No. 99-44
In the Supreme Court of the United States
CHRIS PARADISSIOTIS, PETITIONER
v.
LAWRENCE H. SUMMERS, SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY, ET AL.
ON PETITION FOR A WRIT OF CERTIORARI
TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
BRIEF FOR THE RESPONDENTS IN OPPOSITION
SETH P. WAXMAN
Solicitor General
Counsel of Record
DAVID W. OGDEN
Acting Assistant Attorney General
DOUGLAS N. LETTER
Attorney
Department of Justice
Washington, D.C. 20530-0001
(202) 514-2217
QUESTIONS PRESENTED
The International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), 50 U.S.C. 1701
et seq., grants the President broad authority to impose economic sanctions
on foreign governments that threaten the security of the United States.
In 1986, President Reagan declared Libya to pose such a threat and issued
Executive Order Nos. 12,543 and 12,544, 3 C.F.R. 181, 183 (1987), restricting
commerce between the United States and Libya. Pursuant to those Orders,
the Department of the Treasury promulgated the Libyan Sanctions Regulations,
31 C.F.R. Pt. 550, and in 1991 it identified petitioner-a Cypriot businessman
in high-level positions with corporations controlled by Libya-as a Specially
Designated National of Libya. The questions presented are as follows:
1. Whether the listing of petitioner as a Specially Designated National
of Libya violated the Bill of Attainder Clause of the Constitution, Art.
I, § 9, Cl. 3.
2. Whether petitioner had standing to challenge the requirement that his
United States counsel obtain a license before accepting compensation for
services provided.
3. Whether the courts below correctly deferred to the Treasury Department's
interpretation of the Libyan Sanctions Regulations.
4. Whether IEEPA, as implemented by the Department of the Treasury, effects
an unconstitutional delegation of legislative power.
In the Supreme Court of the United States
No. 99-44
CHRIS PARADISSIOTIS, PETITIONER
v.
LAWRENCE H. SUMMERS, SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY, ET AL.
ON PETITION FOR A WRIT OF CERTIORARI
TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
BRIEF FOR THE RESPONDENTS IN OPPOSITION
OPINIONS BELOW
The opinion of the court of appeals (Pet. App. 1a-11a) is reported at 171
F.3d 983. The opinions of the district court (Pet. App. 12a-39a, 40a-83a)
are unreported.
JURISDICTION
The judgment of the court of appeals was entered on April 1, 1999. The petition
for a writ of certiorari was filed on June 30, 1999. The jurisdiction of
this Court is invoked under 28 U.S.C. 1254(1).
STATEMENT
1. The International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), 50 U.S.C. 1701
et seq., "revise[s] and delimit[s] the President's authority to regulate
international economic transactions during wars or national emergencies."
S. Rep. No. 466, 95th Cong., 1st Sess. 2 (1977). Under IEEPA, the President
is authorized "to deal with any unusual and extraordinary threat, which
has its source in whole or substantial part outside the United States, to
the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the United States,
if [he] declares a national emergency with respect to such threat."
50 U.S.C. 1701(a).
Pursuant to his authority under IEEPA and the Constitution, President Reagan
issued Executive Order Nos. 12,543 and 12,544. 3 C.F.R. 181, 183 (1987);
see Pet. App. 2a, 13a, 41a-42a. The President declared that the government
of Libya posed "an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national
security and foreign policy of the United States." 3 C.F.R. 181 (1987).
The Executive Orders banned commerce with Libya and froze all property interests
of the Libyan government and its agents that were or thereafter came within
the United States or the possession or control of United States persons.
See Pet. App. 2a, 13a, 41a.
The President authorized the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation
with the Secretary of State, to take such actions as might be necessary
to carry out the purposes of IEEPA and the Executive Orders. 3 C.F.R. 182,
183 (1987); see Pet. App. 14a, 42a. Pursuant to that authorization, the
Secretary of the Treasury, through the Office of Foreign Assets Control
(OFAC), promulgated the Libyan Sanctions Regulations. 31 C.F.R. Pt. 550;
see Pet. App. 2a-3a, 14a, 42a. Those regulations block assets of the "Government
of Libya" and prohibit trade and financial transactions in which the
"Government of Libya" has an interest or that involve the territory
of Libya. 31 C.F.R. 550.201-550.209. The regulations define the term "Government
of Libya" to include the State and government of Libya and its political
subdivisions and agencies, 31 C.F.R. 550.304(a); any corporation or other
organization controlled directly or indirectly by Libya, 31 C.F.R. 550.304(b);
and "[a]ny person to the extent that such person is, or has been, or
to the extent that there is reasonable cause to believe that such person
is, or has been, since the effective date, acting or purporting to act directly
or indirectly on behalf of any of the foregoing," 31 C.F.R. 550.304(c).
