.010(12) and 13.04.095 of said
act. Plaintiffs contend that these particular sections of the act on their face
and as applied to the plaintiffs are unconstitutional and invalid. The gist of
the plaintiffs' complaint is that the defendant Superior Court judges pursuant
to their authority under the Juvenile Court Act and upon petitions by the defendant
doctors or hospital personnel have taken the children of plaintiffs and removed
them from the protection of their parents by having such children declared wards
of the court simply because plaintiffs in the exercise of their judgment disagree
with the opinions of the defendant physicians and decline to accept blood transfusions
for their children. All
defendants have filed and argued motions to dismiss. At the hearing on said motions
the court sua sponte raised the question of its jurisdiction to hear the case
at bar, referred to the decision of *492 the Supreme Court in Phillips v. United
States, 312 U.S. 246, 61 S.Ct. 480, 85 L.Ed. 800 (1941), and requested briefs
on the jurisdictional issue. After consideration of the briefs the court has concluded
to reserve until a hearing on the merits its ruling on the jurisdictional issue
as well as other issues raised by the motions to dismiss the Superior Court judges,
the physicians, hospitals, and hospital personnel as to the eight cases set forth
in the pretrial order No. 1 [FN1] and the two cases in the supplemental complaint
[FN2] wherein court orders were obtained pursuant to R.C.W. 13.04.010(12), declaring
the children of Jehovah's Witnesses wards of the court and permitting blood transfusions
to be given to such children. FN1.
Retained in the action until a hearing on the merits are the following parties:
Plaintiffs:
Norman C. and Carolyn Maydole and Russell Scott Maydole; and Defendants:
Franklin Kells, M.D.; Donald B. Fager, M.D.; Judge Lawrence Leahy. Plaintiffs:
Laurin and Geraldine Seelye and Bradley Scott Seelye; and Defendants:
Robert F. Miller, M.D.; Judge William G. Long. Plaintiffs:
Clifford and Joyce Burnitt and Thomas Allen Burnitt; and
Defendants:
University of Washington Hospital; Loren Winterschied; Judge William G. Long.
Plaintiffs:
Arian W. and Beatrice Elam and Jeffrey Ward Elam; and Defendants:
Stevens Memorial Hospital, Edmonds, Washington; Donald E. Brown, M.D.; Allen Sola,
M.D.; Judge Phillip Sheridan. Plaintiffs:
James and Helen Lawrence and Heidi Jo Lawrence; and Defendants:
University of Washington Hospital; Lloyd Nyhus, M.D.; Carl B. Erickson; Judge
Theodore S. Turner. Plaintiffs:
Jack and Hazel Pen and Michael Pen; and Defendants:
Robert A. Aldrich; Warren Guntheroth; John Allen; Judge William G. Long. Plaintiffs:
Olite and Azell Smith and Jeanetter Smith; and Defendants:
King County Hospital Unit No. 1 (Harborview); Robert F. Miller, M.D.; Judge Robert
F. Utter. Plaintiffs:
Richard and Bernice Brockman and Sharilyn Brockman; and Defendants:
J. D. Klein, M.D.; Judge Thomas G. Jordan.
FN2.
Also retained are the following parties: Plaintiffs:
Neil and Patsy Nichol and Geri Lynn Nichol; and Defendants:
Lester Sauvage, M.D.; Jack Docter, M.D.; Children's Orthopedic Hospital and Medical
Center; Judge Robert F. Utter. Plaintiffs:
Gene and Donna Hardy and Loren Hardy; and Defendants:
Quay Cutshall, M.D.; Children's Orthopedic Hospital and Medical Center; Judge
Walter T. McGovern. Before
the court for further decision at this time are the motions to dismiss the suit
as to the remaining defendants, contentions and issues. The initial issue with
respect to these motions is the jurisdiction of a three-judge district court to
hear and decide issues related to but in no way directly bearing upon the action
challenging on constitutional grounds the application of a state statute.
In pretrial order No. 1 and in the affidavit of Kenneth MacDonald filed for consideration
with motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction (document 87) plaintiffs delineate
four cases [FN3] wherein the constitutional rights of adult Jehovah's Witnesses
are alleged to have been violated, but the contested action was not taken pursuant
to the constitutionally-challenged state statute. In the supplemental complaint
plaintiffs depict another situation [FN4] involving an adult Jehovah's Witness
for whom a guardian was appointed to consent to a blood transfusion which the
patient had refused on religious grounds. This alleged violation of constitutional
rights likewise did not occur from an act based on the challenged state statute.
These additional acts plaintiffs claim are actionable constitutional violations
under the Civil Rights Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1983. The question is whether the three-
judge district court may properly *493 hear questions based on violation of the
Civil Rights Act. FN3.
The cases involve plaintiffs, Eugene and Jean Alicki; plaintiffs, Joseph G. and
Shirley L. Chabot; plaintiffs, Richard D. and Doris Jean Russell; plaintiff, Evonne
Sayers. FN4.
The case involves plaintiff, Martha Ridge. [1][2][3][4]The
three-judge district court is a statutory creature with a limited sphere of operation.
It is an extraordinary court and technical requirements relating to its jurisdiction
are to be strictly construed. Bailey v. Patterson, 369 U.S. 31, 82 S.Ct. 549,
7 L.Ed.2d 512 (1962); Gate Film Club v. Pesce, 236 F.Supp. 828 (S.D.N.Y.1964).
Section 2281 of title 28 of the United States Code sets out the jurisdictional
limitations binding on a three-judge court: 1) an interlocutory or permanent injunction
must be sought; 2) the injunction sought must be one to restrain the action of
a state officer or administrative agency; 3) the action sought to be enjoined
must consist of the enforcement or execution of a state statute; 4) the injunction
must be sought on the ground that the state statute is unconstitutional. Moreover,
generally a disputed substantial federal question must be presented. See Bartlett
& Co., Grain v. State Corp. Comm. of Kansas, 223 F.Supp. 975 (Kan.1963). The
statutory requirements for three-judge court jurisdiction are requirements of
substance, not of form. See Wilentz v. Sovereign Camp, 306 U.S. 573, 59 S.Ct.
709, 83 L.Ed. 994 (1939). [FN5] Thus, it is specifically stated that the questionable
action must be taken in the enforcement or execution of a state statute; the acts
of the state which are attacked must be based on the constitutionally-challenged
statute. FN5.
The Supreme Court in Wilentz was applying the predecessor to section
2281; the court was asked to decide whether the suit brought met the statutory
pre-requisites-- that is, was it a suit for an injunction 'restraining the enforcement,
operation, or execution of any statute of a State by restraining the action of
any officer of such State in the enforcement or execution of such statute, or
in the enforcement or execution of an order made by an administrative board or
commission'? ( 306
U.S. at 579, 59 S.Ct. at 713.) In deciding that the case before it was not the
kind of case encompassed by the statute, the court noted that the statute sharply
and specifically defined the class of cases for the extraordinary three-judge
procedure and jurisdiction could not be extended to include cases not satisfying
the stated limitations. [5]
The policy behind the convening of a three-judge court is that a single judge
ought not to be empowered to invalidate a state statute under a federal claim.
It is significant that in Swift & Co. v. Wickham, 382 U.S. 111, 86 S.Ct. 258,
15 L.Ed.2d 194 (1965), although in another context, the Supreme Court has recently
emphasized the restrictive interpretation to be given to section 2281 cases, overruling
the court's more liberal holding in Kesler v. Dept. of Public Safety, 369 U.S.
