Opinion ID: 1265966
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Availability of Habeas Corpus Arising From Violation of the IAD

Text: The right to habeas relief is, by necessity, limited. If it were not, criminal convictions would never be final and would be subject to endless review. Pursuant to W. Va.Code § 53-4A-1 (a) (1967): Any person convicted of a crime and incarcerated under sentence of imprisonment therefor who contends that there was such a denial or infringement of his rights as to render the conviction or sentence void under the Constitution of the United States or the Constitution of this State, or both, or that the court was without jurisdiction to impose the sentence, or that the sentence exceeds the maximum authorized by law, or that the conviction or sentence is otherwise subject to collateral attack upon any ground of alleged error heretofore available under the common-law or any statutory provision of this State, may, without paying a filing fee, file a petition for a writ of habeas corpus ad subjiciendum, and prosecute the same, seeking release from such illegal imprisonment, correction of the sentence, the setting aside of the pleas, conviction and sentence, or other relief, if and only if such contention or contentions and the grounds in fact or law relied upon in support thereof have not been previously and finally adjudicated or waived in the proceedings which resulted in the conviction and sentence, or in a proceeding or proceedings on a prior petition or petitions filed under the provisions of this article, or in any other proceeding or proceedings which the petitioner has instituted to secure relief from such conviction or sentence. . . . Accordingly, habeas relief is available only where: (1) there is a denial or infringement upon a person's constitutional rights; (2) the court was without jurisdiction to impose the sentence; (3) the sentence exceeds the legal maximum; or (4) the conviction would have been subject to collateral attack by statute or at common-law prior to the adoption of W. Va.Code § 53-4A-1. At issue herein is whether the pre-trial violation of the IAD's anti-shuttling provision provides a basis for habeas relief. As the IAD does not pre-date W. Va.Code § 53-4A-1 and does not involve illegal sentencing, habeas relief would only be available for IAD violations if the IAD involves constitutional protections or jurisdictional matters. We find that it involves neither. i.