Coleman v. Stobbs

491 N.E.2d 1126, 23 Ohio St. 3d 137, 23 Ohio B. 292, 1986 Ohio LEXIS 618

• Court: Ohio Supreme Court
• Decided: April 23, 1986
• Docket: No. 85-464
• Status: Published

Opinions

Douglas, J.

A court should apply a two-part test in determining whether the delay of the Adult Parole Authority, in not commencing a final parole revocation hearing, entitles an alleged parole violator to habeas corpus relief. See Goodman v. Keohane (C.A.11, 1981), 663 F. 2d 1044, 1046. First, it must be determined whether the delay was unreasonable. Id. This involves the consideration and balancing of three factors: (1) the length of the delay, (2) the reasons for the delay, and (3) the alleged parole violator’s assertion of his right to a hearing within a reasonable period of time. See Hanahan v. Luther (C.A.7, 1982), 693 F. 2d 629, 634, certiorari denied (1983), 459 U.S. 1170. Second, if the delay is found .to be unreasonable, it must be determined whether the delay somehow prejudiced the alleged parole violator. Goodman, supra, at 1046. The court must weigh any prejudice to the alleged parole violator in light of the interests protected by the “reasonable time” requirement of R.C. 2967.15 and Ohio Adm. Code 5120:1-1-19(A). In a case involving an analogous federal “reasonable time” requirement, the Hanahan court identified three such interests: (1) prevention of oppressive prehearing incarceration, (2) minimization of anxiety and concern of the alleged parole violator, and (3) limitation of the possibility that delay will impair the accused parole violator’s defense at his final parole revocation hearing. Hanahan, supra, at 635.

Turning to the case at bar, we find that the APA’s delay in holding a final parole revocation hearing, while Coleman was incarcerated and awaiting trial on the charge of grand theft, was neither unreasonable nor prejudicial as a matter of law.

R.C. 2725.05 states:

“If it appears that a person alleged to be restrained of his liberty is in the custody of an officer under process issued by a court or magistrate, or by virtue of the judgment or order of a court of record, and that the court or magistrate had jurisdiction to issue the process, render the judgment, or make the order, the writ of habeas corpus shall not be allowed. * * *” (Emphasis added.)

The loss of liberty that Coleman claims to have suffered did not occur by reason of the APA’s detainer but, as we have noted, from his arrest and incarceration on a new charge of grand theft and his failure to post a $5,000 bond. Since he was in custody pursuant to a lawful court order, and it is undisputed that the court had jurisdiction to make that order, he was not entitled to a writ of habeas corpus.

Therefore, the judgment of the court of appeals is reversed and the order granting the writ of habeas corpus is vacated.

Judgment reversed.

Sweeney, Locher, Holmes and C. Brown, JJ., concur. Wright, J., concurs in the judgment only. Celebrezze, C.J., dissents.