153, 82 S.Ct. 807, 7 L.Ed.2d 641 (1962) as to the cases encompassed by the three-judge
procedure. In Wickham the court notes that 'Section 2281 was designed to provide
a more responsible forum for the litigation of suits which, if successful, would
render void state statutes embodying important state policies.' (382 U.S. 111,
119, 86 S.Ct. 258, 263). Such policy and the limitations of section 2281 must
be considered in appraising the additional issues plaintiffs request the three-
judge court to determine. [6][7][8][9][10]
The issue of whether or not conduct of judges, physicians, hospitals, and hospital
personnel is actionable under the Civil Rights Act is not germane in determining
the jurisdiction of a three-judge court. The fact that a single district court
judge would have jurisdiction to hear questions arising under the Civil Rights
Act is not determinative of the jurisdiction of a three-judge district court.
The claim that constitutional rights have been violated by state action not based
upon or taken pursuant to a specific statute is not, under the wording or a reasonable
interpretation of the federal statute, sufficient to vest a three-judge court
with the authority to consider the claim. As stated previously, the issues properly
posed for determination by a three-judge court arise from the enforcement or execution
of a state statute, which is claimed to violate constitutional rights. The questions
involving the *494 adult Jehovah's Witnesses were not and are not predicated on
R.C.W. 13.04, or on any other constitutionally-challenged state statute. Nor is
it answer enough to say that because a three-judge court is considering constitutional
questions arising from actions taken pursuant to the enforcement or execution
of a challenged state statute, such court has 'pendant' jurisdiction to hear closely-related
matters. This court does not intend to depart from the traditional, limited construction
of three-judge court jurisdiction. The court as a specially convened three-judge
court finds no authority to extend its jurisdiction to questions involving the
constitutional rights of Jehovah's Witnesses when the alleged constitutional deprivations
did not occur from acts taken pursuant to a challenged state statute. The
court therefore dismisses those aspects of the case not based on acts taken in
the enforcement or execution of R.C.W. 13.04.010(12) or 13.04.095. Orders
of dismissal in accordance herewith to be submitted by counsel for the various
defendants.
ADDENDUM TO MEMORANDUM DECISION OF JUNE 8, 1967
PER CURIAM.
On June 8, 1967 this court entered its memorandum decision directing dismissal
of those aspects of the case which involved only actual or threatened blood transfusion
of adults, and reserving until trial of the cause the court's ruling on (1) the
jurisdictional issue raised by Phillips v. United States, 312 U.S. 246, 61 S.Ct.
480, 85 L.Ed. 800 (1941), and (2) motions raised by various defendants for dismissal
of the action as to some or all of them. Subsequently plaintiffs filed a motion
to reconsider the court's memorandum decision insofar as it dismissed from the
case the adult blood transfusion instances involving plaitniffs, Evonne Sayers
and Martha Ridge.
First, as to the jurisdictional issue. Troubled by the effect of the holding of
the supreme court in Phillips, [FN1] and cognizant of the technical construction
given to three-judge court statutes [FN2] this *495 court sua sponte raised the
question as to whether the instant case was properly a special three-judge case.
Briefs were requested and submitted on the issue. With regard to the latter question,
the court finds the present case distinguishable from the Phillips case and concludes
that this is properly a three-judge court case.
FN1.
In Phillips, the Grand River Dam Authority, a state agency, was empowered to construct
the Grand River Dam and to borrow money and accept grants from the United States
for such purposes. Construction of the project was begun, using money borrowed
and grants accepted from the United States. During the construction, state roads
were flooded and attempts by the Governor to recover from the state agency on
claims resulting from the flooding of the roads were unsuccessful. The Governor
later declared martial law in an area surrounding a part of the damsite and ordered
the State Adjutant General to occupy it. Acting in conjunction with other state
officials the Governor then obtained in a state court an ex parte order restraining
further work on the dam by the Grand River Dam Authority. At this point the United
States commenced an action in the federal district court to enjoin the Governor
and other state officials from interfering with the Grand River Dam construction
project. A three- judge district court was convened and an injunction in favor
of the United States was issued by the special court. On appeal, the supreme court,
Mr. Justice Frankfurter speaking, held that this was not the proper case for convening
a three-judge court because the jurisdictional prerequisites had not been met.
FN2.
See Memorandum Decision of June 8, 1967, pages 491-494. In Ex parte
Young,
209 U.S. 123, 28 S.Ct. 441, 52 L.Ed. 714 (1908) the supreme court upheld the power
of a federal trial judge to enjoin the Minnesota attorney general from enforcing
a railroad rate statute found to violate due process. The effect of the decision
was to bring acts of state officers within the scope of federal judicial review
and to subject the states to the restrictions of the federal constitution in situations
where they might otherwise ignore it. See Wright, Handbook of the Law of Federal
Courts (1963), page 160. The doctrine led to the nullification of state legislative
attempts to cope with the increasing needs of a burgeoning industrial society
when a single federal judge would issue an injunction invalidating a particular
state regulatory statute. Limitations on federal jurisdiction in such circumstances
were essential to preserve the proper allocation of power between the United States
and the several states, which is at the heart of a federal system. Exhaustion
of state remedies before challenging the state action in a federal forum was one
limitation. The creation of the three-judge court procedure to handle constitutional
attacks on state statutes was another. It was the belief in Congress that there
would be less public resentment where the enforcement or operation of the state
statute attacked on federal constitutional grounds was stayed by a court of three
judges, at least one of whom was a circuit court judge, and the decision of such
court was directly appealable to the supreme court.
There are two patent distinctions between the Phillips case and the one now before
us. In Phillips the supreme court stated that it was 'significant' that plaintiff
did not, in its pleadings, specifically attack the constitutionality of the Oklahoma
state constitutional provisions and statutes granting the Governor power to call
out the National Guard. (See 312 U.S. at 252, 61 S.Ct. 480). In our case the pleadings
expressly challenge the constitutionality of the state statutes. In Phillips the
supreme court characterized that suit as 'involving a single, unique exercise'
of the powers of the Governor's office. (See 312 U.S. at 253, 61 S.Ct. 480.) In
our case plaintiffs complain of ten or more such acts, extending over a considerable
period of time and involving three or more counties.
There is no question but that plaintiffs are purporting to attack statutes of
the State of Washington, namely two provisions of the state's Juvenile Court Law,
on federal constitutional grounds. The provisions in question, namely RCW 13.04.010(12)
and RCW 13.04.095, are of statewide application. These
statutes are also mandatory in form. RCW 13.04.010(12) provides, among other things,
that for the purpose of the act the words "dependent child' shall mean any child
under the age of eighteen years: * * * (12) who is grossly and wilfully neglected
as to medical care necessary for his well-being.' This does not appear to leave
any room for an exception in the case of a child who is in fact found to be so
neglected, but for religious reasons. RCW 13.04.095 provides that when any child
shall be found to be delinquent or dependent, within the meaning of this chapter,
the court 'shall' make such order for the care, custody, or commitment of the
child 'as the child's welfare in the interest of the state require.' It
is true that this statute does not expressly require a court to order a medically-neglected
child made a ward of the court so that a blood transfusion may be administered.
But where the finding of gross and wilful medical neglect is premised upon a finding
that a transfusion is necessary to save life there is probably no order other
than to require such a transfusion which would discharge the state judge's mandatory
duty, under RCW 13.04.095, to 'make such order for the care, custody, or commitment
of the child as the child's welfare in the interest of the state require.'
In more recent litigation courts have held that a three-judge court is required
not only where a state statute is challenged as federally unconstitutional on
its face, but also 'as applied.' Thus, in Idlewild Bon Voyage Liquor Corp. v.
