U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, 1971

James Otis Cunningham v. Dr. George J. Beto, Director, Texas Department of Corrections

James Otis Cunningham v. Dr. George J. Beto, Director, Texas Department of Corrections
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit · Decided April 1, 1971 · Clark, Morgan, Per Curiam, Thornberry
440 F.2d 1331; 1971 U.S. App. LEXIS 10986 (Federal Reporter, Second Series)

James Otis Cunningham v. Dr. George J. Beto, Director, Texas Department of Corrections

Opinion

PER CURIAM:

This appeal is taken from the district court’s denial of habeas corpus relief to a prisoner of the State of Texas. We affirm the order appealed for the reasons stated therein which are correct in point of law and fact. A copy of the district court’s order is appended to this opinion.

Affirmed.

APPENDIX IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS, DALLAS DIVISION

James Otis Cunningham v. Civil Action 3-4040-B

Dr. George Beto

ORDER OF DISMISSAL

On this the 29th day of October, 1970, came to be considered the defendant’s motion to dismiss the above case.

Petitioner seeks a Writ of Habeas Corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2242 on the basis that potential jurors who had conscientious scruples against the death penalty were challenged for cause from the jury that tried him for murder and on the basis that his arrest without a warrant was improper. Petitioner was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment.

The Supreme Court in Witherspoon v. Illinois, 391 U.S. 510, 88 S.Ct. 1770, 20 L.Ed.2d 776 (1968), ruled that persons found guilty of capital offense *1332 could not be given the death penalty when potential jurors with scruples against the death penalty had been challenged for cause. The Court has specifically refused to extend this ruling beyond those instances where the death penalty was inflicted and has rejected the contention, advanced by petitioner in this case, that such challenges for cause make a jury prosecution prone on the question of guilt. Bumper v. North Carolina, 391 U.S. 543, 88 S.Ct. 1788, 20 L.Ed.2d 797 (1968). The petitioner in this case did not receive the death penalty and thus his first contention is not a basis for relief.

Further it appears to this Court that the petitioner’s second claim is insubstantial and no harm has been shown stemming directly from his arrest without a warrant.

It is therefore ordered, adjudged, and decreed that said motion to dismiss be and is hereby granted.

/s/ SARAH T. HUGHES United States District Judge

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