Opinion · Supreme Court of the United States

Ford v. Harris County Medical Society

429 U.S. 980

Type
Opinion
Court
Supreme Court of the United States
Jurisdiction
Federal
Date
1976-11-29
Topic
general

How later courts describe this case

  • upholding a “same jury” claim when the subsequent indictment charged the substantive crimes under investigation but expressly distinguishing the situation when the subsequent indictment charges false swearing
  • rejecting a per se rule that would have held use/derivative use immunity inadequate under Fifth Amendment where grand jury witness was also a defendant awaiting trial
  • government may not use same grand jury that heard witness’ immunized testimony to indict witness for participation in the matters being studied by the grand jury
  • “the fact that the defendants’ prior art references lead away from [the patent in suit], and that even unusually skilled artisans in the field corroborated the negative teachings, is both relevant and persuasive as to the question of non-obviousness”

Citator

UpLaw has not yet analyzed Ford v. Harris County Medical Society. The absence of a flag is not a finding that it is good law.

Cited by
164 opinions

C. A. 5th Cir. Certiorari denied.