Rohan, 289 F.2d 426 (2 Cir. 1961) it was held at page 428 that the district judge
should have convened a three-judge court where the complaint challenged the federal
constitutionality of a state statute 'because of the way that statute was being
applied.' And when the same case came before the supreme court sub nom. Idlewild
Bon Voyage Liquor Corp. v. Epstein, 370 U.S. 713, 715, 82 S.Ct. 1294, 1296, 8
L.Ed.2d 794 (1962) that court stated: 'We agree with the Court of Appeals *496
that a three-judge court should have been convened in this case.' [FN3]
FN3.
See also, Kesler v. Dept. of Public Safety, 369 U.S. 153, 157, 82 S.Ct. 807, 7
L.Ed.2d 641, overruled on other grounds in Swift
& Co. v. Wickham, 382 U.S. 111, 86 S.Ct. 258, 15 L.Ed.2d 194 (1965); Query
v. United States, 316 U.S. 486, 489, 62 S.Ct. 1122, 86 L.Ed. 1616 (1942); Ex parte
Bransford,
310 U.S. 354, 361, 60 S.Ct. 947, 84 L.Ed. 1249 (1940); 'The Three-Judge District
Court in Constitutional Litigation,' David P. Currie, 32 Univ. of Chicago Law
Review, 1, 43. But see Maison v. Confederated Tribes, etc. (9 Cir. 1963) 314 F.2d
169, 170, footnote 1. [11]
In essence, plaintiffs' complaint here is the same: state judges are applying
a statewide statute in a federally unconstitutional manner. In view of this, and
without regard to the merits of their position, [FN4] we think plaintiffs should
not be denied a three-judge court under the Phillips doctrine.
FN4.
With respect to the merits of the case, see the court's opinion filed herewith.
Second, as to the plaintiffs' motion to reconsider the court's memorandum decision
insofar as it directs the dismissal from the case of those defendants charged
in relation to the blood transfusions authorized to be administered to adult plaintiffs,
Evonne Sayers and Martha Ridge. With respect to these plaintiffs [FN5] but not
in the other adult cases, court orders were obtained authorizing compulsory blood
transfusions, contrary to the religious beliefs of the adults. In its decision
of June 8, 1967 this court considered and rejected the proposition that it had
'pendent' jurisdiction under the three-judge court procedure to determine the
questions raised in the adult cases. [FN6] *497 Because this court regards the
three-judge court statute as a limitation on federal jurisdiction, and to be strictly
construed, the court must, for the reasons propounded in its earlier decision
as well as that stated in footnote 6 herein, deny the plaintiffs' motion to reconsider.
FN5.
Both Evonne Sayers and Martha Ridge were suffering from vaginal bleeding. Each
had refused blood transfusions and had in fact signed a written document releasing
the hospital and doctor from any liability for any injury to her arising from
a failure to give her a blood transfusion. Each woman is the mother of five children.
In the Ridge instance the court appointed a guardian on the petition of the hospital
without giving any notice to her of the proceeding involving her. In fact, Mrs.
Ridge first heard of the matter on a radio news broadcast the day after the order
had been entered. The court appointed a guardian over Mrs. Sayers on the petition
of the patient's mother despite the patient's refusal and the refusal of her husband
to consent to the blood transfusions. In each case the consent was given by the
guardian. In the Ridge instance no transfusion was actually given. In the Sayers
instance, a blood transfusion was given. In
the Ridge case, the court noted: 'The
interest of the state in preserving the life of the mother for the benefit of
the minor children of the ward outweighs the constitutional prohibition against
interfering with the free exercise of her religious beliefs.' (Pretrial order
No. 2, page 29b). In
the Sayers case the court noted: 'The
Constitutional right to the free practice of religion is not absolute but must
be balanced against other rights, such as the right of children of tender years
to have a good and loving parent. * * * The medical control of one's body is not
absolute but relative when there are minor children dependent upon the survival
of the adult.' (Pretrial order No. 2, pages 32 and 33).
FN6.
In support of their motion for reconsideration of the two adult cases, plaintiffs
cite Louisville
and Nashville Railroad v. Garrett, 231 U.S. 298, 34 S.Ct. 48, 58 L.Ed. 229 (1913);
Sterling
v. Constantin, 287 U.S. 378, 53 S.Ct. 190, 77
L.Ed. 275 (1932); and Florida Lime and Avocado Growers, Inc. v. Jacobsen, 362
U.S. 73, 80 S.Ct. 568, 4 L.Ed.2d 568 (1960). While these cases upon casual examination
appear to support plaintiffs' contention of pendent jurisdiction of this court
to consider the adult cases of Sayers and Ridge, a careful consideration of the
cases (including the district court opinion in Constantin v. Smith, D.C., 57 F.2d
227) indicates that the supreme court in using language such as: 'The
jurisdiction of the District Court so constituted (three-judge district court)
* * * extends to every question involved, whether of state or federal law, and
enables the court to rest its judgment on the decision of such of the questions
as in its opinion effectively dispose of the case.' (Sterling v. Constantin, supra,
287 U.S. pages 393-394, 53 S.Ct. page 193). as
not referring to issues or claims that did not arise directly or indirectly because
of action taken by virtue of the state statute under attack. In other words, as
indicated by the court in the Florida Lime case, 362 U.S. pages 80 and 84, 80
S.Ct. 568, a three-judge district court has jurisdiction over all claims-- state
or federal-- raised against the statute, but no jurisdiction over related matters
not in some way challenging the statute. 'While
the Sayers and Ridge cases involve Jehovah's Witnesses against whom court orders
were entered authorizing blood transfusions over their objections on religious
grounds, neither the court orders nor any other action of the defendants were
related to or involved the Juvenile Court Law here under attack. Because this
court so construes its authority under section
2281, it must for the reasons stated in its June 8, 1967 Memorandum Decision,
pages 3 to 6, deny the plaintiffs' motion to reconsider the court's dismissal
of plaintiffs, Evonne Sayers and Martha Ridge.
Furthermore,
the court having decided on the merits that plaintiffs are entitled to no relief
under their principal action attacking the state statute, there would be no occasion
to exercise pendent jurisdiction with respect to plaintiffs' adult cases.
[12]
Assuming, however, that this court does have pendent jurisdiction to consider
the merits of the constitutional issues raised by the compulsory transfusion of
adults, the court, in the discretionary exercise of its equity powers, ought not
to accord declaratory relief for the future predicated on two isolated instances.
Only one county (King County), and only one superior court judge (Judge Robert
F. Utter) were involved in the incidents involving plaintiffs, Evonne Sayers and
Martha Ridge, both of which occurred in 1966. Even assuming that the two described
instances involved violations of the constitution, and that an equitable remedy
is otherwise available from this three-judge court, plaintiffs have not made a
sufficient showing as to the probability that incidents of this kind will reoccur.
[FN7] FN7.
In this connection, see the court's Opinion filed herewith, dated November 20,
1967 .
[13] Third, as to the motions raised by various defendants for dismissal of the
action as to some or all of them. [FN8] Defendants, Donald E. Brown and Alan Sola,
have moved for dismissal of the action as to them on the ground that subject matter
jurisdiction is lacking as to them. The only transfusion incident in which these
two defendants are involved pertains to Jeffrey Ward Elam, minor son of plaintiffs
Adrian and Patricia Elam. FN8.
The unopposed motions of defendants, Bert DeGroot, M.D., Robert Olson, M.D., and
John P. Mucklestone, that the action be dismissed as to them were granted before
the trial commenced. During the trial the court granted the motion to dismiss
defendant, Everett General Hospital, Alfred Muller and James P. Hunter on the
ground that the court had no jurisdiction over said parties.
