Legal Document

351 U.S. 277 76 Supreme Court Reporter 806 100 L.Ed. 1178 Dan DURLEY, Petitioner,v.Nathan MAYO, Custodian, Florida State Prison. Number 489. Argued April 2, 1956. Decided June 4, Mr. Neal Pacific KF135 P2 Rutledge, Miami, Fla., for petitioner. Reeves Bowen, Tallahassee, respondent. Justice BURTON delivered the opinion of Court. 1 In this case our jurisdiction is questioned by because judgment that State, which we are asked to review and was rendered without opinion, may have rested upon an adequate state ground. For reasons hereafter stated, find be true with result no entertain petition or consider merits federal questions suggested While thus deem petitioner's allegations fact as irrelevant here, imply nothing their truth falsity, refrain from any discussion depends assumes truth. 2 1945, petitioner Durley convicted a jury in Criminal Record Polk County, Florida, on two informations. each he charged, three counts, stealing cattle.1 first count information it charged that, July 7, petitioner, others, stole steers Mrs. Bronson; second count, cows; third one heifer. The counts other same men 29, Zipperer cow heifers, animals allegedly stolen being subject separate count. Petitioner sentenced serve five years' imprisonment terms served consecutively, making total 30 years. 3 did not appeal his conviction but, 1949, labeling writ error coram nobis, he, prose, unsuccessfully sought relief. year, also pro se, filed habeas corpus claiming confined violation Fifth Amendment Federal Constitution had been tried informations rather than indictments, verdict perjured testimony,2 denied hearing nobis. This ground failed show probable cause held lawful authority. 4 1952, aid court-appointed counsel, Circuit There claimed commission only two, six, offenses already sufficient time satisfy ten-year sentence would maximum permissible such offenses. rights under United States. A issued, return filed, court heard argument counsel side. quashed. appealed where dismissed opinion. 5 1955, again instituted present proceeding filing another corpus. claimed, inter alia, detention 'abuse Due Process Clause 14th States * *' consecutive sentences violated Constitutions, but were contrary recent decision citing Hearn versus 55 So.2d 559. That argued although neither nor present. denied, 6 rehearing application certiorari granted Court, 350 872, 120, appointed represent him 900, 183. fully briefed jurisdictional issue well merits. 7 has objected consistently entertaining proceeding. Its reason Court's denial 1955 both grounds. Those grounds (1) law, issues presented res judicata 1952 litigation, (2) event, precluded raising raise then comparable prior proceedings fair opportunity do so. 8 State's claim rests primarily Fla.Stat.Ann. § 79.10, provides while denying remains force, person 'shall at liberty obtain cause, bring matter question except action false *.' Florida's based its decisions, particularly Washington Mayo, 77 620, 621. It there stated 'The rule clear prisoner should subsequent proceeding, whatever nature, previously raised determined, determined earlier proceedings.' 9 face these expressions law order establish jurisdiction, must demonstrate can account below. 'Where highest delivers appears might nonfederal ground, will take judgment.' Stembridge Georgia, 343 541, 547, 72 834, 837, 96 1130. 10 'It established principle before affirmatively appear record having necessary determination cause. Honeyman Hanan, 300 14, 18, 57 350, 352, 81 476; Lynch (People of) New York (ex rel. Pierson), 293 52, 16, 79 191. And either sustain judgment, undertake it. Klinger (State Missouri, 13 Wall. 257, 263, 20 635; (Walter A.) Wood Mowing & Reaping Machine company Skinner, 139 293, 297, 11 528, 530, 35 193; Allen Arguimbau, 198 149, 154 155, 25 622, 624, 49 990; supra. But likewise settled if independent (state) substantial one, 'it presumed question, jurisdiction.' supra, page Johnson Risk, 137 300, 307, 111, 113, 34 683; Lawrence Tax Commission, 286 276, 282—283, 52 556, 558, 1102.' Williams Kaiser, 323 471, 477—478, 65 363, 367, 89 398. relied set forth clearly they be, rely inadequacy.3 12 argues 79.10 does embody traditionally broad doctrine judicata. He suggests statute bars relitigation matters specifically decided. By construing none precise sufficiently considered previous petitions. However, treated applying general See ex Cacciatore Drumbright, 116 Fla. 496, 156 Southern S69 721, 97 American Law Reports 154; Prescott, 110 261, 148 533; D'Alessandro Tippins, 102 10, 231. even applied reference 79.10. Davis Hardie, 108 133, 146 97. On hand, has, times, petitions barred decided Moat 82 591; Lee Tucker, 42 49; Pope 39 286; compare supra; more cases, original corpus, those been. Also, unless good failure so, could proceedings. 