United States ex rel. Jardine v. McMann
United States ex rel. Jardine v. McMann
Opinion of the Court
This petitioner, when the application was prepared and filed in this Court by The Legal Aid Society attorneys of New York, was confined in Clinton Prison on two separate Robbery convictions. One was rendered in Dutchess County December 23, 1952 for Robbery first degree and sentenced him as a second offender to a term of 15-30 years; the other from the former Court of General Sessions, dated February 17, 1953, for Robbery second degree, with a sentence of 7%-15 years to run concurrently with the Dutchess County sentence. Since the filing of this application for federal habeas corpus, a handwritten letter dated May 4,1965 was received from the petitioner advising he was free on parole, requesting the Board of Parole be added in the title, which has been done, and giving his address in New York City. It is apparent from the letter the petitioner, as many do for reasons only known to them, persists in his right to decision even though free on parole. It seems a risky chance, in my judgment, if he prevails and were to be resentenced on two separate Robbery convictions in different counties of New York. (See Jones v. Cunningham, 371 U.S. 236, 83 S.Ct. 373, 9 L.Ed.2d 285; United States ex rel. Von Cseh v. Fay, 2 Cir., 313 F.2d 620; Penal Law New York, McKinney’s Unconsol. Laws, c. 40, §§ 2125, 2127).
The challenge in this federal habeas corpus proceeding is to a June 18, 1936 conviction of the petitioner upon his plea to Grand Larceny, second degree, under an indictment that charged Robbery first degree, Assault, second degree, and criminally receiving stolen property. The petitioner was sentenced on June 18, 1936 to an indefinite term in the New York State Vocational School. No direct appeal was ever taken from the judgment of conviction which, of course, was used as the predicate conviction under New York law to sentence as a second offender for the two Robbery convictions.
The able lawyers of the Legal Aid Society, after petitioner’s own initiation of the coram nobis proceeding in 1960, represented him at the coram nobis hearing and through the State appellate courts, including the filing of petition for certiorari in the United States Supreme Court. It is worthwhile to set down the saga of judicial review already had if only to mark we are at a starting point again that may reach the United States Supreme Court where it already has been.
Supreme Court Justice Irwin D. Davidson held a hearing May 17, 1960 on the coram nobis motion. The transcript of the hearing minutes — 68 pages — has
This chronology portrays a substantial expenditure of judicial effort that under current judicial interpretation has not yet reached a final conclusion. However, it is this particular setting with a background of fair and complete hearing of a challenge to a state criminal conviction and with a background of evident review and debate in the highest appellate State courts and the highest Court of the land of a record containing all essential facts for decision that disturbs and creates the greatest dismay when there still remains the right, unfettered without any restriction of any kind, statutory or judicial, to file the federal habeas corpus petition and commence without .showing of extraordinary circumstance another recanvass. (Fay v. Noia, 372 U.S. 391, 83 S.Ct. 822, 9 L.Ed.2d 837). Should we allow our laudable quest for absolute certainty and perfect justice in criminal law to overwhelm us with the unrealistic fear that we have overlooked something in situations where it is clear only resurrection from the dead of important witnesses could possibly add anything further to the record previously reviewed by a score of competent and conscientious judges?
Due to the previous formal review in competent courts of the state and nation, there is the one advantage that I am the beneficiary five years thereafter of the separate and different printed People-Respondent’s Briefs filed in the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department, Court of Appeals, State of New York, and the Brief in opposition to the petition for the writ of certiorari submitted by the office of District Attorney Hogan of New York County to the United States Supreme Court. Such briefs are very helpful, as I am confident they were for the other twenty-two judges, by rough count, who have looked into this problem and read the same record I have read.
The contentions made here were heard before Judge Davidson in 1960, twenty-four years after the conviction by plea in 1936. They are the petitioner did not have a lawyer at the time of his arraignment and plea, and the lawyer who was called upon by the Judge in the courtroom to stand by and assist petitioner at the time of sentence gave superficial and inadequate representation. The point is specifically made here in the brief for the petitioner that Judge Davidson did not rule in his decision on the failure to have a lawyer at the time of arraignment and plea, but avoided finding in that respect by holding the mere physical absence of the lawyer at the time of plea did not vitiate the conviction in view of the admitted presence of a lawyer at the time of sentence. (See Canizio v. People of State of New York, 327 U.S. 82, 66 S.Ct. 452, 90 L.Ed. 545). This representation, it is argued, being inadequate makes the basis and standard for the denial legally wrong.
I disagree, because I find in the comments at the hearing and within the
To the credit of New York State, far back in 1936 this record shows — as was done for more than half a century — appointment of lawyers and concern for the indigent and uneducated. In my judgment, this record of many years ago also shows fairness and decent treatment, and there is nothing drawn to my attention
In the leading and controlling case, Townsend v. Sain, 372 U.S. 293, 318, 83 S.Ct. 745, 9 L.Ed.2d 770, outlining the new approach for the District Judges in this type proceeding, it is emphasized that if there was full and fair hearing by the State Court resulting in reliable findings, the District Judge may and, ordinarily should accept the facts as found in the hearing. In my judgment, such is the case here. The Judge found reliably that the petitioner did not produce proof sufficient to overcome court records indicating presence of counsel. (Darr v. Burford, 339 U.S. 200, 218, 70 S.Ct. 587, 94 L.Ed. 761). In my judgment, the hearing in the State was as full and fair as one can be developed, the opinion by the hearing Judge sets forth the bases for the ruling made, and I am content to accept the State decisions and place this denial upon the record made there. (Townsend v. Sain, supra).
The petition is denied and dismissed. The papers shall be filed without prepayment of fee, and it is
So Ordered.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- UNITED STATES of America ex rel. Theodore JARDINE v. Hon. Daniel McMANN, as Warden of Clinton Prison, Dannemora, New York, and the New York State Board of Parole
- Status
- Published