This boy was injured in an automobile accident and defendant doctors Brown and
Sola at first declined to begin necessary surgical procedures. They did so because
the parents refused on religious grounds to permit a blood transfusion if, in
the course of the operation, the doctors decided that this was necessary. However,
Judge Phillip Sheridan, a defendant herein, entered an order finding the child
a dependent child and authorized a transfusion if Doctors Brown and Sola thought
it necessary. The record does not indicate who petitioned the court for such an
order. An operation was then performed and the child recovered without the necessity
of a transfusion. Doctors
Brown and Sola argue that, under these circumstances they were not acting under
color of state law-- an essential element under 42 U.S.C. § 1983-- and that in
any event there was no deprivation of a constitutional right because no transfusion
was actually given. While
the parents had consented to an operation it was performed only when the doctors
had an order from a state *498 court authorizing a transfusion if the doctors
thought it necessary. In our view the doctors were, in these circumstances, acting
under color of state law when they performed the operation. While no transfusion
was given, the court order was entered and the doctors proceeded with the operation
under authority of that order, contrary to the religious objections of the parents.
[14]This
was enough to meet the jurisdictional requirement of a claimed deprivation of
a constitutional right, whether or not a transfusion was actually given. It should
also be noted that Doctors Brown and Sola must remain as defendants for the independent
reason that they, among others, are named as representatives of a class of medical
doctors. (Pretrial Order No. 2, page 35)
The motion of defendants Brown and Sola for dismissal of the action as to them,
because of lack of jurisdiction, is denied. [15][16]Pursuant
to the June 8, 1967 memorandum decision, plaintiffs have made no mention in pretrial
order No. 2 (which order contains the admitted and disputed facts as to each instance
relied upon by plaintiffs) of the instance of adult transfusion involving plaintiffs
Eugene and Jean Alicki and of defendants St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Hospital and
Carter Swanson, M.D., who were concerned only with the Alicki incident and, in
the case of the hospital, another dismissed incident involving an adult. Similarly,
plaintiffs have made no mention in pretrial order No. 2 of the instance of adult
transfusion invoving plaintiffs Joseph G. and Shirley L. Chabot and defendant
John Caputo, M.D., who were concerned only with the Chabot instance. It follows
that the action should be dismissed as to the defendants St. Frances Xavier Cabrini
Hospital, Carter Swanson, M.D., and John Caputo, M.D., and it is so ordered. The
action may also be regarded as abandoned, and is therefore ordered dismissed as
to a number of persons named in the complaint or supplemental complaint as defendants,
but as to whom no grievance is stated in pretrial order No. 2. Falling in this
category are F. W. Fells, Business Manager of Firlands Sanatorium; Swedish Hospital;
Doctor's Hospital; Group Health Hospital; Everett Clinic, Inc.; Walla Walla General
Hospital; Edwin Brockenbrough, M.D.; Jerry De Groot, M.D.; Richard Haugen, M.D.;
Fred J. Jarvis, M.D.; Alfred Magar, M.D.; H. F. Newman, M.D.; Thomas W. Skalley,
M.D.; Franklin Smith, M.D.; Edward Powers, M.D.; Quay Cutshall, M.D.; and George
Postill. The
other motions denominated motions for dismissal on the ground of lack of jurisdiction
are, in actuality, motions to dismiss for failure to state a claim upon which
relief can be granted. We deal with the questions raised by these motions as a
part of our consideration of the case on its merits.
OPINION ON THE MERITS
LINDBERG, District Judge:
The principal plaintiffs herein are individual Jehovah's Witnesses whose minor
children, contrary to the expressed beliefs and directions of their parents, were
given blood transfusions under court orders obtained pursuant to provisions of
the Juvenile Court Law of the State of Washington, namely RCW 13.04.010(12) and
13.04.095. [FN1] Under this *499 statutory authority, superior court judges of
the State of Washington, on such showing as they deemed sufficient, declared the
minor children of Jehovah's Witnesses, included herein as plaintiffs, to be dependent
children for the purpose of authorizing blood transfusions of the children against
the expressed objections of the parents.
FN1.
RCW 13.04.010(12) of the Juvenile Court Law of the State of Washington provides:
' Juvenile
court law-- Dependent and delinquent children defined-- Wards of state. This chapter
shall be known as the 'Juvenile Court Law' and shall apply to all minor children
under the age of eighteen years who are delinquent or dependent; and to any person
or persons who are responsible for or contribute to, the delinquency or dependency
of such children. 'For the purpose of this chapter the words 'dependent child'
shall mean any child under the age of eighteen years: '(12)
who is grossly and wilfully neglected as to medical care necessary for his well-being.'
RCW
13.04.095 provides: 'Commitment
of child-- Order of court-- Powers of Department of institutions-- Order rescinded
when reformation complete. When any child shall be found to be delinquent or dependent,
within the meaning of this chapter, the court shall make such order for the care,
custody, or commitment of the child as the child's welfare in the interest of
the state require. Subject to further order, the court may commit the child: '(1)
To the care of such child's parents, subject to supervision of the probation officers;
or '(2)
To the custody of a probation officer, subject to such conditions as the judge
may impose; or (3)
To a reputable citizen or association able and willing to receive and care for
such child; or '(4)
To an appropriate private agency authorized to care for such children; or '(5)
To the department of public assistance; or '(6)
To the department of institutions * * * 'In
no case shall a child be committed beyond the age of twenty-one years. A child
committed to the department of institutions shall be subject to the supervision
and control thereof and the department shall have the power to parole such child
under such conditions as may be prescribed. 'The
department of institutions shall have the power to discharge such child from custody,
and the court shall have the power to rescind the commitment of such child, whenever
his or her reformation shall be deemed complete.'
The proceeding was brought by plaintiffs, individually as adults, [FN2] as parents
and minors, and as a class action on behalf of the eighty-nine hundred Jehovah's
Witnesses in the State of Washington to challenge the constitutionality of the
described application of the Juvenile Court Law to plaintiffs. Also joined as
parties plaintiff are The Jehovah's Witnesses, an unincorporated religious association,
and the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, a nonprofit corporation
chartered by the State of Pennsylvania and the legal governing agency of the Jehovah's
Witnesses. FN2.
In certain instances, the superior court judges also entered orders authorizing
blood transfusions of adult Jehovah's Witnesses over the strenuous objections
of the adults. This court dismissed those aspects of the case involving the adult
Jehovah's Witnesses. See June 8, 1967 Memorandum Decision, pages 491-494 and Addendum,
pages 494-498.
[17]The defendants are the Attorney General and other officials of the State of
Washington, individual physicians, superior court judges and officials of the
superior court, and trustees, administrators and members of the staffs of hospitals
in the State of Washington. Some of the defendant physicians were sued not only
as individuals but also as representatives of a class which includes 'all medical
doctors in the State of Washington who are employed in and paid by public institutions
operating directly with funds raised entirely or in part from the taxpayers of
the State of Washington.' [FN3] Some of the defendant hospitals *500 were also
sued not only individually but also as representatives of a class which includes
all hospitals in the State of Washington operated by the state, a county, or by
any public hospital district. [FN4]
FN3. In
pretrial order No. 2 the description of this class of physicians also included
the clause 'or operating under funds granted to said hospitals by the United States
Government.' In their proposed findings of fact plaintiffs deleted this clause.
