Caffey v. Swenson

310 F. Supp. 16, 1970 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12929
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. Missouri
DecidedFebruary 6, 1970
DocketCiv. A. No. 17919-3
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 310 F. Supp. 16 (Caffey v. Swenson) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. Missouri primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Caffey v. Swenson, 310 F. Supp. 16, 1970 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12929 (W.D. Mo. 1970).

Opinion

ORDER DISMISSING PETITION FOR HABEAS CORPUS WITHOUT PREJUDICE

BECKER, Chief Judge.

Petitioner, a state convict confined in the Missouri State Penitentiary, petitions this Court for a writ of habeas corpus adjudicating as invalid his state conviction for stealing over fifty dollars. Leave to proceed in forma pauper-is has been previously granted.

Petitioner states that he was convicted by a jury in the Circuit Court of Randolph County of stealing over $50; that he was sentenced on that conviction on October 10, 1967, to a term of ten years’ imprisonment; that he appealed the judgment of conviction and imposition of sentence to the Missouri Supreme Court; that the Missouri Supreme Court affirmed the conviction and sentence (State v. Caffey, Mo., 438 S.W. 2d 167); and that petitioner was represented by counsel at his arraignment and plea, his trial, his sentencing and on appeal, although not on preparation, presentation or consideration of any postconviction motion, petition or application.

Petitioner states the following as grounds for his contention that his state conviction was secured in violation of his federally protected rights:

“(a) Petitioner was denied his Sixth Amendment right to a speedy trial.
“(b) Petitioner was denied his Sixth Amendment Right to the effective assistance of counsel.”

Petitioner states the following as facts supporting the above grounds:

“On July 18, 1966, petitioner was taken before the magistrate court of Randolph County, Missouri, to answer a complaint charging the offense of stealing over $50.
“Petitioner requested an immediate preliminary hearing and the assistance of counsel. Petitioner was then remanded to the custody of the Sheriff of Randolph County to await appointment of counsel and the preliminary hearing. From the date of July 18, 1966 to July 6, 1967, petitioner was confined in the Randolph County Jail.
“Without notice to or consent of petitioner, the cause was continued from July 19, 1966 to May 16, 1967, during which time petitioner was without the assistance of counsel.
“Between the dates of May 16, 1967 and June 14, 1967, counsel was appointed but the cause was continued several times over the objection of defendant.
“It is petitioner’s contention that because he was without the assistance of counsel for the period in question he was effectively denied his constitutional and statutory rights to a speedy trial; and that because he was denied' a speedy trial under the U. S. Constitution and Missouri statutes, he failed to receive his Sixth Amendment right to the effective assistance of counsel ultimately appointed.” (Emphasis added)

Since, if petitioner’s statements were true and his contentions well-founded, his conviction may have been secured in violation of his federally protected rights, the show cause order of this Court issued on December 23, 1969. Respondent’s response was filed on Janu[18]*18ary 12, 1970. Respondent asserted therein, in part, that:

“[Petitioner has not exhausted his remedies available in the state courts of Missouri with reference to the second allegation of his petition for writ of habeas corpus, namely, ‘Petitioner was denied his Sixth Amendment right to the effective assistance of counsel.’ While it is apparent that such a claim is closely related to his allegation of a denial of a speedy trial, nonetheless, he did not assert the denial of effective assistance of counsel as one of the grounds upon which he sought relief in the Supreme Court of Missouri upon direct appeal. Therefore, we submit that he has not exhausted his available state remedies with regard to this allegation.”

Petitioner filed his traverse to the response, on January 21, 1970. Petitioner therein stated that it was his contention “that his available state remedies have been exhausted as to this second allegation [of denial of effective assistance of counsel] as well” and that:

“The facts and grounds for relief [on that issue] were known to the trial court (pp. 6 to 42, 109 to 111, Resp. Ex. “A”); and were set forth in Appellant’s Brief on Appeal at point II and II(a), (Resp. Ex. ‘B’).”

The cited portions of the trial transcript, however, contain no objections or contentions specifically on the independent ground on denial of effective assistance of counsel. Further, the “motion to dismiss” by defendant mentioned only the denial of petitioner’s right to a speedy trial. The “Motion in bar of prosecution” (upon which the hearing reported in pages 6 to 42 of the transcript was held) complained only of the failure to grant an immediate preliminary hearing, and neither motion made any reference to the denial of effective assistance of counsel. The material reported at pages 109 to 111 of the transcript is comprised of (1) a letter dated May 3, 1967, to the Randolph County Magistrate in which petitioner stated that he requested the appointment of counsel on July 18, 1966, and asking that the letter be considered as a petition for a writ of habeas corpus releasing him prior to trial on the grounds that it had been nine and one-half months since he demanded an “immediate preliminary hearing” and (2) a letter dated May 15, 1967, transmitting the letter of May 3, 1967, which had originally been addressed to the magistrate, to the trial judge. But there is no showing that the letter of May 3 was ever considered as an application for habeas corpus, or considered, or denied, on its merits by the trial judge. Further, points II and 11(a), cited by petitioner on appeal, were as follows:

“II. The trial court erred to the substantial prejudice of the appellant in overruling the defendant’s Motion to Dismiss and his Motion In Bar [of] Prosecution, filed prior to the trial of this cause, in that the court was without competent jurisdiction to proceed further by reason of the refusal of the magistrate court to make an effective assignment of counsel to the prejudice of the defendant’s right to a speedy trial as guaranteed by the U. S. Constitution’s 14th Amendment Due Process Clause and the 6th Amendment's Speedy Trial Clause, and Article 1 Section 18(a) of the Constitution of Missouri, 1945.
“Sigler v. Bird, [8 Cir.] 354 F.2d 694 (1966)
Lorraine v. Gladden, [D.C.] 261 F. Supp. 909 (1966)
Griffin v. Illinois, 351 U.S. 12 [76 S.Ct. 585, 100 L.Ed. 891, 55 A.L. R.2d 1055]
Gideon v. Wainwright, 372 U.S. 335, 83 S.Ct. 792 [9 L.Ed.2d 799, 93 A.L.R.2d 733]
McKay v. Carberry, [D.C.] 238 F. Supp. 856 (1965)
State v. Maxwell, [Mo.] 411 S.W.2d 237
“(A) The magistrate court’s refusal to provide counsel as guaranteed by the U. S. Constitution’s 6th and 14th Amendments substantially prejudiced the defendant’s right to a speedy trial [19]

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Related

Caffey v. State
482 S.W.2d 449 (Supreme Court of Missouri, 1972)
Caffey v. Swenson
331 F. Supp. 1366 (W.D. Missouri, 1971)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
310 F. Supp. 16, 1970 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12929, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/caffey-v-swenson-mowd-1970.