Case Name: STATE of Louisiana ex rel. Ramond EAMES v. J. Al AMISS, Sheriff
Court: Louisiana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 1974-01-14
Citations: 288 So. 2d 316
Docket Number: No. 54142
Parties: STATE of Louisiana ex rel. Ramond EAMES v. J. Al AMISS, Sheriff.
Judges: SANDERS, C. J., dissents with written reasons.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 288
Pages: 316–319

Head Matter:
STATE of Louisiana ex rel. Ramond EAMES v. J. Al AMISS, Sheriff.
No. 54142.
Supreme Court of Louisiana.
Jan. 14, 1974.
Robert C. Williams, Williams & Eames, Etta Kay Hearn, Baton Rouge, for plaintiff-relator.
William J. Guste, Jr., Atty. Gen., Barbara Rutledge, Asst. Atty. Gen., Ossie Brown, Dist. Atty., for defendant-respondent.

Opinion:
CALOGERO, Justice.
We granted writs on relator's application in order to consider the merit of relator's contention that the State's failure to arraign him on charges of murder and afford him a trial on those charges in the twenty-four months that have elapsed since his January 10, 1972 arrest, is resulting in a denial of his constitutional right to a speedy trial.
The initial charges which prompted relator's arrest were disturbing the peace and murder. On January 11, 1972, the day following his arrest, relator was taken before the Nineteenth Judicial District Court, informed that he was charged with inciting to riot and murder, and told that due to the pending capital charges, no bail would be set.
On February 10, 1972, the East Baton Rouge Parish Grand Jury returned three true bills, one charging relator with partic ipation in a riot which resulted in the deaths of Ralph Hancock and Dewayne Wilder and two others charging relator with the murders of those two men. Over a year after the indictments were returned, the East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney nolle prosequied the indictment charging participation in a riot and filed a two-count Bill of Information charging relator with inciting and participating in a riot which resulted in the deaths of the two above-named individuals.
Relator applied to the Nineteenth Judicial District Court for a writ of habeas corpus on August 14, 1973. He alleged that his detention was unlawful and prayed, alternatively, for admission to bail on the murder indictments, a speedy trial on the murder charges or discharge from further confinement by virtue of the pending murder charges. A full hearing was held on August 17, 1973, wherein the State announced that the District Attorney had decided to prosecute first the "riot charges" pending against relator before proceeding to trial on the murder charges, and argued that C.Cr.P. Article 61 granted the District Attorney the right to exercise his discretion in deciding the order of prosecution of charges pending against an accused. Defendant argued that the State's action constituted a denial of his right to a speedy trial, and presented evidence in an attempt to carry his burden of proving entitlement to bail on the capital charges, in accordance with C.Cr.P. Article 313.
On September 6, 1973, the district court denied all relief sought by relator. In its reasons for judgment the court clearly indicated that it found relator had failed to sustain the burden of proving that the presumption of guilt is not great and so denied that portion of relator's application seeking bail on the murder charges. The reasons for judgment further indicate that the denial of relator's motion for a speedy trial was based on the court's reticence to contravene C.Cr.P. Art. 61's grant of authority to the District Attorney to determine " whom, when and how he shall prosecute."
Relator filed an application for a rehearing in the court below, which application was denied after a hearing on September 12, 1973. As noted above, relator thereafter applied for, and we granted, writs. 285 So.2d 542 (1973).
In argument advanced in his application for writs to this Court, relator pretermitted all issues presented except the issue of his right to a speedy trial. In that writ application, he prayed primarily for a speedy trial on the two murder indictments and alternatively for a dismissal of those indictments. Since relator's brief in this Court appeared to be directed solely to the remedy of dismissal of the indictments, the Court requested from the bench that defense counsel specifically inform it of the type of relief being sought. Defense counsel stated to the Court that relator was not primarily seeking a dismissal, but desired that he be afforded his constitutional right to a speedy trial.
We are of the opinion that relator has established his entitlement to be swiftly arraigned and tried on the two murder indictments pending against him. For the past two years relator has been incarcerated by virtue of the pending murder charges. It has been established that during that period at least one witness alleged to be essential to relator's defense has died. The nature of the offense charged and the trial court's determination that relator has failed to meet the burden of proof required for entitlement to bail in charges denominated "capital" insured that relator will be incarcerated until a trial disposition of those charges against him.
In deciding that relator has a right to be quickly arraigned and tried on the murder charges, we do not attempt to dictate to the District Attorney the order of prosecution of multiple charges pending against an accused. Our determination reflects only our concern that defendant be afforded his constitutional right to a speedy trial on the grave charges of murder pending against him. The 6th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, and Article 1, Section 9 of our State Constitution guarantee a criminal defendant the right to a speedy trial. As long as a district attorney's exercise of the authority granted him under C.Cr.P. Article 61 to determine the order in which multiple prosecutions against a defendant are to be brought, does not operate to su-percede the federal and state constitutional guarantees of a speedy trial, it cannot, and will not, be disturbed by the judicial branch of government. The order of the district attorney's prosecution of multiple charges pending against a defendant need not be affected by our ruling.
For the reasons stated above, it is ordered that defendant be brought to trial on the pending murder charges on or before March 25, 1974.
SANDERS, C. J., dissents with written reasons.
SUMMERS, J., dissents with written reasons.
MARCUS, J., dissents.
. C.Cr.P. Art. 61. District attorney; powers and duties
Subject to the supervision of the attorney general, as provided in Article 62, the district attorney has entire charge and control of every criminal prosecution instituted or pending in his district, and determines whom, when and, how he shall prosecute. (Emphasis ours)
. C.Cr.P. Art. 813. Same; capital offenses; special limitation
A person charged with the commission of a capital offense shall not be admitted to bail if the proof is evident or the presumption great that he is guilty of the capital offense.
When a person charged with the commission of a capital offense makes an application for admission to bail, the judge shall hold a hearing contradictorily with the state. The burden of proof:
(1) Prior to indictment is on the state to show that the proof is evident or the presumption great that the defendant is guilty of the capital offense.
(2) After indictment is on the defendant to show that the proof is not evident nor the presumption great that he is guilty of the capital offense.
. Time delay is one of the four criteria set forth for deciding the issue of denial of a speedy trial in the United States Supreme Court decision of Barker v. Wingo, 407 U.S. 514, 92 S.Ct. 2182, 33 L.Ed.2d 101 (1972). The other three factors to be assessed are the reason for the delay, the defendant's assertion of his right and the prejudice to the defendant. Since relator asks for a recognition of his right to a speedy trial, and not for a dismissal predicated on the fact that such a denial is a fait accompli, a full assessment of the factors in this ease is unnecessary.
. Upon denying relator's habeas corpus petition motion for speedy trial and application for bail on the murder charges, the district court, ex proprio motu, set bond on the "riot charge" at $2,000.00. If relator is. tried on the murder charges prior to trial on the "riot charges" and is acquitted he may then be admitted to bail.