Case Title: Matter of Paczkowski

Citation: 

Docket Number: 

State: delaware

Court: Delaware Supreme Court

Date: 2000-09-20T00:00:00Z

Document:
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION OF JOSEPH S. PACZKOWSKI FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS. No. 371, 2000 Submitted: August 15, 2000 Decided: September 20, 2000 Before VEASEY, Chief Justice, WALSH and HOLLAND, Justices. O R D E R This 20th day of September 2000, upon consideration of the petition for a writ of habeas corpus filed by Joseph S. Paczkowski and the answer and motion to dismiss filed by the State of Delaware, it appears to the Court that: (1) In August 1999, Joseph S. Paczkowski entered a Robinson plea in the Superior Court to one count of Third Degree Unlawful Sexual Intercourse.1 Paczkowski was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment, suspended after a minimum mandatory term of 2 years for 15 years probation.2 (2) Paczkowski has filed two motions for post-conviction relief. The Superior Court denied the motions in April 2000 and August 2000, respectively. In August 2000, the Superior Court also denied Paczkowski=s motion to 1 Robinson v. State, Del. Supr., 291 A.2d 279 (1972) (permitting Superior Court to accept guilty plea where guilt of offense charged is not admitted). 2 State v. Paczkowski, Del. Super., Cr.A.No. S99-05-0080, Stokes, J. (Aug. 19, 1999) (ORDER). -2- withdraw his guilty plea. Paczkowski has not filed an appeal from any of those decisions. Paczkowski has, however, filed a timely appeal from the Superior Court=s August 7 denial of Paczkowski=s petition for a writ of habeas in that court. The appeal is proceeding as Paczkowski v. State, Del. Supr., No. 455, 2000. (3) On July 28, 2000, Paczkowski filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus in this Court. Paczkowski attached to his petition a copy of the medical report of the victim=s physical examination. Paczkowski claims that the medical report is newly-discovered evidence that establishes his innocence. The State has filed an answer and motion to dismiss Paczkowski=s habeas corpus petition for lack of jurisdiction. (4) Under Article IV, ’ 11(6) of the Delaware Constitution and Supreme Court Rule 43, this Court has limited jurisdiction to issue extraordinary writs. The Court has no original jurisdiction to issue a writ of habeas corpus.3 3 Rocker v. State, Del. Supr., 240 A.2d 141, 142 (1968). NOW, THEREFORE IT IS ORDERED that the State=s motion to dismiss is GRANTED. Paczkowksi=s petition for a writ of habeas corpus is DISMISSED. BY THE COURT: -3- s/Joseph T. Walsh Justice