Arlice J. Huffman and John F. Burns v. W. J. Estelle, Jr., Director, Texas Department of Corrections

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Arlice J. Huffman and John F. Burns v. W. J. Estelle, Jr., Director, Texas Department of Corrections, 536 F.2d 1106 (5th Cir. 1976)
1976 U.S. App. LEXIS 7578
Ainsworth, Clark, Per Curiam, Ro-Ney

Arlice J. Huffman and John F. Burns v. W. J. Estelle, Jr., Director, Texas Department of Corrections

Opinion

PER CURIAM:

This is an appeal from the denial of habeas corpus relief to two Texas prisoners, and denial of leave to proceed as a class action on behalf of themselves and “all others similarly situated.” Appellants contend that they were denied due process and equal protection of law when the Governor of Texas commuted their unconstitutional death sentences to 99 years imprisonment. In an appeal raising this same issue in an identical context, we have decided the question against the habeas corpus petitioner. Sellars v. Estelle, 536 F.2d 1104 (5th Cir. 1976). See Curry v. Estelle, 524 F.2d 981, 982 (5th Cir. 1975). The petitioners are incorrect in their argument that a fundamental constitutional right to resentencing before a jury has been abrogated. Rose v. Hodges, 423 U.S. 19, 96 S.Ct. 175, 46 L.Ed.2d 162, 44 U.S.L.W. 3277 (1975); Ant- *1107 wine y. Estelle, 486 F.2d 189 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 414 U.S. 1115, 94 S.Ct. 847, 38 L.Ed.2d 742 (1973). Furthermore, there is no merit to the suggestion that the Governor’s action amounted to a bill of attainder.

The judgment of the district court is

AFFIRMED.

Reference

Full Case Name
Arlice J. HUFFMAN and John F. Burns, Petitioners-Appellants, v. W. J. ESTELLE, Jr., Director, Texas Department of Corrections, Respondent-Appellee
Cited By
2 cases
Status
Published