juidice vail argued november decided march following failure satisfy judgments various civil actions new york state courts appellees pursuant provisions new york judiciary law held contempt appellant justices except appellees ward rabasco fined imprisoned disobeying subpoenas appear supplemental proceedings brought respective judgment creditors attempt collect judgments appellees subsequently brought class action appellants federal district seeking statutory provisions authorizing contempt enjoined federal constitutional grounds raised state proceedings time action filed appellees except ward rabasco paid fines released jail whereas ward rabasco alleged threatened imprisonment district declared statute unconstitutional enjoined enforcement held appellees ward rabasco standing seek injunctive relief since subject pending proceedings state courts appellees absent allegation finding threatened proceedings standing since released jail longer live controversy appellants state officials either contempt citations short periods incarceration entitle injunctive relief huffman pursue distinguished pp district erred enjoining enforcement contempt procedures younger harris huffman pursue supra pp principles federalism comity enunciated younger huffman apply case state contempt process involved whether disobedience subpoena resulting process leading finding contempt labeled civil criminal salient fact interference state contempt process offense state interest likely every bit great criminal proceeding huffman supra moreover interference contempt process unduly interfere state legitimate activities younger supra also readily interpreted reflecting negatively upon state ability enforce constitutional principles huffman supra pp appellees clearly opportunity present federal claims state proceedings required invoke younger abstention gerstein pugh distinguished pp exceptions application younger huffman principles present said new york statutes question flagrantly patently unconstitutional neither allegations proof findings appellants enforcing contempt procedures bad faith motivated desire harass pp rehnquist delivered opinion burger white blackmun powell joined stevens filed opinion concurring judgment post brennan filed dissenting opinion marshall joined post stewart filed dissenting opinion post seth greenwald assistant attorney general new york argued cause appellants briefs louis lefkowitz attorney general samuel hirshowitz first assistant attorney general jane bloom argued cause appellees brief john gorman joseph levin morris dees carl dworkin filed brief new york state consumer protection board amicus curiae urging affirmance justice rehnquist delivered opinion appellee harry vail judgment debtor held contempt county dutchess county thereafter sought statutory provisions authorizing contempts enjoined unconstitutional action brought district southern district new york proceedings vail found district respects representative named appellees well vail defaulted credit arrangement public loan january default judgment entered city poughkeepsie three months later judgment remained unpaid vail served subpoena requiring attend deposition give information relevant satisfaction judgment subpoena required appear office creditor attorney may little month date served stated required civ prac law mckinney failure comply punishable contempt vail appear deposition nearly two months scheduled deposition date appellant juidice justice dutchess county issued order requiring vail appear august show cause punished contempt vail failed appear hearing august appellant juidice entered order holding vail contempt imposing fine amount plus cost vail failed pay fine september appellant juidice issued ex parte commitment order vail arrested jailed pursuant order october released following day paid fine imposed order shortly thereafter vail ignored period nine months every stage proceedings defendant became plaintiff action brought district coplaintiffs sought enjoin behalf class judgment debtors use statutory contempt procedures authorized new york law employed appellant justices ground procedures leading imprisonment contempt violated fourteenth amendment constitution never appeared new york courts obviously raise constitutional claims proceedings contentions made district however raised appellees state courts defense ongoing proceedings county ruled contentions appellees appealed appellate division chose resorting federal courts avail forum afforded state new york must decide whether existence available forum raising constitutional issues state judicial proceeding district properly entertain appellees action light decisions younger harris huffman pursue hold district convened response appellees complaint action later certified fed rule civ proc class action class defined include persons presently subject civil contempt proceedings contained challenged sections judiciary law app jurisdictional statement time district rendered opinion granting partial summary judgment appellees declaring sections judiciary law state new york unconstitutional face permanently enjoining operation said statutes plaintiffs members class namely persons presently subject civil contempt proceedings pursuant sections judiciary law although raised neither parties first obliged examine standing appellees matter requirement associated art iii seek injunctive relief district north carolina rice littleton time lawsuit commenced additional appellees added named appellees except patrick ward joseph rabasco already imprisoned pursuant contempt order excepting ward rabasco released payment fine ward imprisoned alleged imminent danger imprisoned pursuant order contempt complaint temporary restraining order remained effect throughout lawsuit issued district enjoining state incarcerating ward pursuant contempt order rabasco similarly alleged threat imprisonment issuance state order show cause complied district restrained state proceedings rabasco named appellees except ward rabasco released jail longer live controversy appellants new york state officials either contempt citation short periods incarceration