Document: 350 U.S. 91 76 S.Ct. 158 100 L.Ed. 83 John MICHEL, Petitioner,v.STATE OF LOUISIANA. Clifton Alton PORET and Edgar Labat, Petitioners, v. STATE Nos. 32, 36. Argued Nov. 8, 9, 1955. Decided Dec. 5, Rehearing Denied Jan. 23, 1956. See 955, 340. On Writs of Certiorari to the Supreme Court Louisiana. Messrs. Gerard H. Schrieber, George Fust, New Orleans, La., for petitioner Michel. Mr. Leon D. Hubert, Jr., respondent. Felicien Y. Lozes, Rudolph F. Becker, petitioners Poret another. Adrian G. Duplantier, Justice CLARK delivered opinion Court. 1 Louisiana requires that objections a grand jury be raised before expiration third judicial day following end jury's term or trial, whichever is earlier.1 In these cases we are asked decide whether this statute as applied violates Fourteenth Amendment. The three petitioners, all Negroes sentenced death aggravated rape, make no attack on composition petit nor fairness their trials but challenge juries which indicted them ground there was systematic exclusion from panels. No hearing held allegations because lower courts found question had been waived. each case affirmed, 225 La. 1040, 74 So.2d 207 226 201, 75 333, granted certiorari, 348 936, 361 950, 444, importance issues involved. 2 Grand in Orleans Parish impaneled September March serve six months. Since § 202 Criminal Code, interpreted, defendant object days after its term, time raise such may vary minimum days—if last term—to much longer period if he during term. Section 284 Code Procedure, LSA—R.S. 15:284, provides any must made arraignment. 3 We do not find requirement face raises an insuperable barrier one making claim federal rights. test has "a reasonable opportunity have issue claimed right heard determined' by State court.' Parker People Illinois, 333 571, 574, 68 708, 710, 92 886; Davis Wechsler, 263 22, 44 13, 143; Central Union Tel. Co. City Edwardsville, 269 190, 46 90, 70 229; Paterno Lyons, 334 314, 1044, 1409. Carter Texas, 177 442, 20 687, 839. Avery Alabama, 308 60 321, 84 377, lapse between appointment counsel date trial itself denial due process. motion quash short, simple document, easily prepared single afternoon.2 light Avery, three-day unreasonable. Wilson Louisiana, 320 714, 64 202, 88 419.3 But circumstances particular case, application rule give question. Reece Georgia, 85, 167. Accordingly pass consideration facts cases. 4 No. 32. Michel.—Michel February 19, 1953, presented court arraignment 23. He appeared without continued week. During week, judge talked with Schreiber, former assistant district attorney wide experience local criminal practice. Schreiber would take private retained. indicated accepted, additional appointed. 5 Michel expired 2, 1953. same again counsel. also present other business then appointed him Whereupon look it over continue matter mention co-counsel made, continuance granted. 6 Thereafter, received formal notice his which, though required law, appears at times served 6, Fust co-counsel. indictment filed 9—four appointment, five (7 calendar days) jury. demurred came too late. 7 determination fact decisive case: precise It contended until notice; aware chief told 7th 'assist' Schreiber; even assumed unfamiliar thought week's open petitioner's record, however, shows contradiction court, presence petitioner, 2. so explicitly upheld finding. While findings conclusive Court, Rogers 192 226, 24 257, 48 417, they entitled great weight, Fay York, 332 261, 272, 67 1613, 1619, 2043. state practice unfamiliar, will ordinarily overturn two mere assertion did consider himself record. counsel, lawyer experienced practice, adequate file hold 8 Labat.—These co-defendants were convicted rape death. Neither jury, both motions indictments claiming discrimination selection grand-jury panel. considered separately. 9 Poret.—Shortly crime committed, eluded police officers fled December 11, 1950, arrested nothing known whereabouts late 1951 when authorities discovered prison Tennessee. That refused release detainer against him, returned October 3, 1952. At 27, 1952, assisted own selection. pleaded guilty severance. November 7, severance, moved—for first time—to After determined fugitive justice, denied more than year half Under filing 1951, provisions 'suspended nullified benefit justice who, conduct' unable assert right. holding affirmed 10 beyond under Due Process Clause Amendment attach limitations constitutional rights.4 More particularly, require prompt discriminatory practices make-up problem here limitation avoided simply showing prosecution throughout entire provided him. 11 Petitioner argues since allowed record Tennessee months expired, intervened except voluntary flight. Thus Poret's is, effect, flight violation 18 U.S.C. 1073, U.S.C.A. converted into immunity operation valid rule. believe status existing excuses failure resort Louisiana's established statutory procedure available who wish This say act fleeing becoming deprives only regard fair well effective administration gives legitimate interest requiring attacks inquisitorial process5 bow essential considerations individual defendants. 12 said lawyer, either 87-day 202. However, remained fugitive, could elected flee. fact, us, ample those claims. cannot assume like treatment select choice. We, therefore, conclude Poret, action, failed avail remedies. 'No procedural principle familiar forfeited civil timely * *.' Yakus United States, 321 414, 660, 677, 834. Even felony where, unlike prosecutions, right, strictly circumscribed within addressed made. Fed.Rules Crim.Proc., 12(b) (3), Likewise Congress important rules Statute Limitations 'any person justice.' 3290, 3290. 