Title: Norwood v. State

State: delaware

Issuer: Delaware Supreme Court

Document:

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
THOMAS E. NORWOOD,
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§
No.  371, 2001
Petitioner Below,
§
Appellant,
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Court Below–Superior Court 
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of the State of Delaware, in  
v.
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and for Sussex County, in 
§
C.A. No.  01M-07-022.
STATE OF DELAWARE,
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Respondent Below,
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Appellee.
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Def.  ID No.  0107006910
Submitted: September 27, 2001
Decided:
October 23, 2001
Before VEASEY, Chief Justice, WALSH and STEELE, Justices. 
O R D E R
This 23rd  day of October 2001, it appears to the Court that:
(1)
The appellant, Thomas E. Norwood, has filed this appeal from
the Superior Court’s denial of his petition for a writ of habeas corpus.  The
appellee, State of Delaware, has moved to affirm the judgment of the Superior
Court on the ground that it is manifest on the face of Norwood’s opening brief
that this appeal is without merit.
(2)
On July 12, 2001, Norwood was arrested for numerous drug
offenses, including Trafficking in Cocaine.  After a preliminary hearing in the
1State v.  Norwood, Del.  Super., Cr.A. Nos.  IS01-07-0344 - 0366.
2Hall v.  Carr,  Del.  Supr., 692 A.2d 888, 891 (1997),
310 Del.  C. § 6902(1).
2
Court of Common Pleas, Norwood’s case was transferred to the Superior
Court, and Norwood was ordered held on a secured bond.  Norwood pled not
guilty at his September 6 Superior Court arraignment.  He is currently being
held for failure to post the $71,750 bond.  Norwood’s case has been set for
final case review.1
(3)
On July 27, 2001, Norwood filed a petition for a writ of habeas
corpus in the Superior Court.  By order dated July 30, 2001, the Superior
Court denied Norwood’s habeas corpus petition.  The Superior Court
determined that Norwood was not entitled to habeas corpus relief, as his
incarceration for failure to post bond was regular on its face.  We agree and
affirm.
(4)
“Habeas corpus provides an opportunity for one illegally confined
or incarcerated to obtain judicial review of the court ordering the
commitment.”2  The record reflects that Norwood’s detention on pending
felony charges, in default of bail, is proper.3  The Superior Court was correct
in summarily dismissing Norwood’s petition for a writ of habeas corpus.
3
(5)
It is manifest on the face of Norwood’s opening brief that this
appeal is without merit.  The issues presented in this appeal are clearly
controlled by settled Delaware law.
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED that the State’s motion to
affirm is GRANTED.  The judgment of the Superior Court is AFFIRMED.
BY THE COURT:
s/Joseph T. Walsh
Justice