Opinion ID: 1842634
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: is cole entitled to an evidentiary hearing?

Text: Cole's final claim focuses on his alleged right to an evidentiary hearing. He states he was without benefit of counsel at the time, and relies on our pronouncements in Billiot v. State, 515 So.2d 1234, 1237 (Miss. 1987) and Neal v. State, 525 So.2d 1279 (Miss. 1987) to the effect that he is entitled to an in-court opportunity to prove his claim if the pleadings meet the requirements of the act and presents a claim procedurally alive substantially showing denial of a state or federal right. These pronouncements have been followed in subsequent cases. See Myers v. State, 583 So.2d 174 (Miss. 1991); Harris v. State, 578 So.2d 617, 619 (Miss. 1991); Wright v. State, 577 So.2d 387 (Miss. 1991). We have analogized the Court's position when faced with a petition meeting pleading requirements with that of a court in a civil proceeding considering a motion for summary judgment. Neal, 525 So.2d at 1281; Harris, 578 So.2d at 619; Wright, 577 So.2d at 389; Billiot, 515 So.2d at 1237. There is a distinction, however, in that section 99-39-11 of our UPCCRA provides that the trial judge shall examine not only the pleadings, but also files, records, transcripts and correspondence relating to the judgment under attack as well as prior proceedings in the case in making his determination. In making this examination, the Circuit Court ascertained that the official court minutes of the proceedings leading up to the judgment under attack showed that Cole was represented by counsel during the proceedings, and his pleadings are insufficient to create a factual issue disputing the verity imported to official records. In its Opinion and Order, the Circuit Court stated: [T]he Court finds the following facts and circumstances existed in regard to the guilty plea(s) entered in 1957... . It is clear from a review of the official minute books of this Court that the inclusion of language indicating that a defendant was represented by counsel was not a mere formality entered in every case. This becomes apparent when all the entries are read. The records reflect that the inclusion of the Court's finding that certain defendants were represented by counsel was not a mere formality, but was only entered when a defendant was actually represented by counsel. [T]he Minutes clearly state that petitioner was represented by counsel. The entry regarding the January 21, 1957, guilty plea to manslaughter in Cause No. 5052 is found on page 93 of Minute Book 14 of the Circuit Court of Coahoma County, Mississippi, plainly reads that petitioner was represented by counsel... . The records of the Circuit Court of Coahoma County affirmatively demonstrate that petitioner was represented by counsel at the time he entered guilty plea(s)... . The Circuit Court found that Cole's claim of denial of counsel is belied by the applicable minutes of the court. These judicial records import absolute verity and may not be impeached by parole evidence. Entrekin v. Tidewater Associated Oil Co., 203 Miss. 767, 35 So.2d 305, 307 (1948); Shows v. State, 103 Miss. 640, 60 So. 726 (1913); Clark v. State, 100 Miss. 751, 57 So. 209 (1912); Jones v. Williams, 62 Miss. 182, 184 (1884). In Entrekin, 35 So.2d at 307, we stated: [O]fficial records required by law to be kept, import verity. [Citations omitted]. They deal with and dispose of, property, liberty and lives of litigants. There must be an end and finality to such proceedings. To permit witnesses, years after the judicial acts have taken place, to give to triers of fact who might accept them, their oral opinions that... official records were not genuine, would produce utter chaos in judicial procedure... . [I]t would cut the throat of reason and knock the brains out of common sense. The verity imported to the minutes of the court reciting that Cole was represented by counsel during the 1957 court proceedings may not be overcome by his affidavit disputing the record. Such affidavit is simply a written proffer of parole evidence. The rule announced by us in Entrekin clearly shows this is insufficient. See also Turner v. State, 590 So.2d 871 (Miss. 1991) (affirming summary denial of a post-conviction relief petition where the petitioner's claim was belied by the record of the plea colloquy between petitioner and the trial judge). In addition, Cole is time barred. Under these circumstances, the Circuit Court was well within its authority in denying and dismissing Cole's motion without an evidentiary hearing.