From: Duncan Frissell <frissell@panix.com>
Date: Tue, 16 Apr 1996 22:55:28 +0800
To: Black Unicorn <cypherpunks@toad.com>
Subject: Re: What can the judge do to me?
Message-ID: <2.2.32.19960416105311.00ce803c@panix.com>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain


At 07:36 PM 4/12/96 -0400, Black Unicorn wrote:

>I think it's clear, the court literally spells this out, that holding 
>a witness indefinitely until he complies with court orders is within 
>the discretion of a judge.  Compelling through sanctions the 
>production of a "key" (though I'm not sure a crypto key is directly 
>contemplated) is likewise clearly permitted.

In practice though, two years seems to be the limit.  That was the duration
for Dr. Elizabeth Morgan and for the guy in SF in the mid 70's who won the
Irish Sweepstakes and refused to repatriate his winnings so they could be
taxed.  Is anyone aware of a contempt sentence longer than two years?  If no
examples exist, then two years is the limit.

There is always more bluff than reality in enforcement.  See the
Transactional Records Clearing House (http://www.trac.syr.edu/) for real
info on federal criminal referrals and filings.  Total tax fraud and evasion
filings were circa 1000 in 1994, for example.

DCF