620; Irvin Chapman, 75 69 307.4 arguing us now proceedings, parties somewhat cases support arguments. decisions squarely point law. whether, free attempted there. We conclude several within meaning and, therefore, practice, least accordingly, above available law.5 14 further 'not so rigidly defeat ends justice.' Universal Const. City Fort Lauderdale, 68 366, 369. Relying case, discretion court, provide authority conclusion. exercising traditional common-law equitable powers, created exception 'unusual situation' confronting Id., 370. facts necessarily read similar into Act legislature. authoritative basis doing 15 Finally, shows raised. At most inconclusive leaves room indicated language 'failed believe detained custody standard form used showing readily 16 Inasmuch decide urges us. shown passed State. 17 lack dismissed. 18 Dismissed. 19 DOUGLAS, whom CHIEF JUSTICE, BLACK CLARK, concur. dissenting. Prison, serving years cattle stealing. February Florida. affording requiring response respondent, custodian prison. timely motion denied. certiorari. 120. 21 circumstances, accepted purposes review. Hawk Olson, 326 271, 273, 66 116, 117, 90 61; 473—474, 365, If taken true, shocking miscarriage justice. 22 1945 County Solicitor charging codefendants, R. baron Massey, Jr., Charles Bath, six cattle, containing counts. defendants belonging Edna cows heifer Bronson. information, William C. Zipperer; day, Zipperer. virtually identical. 23 trial asserted innocence. His however, admitted guilt implicated Their testimony evidence liking crimes charged. All convicted. Bath apparently received 26 Petitioner, 53 old never accused dishonesty, 63 old, sentence. 24 May 1949 assistance prepared inartistically drawn. contended bill grandjury indictment Constitution. Secondly, 'he innocent said offense falsely imprisoned guilty wholly supported prejudge (sic) testimony.' Accompanying affidavit Judge E. Croft relating prison conversation codefendant who relatively light imprisonment. According affidavit, told completely innocent. described agreement Massey made embarked cattle-stealing ventures. They agreed caught, say working worked laborers occasions. explained naming hoped 'passed up' given chance get out country. addition accompanied signed sworn Massey. recanted testimony, clearing all responsibility cattle. story implicating 'was falsehood N Dec. Immigration Nationality Decisions gave hoping me when my came up.' concluded, 'Before God judge Durley, anything testified trial.' unlawful. noted assert use deprived constitutional right. 27 January Union assisted counsel. 5-year amounted double jeopardy substance offenses, carried penalty years, 10-year 'in direct States.' mention issue. After quashed writ. An 28 litigation 1955. repeats double-jeopardy contention charge solely coupling deprives Constitutional Rights afforded America.' arguments elaborated rehearing. Petitioner's violates due process let stand petition—the consideration.1 29 dismisses ground—res disagree. concludes them strangely relies 620. involved contentions expressly contention, previously. though 'has determined.' 622. 31 591, point. litigated proceedings.2 involve us—whether bar conviction.3 32 number former adjudications relitigate 533. 33 Res rigid recently refused apply 'defeat Ft. 369.4 Once alleged conceded, record, defeats justice deny relief here. indicates claims rejected 'probable (petitioner) authority.' Faced 478, said: fails strongly right.' hold case. reach answer seems clear. known prosecution offends process. Mooney Holohan, 294 103, 340, 791; Pyle Kansas, 317 213, 177, 87 214. allege knew codefendants lying knows witnesses against false. No competent conviction. Deprivation circumstances amounts 36 Perhaps charges dispel them. grave involving invasion guaranteed Fourteenth Amendment. '811.11 Horse 'Whoever commits larceny horse, mule, mare, filly, colt, cow, bull, ox, steer, calf, property another, shall punished less years.' allegation knowingly Monney 791. drafted cimcumstances, 'where clear, insist refined (such person) expected supply.' Tomkins 485, 487, 370, 372, 407; Rice 324 786, 791—792, 989, 991—992, 1367; Holiday Johnson, 313 342, 61 1015, 1017, 85 1392. follows practice. Ex parte Amos, 93 5, 12, 112 289, 292; Chase Burch, 963, 968, 113 106, 54 271. appeal, petitioners 'prior proceeding.' These included nobis Irvin. preclude taking stating assuming lacked purposes, dicta. Furthermore, 'apparently instant perjury petition, certainly conclusion growing issue, Our purpose determining whether test met. intimate uhder foreclosed seeking remedial open him. perjured, question. rationale follows: elementary cannot substitute quash arrest 308. obviously appeal. affidavits lied until long after expired. basic end interest every justiciable controversy courts bothered interminable litigation.' (Gordon Gordon, 59 40,) 44; italics supplied. Nevertheless, choice apprehend courts, interested proper administration fiction designed terminate

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