Opinion ID: 290857
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Edward L. Tibbs

Text: 27 On December 12, 1960, the Corporation Court of Charlottesville, Virginia, imposed a 15-year sentence on Edward Tibbs for robbery by force and violence. Tibbs is presently serving that sentence. On December 16, 1960, the Circuit Court of Albemarle County sentenced him to ten years for armed robbery, to be served after his 15-year sentence expires. The maximum possible sentence for both armed robbery and robbery by force and violence in Virginia is death. 28 In January 1966 Tibbs challenged the ten-year sentence in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia on the ground, inter alia, that he was denied the right of appeal. The district judge agreed and ordered that the state either allow Tibbs to apply for a writ of error to the Supreme Court of Appeals of Virginia, retry him, or release him. The Supreme Court of Appeals subsequently granted him leave to appeal, but, after conferring with appointed counsel, Tibbs stated by letter dated October 19, 1966, that he wished to withdraw his appeal. 29 Subsequently, on January 18, 1968, he filed a second federal petition, raising the same claims asserted in his first petition and the additional claim that he had withdrawn his state appeal due to 'threats of the lawyer and Prosecutor.' In an order granting Tibbs' request to withdraw his appeal, the Circuit Court of Albemarle County had stated: 30 5. On October 10, 1966, the said Forbes R. Reback (Tibbs' attorney appointed on appeal) journeyed to the City of Richmond, Virginia and there met in extended consultation with the said Edward Lee Tibbs and then and there advised him of all of his rights and discussed with him several possibilities and probabilities which he could expect in the event that a writ of error was allowed. A copy of the transcript of the trial held December 16, 1960, was left with the said Edward Lee Tibbs for his examination. 31 6. On October 20, 1966, the said Forbes R. Reback received a letter from Edward Lee Tibbs dated October 19, 1966, a copy of which has been filed with the papers in this case in which the said Edward Lee Tibbs clearly states his desire after mature consideration, to proceed no further with this appeal and that the matter be henceforth removed from the docket. 32 Order of Waddell, J. at 2 (November 28, 1966). The United States District Court dismissed Tibbs' petition on June 3, 1968, 287 F.Supp. 858, primarily on the ground that he had voluntarily withdrawn his state appeal. 33 Tibbs appealed from the order of dismissal. On appeal, he clearly articulates, for the first time, his contention that he was denied the right to appeal because he feared increased punishment at a new trial.