White v. Tennessee
White v. Tennessee
Opinion of the Court
ORDER
Petitioner, a federal prisoner, seeks to file in forma pauperis an action for declaratory judgment and injunctive relief on the ground that he has been denied a speedy trial by the State of Tennessee. It may be so filed.
The court notes that until the Supreme Court’s recent decision in Smith v. Hooey, 393 U.S. 374, 89 S.Ct. 575, 21 L.Ed.2d 607 (1969), it had not been recognized that the states were under a duty to bring an accused to trial while he was still in federal custody. However, the states now have notice that such duty exists and if a state does not now make a diligent good-faith effort to provide a speedy trial, and if the defendant is prejudiced thereby, any subsequent conviction upon the charges will be subject to challenge in federal court.
Petitioner’s prayer for relief also asks that the warden of the federal penitentiary be instructed to remove the detainer from the plaintiff’s record. Since the warden is not named as a party to this suit, this relief could not be granted in any circumstances. The court notes, however, that even if the warden had been made a party to the action the requested relief is premature and therefore could not be granted. The State must be allowed a reasonable time in which to act after being advised by the Smith v. Hooey decision that it is under the duty specified in that opinion.
Accordingly, the complaint is dismissed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Howard Lee WHITE v. STATE OF TENNESSEE
- Status
- Published