A second class of physicians was also designated in the complaint, namely, 'all
medical doctors in the State of Washington.' (Complaint, page 14) However, in
pretrial order No. 2, which superseded the pleadings, this class of physicians
was eliminated. (Pretrial order No. 2, page 35) In their 'Additional Proposed
Findings of Fact,' plaintiffs seek to reinstate this class of defendant physicians.
(Additional Findings of Fact, page 1) Pretrial order No. 2 (page 45a), provides
that the pretrial order shall not be amended 'except by order of the Court pursuant
to agreement of the parties or to prevent manifest injustice.' Plaintiffs have
not sought nor obtained court authority to amend pretrial order No. 2 by reinstating
this class of physicians, and therefore the same may not be regarded as a class
of defendants subject to the jurisdiction of this court in this cause.
FN4.
In the complaint the calss of defendant hospitals was described more broadly as
'all licensed hospitals in the State of Washington.' (Complaint, page 14) However,
the class of defendant hospitals was narrowed in pretrial order No. 2, as noted
above. (Pretrial order No. 2, page 35) In their 'Additional Proposed Findings
of Fact,' plaintiffs seek to add a second class of defendant hospitals, conforming
to the broad class of defendant hospitals described in the complaint. (Additional
Findings of Fact, page 2) However, for the reasons stated in note 3 above, this
second class of hospitals may not be regarded as a class of defendants subject
to the jurisdiction of this court in this cause.
The
action is brought as a civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, claiming
that the actions of the state judges under RCW 13.04.010(12) and 13.04.095 violated
plaintiffs' federally-guaranteed constitutional rights and asserting that in all
probability similar violations of the Constitution will occur unless precluded
by intervention of a federal court. Accordingly, plaintiffs seek declaratory and
injunctive relief which will stop this practice for the future. Plaintiffs do
not seek monetary damages for past deprivations.
Plaintiffs
sought and obtained the convening of a special three-judge district court pursuant
to 28 U.S.C. §§ 2281 and 2284. This request was made and granted because plaintiffs
seek to enjoin the enforcement of a state statute [FN5] of general application
on the ground of invalidity under the federal Constitution.
FN5.
See footnote 1. The
gist of the plaintiffs' complaint is that the defendant physicians, hospitals,
hospital personnel, superior court judges and juvenile court employees have used
the Juvenile Court Law to obtain court orders removing the children of Jehovah's
Witnesses from the custody of their parents who refuse on medical and religious
or personal grounds to consent to blood transfusions for their children once the
children have been placed in the care of a physician. The court order makes the
child a ward of the court and authorizes blood transfusions to be given to him
when the attending physician determines the transfusion is necessary. This court
order is obtained despite the fact that plaintiffs allegedly have given or have
sought to give in each instance to the hospitals or doctors affected a written
release discharging the hospitals or doctors from any and all liability for any
untoward results arising from plaintiffs' refusal to accept blood transfusion
for their children. Implicit in the issuance of these court orders is the finding
by the court that the Jehovah's Witnesses, despite their attempt both to provide
proper medical care for their children and to comply with the tenets of their
faith, have been wilfully and grossly neglectful as to the medical care necessary
for the well- being of their children. Plaintiffs
assert that the application of the Juvenile Court Law under these circumstances
violates fundamental rights and liberties secured to them under the Constitution
of the United States. Plaintiffs principally contend: 1.
That the actions of the defendants deprive plaintiffs of their rights under the
First Amendment to freedom of association, to the free exercise of their religion
and to freedom from the fashioning of any laws respecting the establishment of
religion, which rights are made applicable to the states by the Fourteenth Amendment.
2.
That plaintiffs have been denied life, liberty and property without due *501 process
of law under the Fifth Amendment, made applicable to the states by the Fourteenth
Amendment. 3.
That plaintiffs have been denied their right of family privacy protected by virtue
of the Ninth and Fourteenth Amendments. 4.
That plaintiffs have been denied equal protection of the laws of the State of
Washington in that the state has protected the religious liberty and parental
rights of all other citizens and all other religious denominations except the
plaintiffs. 5.
That the actions of superior court judges of the State of Washington in compelling
blood transfusions over the protests of plaintiffs has caused animosity toward
plaintiffs and has interfered with their right of association by making it more
difficult for plaintiff, Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, and individual plaintiffs
to attract and hold members for their social and religious purposes. Further,
because of the acts taken pursuant to the challenged statute, a member of the
Jehovah's Witnesses living in or visiting the State of Washington knows that his
conscience and religion will not be respected and his family privacy is not as
safe as that of the members of all other religious groups. 6.
That plaintiffs are a respectable people who have a deep sense of responsibility
and who seriously endeavor to care for their families in harmony with Christian
principles as set forth in God's Word, the Holy Bible, and that they have a right
to decide what medical treatment they will accept for their children. 7.
That the defendant physicians and hospital officials are committing an unlawful
assault forbidden by law in forcing medical treatment upon the children of Jehovah's
Witnesses contrary to express parental authority. Since Jehovah's Witnesses are
exercising parental discretion in order to care for their children's welfare as
best then can, there is no lawful basis under the parens patriae power of the
state for the state's alleged unlawful and unconstitutional interference with
the exercise of parental authority and discretion when a Jehovah's Witness in
good faith disagrees with a doctor about medical treatment for his child involving
blood transfusion. 8.
That plaintiffs will be irreparably injured unless the defendants are permanently
enjoined from continuing to apply the Juvenile Court Law to plaintiffs in the
manner constitutionally challenged in this action. With
regard to declaratory relief as to the minors involved, plaintiffs seek a decree
declaring that RCW 13.04.010(12) and RCW 13.04.095, provisions of the Juvenile
Court Law of the State of Washington, are invalid under the Constitution of the
United States, as applied by defendants in making children of Jehovah's Witnesses
wards of the state court for the purpose of authorizing compulsory blood transfusions.
[FN6] FN6.
Plaintiffs also sought a declaratory judgment and injunctive relief with respect
to blood transfusions administered to adults. This aspect of the case was dismissed.
See footnote 2, supra. Concerning
injunctive relief, plaintiffs seek to: (1) enjoin defendant state judges, 'their
representatives, agents and successors' from declaring children of plaintiffs
or members of plaintiffs' class to be dependent children and wards of the court,
pursuant to RCW 13.04.010(12) and RCW 13.04.095, 'solely on a finding that the
parents have refused transfusion of blood on religious or medical grounds,' and
from entering orders authorizing blood transfusions of such children; (2) enjoin
named defendant doctors, hospitals, hospital personnel, 'their representatives,
agents, employees, attorneys and successors' from bringing any civil proceeding
for the purpose of enforcing or applying RCW 13.04.010(12) and RCW 13.04.095 to
Jehovah's Witnesses so as to compel blood transfusions of the children of Jehovah's
Witnesses contrary to the stated religious and medical objections of the parents;
(3) enjoin the same defendant doctors, *502 hospitals, etc. from in any way seeking
to impose or force blood transfusions on the children of Jehovah's Witnesses against
the will of their parents with or without court orders; and (4) enjoin all physicians
in the State of Washington as a class, and all hospitals in the State of Washington
as a class, in keeping with the requested injunctive provisions described above.
Before the court for a decision on the merits, then, are the ten cases involving
the children of Jehovah's Witnesses and enumerated in pretrial order No. 2 wherein
oral or written orders [FN7] were obtained from superior court judges of the State
of Washington pursuant to the challenged state statute.
FN7.
