Opinion ID: 2129074
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: On Amended Motion to Quash Writ of Habeas Corpus

Text: PAULSON, Judge. Neil David John petitioned this court for a writ of habeas corpus. The court thereafter ordered that such proceeding be continued for a period of sixty days or until a new probation revocation hearing was held by the Parole Board, pursuant to its rules.  The Board held another hearing on May 29, 1968, at which time petitioner was present in person and with his attorney. This matter comes before us now on the amended motion by the respondents to quash the writ of habeas corpus, on the following grounds: 1. That the Petitioner, Neil John, is properly imprisoned in the State Penitentiary pursuant to sentence by the District Court, First Judicial District, dated October 3, 1966; 2. That the said Petitioner, Neil John, has not been released from said sentence by order of the State Parole Board, or otherwise, since the original sentencing; and 3. That the said Petitioner, Neil John, has not completed serving his time under said sentence. The amended motion is supported by the records which were on file in the office of the chief parole officer and clerk of the State Parole Board of the State of North Dakota, together with a transcript of the probation violation hearing. In his return to the respondents' amended motion (which return sets forth petitioner's contentions and reasons for his release, and which will be discussed as the same are applicable to this phase of the proceeding), the petitioner alleges that no meaningful and unprejudicial hearing could be granted before the same Board which he had previously accused of having violated his constitutional rights. In addition, he alleges that the Board's judgment of the arguments and statements presented were colored by its previous findings. These two contentions cannot be sustained because there is no provision, under Section 12-59-15 of the North Dakota Century Code, whereby the personnel of such Board may be changed or altered by virtue of the filing of an affidavit of prejudice against such Board, as in cases where an affidavit of prejudice is filed against a judge. Furthermore, a perusal of the transcript shows that John had more than the full hearing required by the statute and by the rules of the Parole Board. The Board gave John timely notice of the hearing and notice of the claims as to the manner in which he violated his probation. John was represented by retained, competent, and experienced counsel. He was provided with an opportunity to have witnesses to give testimony or evidence in his behalf, and he was afforded the opportunity to cross-examine Mr. Riedman. A transcript of the hearing was provided and the Board complied with all the provisions and requirements of its rules and regulations. John further asserts that the information now presented to this court on the amended motion was not presented by the respondents at the parole revocation hearing; that is, the letter from the administrator of the State Hospital dated April 29, 1968; the report of the police department of Minneapolis, Minnesota; the report of the police department of Jamestown, North Dakota; and the parole violation report, consisting of one page. A further review of the transcript of the proceedings establishes that Mr. Riedman was called to read the parole violation report, which report summarizes the activities of the petitioner which were the bases for the revocation of his probation. Counsel for John at such time had ample opportunity to cross-examine Mr. Riedman concerning the report and to examine the information contained in the file, but determined not to pursue such a course of action. Certainly where such records were available to John and his attorney, together with the rule providing for the attendance of witnesses at the hearing, and the provision to permit the examination of the file of the chief parole officer prior to the hearing (Sec. 12-59-04, N.D.C.C.), neither the petitioner nor his counsel can now complain because of a belated error in judgment. In fact, the record clearly established the violations committed by John while he was a patient at the State Hospital and that such violations were the grounds for the revocation of his probation. In addition thereto, John's counsel, even though the hearing was in the nature of an administrative hearing and not a  judicial hearing, conceded and admitted all of the activities in which John participated while at the State Hospital and, accordingly, buttressed the parole violation report summarized by Mr. Riedman. John strenuously urges that at the time he committed such acts he was in fact mentally incapable of and, accordingly, not responsible for his activities by reason of the sentence of Judge Hager which placed John in a mental institution and thus John's various escapades would not come within the purview of parole violations. The commitment to the State Hospital is not a judicial determination of the legal status of an individual. State ex rel. Sathre v. Roberts, 67 N.D. 92, 269 N.W. 913, 108 A.L.R. 37 (1936). There is nothing in the record to indicate that John was ever judicially declared incompetent. On the contrary, the record reveals that John was fully cognizant of having discussed his rights with his attorney and, when queried by a member of the Parole Board concerning the grounds for revocation of his probation, John refused to answer and requested his attorney to do so in his behalf. The reaction of John to such questions tends also to negate any claim of mental incompetency. The allegation of mental incompetency was raised in the original argument to the court and in petitioner's original brief. This same contention is again reasserted. However, John has not at any time produced any competent evidence in support of his mental status at the time he was a patient at the Jamestown State Hospital, nor did he present any evidence concerning his mental incompetency at either of the two Parole Board revocation hearings. The burden of proof falls upon John and not upon the respondents to establish his incompetency and, having failed to offer any evidence, this contention cannot be sustained. Zundel v. Zundel, 146 N.W.2d 896 (N.D.1966); 29 Am.Jur., Insane Persons, § 133, p. 254. Furthermore, there has been no showing on the part of John supporting his allegation with reference to the Parole Board's acting in an arbitrary and capricious manner. The record conclusively shows that the Parole Board afforded the petitioner and his counsel unlimited opportunity to present evidence by the petitioner, to cross-examine the witness or witnesses appearing for the respondents, and to secure other witnesses on behalf of the petitioner. The writ of habeas corpus is quashed. TEIGEN, C. J., and ERICKSTAD, STRUTZ, and KNUDSON, JJ., concur.