Legal Document

389 U.S. 109 88 Supreme Court Reporter 258 19 United States Reports Lawyer’s Edition 2d Series KF101.8 U54 319 James Cleveland BURGETT, Petitioner,v.STATE OF TEXAS. Number 53. Argued Oct. 18, 1967. Decided Nov. 13, R. Gordon Gooch, Houston, Tex., for petitioner. Leon baron Douglas, Austin, respondent. Mr. Justice DOUGLAS delivered the opinion of Court. 1 Petitioner was convicted 'assault with malice aforethought intent to murder; repetition offense.' The jury fixed punishment at 10 years in Texas State Penitentiary.1 On appeal, Criminal Appeals affirmed petitioner's conviction.2 We granted certiorari, 386 931, 87 959, 17 805. 2 charged a five-count indictment. In first count alleged that he had cut one Bradley knife and stabbed Bradley's throat kill. Pursuant recidivist statutes,3 remaining counts indictment consisted allegations petitioner incurred four previous felony convictions: conviction burglary, three Tennessee convictions forgery. If these were found be true, would subject term life imprisonment upon offense one.4 3 Petitioner's counsel filed pretrial motion quash referring prior failure apprise defense what attempt prove.5 record is silent as court's action on this motion. But when read beginning trial, before any evidence introduced, relating included. 4 During course while present, offered into certified copy convictions. part, 'Came Assistant Attorney-General Defendant proper person without Counsel.' objected introduction ground judgment its face showed not represented by violation Fourteenth Amendment. There no indication been waived. court stated it reserve ruling objection, apparently give an opportunity offer other evidence. then second version same which appeared 'in person' but did contain additional words 'without counsel.' This also 'After said heard evidence, argument counsel, charge Court, they retired consider their verdict.' It clear, however, whether 'counsel' being used singular or plural, event explanation discrepancy between two records. section ground. again reserved ruling. 5 case. indicated received Thereafter, testimony concerning sentence After some given, excused hearing continued out presence. At conclusion hearing, attorney void under state law. sustained stricken from time, objection conviction; overruled conviction. recalled substantive charged. next reference th instructed offenses6 purpose whatsoever arriving verdict. 6 new trial denied. Appeals, argued, inter alia, erred permitting through five failing sustain admission held since suffered enhanced provided statutes, instruction disregard offenses error presented. 7 do sit criminal appeals review cases. are free provide such procedures choose, including rules none them infringes guarantee Federal Constitution. recent right-to-counsel cases, starting Gideon versus Wainwright, 372 335, 83 792, 9 799, illustrative limitations Constitution places procedures. Those sometimes touch 8 exclusion coerced confessions example. Chambers Florida, 309 227, 60 472, 84 L.Ed. 716. seized Fourth Amendments another. Mapp Ohio, 367 643, 81 1684, 1081. Still another illustrated Pointer Texas, 380 400, 85 1065, 13 923. case we transcript preliminary excluded because defendant lawyer not, therefore, have cross-examine principal witness against him who time left State. exclusionary rule fashioned designed protect privilege confrontation guaranteed Sixth Amendment made applicable Fourteenth. 11 result must follow here. Wainwright established right virtue Fourteenth, making unconstitutional try unless validly waived one. And limited prospective applications. See Doughty Maxwell, 376 202, 702, 650; Pickelsimer 375 2, 80, 41. records raise presumption denied his proceeding, therefore void. Presuming waiver impermissible. Carnley Cochran, 369 506, 82 884, 70. To permit obtained either support guilt enhance (see Greer Beto, 384 269, 86 1477) erode principle Worse yet, defect denial accused effect suffers anew deprivation right. 12 constitutionally infirm standards inherently prejudicial unable say instructions it7 constitutional 'harmless beyond reasonable doubt' within meaning Chapman California, 824, 705. Our decision last Term Spencer 385 554, 648, 606, relevant our present problem. presumptively Moreover, contention phase prejudiced crimes. As noted, '(i)n us, * specific federal right—such dealing confessions—is involved; reliance placed solely general 'fairness' approach.' Id., 565, 654. case, 'specific right,' anew. cannot suffer serious erosion. 