United States v. Madsen

148 F. Supp. 625, 16 Alaska 651, 1957 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 4072
CourtDistrict Court, D. Alaska
DecidedFebruary 6, 1957
Docket1652
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 148 F. Supp. 625 (United States v. Madsen) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Alaska primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Madsen, 148 F. Supp. 625, 16 Alaska 651, 1957 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 4072 (D. Alaska 1957).

Opinion

KELLY, District Judge.

An opinion (No. 14833) was filed in the United States Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit on October 12, 1956, in the case of Madsen v. Hinshaw, 237 F.2d 370, being an appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, Northern Division, from a dismissal of a petition for a writ of habeas corpus by said court on the ground that it was without jurisdiction for the reason that appellant had not applied for relief under Sec. 2255, 28 U.S.C.A.

The court affirmed the District Court but made these suggestions in the opinion, 237 F.2d 371:

“While the question is not presently before us we make bold to suggest that the Alaska Court accord to this young boy his day in court, and afford him a hearing under Sec. 2255 as expeditiously as possible.
“If it be considered that Rule 2 should be complied with and appellant be without funds to employ Alaska counsel to associate with appellant’s Seattle counsel, then we further suggest that Alaska counsel be appointed by the Court for that purpose.”

On November 13, 1956, a lengthy motion was filed in this court entitled “Motions under 28 U.S.C.A. § 2255 to Vacate Judgment and Commitment Heretofore Rendered in this Cause on the 7th Day of December, 1954.” On November 23, this Court replied in part as follows:

“In view of the suggestion made by the United States Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit in Case No. 14833 (October 12, 1956) [237 F.2d 370] that Kenneth Glen Mad-sen be afforded an opportunity to have a hearing under Sec. 2255 as expeditiously as possible, this Court is notifying the United States District Attorney of this motion and that the Court has set December 7th, 1956, at 1:30 p.m. on said date for the hearing on this motion.”

This Court, in view of the statement in the opinion of the Circuit Court of Appeals above quoted, in a letter dated November 26th, advised counsel for Mad-sen as follows:

“ * * * This Court is making no decision at this time as to whether or not the allegations are sufficient to entitle the defendant to such a hearing, but is simply granting the hearing because of the suggestion made by the Circuit Court of Appeals.”

The Court also issued an order for the transportation of the petitioner and upon the application of the United States Attorney, a writ of habeas corpus ad testificandum for the appearance of the petitioner. The Court also forwarded an affidavit in forma pauperis in the event defendant was unable to employ counsel in this district as required by Rule 2 and as suggested by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. Affidavit in' forma pauperis was executed by petitioner and filed herein on December 3, 1956, and an order entered on December 4th appointing Victor P. Guns, attorney, of Ketchikan, as local counsel thereunder. The United States Marshal went to Oklahoma and brought the petitioner back to Ketchikan, Alaska, for the hearing and petitioner was present during all sessions of the hearing.

Section 2255, 28 U.S.C.A., under which this motion is brought, provides in part:

“A prisoner in custody under sentence of a court established by Act of Congress claiming the right to be released upon the ground that the sentence was imposed in violation of the Constitution or laws of the United States, or that the court was without jurisdiction to impose such sentence, or that the sentence was *627 in excess of the maximum authorized by law, or is otherwise subject to collateral attack, may move the court which imposed the sentence to vacate, set aside or correct the sentence.”

The only claims to be considered are that the sentence was imposed in violation of the Constitution or the laws of the United States and that the Court was without jurisdiction to impose the sentence. There is no claim here that the sentence was in excess of the maximum authorized by law or is otherwise subject to collateral attack.

The hearing began at 1:30 p. m. on December 7th, continuing to 4:55 p. m. of that day; it was continued on Saturday, December 8th, from 9:30 a. m. to 12:30 p. m., and from 9:30 a. m. Monday, December 10th, to 11:15 a. m. The petitioner was given every opportunity to introduce such evidence as was pertinent to the hearing, as was the United States District Attorney’s office.

In order that a clear conception of all of the circumstances herein be had, a statement of the facts presented before this Court is necessary. The Reporter’s transcript of the record of the proceedings had before the Honorable District Judge who passed sentence upon the petitioner was placed in evidence by stipulation of counsel, the court files and records were considered at the hearing, and testimony of a number of witnesses was taken. The facts presented by the evidence are as follows:

The petitioner, Kenneth Glen Madsen, was arraigned in the United States District Court for the District of Alaska, Division Number One at Ketchikan, on the 26th day of October, 1954, at 10:00 a. m., before the Honorable George W. Folta, United States District Judge, the defendant was present in person and represented by Charles L. Cloudy as attorney. Mr. Cloudy waived the reading of the indictment and the following Thursday morning was set for the entry of a plea. On Thursday, the 28th of October, the defendant appearing with his attorney, Charles L. Cloudy, a plea not guilty” was entered. On the first day of November, 1954, at 10:00 o’clock a. m., the District Attorney and an assistant were present and Robert H. Ziegler, as attorney for the defendant, presented the application of Mr. J. Lael Simmons for admission to practice before the Court in that ease, and Mr. Ziegler asked, in view of the fact that Mr. Simmons was from outside the Territory, that a date certain be set. It appears from Mr. Ziegler’s statement that the case had previously been set tentatively for the 26th of November and after some discussion about the notice required by Mr. Simmons because of his extensive practice in Seattle, November the 26th was set as a definite date for the trial. of “

On the 26th day of November, 1954, court convened at 9:30 a. m. and Mr. Henry J. Camarot, Assistant United States Attorney, advised the Court that he desired to move to have the order issued by the Court permitting J. Lael Simmons to act as counsel for the defendant Kenneth Glen Madsen, vacated, in view of certain conduct on the part of said attorney which was set forth as follows:

The attorney Simmons had contacted the District Attorney’s office on several occasions with various requests and had been accommodated in every instance except he was refused the right to view the statement made by the defendant. Among other things, Mr. Simmons requested and had been given the right to inspect the car in which the deceased, Raymond Aria, was shot by Kenneth Glen Madsen. The City Police, on November 25th (Thanksgiving Day) had called the Assistant District Attorney asking if Mr. Simmons could again inspect this car. The City Police were instructed by the District Attorney that he could do so provided they made certain that the evidence was in no manner disturbed. The Police advised Simmons to come to headquarters about 4:00 p. m.

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Bluebook (online)
148 F. Supp. 625, 16 Alaska 651, 1957 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 4072, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-madsen-akd-1957.