438
Stevens, J., dissenting
197 (1939). Although that statement was made in a civil case, we have made it clear that a federal court has even broader discretion to notice error independently in the trial of a criminal case than in civil cases. Crawford v. United States, 212 U. S. 183, 194 (1909).
Examples of the exercise of the federal courts' inherent powers are abundant in both our civil and our criminal jurisprudence.1 Indeed, when he was serving on the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, then-Judge Kennedy, after considering a series of cases that recognized various inherent judicial powers,2 correctly pointed out:
1 A few examples illustrate the breadth of that power. We have held that a district court "has inherent power to dismiss a suit pursuant to the doctrine of forum non conveniens," Gulf Oil Corp. v. Gilbert, 330 U. S. 501, 502 (1947); to dismiss an appeal in a criminal case if the defendant is a fugitive, Molinaro v. New Jersey, 396 U. S. 365, 366 (1970); to enforce compliance with lawful orders through civil contempt, Shillitani v. United States, 384 U. S. 364, 370 (1966); to order special conferences that will aid in the disposition of a complex antitrust case, United States v. United States Gypsum Co., 340 U. S. 76, 81 (1950); and to stay proceedings "to control the progress of the cause so as to maintain the orderly processes of justice," Enelow v. New York Life Ins. Co., 293 U. S. 379, 381-382 (1935). We have also recognized the court's inherent power to enforce its judgments, see Peacock v. Thomas, 516 U. S. 349 (1996), as well as its inherent power to award attorney's fees in exceptional cases, Alyeska Pipeline Service Co. v. Wilderness Society, 421 U. S. 240, 256 (1975).
2 "E. g., Roadway Express, Inc. v. Piper, 447 U. S. 752, 764-67 . . . (1980) (assessing costs against parties or attorneys); Cooke v. United States, 267 U. S. 517, 534 . . . (1925) (contempt power); United States v. Armstrong, 621 F. 2d 951, 954-55 (9th Cir. 1980) (allowing inspection of property belonging to third parties); Franquez v. United States, 604 F. 2d 1239 (9th Cir. 1979) (ordering jury trial on an issue when not contemplated by statute); In re Sealed Affidavit(s) to Search Warrants (Agosto), 600 F. 2d 1256 (9th Cir. 1979) (sealing papers filed with the court); United States v. Simmons, 536 F. 2d 827, 832-34 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 429 U. S. 854 . . . (1976) (dismissal for want of prosecution); United States v. Malcolm, 475 F. 2d 420 (9th Cir. 1973) (ordering a defendant to undergo a psychiatric exam)." Arizona v. Manypenny, 672 F. 2d 761, 765 (CA9 1982).
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