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

John Michael Coffey v. Walter E. Craven, Warden, California State Prison at Folsom

John Michael Coffey v. Walter E. Craven, Warden, California State Prison at Folsom
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit · Decided June 9, 1971 · Chambers, Carter, Jameson
442 F.2d 1337; 1971 U.S. App. LEXIS 9718 (Federal Reporter, Second Series)

John Michael Coffey v. Walter E. Craven, Warden, California State Prison at Folsom

Opinion

PER CURIAM:

The order granting a writ of habeas corpus is reversed.

We find that Coffey’s psychiatric evidence based upon observation years later was too remote to be of much value in this case in evaluating the situation at the time of trial.

The record seems clear that the state trial judge had no doubt as to the competency of Coffey at any critical time.

We cannot find that the happenings in the state process at the trial or in the legal processes preceding the trial show any denial of any federal constitutional right.

Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.