Court Opinion

ID: 9466357
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 01:13:18.548132+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:39:41.375010
License: Public Domain

FRIENDLY, Circuit Judge
(concurring in the result):
It has long “been recognized that the lapse of time affects the quantum of required proof as well as the good faith and credibility of the moving party,” Dean v. North Carolina, 269 F.Supp. 986, 992 (M.D. N.C.1967). As the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia noted, “[w]hile lapse of time alone may not warrant denial of the issuance of the writ, it is certainly true that one who attacks the validity of his plea so long after the proceedings in the District Court must carry a heavy burden if he is to overcome the regularity of his conviction,” Pasley v. Overhosler, 108 U.S.App.D.C. 332, 333, 282 F.2d 494, 495 (D.C. Cir. 1960) (per curiam). See also Phillips v. Black, 367 F.Supp. 774, 776 (E.D.Ky.1973), aff’d mem., 497 F.2d 924 (6 Cir. 1974) (lapse of 16 years prior to collateral attack “increases the burden on the petitioner to overcome the presumption of the regularity of his conviction”); Bradley v. Cowan, 500 F.2d 380, 381 (6 Cir. 1974) (per curiam) (“That issue was not raised by petitioner until five years after his conviction and after his counsel had appealed his conviction to the Supreme Court are matters to be considered in weighing the merits of petitioner’s allegations.”).
Because of the failure of the district judge to give appropriate weight to this principle, as well as for many of the reasons stated in Judge Moore’s opinion, the court’s conclusion that Honeycutt did not have the assistance of counsel cannot stand.
Since this requires a reversal with a direction to dismiss the petition, I see no occasion to consider the State’s alternative claim of laches.