Oral orders issued in the cases involving the Maydole child and the Hardy child;
written orders were entered in the eight remaining cases involving the Elam child,
the Lawrence child, the Smith child, the Seelye child, the Burnitt child, the
Pen child, the Brockman child, and the Nichol child. Blood transfusions were actually
administered to five of the ten children made wards of the Juvenile Court for
such purpose, that is, to Bradley Scott Seelye, Thomas Allen Burnitt, Michael
Pen, Sharilyn Brockman, Geri Lynn Nichol. Although the other five children had
been removed from the custody of their parents and declared wards of the Juvenile
Court to permit them to receive compulsory blood transfusions, blood transfusions
were not in fact given to Russell Scott Maydole, Jeffrey Ward Elam, Heidi Jo Lawrence,
Jeanetter Smith and Loren Hardy. Five of the cases involved birth defects; erthro-blastosis
fetalis was diagnosed for the Maydole, Seelye and Brockman children; congenital
defects requiring surgery correction were diagnosed for the Lawrence and Nichol
children. The five remaining cases involved a petic ulcer with gastric intestinal
hemorrhaging (Burnitt); osteomyelitis and generalized staphylococcal infection
(Pen); damaged pancreas with possible internal bleeding (Elam); severe burns (Hardy);
injuries (Smith). In none of the cases is it recorded that the judges heard contrary
medical testimony relating to the risks involved in blood transfusions. Little,
if any, notice was given to the parents of the children regarding the hearing
to determine if the children were 'grossly and wilfully neglected as to the medical
care necessary to their well-being.' No notice was given in the Seelye case; it
is not apparent from the record whether the parents of the Pen and Brockman Children
were given any notice or were present at the hearing; the Smiths were given one
hour notice of the hearing. Blood transfusions were actually administered to the
Nichol child before the hearing was completed and the court order making her a
ward of the court was signed.
In each of the ten enumerated cases, Jehovah's Witnesses have based their refusal
to consent to blood transfusions on their religious beliefs and medical objections
regarding the use of blood. Plaintiffs believe and accept as authoritative and
binding upon them the admonition of Almighty God Jehovah found in the Holy Bible
commanding Christians to 'abstain from blood.' [FN8] Their belief places a positive
religious duty on the father in particular to provide for his children and to
apply their religious views, including abstinence from blood, in the family circle.
In this connection, it is the responsibility of the father to see that no member
of his family receives a blood transfusion, and no court or other official body
can relieve him of that responsibility. If a plaintiff receives a blood transfusion,
this could, in the view of the plaintiffs, mean permanent spiritual harm to both
the child and parent or adult. FN8.
The foundation for the belief of the Jehovah's Witnesses respecting blood transfusions
is found in the following quotation from Acts of the Apostles, chapter 15, vs.
20: 'Hence
my decision is not to trouble those from the nations who are turning to God, but
to write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols and from fornication
and from what is strangled and from blood.' and
the quotation from Leviticus, 17th chapter, vs. 10: 'As
for any man of the house of Israel or some alien resident who is residing as an
alien in your midst, who eats any sort of blood, I shall certainly set my face
against the soul that is eating the blood, and I shall indeed cut him off from
among his people.'
*503 According to the Jehovah's Witnesses, blood transfusions involve certain
risks, are of limited value, and there are alternative means of treatment which
makes the use of such therapy unnecessary and inadvisable. [FN9] With respect
to this view, plaintiffs contend that in the cases at issue doctors have never
testified as to the hazards, dangers or uncertainties of blood transfusions, and
the alternative means of treatment have not been placed before any of the superior
court judges. FN9.
Plaintiffs rely on evidence they contend establishes that their views are scientifically
supportable, since in the area of blood transfusion knowledge is rapidly expanding,
opinions are changing, hazards exist, alternative means of treatment are possible
and doctors disagree. The plaintiffs offered evidence tending to show that, as
to many types of situations where blood transfusions are often given, there exists
medical opinion that transfusions are of little value and, in addition, may substantially
harm the patient. They have also offered evidence tending to show that there is
opinion that blood transfusions are never indicated, since there are always treatments
available which are better than transfusions. Dr. Exner testified specifically
that transfusions are contraindicated as treatment for continued gastrointestinal
bleeding (Transcript, page 208), and erythroblastosis fetalis (transcript, page
210), and that better treatments always exist for excessive hemorrhaging during
major surgery (Transcript, page 212). He also testified that transfusions are
never mandatory (Transcript, page 254). Dr. Riggle, an osteopathic surgeon and
Jehovah's Witness from Texas, testified that he had found no cases in which blood
transfusions were mandatory (Transcript, page 267) and, in particular, that in
his experience alternate therapy was satisfactory for erythroblastosis fetalis.
Dr. Lodi, a surgeon and Jehovah's Witness since 1950, testified that he has not
used transfusions since 1950, and no one has died from non- transfusions (Transcript,
page 149). However, he had not treated any cases of severe blood loss due to trauma,
except one in which the victim was transfused under a court order over his objection.
Dr. Wilson, senior pathologist, King County Coroner's Office, knew of no cases
in his experience in which death or disability resulted from failure to give a
blood transfusion. (Transcript, page 83). However, he also testified that there
are instances where transfusions are lifesaving (Transcript, page 113) and that
transfusions were accepted medical practice in King County (Transcript, page 139) .
Nevertheless, it is the prevailing medical view that blood transfusions are not
only safe but necessary in those kinds of situations presented to the court in
the specific instances involving the minor plaintiffs in this case. [FN10]
FN10.
The defendants have admitted that there is often substantial difference of opinion
regarding the value of blood transfusions in specific instances. However, they
offered proof tending to show that, for some conditions, informed medical opinion
agrees that death or disability is very probable if no transfusion is given, and
that the probability of recovery in such cases can be appreciably increased only
if a transfusion is given. Dr. Guntheroth specifically mentioned that in profound
anemia accompanied by generalized severe infection transfusion is essential to
save life, and blood substitutes are of no value (Transcript, page 359). He was
also of the opinion that blood transfusions are necessary to save life after severe
loss of blood due to accident, and also when a baby is suffering from acute erythroblastosis
fetalis (Transcript, pages 391-92), and that most, if not all, medical authorities
agree to this (Transcript, page 392). Dr.
Eloise Rosalee Giblett, who testified by deposition, noted that the medical opinion
held by the great majority of practitioners in this medical community, in this
country, and in the world is that there are people who would die if they were
not otherwise transfused. (Deposition, page 6). It
was the considered opinion of the attending physicians in each of the cases retained
in the action that a blood transfusion was or would be vital to save the life
of the patient.
As previously noted, plaintiffs argue that RCW 13.04.010(12) and RCW 13.04.095
are invalid under the Constitution of the United States as applied by defendants
in compelling the minor children of Jehovah's Witnesses to submit to blood transfusions
over the religious *504 objections of the parents. According to plaintiffs, the
reason these statutes are invalid as so applied is because they facilitate state
impairment of plaintiffs' religious freedom, contrary to the First and Fourteenth
Amendments, and plaintiffs' parental rights as guaranteed by the Due Process Clause
of the Fourteenth Amendment.
Substantially the same argument was advanced by Jehovah's Witnesses in Prince
v. Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 321 U.S. 158, 64 S.Ct. 438, 88 L.Ed. 645, involving
an appeal from convictions for violating Massachusetts' child labor laws. Contrary
to those state laws, the aunt and custodian of a nine-year-old girl permitted
and encouraged the girl to sell Bible tracts on the public streets. The aunt contended
that the child was exercising her right, under the First and Fourteenth Amendments,
to preach the gospel. She buttressed this argument with a claim of parental right
as secured by the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment, holding that the family is not beyond
regulation in the public interest, as against a claim of religious liberty. Among
rather things, the Court said:
'* * * neither rights of religion nor rights of parenthood are beyond limitation.