entitle injunctive relief new york supplemental proceedings follow judgments debt differ respect ohio state proceedings involved huffman supra huffman ohio state closed federal plaintiff movie house period time future although decree become final time federal plaintiff instituted federal action effect decree continued plaintiff accordingly requisite standing littleton supra however period incarceration served fine paid effect orders imposing fine commitment expended case payment fine satisfies entire judgment orders supplemental proceedings original judgment well rendered functus officio complaint allege district find appellees threatened repeated proceedings ward rabasco necessary standing seek injunctive relief see ellis dyson steffel thompson appellees ward rabasco standing since subject pending proceedings state courts since ward rabasco standing since standing unlike plaintiff steffel thompson supra predicated existence pending merely threatened proceeding deal appellants younger contentions district decided holdings younger huffman mandate dismissal complaint case action sought enjoined younger criminal prosecution action sought enjoined huffman abatement civil nuisance therefore closely akin criminal proceeding implausible reading holdings cases since huffman recent two reserved applicability abstention civil cases generally language informed relevant principles comity federalism least three courts appeals applied younger pending state proceedings civil nature see duke texas lynch snepp cousins wigoda purposes case us however need make general pronouncements upon applicability younger civil litigation suffices say reasons heretofore set conclude district applied tests laid younger determining whether proceed merits appellee prayer relief ohio civil nuisance proceeding notion comity proper respect state functions recognition fact entire country made union separate state governments continuance belief national government fare best institutions left free perform separate functions separate ways huffman quoting younger federal course interfere case proceedings already pending state taylor taintor wall harkrader wadley district relied upon decision gerstein pugh justify refusal dismiss appellees suit spoke possibility debtor position appellees might thrown jail without actual hearing emphasis added gerstein explained reason inapplicability younger case way clearly distinguishes district correctly held respondents claim relief barred equitable restrictions federal intervention state prosecutions younger harris injunction directed state prosecutions legality pretrial detention without judicial hearing issue raised defense criminal prosecution emphasis added ii noted huffman younger principles apply even otherwise applicable cases district properly finds state proceeding motivated desire harass conducted bad faith challenged statute flagrantly patently violative express constitutional prohibitions every clause sentence paragraph whatever manner whomever effort might made apply huffman conclude district erred enjoining enforcement new york judiciary law contempt procedures reasons federalism comity enunciated younger huffman judgment accordingly reversed footnotes issuance subpoena authorized civ prac law mckinney subpoenas issued creditor attorney acting however officer cf civ prac law mckinney jud law mckinney fine payable public loan reduction judgment see infra see civ prac law mckinney rudd rudd app div since find district erred reaching merits injunctive claim need decide whether district action granting partial summary judgment proper neither party moved summary judgment state defendants yet answered complaint several named appellees upon payment fine satisfied underlying default judgment true cases appellee vail example owed pursuant default judgment payment contempt fine plus costs satisfy full default judgment appellees similarly situated since underlying action debt contempt proceedings ancillary ended conceivable prospect contempt orders underlying action given vail requisite constitutional standing seek enjoin contempt processes unconstitutional standing based speculative conjectures neither alleged proved since complaint allege likelihood even possibility future contempt orders none appellees excepting ward rabasco standing littleton linda richard district read younger applying civil proceedings intervention disrupt interests underlie state criminal laws vail quinlan supp neither ex parte young cases cited expressly premised conclusion judiciary act stat successor sections cases rather application reason underlying act toucey new york life ins reflect applicability wholly independent statutory codification longstanding policies inhere notions comity federalism see younger kent commentaries american law contempt cases serves course vindicate preserve private interests competing litigants people ex rel munsell oyer terminer purpose means spent upon purely private concerns stands aid authority judicial system orders judgments rendered nugatory ketchum edwards interest maintaining respect action courts orderly jurisprudence forbids litigants permitted plea hardship injustice real pretended nullify set nought orders decrees however improvidently made even may seem certain acted granting misapprehension mistake cf gompers bucks stove range king barnes huffman save another day question applicability younger civil litigation propitious moment hearing order show cause even order contempt issued motion vacate pursuant civ prac law mckinney supp available possible seek stay temporary restraining order fine commitment see civ prac law mckinney rudd rudd app div state courts ultimately sustained validity state statutory system appellees final recourse available right appear settled new york whether persons faced civil contempt assigned counsel indigent see rudd rudd supra cf smiley inherent power courts direct provision counsel require compensation retained counsel private suits risk loss liberty grievous forfeiture case relevant datum due process contentions concerning assigned counsel contentions presented new york state