13 affords perfect illustration necessity claims here. Five years now elapsed delay largely caused actions. available, memory permitted, victim witness reluctant retell sordid story her unfortunate experience. conviction whose highest trial. 14 Furthermore, added being employing personal 26, still 7. already arraigned implied waiver Rather asserting opportunity,6 delayed four process denying out time. 15 Labat.—Edgar Labat codefendant. apprehended evening crime, implicated Poret. January guilty. E. I. Mahoney petitioner. Thereafter unchanged year. next entry dated 29, leave withdraw. Gill thereafter employed, June 12, moved continuance. hearing, continued. codefendant State. 1951. 16 contends representation Powell 287 45, 53 55, 77 158. quash, so. stated oral argument old took ill bed several show lack As Michel's accept findings. There little support opposite conclusion well-known nearly fifty years' bar. evidence incompetence.7 does overcome presumption effectivess. States ex rel. Feeley Ragen, Cir., 166 F.2d 976. might sound strategy, particularly found. infer circumstance alone. Such inference vitiate designed preliminary disposed 17 argument, contention requirements Negro defendants attempted They cited demurrers quashed set statute. attorney, office some eighteen serving policy apply whenever possible. Petitioners' below, properly put issue, Pennsylvania R. Illinois Brick Co., 297 447, 463, 56 556, 561, 80 796. If allegation preserved, very different 417. For reasons judgments affirmed. 19 Affirmed. BLACK whom CHIEF JUSTICE DOUGLAS concur, dissenting. 21 colored, indicted, court. indicting drawn parish where 32% population colored. Only once people living colored selected juror. juror, happened white man, mistaken idea one. foregoing disputed 22 Each challenges validity result deliberate account race. 1875 disqualify citizens service race color. Stat. 336, amended, 243, 243. And adoption consistently Federal Constitution. Patton Mississippi, 465—466, 184, 185—186, 76, cited. holds, so, thereby waiving rights charges legal Without going I think afforded shall add few words, about supposed 23 allegedly committing indicted. law long brought back apparent therefore arrest never true early enough challenged composition. reason holds federally guaranteed unpacked agree kind Constitution congressional enactment can thus why others? Could declare anyone flees waived tried unbiased judge? Cf. re Murchison, 349 133, 623. charged 62 755, another avoid prosecution. certainly authorize forfeit protected accused violated fleeing. suppose power thing. our system bad man every stage tribunal. 25 advanced supporting use device contrived justify flagrant arguments substantial prior decisions. contrary, strongly asserted defenses permitted others despite guilt innocence separate distinct upon tried. Hovey Elliott, 167 409, 841, 42 215. majority dissenting opinions National Marine Cooks & Stewards Arnold, 37, 92. Court's me far weight racial discrimination. 26 reverse convictions jointly unconstitutionally vacate Labat. Ashcraft Tennessee, 322 143, 155—156, 921, 927, 1192, 327 274, 279, 66 544, 546, 90 667. Malinski 324 401, 65 781, 89 1029. 27 DOUGLAS, 28 accorded opportunity, constitutionality them. 29 Michel, deadline quash. From clear believed contains sworn statement official 5; what tells us seriousness argument. 30 crucial thought, effect misunderstanding yet rendered critical period, appointment. representations real saved execution. course, allow got prevented getting 31 apparently shortly committed. expired. objection, foreclosed and, shows, knowledge pending It's commission offense, raising impaneling, 689, circumstances, His wrong punished. dangerous doctrine deprive wrongful conduct currently gaining momentum. disavow it. accused, regardless conduct, reputation beliefs, full guarantees Every should invoke goes ever having accordance mandate 32 convictions* come forward unconstitutional LRS—R.S. 15:202, that: 'All manner selecting drawing juror defect irregularity array venire filed, pleaded, urged drawn, entering begun sooner; otherwise, afterwards heard.' Wilson, 204 24, 873, 875, appeal dismissed, 419, interpreted phrase 'the term' mean term.' construction adhered to, Chianelli, 552, 727, follows: 'Motion Quash 'Now Honorable comes herein, Indictment read protesting offense therein, moves entirety, aside general involved herein Jury Panel proceedings attending presentment Indictment, mover deprived equal protection '1. Defendant member '2. considering negro number negroes qualified service, systematic, unlawful returning herein; units existed continuously hereto Orleans; color; instances included Panels referred discriminated arbitrary inapportionate (sic) limiting officials sufficiently acquainted themselves qualifications potential jurors. 'Wherefore, siad prays Motion maintained declared null void discharged Indictment.' dismissing supra, note 1, stated: 'The dismiss dismissed appearing decision based nonfederal it.' 419. 'A forbids questions stages prescribed method, recognized exercise power. enough.' Williams 375, 382—383, 814, 819, 6. Brown Allen, 344 443, 486, 73 397, 422, 97 469. Not matters second determination, here, makes extremely difficult class prima facie defendant. Material witnesses jurors die jurisdiction, memories intent specific relating lose sharpness. successful sat earlier affect Agnew 165 36, 235, 41 624. Mahoney, deceased, exceptionally 1955, profession honored plaque 'an astute mindful oath administered 52 ago uphold guarantee pointed State's brief, immediate entirely discretion doing vacated grounds. 1192.

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