A person within the latter group is referred to as a Specially Designated
National (SDN) of Libya. Pet. App. 15a n.2.
2. Petitioner is a Cypriot national residing outside the United States.
Pet. App. 45a; see Pet. 5. In 1991, OFAC listed petitioner as an SDN of
Libya. Pet. App. 3a, 16a-17a, 47a. That designation was based on petitioner's
position as president and member of the board of directors of Holborn Investment
Company Limited and Holborn European Marketing Company Limited, both of
which had been listed as SDNs. Id. at 3a, 17a n.4, 45a-47a.
Petitioner nevertheless applied to OFAC for various licenses to conduct
otherwise prohibited financial transactions with United States persons,
including the sale of stock options in a United States company. OFAC granted
a license to petitioner's retained counsel in the United States authorizing
their receipt of compensation for providing legal advice and representation.
However, the agency denied petitioner's request for a license that would
have allowed him to conduct personal and private business affairs with United
States persons. OFAC also denied petitioner's request to be removed from
the list of Libyan SDNs. Pet. App. 3a-4a, 17a-22a, 47a-52a.
3. In 1996, petitioner filed suit in federal district court. Petitioner
challenged OFAC's designation of him as an SDN. In the alternative, he contended
that under the Libyan Sanctions Regulations he should be treated as the
"Government of Libya" only with respect to financial transactions
undertaken on behalf of Libya or a Libyan agency. Petitioner also asserted
that OFAC's actions violated IEEPA, the agency's own regulations, and various
constitutional provisions.
The district court granted the government's motion for summary judgment.
Pet. App. 40a-83a. The court rejected petitioner's argument that OFAC had
erred in construing the Libyan Sanctions Regulations to apply to (1) transactions
in which petitioner had acted in a "personal" capacity rather
than as an agent of the Libyan government, and (2) transactions involving
property acquired by petitioner before the regulations took effect. The
court examined the pertinent regulatory provisions and found "no exception
for transactions by a person, who falls within the definition of the 'Government
of Libya,' to the extent that a transaction is characterized as in a 'personal
sphere.'" Id. at 57a. The court found "OFAC's interpretation of
the [regulations] to be consistent with and supported by the language of
the regulations and the executive orders." Id. at 58a.1 It also noted
that "[t]he regulations do not make the date on which property was
acquired a limiting factor." Id. at 60a.
The district court next addressed and rejected petitioner's constitutional
claims. The court held that OFAC's designation of petitioner as an SDN did
not inflict punishment and therefore could not be regarded as an unconstitutional
bill of attainder. Pet. App. 68a-71a. The court also rejected petitioner's
challenges under the Ex Post Facto Clause (U.S. Const. Art. I, § 9,
Cl. 3) and the Fifth and Sixth Amendments. Pet. App. 71a-78a. The district
court subsequently denied petitioner's motion for reconsideration. Id. at
12a-39a.
4. The court of appeals affirmed in part and vacated in part. Pet. App.
1a-11a.
The court first rejected petitioner's argument that he is subject to the
Libyan Sanctions Regulations only with respect to transactions undertaken
on behalf of the government of Libya. The court observed that "an agency's
application of its own regulations, receives an even greater degree of deference
than the Chevron standard, and must prevail unless plainly inconsistent
with the regulation." Pet. App. 6a (quoting Consarc Corp. v. United
States Treasury Dep't, Office of Foreign Assets Control, 71 F.3d 909, 915
(D.C. Cir. 1995)). It stated that the definition of the term "Government
of Libya" contained in 31 C.F.R. 550.304(c) is intended "to cast
the widest possible net over individuals who are or have been or are suspected
of being actors directly or indirectly on behalf of the government of Libya."
Pet. App. 6a. The court of appeals concluded that "OFAC's interpretation
of its own regulation is not plainly inconsistent with the regulatory language,
nor is it unreasonable, and in fact it represents the only practical interpretation."
Id. at 8a. The court further held that the regulation was reasonable and
consistent with IEEPA and the Executive Orders. Id. at 8a-9a.
The court of appeals next addressed petitioner's constitutional claims.2
The court held that the designation of petitioner as an SDN did not constitute
a bill of attainder because it did not inflict punishment. Pet. App. 9a-10a.3
The court found that the challenged provision of the Libyan Sanctions Regulations
was not void for vagueness, explaining that petitioner "knows he is
an SDN and is part of the 'Government of Libya' and is clearly aware of
the consequences of that status." Id. at 10a. The court held that petitioner
lacked standing to challenge the requirement that his United States counsel
must obtain a license before accepting compensation for their provision
of legal services. It explained that "OFAC granted [petitioner's] only
request for a license to obtain counsel, and [petitioner] has not shown
that he will be deprived of legal services in the future based on the regulations."
