According to a 2006 newspaper column by Jack Betts, eight Nazis bent on mayhem came ashore on Long Island in 1942 but were soon caught and ordered to stand trial in a secret military tribunal. US President Franklin Roosevelt appointed Royall to defend them, but Roosevelt wanted no foolishness. He wanted the Nazis executed as soon as possible. Royall's orders were to stay away from civilian courts. Royall wrote to Roosevelt that he thought that the president had no authority to convene a secret court to try his clients, and Royall asked Roosevelt to change his order. The president refused, and Royall appealed to the US District Court and argued that the secret tribunal was unconstitutional.