Opinion ID: 6309848
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: rulings on procedural matters

Text: The hearing was originally set for 10:00 a.m. on Friday, August 12, 1977. Respondent was in the course of a murder trial before a judge and jury in [ ]. It was late in the day before the jury had found respondent’s client guilty and on Friday morning the jury resumed deliberations to determine the punishment. A continuance was granted, partly because of the insistence of the judge involved, and the hearing on the instant matter was held in the afternoon. Respondent neither stated that he would file a brief nor waived the right to do so. By letter, petitioner advised that he waived the right to file an initial brief, retaining the right to file a reply brief. No brief was filed by respondent by October 3,1977, the terminal date. Respondent requested and was granted the right to file “letters in the form of character testimony” (transcript, pages 16-18). No such letters have been filed, and September 23, the terminal date for fifing them, has now passed. No objection was made to the introduction of any of the evidence presented and no ruling was required.