Id. at 10a-11a. Finally, the court of appeals held that petitioner's takings
claim lay within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Court of Federal Claims,
and it accordingly vacated the portion of the district court's judgment
dismissing that claim on the merits. Id. at 11a.
ARGUMENT
The decision of the court of appeals is correct and does not conflict with
any decision of this Court or of any other court of appeals. Further review
is not warranted.
1. Petitioner contends (Pet. 8-14) that OFAC's decision to list him as an
SDN constituted a bill of attainder. The court of appeals rejected that
claim, finding that "[t]he mere publication of [petitioner's] name
in the list did not evince an 'intent to punish.'" Pet. App. 10a (quoting
Selective Serv. Sys. v. Minnesota Pub. Interest Research Group, 468 U.S.
841, 852 (1984)). That holding was correct. Restrictions on the disposition
of assets by persons acting on behalf of the government of Libya-a government
found by the President to be "an unusual and extraordinary threat to
the national security and foreign policy of the United States," Exec.
Order No. 12,543, 3 C.F.R. 181 (1987)-serve obvious and important non-punitive
purposes. Cf. Regan v. Wald, 468 U.S. 222, 243 (1984) (government's interest
in "curtail[ing] the flow of hard currency to Cuba- currency that could
then be used in support of Cuban adventurism-" provided a sufficient
justification for ban on travel to Cuba).4
Petitioner does not contend that either IEEPA or the relevant Executive
Orders constitute bills of attainder. OFAC's listing of petitioner as an
SDN is simply a way for the agency charged with administering IEEPA and
the Executive Orders to provide notice of his status under the Libyan sanctions
program. The court of appeals properly determined that mere listing "does
not inflict * * * punishment." Pet. App. 10a. That fact-specific determination
creates no conflict in authority and does not warrant further review.
2. Under the Libyan Sanctions Regulations, an attorney in the United States
cannot accept compensation from petitioner without first obtaining a license
from OFAC. Petitioner contends (Pet. 14-20) that the license requirement
violates his Fifth and Sixth Amendment right to assistance of counsel. The
district court and the court of appeals held that petitioner lacked standing
to bring that claim because OFAC had previously authorized petitioner's
attorneys to accept compensation for legal services, and petitioner could
not show that he would be deprived of legal services in the future based
on the Libyan Sanctions Regulations. Pet. App. 10a-11a, 34a-35a; see, e.g.,
Lujan v. Defenders of Wildlife, 504 U.S. 555, 560 (1992) (under Article
III, a plaintiff must demonstrate actual or imminent injury in order to
invoke the jurisdiction of a federal court). That holding represents a fact-specific
application of established legal principles and raises no issue warranting
this Court's review.
In any event, petitioner's underlying Fifth and Sixth Amendment claims lack
merit. If the restrictions on petitioner's financial transactions are otherwise
valid, the absence of a blanket exception for payments to lawyers creates
no constitutional infirmity. Cf. Caplin & Drysdale, Chartered v. United
States, 491 U.S. 617 (1989). Moreover, petitioner cites no authority recognizing
a constitutional right to pay counsel in the United States for advice in
future business transactions. Cf. Walters v. National Ass'n of Radiation
Survivors, 473 U.S. 305, 333-334 (1985) (Due Process Clause and Sixth Amendment
do not require counsel in proceedings that do not approximate trials; citing
several cases holding that counsel is not required in various forms of administrative
proceedings).5
3. A court in reviewing administrative action owes substantial deference
to the agency's construction of pertinent statutory and regulatory provisions.
See, e.g., Chevron U.S.A. Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc.,
467 U.S. 837, 842-843 (1984); Consarc Corp. v. United States Treasury Dep't,
Office of Foreign Assets Control, 71 F.3d 909, 915 (D.C. Cir. 1995). Petitioner
contends (Pet. 21-26) that OFAC's interpretation of the relevant provisions
raises serious constitutional concerns, and that judicial deference is therefore
unwarranted. The court of appeals, however, correctly rejected petitioner's
constitutional challenges. See Pet. App. 9a-11a. In any event, the court
found that "OFAC's interpretation of its own regulation is not plainly
inconsistent with the regulatory language, nor is it unreasonable, and in
fact it represents the only practical interpretation." Id. at 8a (emphasis
added). The court's ultimate disposition of the case therefore did not depend
on deference-let alone inordinate deference-to the responsible agency's
construction of the Libyan Sanctions Regulations.
