Document: 420 U.S. 534 95 S.Ct. 1173 43 L.Ed.2d 377 W. J. ESTELLE, Jr., Corrections Directorv.Jerry Mack DORROUGH. No. 74—479. March 17, 1975. Rehearing Denied April 14, See 421 921, 1589. PER CURIAM. 1 Respondent Jerry Dorrough was convicted in 1963 a Texas District Court of robbery and sentenced to term imprisonment for 25 years. After he had filed an appeal the Criminal Appeals, escaped from Dallas County jail by stealing federal mail truck. He recaptured two days after his escape. recapture, Appeals removed its docket pursuant provisions Vernon's Code Procedure Ann., Art. 44.09 (1966), which provides automatic dismissal such pending appeals felon upon escape with provision reinstatement if voluntarily surrenders within 10 escape.1 2 respondent tried on charges given 25-year sentence is currently serving. The State has detainer warrant authorities against order compel him serve remainder state release custody. In 1972, United States Northern complaint treated that court as petition writ habeas corpus, alleging under denied equal protection law violation Fourteenth Amendment.2 relief, holding rational exercise legislative power.3 Fifth Circuit reversed. It held law, ordered State's would be voided unless provided either direct or new trial.4 Petitioner now sought review certiorari, 28 U.S.C. § 1254(1), judgment Appeals. For reasons stated, we grant reverse judgment. 3 correctly recognized there no constitutional right appellate criminal convictions. McKane v. Durston, 153 684, 687, 14 913, 914, 38 L.Ed. 867 (1894); Griffin Illinois, 351 12, 18, 76 585, 590, 100 891 (1956); Ross Moffitt, 417 600, 610—611, 94 2437, 2443—2444, 41 341 (1974). Disposition prisoners longstanding established principle American law. 18 Geo.Wash.L.Rev. 427, 429 (1950). This itself long followed practice declining convictions defendants. Smith States, 97, 24 32 (1876); Bonahan Nebraska, 125 692, 8 1390, 31 854 (1887); Eisler 338 189, 69 1453, 93 1897 (1949); id., at 883, 70 181, 542; cf. Allen Rose, 419 1080, 669, 42 675 Thus Molinaro New Jersey, 396 365, 90 498, 586 (1970), dismissed defendant, stating persuasive reason exists adjudicate merits case 'disentitles defendant call resources determination claims.' Id., 366, S.Ct., 499. Georgia, 166 138, 17 525, 949 (1897), upheld due process attack court's prisoner refusal reinstate later recapture. also National Union Arnold, 348 37, 43, 75 92, 95, 99 46 (1954). 4 courts have found similar ends served 44.09. discourages felony encourages voluntary surrenders.5 promotes efficient, dignified operation Appeals.6 5 however, classifications created statute lack any relation purposes hence concluded unconstitutional violative Equal Protection Clause.7 That are not 'explicitly implicitly guaranteed Constitution,' San Antonio Independent School Rodriguez, 411 1, 33—34, 1278, 1297, 36 16 (1973) this dealing challenges regulation cases applied traditional national-basis test. Rinaldi Yeager, 384 305, 86 1497, 577 (1966). There said: 6 "The Constitution does require things different fact . though they were same.' Tigner Texas, 310 141, 147, 60 879, 882, 84 1124. Hence, legislation may impose special burdens defined classes achieve permissible ends. But Clause that, defining class subject legislation, distinctions drawn 'some relevance purpose classification made.' Baxstrom Herold, 383 107, 111, 760, 15 620; Carrington Rash, 380 89, 93, 85 775, 778, 13 675; Louisville Gas Co., Coleman, 277 32, 48 423, 425, 72 770; Royster Guano Co. Virginia, 253 412, 415, 40 560, 561—562, 64 989.' 309, 1500. 7 thought test rendered invalid reasons. First, while most felons only surrender days, discretion life death returned custody 30 days.8 Second, applies those time their escape; who invoked filing still recapture applicable limits run. We disagree analysis find neither these offends Clause. Insofar separate treatment concerned, see why Legislature free severe sentences other terms imprisonment, provide additional period discretionary them but remainder. determined serving greater than years eligible parole sooner sentence, could distinction between excess sixty 497 F.2d 1007, 1012—1013. altogether clear how respondent, himself been years, assert rights more.9 apart difficulty, focus actual severity imposed making distinctions, rather collateral consequence elaborated reasonably balance concern deterring escapes encouraging alternative interest allowing validity particularly tested review. doing so, it required draw lines 'mathematical nicety.' Lindsley Carbonic 220 61, 78—79, 337, 340—341, 55 369 (1911); Morey Doud, 354 457, 463—464, 77 1344, 1348—1349, 1485 (1957). 9 Nor do statutory limitation requirement felt 'underinclusive' reason, since might prescribed expired. defendants relatively stringent appeals.10 Since cannot comply steps during confined, much same function Whatever difference escape, return, nonetheless able file appeal, whose 44.09, sufficiently withstand challenge based deal more severely simultaneously first custody, returned, then permitted While each did so very midst invocation process, latter before returning commencing process. If adopt policy deters prisoners, all our make is, likewise sanctions calculated disrupt themselves set motion.11 U.S., 610, 2443. 