Balkcom v. Williams
Balkcom v. Williams
Opinion of the Court
Two indictments were returned against Charles P. Williams in Elbert County charging him with the offense
1. It is settled by numerous decisions of this court that where the trial judge is the trier of an issue of fact as in this case and the evidence is conflicting upon the issue of fact involved, his decision will not be controlled by this court where there is any evidence sufficient to support his findings. Walling v. Harris, 210 Ga. 97 (78 SE2d 7); Grier v. Balkcom, 213 Ga. 133 (97 SE2d 151). Applying this ruling in the instant case, the judgment complained of is not for this reason erroneous. See Balkcom v. Vickers, 220 Ga. 345.
2. In the instant case the trial judge directed that the applicant be given credit for the time served on the sentences here involved upon any sentence which may be imposed upon the applicant in the event of his conviction for either or both of the offenses for which he was previously sentenced. See the ruling of this court in Balkcom v. Vickers,
Judgment affirmed in part; reversed in part.
Dissenting Opinion
dissenting from Division 1. “Presumptions of law are sometimes conclusive, and an averment to the contrary shall not be allowed. These are termed estoppels, and are not generally favored. Among these are the records in favor of a record or judgment unreversed; of the proper conduct of courts and judicial officers acting within their legitimate sphere; of other officers of the law, after the lapse of time has rendered it dangerous to open the investigation of their acts in regard to mere formalities of the law.” Code § 38-114. The burden of proof in a habeas corpus proceeding is on the petitioner and where the petitioner asserts that he was denied counsel, his uncorroborated statements that he was denied counsel are insufficient to overcome the presumption of regularity of a sentence imposed by a court of competent jurisdiction on a plea of guilty and to satisfy this burden of proof. Where an accused pleads guilty to a criminal offense and afterwards seeks release from prison on the ground that he was denied the benefit of counsel, he has the burden of establishing his contention by a preponderance of the evidence. Code § 38-103; Solesbee v. Balkcom, 207 Ga. 352 (61 SE 471); Walker v. Johnston, 312 U.S. 275 (5) (61 SC 574, 85 LE 830); and Adams v. McCann, 317 U.S. 269, 281 (63 SC 236, 87 LE 268), where in the case last cited the court said: “If the result of the adjudicatory process is not to be set at naught, it is not asking too much that the burden of showing essential unfairness be sustained by him who claims such injustice and seeks to have the result set aside, and that it be sustained not as a matter of speculation but as a demonstrable
I am authorized to say that Justices Almand and Mobley concur in this dissent.
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