Case Name: STATE of Louisiana v. David KLINE
Court: Louisiana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 1985-10-04
Citations: 475 So. 2d 1093
Docket Number: No. 85-KK-1153
Parties: STATE of Louisiana v. David KLINE.
Judges: DENNIS, J., concurs in part and dissents in part with reasons.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 475
Pages: 1093–1093

Head Matter:
STATE of Louisiana v. David KLINE.
No. 85-KK-1153.
Supreme Court of Louisiana.
Oct. 4, 1985.
Reconsideration Denied Nov. 22, 1985.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM.
Defendant is ordered released from custody on his sentence of one and one-half years at hard labor for attempted possession of a firearm in violation of R.S. 14:27; 14:95.1. The record contains no evidence that defendant had any part in securing his release from the parish jail on order of the trial judge within fifteen days of the date he surrendered himself after this Court affirmed his conviction and sentence on appeal. State v. Kline, 422 So.2d 1164 (La.1982). The record does indicate that the criminal sheriff and district attorney's office were fully aware of the situation and took no action for eighteen months while the defendant reestablished himself in the community, obtained work, and avoided any further problems with the authorities. Under these circumstances, reincarceration of the defendant to serve the balance of his term would be inconsistent with fundamental principles of liberty and justice. See, Johnson v. Williford, 682 F.2d 868 (9th Cir.1982); United States v. Merritt, 478 F.Supp. 804 (D.D.C.1979); Lanier v. Williams, 361 F.Supp. 944 (E.D.N.C.1973); see also, Shields v. Beto, 370 F.2d 1003 (5th Cir.1963); White v. Pearlman, 42 F.2d 788 (10th Cir.1930); Ex Parte Eley, 9 Okl.Cr. 76, 130 P. 821 (1913).
DENNIS, J., concurs in part and dissents in part with reasons.