State ex rel. Hawkins v. Gagnon

219 N.W.2d 252, 64 Wis. 2d 394, 1974 Wisc. LEXIS 1358
CourtWisconsin Supreme Court
DecidedJune 28, 1974
DocketNo. State 33
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 219 N.W.2d 252 (State ex rel. Hawkins v. Gagnon) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Wisconsin Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State ex rel. Hawkins v. Gagnon, 219 N.W.2d 252, 64 Wis. 2d 394, 1974 Wisc. LEXIS 1358 (Wis. 1974).

Opinions

Hanley, J.

The petitioner herein contends that his waiver of his right to a final administrative revocation hearing was not voluntarily, knowingly and understandingly made on several grounds. Since, he contends, he was not provided with counsel during his preliminary hearing, was not properly advised of the maximum term of imprisonment which could result upon revocation, was coerced into waiving his right to a final hearing and was [400]*400not advised that the “dead time” which would accrue prior to the final hearing could be taken into consideration by the sentencing judge, that he did not properly waive his right to a final hearing. Such contentions are without merit.

Right to counsel.

In his petition for a writ of habeas corpus, the petitioner relies upon the fact that he was not provided counsel during his preliminary probation revocation hearing as supporting his contention that his waiver was not voluntarily, knowingly and understandingly made.

The petitioner relies on Mempa v. Rhay (1967), 389 U. S. 128, 88 Sup. Ct. 254, 19 L. Ed. 2d 336, as standing for the proposition that counsel must be provided for those individuals whose sentences were deferred (withheld) 1 during both the preliminary and final administrative probation revocation hearings. While Mempa did require the appointment of counsel for sentencing proceedings, this court has held that the application of Mempa must be limited strictly to its facts. State ex rel. Johnson v. Cady (1971), 50 Wis. 2d 540, 185 N. W. 2d 306.

Mempa involved a situation similar to that of the petitioner herein. In Mempa the defendant was convicted and placed on probation for two years on the condition, inter alia, that the first thirty days be spent in jail. The imposition of sentence was then deferred under Washington law. This provision is similar to sec. 973.09 (1), Stats. Shortly thereafter Mempa was detained and the [401]*401court revoked the defendant’s probation and sentenced him to ten years’ imprisonment.2

On appeal the court reasoned that since counsel is required at every stage of a criminal proceeding where a substantial right of the accused may be affected, and since sentencing is such a stage at which the sixth amendment right to counsel applies, that the accused had a constitutional right to the presence of counsel during the deferred sentencing proceeding.

“. . . All we decide here is that a lawyer must be afforded at this proceeding whether it be labeled a revocation of probation or a deferred sentencing.” Id. at page 137.

Since the Washington probation revocation or deferred sentencing proceeding was singular — that is, the sentencing court both revoked probation and imposed sentence— and not bifurcated as it is in Wisconsin,3 it was unavoidable that counsel appointed therein would function in both proceedings — the revocation and sentencing. Such, however, was not the holding of the court.

The fact the appointment of counsel was constitutionally limited to the sentencing proceedings and did not extend to the hearing for the revocation of probation or parole was made clear in Morrissey v. Brewer, supra. While Morrissey intentionally refused to determine whether the assistance of retained counsel was constitutionally required, the inferences arising from its holding that parole (or probation) revocation proceedings are not part of criminal proceedings is inescapable.

[402]*402“We begin with the proposition that the revocation of parole is not part of a criminal prosecution and thus the full panoply of rights due a defendant in such a proceeding does not apply to parole revocations. . . .” Id. at page 480.

Counsel need be provided only in those situations where the effectiveness of the defendant’s due process rights necessitates the appointment of counsel therein. Since the administrative revocation proceedings are not a part of criminal proceedings and thus without sixth amendment protection, counsel may be constitutionally required only under the due process clause when necessary to protect his rights to a hearing.

The court in Morrissey went on to delineate the due process requirements at administrative revocation proceedings. While such requirements need not be reproduced in full herein, such rights did include the right to a preliminary administrative revocation hearing.

“. . . [D]ue process would seem to require that some minimal inquiry be conducted at or reasonably near the place of the alleged parole violation or arrest and as promptly as convenient after arrest while information is fresh and sources are available. [Citations omitted.] Such an inquiry should be seen as in the nature of a ‘preliminary hearing’ to determine whether there is probable cause or reasonable ground to believe that the arrested parolee has committed acts that would constitute a violation of parole conditions.” Id. at page 485.

Finally in Gagnon v. Scarpelli (1973), 411 U. S. 778, 93 Sup. Ct. 1756, 36 L. Ed. 2d 656, the supreme court brought into focus the rights of a defendant to counsel at administrative revocation hearings. Therein it was determined that the right to the appointment of counsel could arise at both the preliminary and final hearings. Such a right to counsel was, however, subject to the discretion of the department:

[403]*403“The facts and circumstances in preliminary and final hearings are susceptible of almost infinite variation, and a considerable discretion must be allowed the responsible agency in making the decision/' Id. at page 790.

and applicable in specific situations.

“It is neither possible nor prudent to attempt to formulate a precise and detailed set of guidelines to be followed in determining when the providing of counsel is necessary to meet the applicable due process requirements. The facts and circumstances in preliminary and final hearings are susceptible of almost infinite variation, and a considerable discretion must be allowed the responsible agency in making the decision. Presumptively, it may be said that counsel should be provided in cases where, after being informed of his right to request counsel, the probationer or parolee makes such a request, based on a timely and colorable claim (i) that he has not committed the alleged violation of the conditions upon which he is at liberty; or (ii) that, even if the violation is a matter of public record or is uncontested, there are substantial reasons which justified or mitigated the violation and make revocation inappropriate, and that the reasons are complex or otherwise difficult to develop or present. In passing on a request for the appointment of counsel, the responsible agency also should consider, especially in doubtful cases, whether the probationer appears to be capable of speaking effectively for himself. In every case in which a request for counsel at a preliminary or final hearing is refused, the grounds for refusal should be stated succinctly in the record.” Id. at page 790.

In State ex rel. Cresci v. H&SS Department (1974), 62 Wis. 2d 400, 215 N. W.

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Bluebook (online)
219 N.W.2d 252, 64 Wis. 2d 394, 1974 Wisc. LEXIS 1358, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-ex-rel-hawkins-v-gagnon-wis-1974.