4. Finally, petitioner contends (Pet. 26-29) that under OFAC's approach
to the implementation of IEEPA, the Act effects an unconstitutional delegation
of legislative power. Petitioner cites no decision, and we are aware of
none, holding any provision of the Libyan Sanctions Regulations to be invalid
on that ground. OFAC's authority to publish the SDN list and to apply the
Libyan Sanctions Regulations is ultimately derived from the power vested
in the President by IEEPA to "regulate, * * * prevent or prohibit,
any * * * use, transfer, withdrawal, * * * or dealing in, or * * * transactions
involving, any property in which any foreign country or a national thereof
has any interest." 50 U.S.C. 1702(a)(1)(B); see Exec. Order Nos. 12,543,
12,544, 3 C.F.R. 181, 183 (1987) (authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury
to employ all powers of the President to carry out his Executive Orders
regarding Libya). As petitioner recognizes (Pet. 29), Congress's power to
confer broad discretionary authority upon Executive Branch officials is
particularly clear with respect to matters touching upon national security
and foreign relations. Cf. Loving v. United States, 517 U.S. 748, 768 (1996).
Petitioner's claim therefore lacks merit and does not warrant this Court's
review.
CONCLUSION
The petition for a writ of certiorari should be denied.
Respectfully submitted.
SETH P. WAXMAN
Solicitor General
DAVID W. OGDEN
Acting Assistant Attorney General
DOUGLAS N. LETTER
Attorney
AUGUST 1999
1 The court explained:
OFAC's interpretation that the executive orders and the [Libyan Sanctions
Regulations] allow it to block all property of controlled entities of Libya,
without determining whether the particular transaction at issue will ultimately
benefit or serve the interests of the Government of Libya, directly or indirectly,
is a reasonable interpretation of the language of the provisions. The interpretation
is consistent with the sanction's stated goals of isolating Libya by severing
its economic ties to the rest of the world.
Pet. App. 58a-59a.
2 The court stated that "[i]t is not clear whether, as a foreign national
residing outside the U.S., [petitioner] can assert these claims, but we
shall assume arguendo that he can." Pet. App. 9a.
3 The court also noted that "[n]o circuit court has yet held that the
bill of attainder clause applies to regulations promulgated by an executive
agency." Pet. App. 9a (citation omitted).
4 Even if petitioner could demonstrate that his listing as an SDN is punitive
in nature, he could prevail on his Bill of Attainder Clause challenge only
if he could show that (1) the protections of that Clause apply to foreign
nationals residing outside the United States, and (2) the Clause applies
to regulatory activities of an Executive agency as well as to legislation
passed by Congress. The court of appeals expressed doubt as to each of those
propositions but assumed arguendo that they are true. See Pet. App. 9a.
5 Contrary to petitioner's contention (Pet. 17-19), neither Bernstein v.
United States Department of Justice, 176 F.3d 1132 (9th Cir. 1999), nor
American Airways Charters, Inc. v. Regan, 746 F.2d 865, 866 (D.C. Cir. 1984)
(Ginsburg, J.), supports his constitutional claim. The Ninth Circuit in
Bernstein found that the source code of a mathematician's encryption software
is speech protected by the First Amendment and that the government's licensing
requirements for export of encryption technology imposed an invalid prior
restraint on his speech. 176 F.3d at 1138-1145. The decision has nothing
to do with access to counsel. American Airways, far from supporting petitioner's
legal theory, indicates that petitioner's United States counsel can validly
be required to seek a license from OFAC before receiving compensation for
legal services. Petitioner relies (Pet. 19) on the D.C. Circuit's holding
that under the Trading with the Enemy Act, 50 U.S.C. App. 1 et seq., OFAC
cannot condition the formation of an attorney-client relationship on the
acquisition of a government license. American Airways, 746 F.2d at 871-876.
Whatever the merits of that holding, however, it has no application here,
since the American Airways court carefully distinguished between the formation
of an attorney-client relationship and the payment of fees to counsel. The
D.C. Circuit observed that "OFAC has undisputed power to deny [a designated
Cuban national] permission to engage in specified commercial transactions.
We caution here that nothing in our disposition is properly read as authorizing
payment to counsel without the approval of OFAC." Id. at 875. In the
instant case, the district court correctly distinguished American Airways,
explaining that "the issue is not the 'bare formation of an attorney-client
relationship' but the compensated representation of an SDN by a United States
attorney." Pet. App. 78a; see also id. at 33a-34a & n.9.