ROBERT FREDERICK KINARD, PETITIONER,
v.
H. G. COCHRAN, JR., DIRECTOR OF DIVISION OF CORRECTIONS, RESPONDENT

Fla. | 1959-08-05
THOMAS, C. J., and TERRELL, ROBERTS and DREW, JJ., concur.
113 So. 2d 843 Florida Supreme Court (1959) Positive Treatment
Cited by 31 cases

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Synopsis

The Florida Supreme Court granted a writ of habeas corpus, ordering the discharge of a minor petitioner because the state failed to provide required statutory notice to his parents or guardian before his trial. This decision emphasizes the importance of procedural safeguards for minors in the justice system.


Holding

Yes, the trial court erred by failing to comply with the statutory notice requirements. The failure to provide such notice is fatal to the proceedings, entitling the petitioner to discharge.


Key Quotes

“In the event that the name of such parent or guardian is not known or made known to the court or executive officer or cannot be reasonably ascertained by him, then such notice shall be given to any other relative or friend whom such minor may designate.”

This quote establishes the statutory requirement for notice to a minor's parents or guardian, or a designated relative/friend if the parents/guardian are unknown.

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Facts & Procedural History

Robert Frederick Kinard, a minor, was brought before a Florida court and charged with an offense. The court proceeded to trial without providing notic…

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Opinion of the Court
HOBSON, Justice.

HOBSON, Justice.

Upon petition of Robert Frederick Ki-nard this court issued a writ of habeas corpus on July 7, 1959, to which the respondent filed his return on July 14, 1959.

After due consideration of the petition for writ of habeas corpus, respondent’s return, and the petitioner’s answer to respondent’s return, we conclude that the petitioner is entitled to be discharged.

The record discloses that there was no compliance with § 932.38, F.S.A., which reads:

“When any minor, not married, may be charged with any offense and brought before any of the courts, including municipal courts, of this state, due notice of such charge prior to the trial thereof shall be given to the parents or guardian of such minor, provided the name and address of such parent or guardian may be known to the court, or to the executive officers thereof. In the event that the name of such parent or guardian is not known or made known to the court or executive officer or cannot be reasonably ascertained by him, then such notice shall be given to any other relative or friend whom such minor may designate.”

The failure to comply with any of the alternatives in the statute is fatal herein *844and, therefore, we must, of necessity, order the petitioner discharged from the custody of the respondent, without prejudice to further proceedings in accordance with due process of law.

It is so ordered.

THOMAS, C. J., and TERRELL, ROBERTS and DREW, JJ., concur.


Cases With Similar Vibessemantic neighbors from the corpus


Citator

Cited By (16 total)

  • State ex rel. Fred M. FOX v. Cochran, 126 So. 2d 883 (Fla. 1961)
    …had been established that the relator’s parents were deceased. Since there was a failure to comply with any of the alternatives in the statute, it follows that the relator is entitled to relief under the rule enunciated in Kinard v. Cochran, Fla., 113 So. 2d 843. Accordingly, the petitioner must be discharged. However, he shall be retained in custody by the respondent to be by him held and safely kept until the further order of the appropriate court on the charges of the in-formations pursuant to which he w…
  • …ran, Fla.1961, 129 So. 2d 426; Williams v. Cochran, Fla. 1961, 126 So. 2d 887; McGuirk v. Cochran, Fla.1961, 126 So. 2d 555; Thompson v. Cochran, Fla.1961, 126 So. 2d 564; Raggen v. Cochran, Fla.1961, 126 So. 2d 145; and Kinard v. Cochran, Fla.1959, 113 So. 2d 843. In all of the cited cases (habeas corpus proceedings in the Supreme Court of Florida), the petitioners had commenced upon the execution of their sentences. In all of the cases, the petitioners were released from detention under the judgments and se…
  • Johnson v. Cochran, 124 So. 2d 488 (Fla. 1960)
    …procedures to be followed by the officers of the trial courts. An increasing number of petitions for habeas corpus grounded on alleged failure to meet the requirements of this statute have recently come to our notice. E. g. Kinard v. Cochran, Fla., 113 So. 2d 843. However, any changes in the statute must necessarily be accomplished by the Legislature rather than by the Court. In the instant case we conclude that the requirements of the statute have been met and, therefore, the writ must be discharged and th…

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