courts parties attorneys instead chose ignore pending proceedings filing suit federal appellees vail mcnair apart request declaratory injunctive relief also sought damages alleged past violations constitutional rights stemming brief periods incarceration appellants however longer involved aspect lawsuit dismissed district grounds judicial immunity appellees challenged district dismissal justices counts none parties addressed issue availability damages appellees issue damages therefore us intimate opinion applicability principles suit seeking relief district cf monroe pape huffman pursue justice stevens concurring judgment major premise underlying holding younger harris equity act moving party adequate remedy law consistently younger equity may duty act alternative legal remedy inadequate indeed major premise underlying holding mitchum foster recognition unfortunate fact state proceedings sometimes inadequate vindicate federal rights ultimate question case concerns constitutionality new york procedures designed discover assets delinquent judgment debtors appellees contend procedures violate due process clause fourteenth amendment provide adequate remedy appellees federal claim federal remedy appellees seek protection required participate unconstitutional judicial proceeding even ultimate success proceeding protect harm seek avoid challenged state procedures therefore provide adequate remedy alleged federal wrong hypothesis case younger abstention inappropriate less certain possible applicability pullman abstention railroad pullman justice stewart relies persuaded however know enough way new york procedure actually administered form reliable opinion validity believe therefore duty reach merits recitation facts demonstrates new york procedure provides adequate notice gives debtor adequate opportunities heard moreover denial impecunious debtor right counsel proof indigency necessarily precede appointment counsel also provide defense contempt charge new york procedure therefore deny judgment debtor due process law accordingly concur judgment precise reasons longstanding public policy federal interference state proceedings never specifically identified primary sources policy plain one basic doctrine equity jurisprudence courts equity act particularly act restrain criminal prosecution moving party adequate remedy law suffer irreparable injury denied equitable relief younger harris opposed act forerunner clearly recognized proponents extending federal power attempt remedy state courts failure secure federal rights debate whether predecessor extended actions state courts whether innovation necessary desirable legislative history makes evident congress clearly conceived altering relationship nation respect protection federally created rights concerned state instrumentalities protect rights realized state officers might fact antipathetic vindication rights believed failings extended state courts mitchum foster quoted comment congressman coburn courts mere local influence county courts judges act independence put terror local judges sympathies nearly identified vicinage jurors taken state neighborhood able rise prejudices bad passions terror easily cong globe appellees argue procedures violate due process rights proper notice fact noncooperating debtor subject incarceration actions provided procedures require hearing debtor present prior finding contempt incarceration procedures provide right counsel assume appellees correct claim constitutional right actual hearing prior incarceration defects notice prevent merits claim adjudicated state procedure adequate appellees suffered harm seek avoid state proceeding concluded cf gerstein pugh perhaps another way make point suggest fidelity rationale younger require district decide merits appellees claims order decide whether abstain justice brennan justice marshall joins dissenting dissent earlier dissent huffman pursue details grounds disagreement extension younger principles state civil proceedings including form take huffman instant case purpose served restating reasons repeat however strong disagreement process begun huffman carried extreme last term paul davis furthered today stripping meaningful content said even extension younger harris pending state civil proceedings appropriate case plainly improper case action federal plaintiff case grounded upon congress created cause action century ago time expressly charged federal judicial system responsibility vindication enforcement federal rights unconstitutional action color state law whether action executive legislative judicial mitchum foster emphasis original congressional contemplation pendency state civil proceedings wholly irrelevant purpose interpose federal courts people guardians people federal rights section opened federal courts private citizens offering uniquely federal remedy incursions claimed authority state law upon rights secured constitution laws nation statute judiciary act stat granted federal courts general jurisdiction completely altered congress war policy relying state courts vindicate rights arising constitution federal laws statutes constituted lower federal courts primary powerful reliances vindicating every right given constitution laws treaties steffel thompson emphasis original thus expanding federal judicial power congress imposed duty upon levels federal judiciary give due respect suitor choice federal forum hearing decision federal constitutional claims plainly escape duty permissible merely state courts also solemn responsibility equally federal courts guard enforce protect every right granted secured constitution yet like believe wherever federal courts sit human rights federal constitution always proper subject adjudication right decline exercise jurisdiction simply rights asserted may adjudicated forum zwickler koota true notwithstanding possibility review state decisions even available appeal rather discretionary writ certiorari possibility inadequate substitute initial district determination litigant entitled federal courts england louisiana state bd medical examiners mitchum foster supra buttresses conclusion