Document: 342 U.S. 134 72 S.Ct. 191 96 L.Ed. 154 PALMERv.ASHE, Warden. No. 38. Decided Dec. 11, 1951. Argued Nov. 5, Opinion Conformed to Jan. 26, 1952. See 86 A.2d 61. Mr. Louis B. Schwartz, Philadelphia, Pa., for petitioner. Leonard H. Levenson, Pittsburgh, respondent. of the Court by Justice BLACK, announced FRANKFURTER. 1 This has repeatedly held that Due Process Clause Fourteenth Amendment requires states afford defendants assistance counsel in noncapital criminal cases when there are special circumstances showing without a lawyer defendant could not have an adequate and fair defense.* Petitioner, prisoner Pennsylvania penitentiary, is serving second two five-to-fifteen-year sentences simultaneously imposed after pleas guilty state offenses. He sought release these habeas corpus proceedings filed Common Pleas. His petition alleged his were entered benefit other existed which deprived him opportunity capacity fairly defend himself. Answers warden district attorney admitted petitioner had been represented counsel, but asserted trial record sufficiently refuted petitioner's allegations. On consideration answers court allegations, light record, failed show probable cause discharge. The case was then dismissed, thereby depriving any offer evidence prove Superior affirmed, 167 Pa.Super. 88, 74 725, State Supreme refused allow appeal. right being important constitutional safeguard, we granted motion proceed forma pauperis certiorari. 341 919, 71 738. 2 We must look determine whether particular sufficient entitle judicial hearing. In summary allegations are: When arrested December 20, 1930, officers told he charged with 'breaking entering Leaders Dry Goods Store.' Later, before magistrate, again charge entering.' Petitioner never saw indictments against nor they read him. knew robbery intended plead such crime. Taken courtroom 'the District Attorney informed Court, wishes guillty' matter minute, more or less, foregoing sentence answered 'Yes' Court's query, 'Do you this charge?" 'was offered advised * *.' After arrival at first learned, according petition, sentenced lesser also alleges 'a young irresponsible boy, having spent several years Polk (because mentally abnormal), as well Morganza.' allegation mental abnormality supported penitentiary warden's answer confined (a institution) from August, 1918, September, 1920, because 'Imbecile.' shows born 1909; orphanage inmate year beginning 1916; reformatories larceny entering' eight ten between time institution offense now prison. 3 All if proven, would present compelling reasons why desperately needed legal services. Incarceration boy imbecility, followed repeated activities wholly incompatible normal standards conduct, indicates no qualities mind character calculated enable protect himself give-and-take trial. Moreover, can be proof what charges, victim inadvertent intentional deception who, so alleges, persuaded armed telling only breaking entering, maximum imprisonment compared twenty robbery. 18 Purdon's Pa.Stat.Ann. (1930) §§ 2892, 3041.1 aspect strikingly like those entitled hearing Smith v. O'Grady, 312 329, 61 572, 85 859. 4 It strongly urged here, however, satisfactorily should behind particularly view long elapsed since pleaded guilty. Of course may relevantly considered proceeding. some respects record. But does even inferentially deny deceived him, understanding plea petitioner, unless resort speculation surmise. too valuable our system dilute it untrustworthy reasoning. Cf. Hawk Olson, 326 271, 278, 66 116, 120, 90 judgment dismissing reversed remanded further action inconsistent opinion. 5 ordered. 6 Judgment action. 7 MINTON, whom CHIEF JUSTICE, REED JACKSON join, dissenting. 8 Petitioner's contention failure provide denial due process law. 9 following facts courts: Most life correctional institutions. At age placed School, institution, discharged less than years. About discharge Polk, sent eleven Thorn Hill School on larceny. paroled three years, returned months delinquency larceny, finally later. Approximately fourteen Hill, Training Morganza entering. one-half one parole violator. about four later, 18, twenty-first birthday. day, attempted committed indicted, February 1931, term five fifteen each offense, run consecutively. These attacked sentence, robbery, August 1942, begin sentence. September 19, 1947, violator April 1, 1949, incarcerated penitentiary. 10 courts found 'special circumstances' warrant hold shown conviction sentencing, violative Clause. 11 did allege sentencing incompetent. concerning incompetency recital Paragraph follows: 'Your abnormal) Yet us. 12 thought pleading police charge. However, argument contended state, denied, showed indictments, Leaders' Store, received suspended discovered mistake examined penitentiary's psychology department upon admission. With knowledge, remained silent eighteen half parole. 13 A continuous crime, extending throughout entire youth, experience unhappy boy. One think propensity crime alert condition. incompetent almost nine Morganza, 1921 until 1930. If infirmity, surely officials institutions fact called their attention institution. duty statute 1927, officials, where 1927 clearly Pa.Laws p. 431, 281, Pa.Stat.Ann., Tit. 50, § 51. I cannot believe accepted open done known intimation defective. assume under all practice them disposition rule proceedings, competent man twenty-one sentenced.* otherwise. 14 know doing so? not; arrested. Aside thereon made error it, seeking discharging took into record: 15 revealed arrested, presented magistrate information officer others, separately, David Brinn, grocery store owner, Peter Rosella, owner. victims appeared testified, together witnesses. Brinn who witnesses, prepared testify. Their names endorsed witnesses defendants. endorsed. 16 allowable conclude trial, improbable matters exist discharge, necessity indicated. assume, absence contrary, twentyone contention, late, crimes bit hard believe, especially commit offenses For aught appears offenses—he them. To me plain whole Under Pennsylvania, writ satisfied issue. Commonwealth ex rel. McGlinn Smith, 344 Pa. 41, 47—48, 24 4—5. permissible issue, necessary. Uveges 335 437, 69 184, 93 127; Bute Illinois, 333 640, 677, 68 763, 782, 92 986, cited. pointed out opinion minority believed Sixth Amendments require both federal prosecutions defense. Now Penal Code 1939, P.S. 4705, 4901. majority 'supported 'Imbecile." imbecile, seem many encounters observed low grade mentality. An imbecile next lowest intelligence among defectives, 'with quotient 25 49, adult equivalent child years.' Fairchild, Dictionary Sociology (1944), 149. brief stated admission IQ 74.

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