11 motion leave proceed forma pauperis certiorari granted, 12 Reversed. Mr. Justice DOUGLAS, dissenting, agrees dissenting opinion STEWART, unlike him, affirm stated 1012—1014 (CA5 1974). whom BRENNAN MARSHALL join, dissenting. shortcomings challenged addressed Court, I join Court's opinion. agree lenient nor asserted inapplicability involuntarily filed. think failed come grips real defect statute. summarily reversing us relies decisions establishing long-settled 'practice defendants.' Ante, 537. (1970). (1897). universally understood mean properly dismiss fugitive convict when, because, control court. Until today, never intimated rule Smith, Bonahan, when thus power control.* rationale appellant large clearly decision: 'It refuse hear error, party, suing out writ, where can made respond render. admitted plaintiff error escaped, below, actually, being constructively, bail. judgment, likely appear submit sentence. trial will not, consider interest. Under circumstances, inclined decide what prove moot case.' 97. 19 (1887). 20 Here, notes, flight. And, situation, Smith-Bonahan-Molinaro support whatever deprived Dorough appeal. 21 sustained, must rest ground advanced Court—that, punitive deterrent measure enacted police power, 'discourages surrenders.' imposes totally irrational punishments application. loss results erroneously imposed. If, hand, reversible punishment all. And reversed disparate sentences, dependent circumstances meted my view, random pattern considered means enforcing punishing escapes. Cf. McLaughlin Florida, 379 184, 191, 283, 287, 222 (1964); 1499, (1966); Dept. Agriculture Moreno, 413 528, 538, 2821, 2827, 37 782 (1973). 22 A closely analogous Supreme Idaho re Mallon, 737, 740—741, 102 P. 374 (1909). providing: 23 ". Every confined prison less life, therefrom, punishable length said second commence otherwise discharged prison." issue unconstitutional. Similarly Kansas Lewin, 53 Kan. 679, 168 (1894), providing punished imposition full initially imprisoned, without credit statutes, men escaping manner receive wholly related gravity offense precisely vice present case. 26 provides: 'If case, makes jurisdiction shall longer attach Upon appear, shall, attorney, appeal; dismissing aside ten officer escaped; inflicted jury confinement institution operated Department thirty escape.' adopted 1879 replacing somewhat common-law discussed Ex parte Wood, Tex.App. (1885). clause authorizing added amendment 1933. Laws 1933, c. 34. 'no attach' divests mere formality. Lafferty State, 123 Tex.Cr.R. 570, S.W.2d (1933); Gurley, 104 578, 286 S.W. (1926). Braden 30th Judicial Kentucky, 410 484, 1123, 35 443 (1973), indicates one relief. exhausted remedies, petitioner urge failure exhaustion contention presented evidenced constitutionality herein. seeks here raise issues raised least some rejected course five prior actions system. 327 667 1964); 344 1965); 397 811 (CA5), cert. denied, 394 1019, 89 1637, 44 (1969); 440 1063 404 840, 92 134, 74 (1971); 1336 915, 239, 190 (1971). decision unreported. reported 1007. Rodriguez 457 555, 556 (Tex.Cr.App.1970). Loyd 137, 155 430 F.2d, below specifically notion immediate constitutionally objectionable rested connection statute's purposes. Brother STEWART resurrects argument adopts dissent, saying rationally discourage encourage surrender. Such course, instance legislature, Williamson Lee Optical 483, 461, 563 (1955), strike down conclude indeed irrational. believe is. accurate suggest deterrence escapes: designed secure orderly judicial procedure. conviction both systems almost uniformly conditioned, example, notice limit. Fed.Rule App.Proc. 4(b); n. 10, infra. vindication procedure secured choice legislature procedural requirements. indistinguishable issue, 526, Georgia prisoner, 'it seems light offence hold' abandoned supra. merely allows appeals. past, granted refused 'good cause shown.' Bland 154 3, 224 479 Foster 291 (Tex.Cr.App.1973). Raines, 362 21—24, 80 519, 522—524, 524 (1960). Tex.Code Crim.Proc.Ann., Arts. 40.05, 40.09 (1966 ed., Supp. 1974—1975), 44.08 et seq. cited lower involving preappeal subsequent appeals, appellants forfeited substantially through timely record bill exceptions. Webb. 460 903 (Tex.Cr.App.1970); McGee 445 187 (Tex.Cr.App.1969). judge Webb 449 230 (Tex.Cr.App.1969); Redman 256 Ballage 459 823 peculiar problems posed ongoing explored Tex.App., 155, upholding statute: '(L)et suppose convict, should remain twenty days; disposition appeal? Should wait until return custody? How wait? suits prisoner's convenience? (W)e (Art. 44.09) reasonable eminently wise.' 526. * Jersey relied Note, (1950), today. Note: 'A shows brought court, left indefinitely. absence regulation, form .. basic theory behind always someone judgment.' Geo.Wash.L.Rev., 428—429.

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