mitchum held comes within expressly authorized exception permit federal district suit stay proceeding state process begun huffman furthered today cutting back remedies available federal plainly reintroduces much rigidity thus realizing prophecy younger extended civil cases significance mitchum seeking relief state civil proceedings largely destroyed recognition section exception statute pyrrhic victory term harv rev today decision extends huffman labeled state nuisance proceeding important respects akin criminal prosecution civil cases contrast underlying suits new york courts collection suits typically involving small loans usually terminating default judgments whereas huffman state officials parties suit suits purely private parties whatever importance state direct interest huffman closing theaters exhibiting alleged obscene films one must strain hard discover comparable state interest federal rights adjudicated state rather federal forum thus huffman rationale today reliance state contempt power revealed covers ultimate goal denying plaintiffs federal forum case civil criminal pending state proceeding may hear federal plaintiff federal claims nothing less plain refusal enforce congressional direction practical purposes reduces mitchum foster empty shell moreover requirement plaintiff present constitutional challenge suit purely private parties pending state may viewed unmixed blessing younger harris decided purely private suits seen posing entirely different considerations criminal prosecutions stewart concurring pending state criminal proceedings always viewed paradigm cases involving paramount state interests huffman brennan dissenting remitting decision constitutionality state statutes state civil proceedings purely private parties may actually run counter state interests state may heard state civil case defense constitutionality statute solely hands party neither state resources expertise governmental interest sustaining validity statute dilemma posed even officials state like new york procedures permit civ prac law mckinney cases require exec law mckinney state intervention suits raising constitutional challenges state statutes must choose whether intervene countless private lawsuits brought state implicating constitutionality state statutes intervene risk adverse decisions effects far beyond interests particular private parties contrast suit federal necessarily names state officials defendants litigation focuses squarely issue validity statute state defending interest directly perhaps process eviscerating come surprise series decisions contexts shaped doctrines jurisdiction justiciability remedy increasingly bar federal door litigants substantial federal claims see rizzo goode simon eastern ky welfare rights warth seldin littleton determination keep litigants federal courthouse remitted state reflected huffman today decision decisions hicks miranda hardly serves values federalism last term decisions circumscribed remedy habeas corpus weaken drastically federal courts ability safeguard individuals unconstitutional imprisonment stone powell francis henderson decisions common rendered name federalism given great concept distorted disturbing meaning banner vague undefined notions equity comity federalism embarked upon dangerous course condoning isolated paul davis systematic rizzo goode supra violations civil liberties decisions hardly bespeak true concern equity properly reflect nature federalism adopting premise state courts trusted safeguard individual rights gone limit protective role federal judiciary forgotten one strengths federal system provides double source protection rights citizens federalism served federal half protection crippled brennan state constitutions protection individual rights harv rev dissent suspect purported disclaimer huffman save another day question applicability younger civil litigation ante tongue cheek save today disclaimer signal merely formal announcement postponed justice stewart dissenting district found new york statutorily specified civil contempt procedures constitutionally inadequate reached conclusion without benefit construction statute procedural requirements without consideration whether procedural infirmities found limited class subpoenaed civil debtors originally filed suit without indeed determination whether challenged procedures accurately reflect new york practice instead confined dutchess county constitutional adjudication face legal factual imponderables foolhardy subject matter suit unclear need constitutional adjudication uncertain federal district confronts uncertainty state law proper course abstain final resolution federal issues state courts accorded opportunity authoritatively interpret state statutory scheme challenged railroad pullman construction may obviate significantly modify federal questions seemingly presented thus avoiding unnecessary friction relations interference important state functions tentative decisions questions state law premature constitutional adjudication harman forssenius considerations sacrificed district nevertheless proceeded measure ambiguous provisions state law due process clause fourteenth amendment even though prerequisites pullman abstention clearly met case rejects routine application established doctrine favor novel extension line abstention cases younger harris huffman pursue departure prior cases reached younger question grounds pullman abstention clear see carey sugar harrison naacp types abstention course serve common goal judicial restraint means avoiding undue federal interference state goals functions significant difference result two pullman abstention federal may retain jurisdiction pending interpretation ambiguous statute younger may pullman approach thus advantage altogether foreclosing access federal courts vindicate federal rights still avoiding needless friction relations viewing case paradigm pullman abstention set aside judgment district direct retain jurisdiction pending definitive construction statutes question courts new york record suggests courts new york city may apply statutes question quite different manner