Acting to guard the general interest in youth's well being, the state as parens
patriae may restrict the parent's control by requiring school attendance, regulating
or prohibiting the child's labor, and in many other ways. Its authority is not
nullified merely because the parent grounds his claim to control the child's course
of conduct on religion or conscience. Thus, he cannot claim freedom from compulsory
vaccination for the child more than for himself on religious grounds. The right
to practice religion freely does not include liberty to expose the community or
the child to communicable disease or the latter to ill health or death. People
v. Pierson, 176 N.Y. 201, 68 N.E. 243, 63 L.R.A. 187. The catalogue need not be
lengthened. It is sufficient to show what indeed appellant hardly disputes, that
the state has a wide range of power for limiting parental freedom and authority
in things affecting the child's welfare; and that this includes, to some extent,
matters of conscience and religious conviction.' 321 U.S. at 166-167, 64 S.Ct.
at 442. ' *
* * Parents may be free to become martyrs themselves. But it does not follow they
are free, in identical circumstances, to make martyrs of their children before
they have reached the age of full and legal discretion when they can make that
choice for themselves.' 321 U.S. at 170, 64 s.Ct. at 444 .
It appears to us that the holding of Prince is applicable here and that our special
three-judge court in bound by that decision. Thus, whatever merit there be in
plaintiffs' argument that a more thorough consideration of philosophic principles
calls for a contrary conclusion, we are not in a position to decide contrary to
Prince. It need only be added that our case, as was also true in Prince, does
not involve any of the rights of parents to train and indoctrinate their children
in religious matters. [18][19]
It is true that in Prince, the court made it clear that it did not intend that
opinion to lay the foundation for every state intervention in the indoctrination
and participation of children in religion which may be done in the name of their
health and welfare. (321 U.S. at 171, 64 S.Ct. 438). But we think it does lay
the foundation, binding upon us, for the particular state intervention in the
name of health and welfare which is here under review. As stated in Prince, 321
U.S. at 166, 64 S.Ct. at 442, 'The right to practice religion freely does not
include liberty expose * * * the child * * * to ill health or death.' [20]
In this special three-judge court case we are not bound by any judicial *505 decisions
other than those of the United States Supreme Court. But it is appropriate to
note that in People ex rel. Wallace v. Labrenz, 411 Ill. 618, 104 N.E.2d 769,
774, 30 A.L.R.2d 1132, testing the validity of a court order declaring the minor
child of Jehovah's Witnesses a dependent child for the purpose of compelling a
blood transfusion, the Supreme Court of Illinois construed the Prince case as
we do here. Thus, on the basis of the Prince decision, the Illinois court held
that the Juvenile Court Law of that state is not unconstitutional as so applied.
In an exhaustive opinion the Supreme Court of New Jersey similarly interpreted
Prince in a blood transfusion case involving the minor child of Jehovah's Witnesses.
See State v. Perricone, 37 N.J. 463, 181 A.2d 751, 756, 757. See also, Hoener
v. Bertinato, 67 N.J. Super. 517, 171 A.2d 140, 143. [21]
We therefore hold, on the compelling authority of Prince that RCW 13.04.010(12)
and RCW 13.04.095 are not invalid under the Constitution of the United States,
as applied in this case. [22][23]
Assuming, nevertheless, as plaintiffs contend, that the Prince case is not dispositive
of the main action because (1) the supreme court specifically limited the Prince
holding to the facts of the case, and (2) the supreme court to date has not passed
on the merits of the constitutional questions involved in the blood transfusion
cases, this court would have before it an open question on the merits of the case.
If this be the case sound judicial administration would warrant the application
of the equitable abstention doctrine [FN11] with respect to the federal questions
raised by plaintiffs' constitutional attack on the state statute.
FN11.
When state action is challenged in a federal court on federal constitutional grounds
and there are questions of state law which may dispose of the case or materially
change the nature of the constitutional problems, the federal court may decline
to proceed though it has jurisdiction under the Constitution and the statutes.
This abstention policy is usually referred to as the Pullman doctrine from the
case of Railroad Comm'n of Texas v. Pullman Co., 312 U.S. 496, 61 S.Ct. 643, 85
L.Ed. 971 (1941). The company in that case sought to enjoin the enforcement of
an order of the Texas Railroad Commission on the grounds that the order denied
the company rights under the Fourteenth Amendment and that the Commission lacked
authority under Texas law to make the order in question. A unanimous supreme court
ordered the trial court to abstain from deciding the case so that the state court
could decide the state issues. In this way the federal court avoided deciding
federal constitutional questions prematurely or unnecessarily; for if the state
court held the order unauthorized as a matter of state law, there would be no
need for the federal court to pass on the federal questions. Abstention is proper
in order to avoid 'unnecessary friction in federal-state relations, interference
with important state functions, tentative decisions on questions of state law,
and premature constitutional adjudication.' Harman v. Forssenius, 380 U.S. 528,
534, 85 S.Ct. 1177, 1182, 14 L.Ed.2d 50 (1965).
[24][25][26] Equitable abstention is designed to restrict the exercise of federal
jurisdiction, at least in the first instance, by having the federal courts defer
to the state courts in the consideration and interpretation of state statutes.
Because the award of equitable relief is traditionally regarded as a discretionary
matter, the court should properly consider whether the circumstances warrant the
initial construction of the statute in question by the highest court of the state
and, if so, abstain from the exercise of federal jurisdiction.
[27] Where the constitutionality of a state statute, as in the instant case, is
involved, there are sound reasons why any uncertainty as to its meaning should
first be resolved by the state. The policy of comity between state and federal
governments suggests one reason why the interpretation of a state statute should
first be rendered by state authorities. Also, state courts ideally should be better
informed about state policies and purposes so that construction of the statute
may be achieved more accurately and *506 meaningfully. In this connection, the
supreme court in Prince, unlike this court, had the benefit of the construction
placed on the statute therein involved by the Massachusetts high court. The supreme
court noted that the decision of the Massachusetts court on what constituted a
'sale' or 'offer of sale' differed from the trend in other states, but that the
supreme court was bound by the state determination, 321 U.S. 158, 163, 64 S.Ct.
438, and annotations 5 and 6. More importantly, the resolution of uncertain statutory
authority by the state courts may obviate federal adjudication of constitutional
questions arising from the enactment. [FN12]
FN12.
See Harrison v. NAACP, 360 U.S. 167, 79 S.Ct. 1025, 3 L.Ed.2d 1152 (1959), where
there was a finding that the state law was uncertain and abstention was ordered.
In NAACP
v. Bennett, 360 U.S. 471, 79 S.Ct. 1192, 3 L.Ed.2d 1375 (1959) the supreme court
reversed the district court for filing to consider whether the state law was uncertain.
Again, the major consideration behind the doctrine of abstention is that the federal
courts should not adjudicate the constitutionality of state enactments fairly
open to interpretation until the state courts have been afforded a reasonable
opportunity to pass upon them. See e.g., Government
& Civic Employees, etc. v. Windsor, 353 U.S. 364, 77 S.Ct. 838, 1 L.Ed.2d
894 (1957); Albertson v. Millard, 345 U.S. 242, 73 S.Ct. 600, 97 L.Ed. 983 (1953);
Shipman
v. DuPre, 339 U.S. 321, 70 S.Ct. 640, 94 L.Ed. 877 (1950); American
Federation of Labor v. Watson, 327 U.S. 582, 66 S.Ct. 761, 90 L.Ed. 873 (1946);
Spector
Motor Service, Inc. v. McLaughlin, 323 U.S. 101, 65 S.Ct. 152, 89 L.Ed. 101 (1944);
City of Chicago v. Fieldcrest Dairies, Inc., 316 U.S. 168, 62 S.Ct. 986, 86 L.Ed.