14 Reversed. 15 Chief WARREN, concurring. 16 & N Dec. Immigration Nationality Decisions am full agreement reasons therein reversing However, view terse dissent entered my Brother Harlan, feel constrained add observations own. refers Court's entire thrust reminiscent stamp approval evolves. reminds us '(w)e errors cases.' disagree statement abstract proposition. abstracts very real defendant's rights told 'this shows prosecutorial bad faith intentional misconduct.' misses mark. proceedings those flow 'prosecutorial misconduct.'1 concern errors, well-intentioned not,2 protected fair impartial trial. 18 classic example how eroding procedural liberty can assume avalanche proportions, burying beneath integrity fact-finding process. Spencer, approved procedure whereby State, sole enhancing punishment, includes crimes enters crimes, matter unrelated might tried. adopted went so far allow enter even though willing stipulate earlier harsh expanded degree close barbarism. addition charging crime murder,' convictions, Tennessee. Despite efforts portions start one-day prosecutor proceeded counsel. judge objection. prosecution omitted absence show All occurred presence jury. taken returned, ruled addition, conviction.3 returned continued. hear brief advising jurors purpose. never told, failed validity 20 Thus, deliberations knowing imprisoned felonies, although proven expect could wipe memory decide only basis assault place too much jury's ability detach itself reality. particularly true gave slightest clue why matters consumed suddenly removed consideration. 21 suggest accords man due process belief. has reversed cases based unfair influences juries deemed minor compared pervasive prejudice Not long ago bailiff remarked jurors, 'Oh wicked fellow, guilty'; and, 'If there anything wrong (in verdict) will correct it.' Parker Gladden, 363, 468, 420. murder witnesses deputy sheriffs assigned accompany sequestered. Turner Louisiana, 379 466, 546, 424.4 transgressions offend fairness, doubted stripped all vestiges explained them? 22 frightful progeny decision's unjustified deviation settled principles fairness. Today needed limitation rule, nothing except outright rejection truly serve cause justice. 23 HARLAN, whom BLACK WHITE join, dissenting. 24 misconduct. extent contemplated use one-stage decided Term. fact turned inadmissible involves most later corrected affirm court. maximum penalty 25 years; minimum years. Tex.Pen.Code, Article 1160 (Supp.1966). Burgett Tex.Cr.App., 397 South Western Reporter, 2nd 79 (1965). statutes involved here Articles 62 63 Tex.Pen.Code (1952). provides: 'It shown less than capital offense, samd nature, subsequent shall highest affixed commission ordinary 'Whoever times third penitentiary.' amended court, 'so establish (the enhancement) admissibility jury; reading herein.' withdrew consideration forgery accepted. applied Further, considered 'same nature' murder, applicable. n. 3, supra. introduce date. invoke provisions 63, each succeeding both respect Cowan 172 Tex.Cr.R. 183, 355 521 (1962). See, e.g., Boyd States, 142 450, 292, 35 1077; Clarke, 343 90 (C.A.3d Cir. 1965). Cf. Waldron Waldron, 156 361, 383, 389, 39 453; Throckmorton Holt, 180 552, 474, 45 663; Lawrence 357 434 (C.A.10th 1966); DeDominicis, 332 207 (C.A.2d 1964). What Jackson Krulewitch 336 440, 445, 453, 69 716, 723, 93 790 (concurring opinion), sensitive area conspiracy equally repetitive 'The naive assumption effects overcome practicing lawyers know unmitigated fiction.' Prosecutorial faith, course, irrelevant element often make more intolerable demand correction Miller Pate, 1, 785, 690; Napue People Illinois, 360 264, 1173, 1217; Mooney Holohan, 294 103, 55 340, 791. alone viewing terms prosecutor's good faith. disposed cryptic observation '(t)here showing part alleging attempting prove convictions.' Boswell tells Dr. Johnson once observed 'Hell paved intentions.' Boswell, Life Samuel 257 (Great Books ed. 1952). good-faith should prevail, surely road prison intentions. indictment, aware mean express disapproval decisions Turner. joined opinions doubt practices condemned odds follows fortiori presented

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