In re SNYDER (472 U.S. 634)

U.S. Supreme Court · decided June 24, 1985 · Supreme Court Database (Spaeth)

Citation
472 U.S. 634 · 105 S. Ct. 2874
Decided
June 24, 1985
Term
October Term 1984
Vote
8–0
Majority author
Justice Burger
Issue area
Attorneys
Disposition
Reversed
Outcome
Petitioning party won
Ideological direction
Liberal

Opinion excerpt

Chief Justice Burger delivered the opinion of the Court. We granted certiorari to review the judgment of the Court of Appeals suspending petitioner from practice in all courts of the Eighth Circuit for six months. HH In March 1983, petitioner Robert Snyder was appointed by the Federal District Court for the District of North Dakota to represent a defendant under the Criminal Justice Act. After petitioner completed the assignment, he submitted a claim for $1,898.55 for services and expenses. The claim was reduced by the District Court to $1,796.05. Under the Criminal Justice Act, the Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals was required to review and approve expenditures for compensation in excess of $1,000. 18 U. S. C. § 3006A(d)(3). Chief Judge Lay found the claim insufficiently documented, and he returned it with a request for additional information. Because of technical problems with his computer software, petitioner could not readily provide the information in the form requested by the Chief Judge. He did, however, file a supplemental application. The secretary of the Chief Judge of the Circuit again returned the application, stating that the proffered documentation was unacceptable. Petitioner then discussed the matter with Helen Monteith, the District Court Judge’s secretary, who suggested he write a letter expressing his. view. Petitioner then wrote the letter that led to…

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