1355 (1942); Railroad Comm'n of Texas v. Pullman Co., 312 U.S. 496, 61 S.Ct. 643,
85 L.Ed. 971 (1941)
[28] The abstention doctrine, however, is not automatically applied. As already
noted, whether the court should exercise its equity powers is a discretionary
matter, and the decision to defer action initially depends upon a finding hat
the special circumstances prerequisite to equitable abstention exist. Since the
practical effect of the court's decision to abstain in a case over which it has
been given jurisdiction by law is to deny the plaintiff his right to a federal
forum, the decision to abstain not only requires a reasonably uncertain issue
of state statutory interpretation, but also the availability of adequate state
procedures for resolving the uncertainty. [29]
A first prerequisite, then, is that the challenged application of the state enactment
be fairly open to interpretation. Where it appears that the statute necessarily
had to be interpreted in the manner under attack, no useful purpose would be served
by federal abstention to permit the state court to pass upon such application.
[FN13] The abstention doctrine becomes applicable in those situations where it
is uncertain that the state enactment authorized the restrictions imposed on the
persons bringing the action or on their activities. [FN14] This condition would
appear to be satisfied in the instant case.
FN13.
See, e.g., Dombrowski v. Pfister, 380 U.S. 479, 85 S.Ct. 1116,
14 L.Ed.2d 22 (1965); Baggett v. Bullitt, 377 U.S. 360, 84 S.Ct. 1316, 12 L.Ed.2d
377 (1964); Idlewild Bon Voyage Liquor Corp. v. Epstein, 370 U.S. 713, 82 S.Ct.
1294, 8 L.Ed.2d 794 (1962).
FN14.
See Baggett v. Bullitt, supra note 9 at pages 376-377, 84 S.Ct. 1316, and note
13. Moreover, even where the state court has considered the precise issue constitutionally
attacked in the federal court, abstention has been exercised on the ground that
the federal constitutional objections had not been presented to the state court
and might have caused that court to interpret the statute differently had those
objections been presented. City of Chicago v. Achison, T. & S.F.R.R., 357
U.S. 77, 78 S.Ct. 1063, 2 L.Ed.2d 1174 (1958).
The statutory application herein challenged permits a child to be made a ward
of the court upon a finding that the child is 'grossly and wilfully neglected
as to medical care necessary for his well-being.' However, it seems pertinent
to ask whether 'gross and wilful neglect' is *507 a permissible finding under
the statute when a parent, upon religious grounds or because of his views as to
medical treatment, refuses to consent to blood transfusions for his minor child
where the attending physician has determined blood transfusions are medically
necessary. As applied here when a Jehovah's Witness desires to provide medical
care for his child, but cannot consent to a particular form of medical treatment,
such as blood transfusions, determined to be necessary by the attending physician,
does the Juvenile Court Law require that child to be characterized as one 'grossly
and wilfully neglected as to medical care necessary for his well-being?' The statute
appears to have two parts: one portion requiring medical care necessary for the
well-being of the child, and the other, under a plausible interpretation, providing
that the neglect in failing to provide or agree to the medical treatment recommended
as necessary be gross and wilful. Although a blood transfusion might be necessary
for the well-being of the child, refusal to consent to a blood transfusion, coupled
with willingness to consent to substitutes, if any, may not constitute 'gross
and wilful' neglect. Use of the language 'grossly and wilfully' in the statute
would thus appear to make the application of the statute to plaintiffs in the
blood transfusion cases uncertain.
The second prerequisite to the application of the abstention doctrine is that
adequate state procedures exist to resolve the uncertainty of the law. This prerequisite
would appear to be satisfied by the Washington Uniform Declaratory Judgments Act,
RCW 7.24.020. That statute provides in pertinent part:
'A person * * * whose rights, status or other legal relations are affected by
a statute * * * may have determined any question of construction or validity arising
under the * * * statute * * * and obtain a declaration of rights, status or other
legal relations thereunder.' [30]
Although the cases involving the challenged application of the Juvenile Court
Law are moot by the time of appeal, jurisdiction may still be exercised under
the state declaratory judgments act. When a matter of public interest is involved
the Washington supreme court has retained jurisdiction to decide the broad issues
even though the particular case raising them is moot. [FN15] The *508 instant
case would seem to be a proper one for an application of the Washington Declaratory
Judgments Act similar to the one made in the National Electrical Contractors case.
[FN16] In the instant case basic rights are thrown into conflict: the parens patriae
power of the state versus the constitutional and civil rights of Jehovah's witnesses.
In this connection, the public importance in the correct construction of the Juvenile
Court Law cannot be doubted, and the superior courts of the state should have
the benefit of the construction of this statute by the state supreme court for
future guidance in similar situations.
FN15.
See National Electrical Contractors Assoc. Puget Sound Chapter v. Seattle
School District No. 1, 66 Wash.2d 14, 400 P.2d 778 (1965). In its opinion, the
Washington Supreme Court quoted and specifically relied upon the following language
from the opinion of the Illinois Supreme Court in a blood transfusion case, People
ex rel. Wallace v. Labrenz, 411 Ill. 618, 104 N.E.2d 769, 772 (1952) as support
for the proposition that the court should decide a moot issue where sufficient
public interest in the question warrants: 'Before
we reach the merits, we meet the State's contention that the case is now moot
and should be dismissed because the blood transfusion has been administered, the
guardian discharged, and the proceeding dismissed. Because the function of courts
is to decide controverted issues in adversary proceedings, moot cases which do
not present live issues are not ordinarily entertained. 'The general rule is that
when a reviewing court has notice of facts which show that only moot questions
or mere abstract propositions are involved or where the substantial questions
involved in the trial court no longer exist, it will dismiss the appeal or writ
of error.' People v. Redlich, 402 Ill. 270, 279, 83 N.E.2d 736, 741. 'But
when the issue presented is of substantial public interest, a well- recognized
exception exists to the general rule that a case which has become moot will be
dismissed upon appeal. (See cases collected in 132 A.L.R. 1185.) Among the criteria
considered in determining the existence of the requisite degree of public interest
are the public or private nature of the question presented, the desirability of
an authoritative determination for the future guidance of public officers, and
the likelihood of future recurrence of the question.' (At 66 Wash.2d 14, 19-20,
400 P.2d 778, 781-782). FN16.
Ibid.
[31] The action before us is, in reality, a declaratory judgment action wherein
the application of a state statute is being challenged on constitutional grounds;
the challenged application presents a question of statutory interpretation not
heretofore passed upon by the Supreme Court of the State of Washington. State
procedures exist for resolving the issues of construction raised by the application.
The essential prerequisites for invoking the doctrine of equitable abstention
we believe are present. The policy behind the development of the doctrine-- in
general to preserve the framework of federalism, and in particular to give the
state an opportunity to mold its policy to conform to or accord with constitutional
standards-- favors utilizing the doctrine in this case. Indeed, resolution of
the matter by the state might avoid the constitutional issues presented by the
application of the statute. In
sum, if we, as a specially-constituted three-judge court, were to conclude the
Prince decision not controlling we would then consider the case before us as tailored
to the exercise of federal abstention. For
the reasons set forth herein, the plaintiffs are not entitled to the relief sought
and the action will be dismissed as to all defendants. D.C.Wash. 1967. Copr.
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