CLARENCE EARL GIDEON, PETITIONER,
v.
LOUIE L. WAINWRIGHT, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF CORRECTIONS, RESPONDENT

Fla. | 1963-05-15
No. 31116
ROBERTS, C. J., and DREW, O’CON-NELL and HOBSON (Ret.), JJ., concur.
153 So. 2d 299 Florida Supreme Court (1963) Positive Treatment
Cited by 82 cases

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Holding

The petitioner is entitled to proceed under Criminal Procedure Rule #1, which provides an effective forum for relief regarding the denial of counsel at trial.


Facts & Procedural History

Petitioner Gideon alleged he was insolvent and denied counsel at his felony trial, a claim initially denied based on Betts v. Brady. The U.S. Supreme …

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Opinion of the Court
THORNAL, Justice.

THORNAL, Justice.

Following our denial of petitioner’s application for a writ of habeas corpus this cause was considered by the Supreme Court of the United States on a writ of certiorari. Our judgment was reversed and the cause was remanded for further action not inconsistent with the opinion of the United States Court.

The matter now recurs for consideration pursuant to the mandate of the Supreme Court of the United States.

By his post-conviction petition for a writ of habeas corpus, Gideon alleged that at his trial on a felony information he was insolvent and requested the assistance of counsel. His request was denied. His petition failed to allege that he was unable to defend himself adequately because of a lack of intelligence or ability or because of any complications arising out of the charge and a lack of familiarity with minimal essentials of criminal procedure. In the absence of these allegations we originally denied the writ on the authority of Betts v. Brady, 316 U.S. 455, 62 S.Ct. 1252, 86 L.Ed. 1595. As noted by the United States Court in its opinion in the instant case, there is a marked factual similarity between this case and Betts. In view of the Betts precedent which we have followed since its announcement in 1941, we felt obligated to follow its pronouncements in this instance. In consequence of this view, we initially concluded that the petition was fatally in*300sufficient to motivate the issuance of a post-conviction writ. Johnson v. Mayo, 158 Fla. 264, 28 So.2d 585, cert. den. 329 U.S. 804, 67 S.Ct. 492, 91 L.Ed. 687.

By its instant opinion the Supreme Court of the United States has expressly receded from the long-established rule announced in Betts v. Brady, supra. We are now confronted with the responsibility of taking note of the belatedly recognized federal organic right to counsel authoritatively announced by the United States Supreme Court in its Gideon opinion.

In order to meet this judicial responsibility we have promptly undertaken to establish appropriate procedures that will accord to prisoners an effective forum in which they may expeditiously obtain a hearing and any relief to which they might be entitled. We have taken judicial cognizance of the large number of felons incarcerated in the state prison who potentially have claims to relief because of absence of counsel at the time of their trial and conviction. The task of reviewing these claims, if and when asserted, appeared to be of such magnitude that it was essential to establish an effective procedural remedy that would distribute the judicial responsibility, while simultaneously according to the prisoner an expeditious and complete opportunity to obtain relief. Roy v. Wainwright, Fla., 151 So.2d 825.

In meeting the full measure of our responsibility we turned to federal criminal procedures for a precedent. It appeared to us that the most effective procedural remedy that could be provided under the circumstances would be to adopt as a criminal procedure rule-the express language of 28 U.S.C. § 2255, which had been enacted by the Congress in 1948, and has since been employed in the federal system in many cases. Under our constitutional rule-making power, Article V, Section 3, Florida Constitution, F.S.A., we promulgated, on April 1, 1963, Criminal Procedure Rule #1, 31 F.S.A. Except to the extent necessary to adapt the language of the statute to the Florida courts, the rule which we have promulgated is identical with the federal statute. Roy v. Wainwright, supra.

Under the rule which we have announced, post-conviction relief can be obtained where there is a claimed denial of some fundamental or organic right in the course of the trial. The relief available is coextensive with that which would be available in ha-beas corpus. The rule, however, minimizes the difficulties encountered in habeas corpus hearings and affords the same rights in a more convenient forum and one best prepared to consider the claims of a prisoner convicted in that very forum. Hill v. United States, 368 U.S. 424, 82 S.Ct. 468, 7 L.Ed.2d 417; Machibroda v. United States, 368 U.S. 487, 82 S.Ct. 510, 7 L.Ed.2d 473; United States v. Hayman, 342 U.S. 205, 72 S.Ct. 263, 96 L.Ed. 232. See also Parker, Limiting the Abuse of Habeas Corpus, 8 F.R.D. 171.

We took this action prior to receipt of the mandate of the Supreme Court of the United States in the instant case in prompt fulfilment of our judicial obligation which was indicated in the opinion of that Court.

Inasmuch as it was not announced until April 1, 1963, the existence of our Criminal Procedure Rule # 1, was naturally not made known to the United States Supreme Court in the course of the Gideon proceeding. Nevertheless, we consider the promulgation of that rule as being “action not inconsistent” with the Gideon opinion. In fact, we confess it to be action taken pursuant to the directive of the Gideon judgment. In view of that Court’s consistent recognition of the effectiveness of a post-conviction motion under 28 U.S.C. § 2255, we feel justified in assuming that a motion under the Florida rule would receive similar endorsement. In accord with the decision of the Supreme Court of the United States in the instant matter and pursuant to its mandate, we therefore hold that Gideon has asserted claims which, if established, would entitle him to relief under Criminal Procedure Rule #1. Inasmuch as he can obtain such *301relief promptly and effectively under the cited rule, and in furtherance of the directive of the United States Supreme Court, we therefore hold that the petitioner is entitled to proceed under that rule. Having provided the petitioner with an efficient, expeditious and effective forum within which the claimed relief can be obtained, we decline to issue a writ of habeas corpus but expressly without prejudice to any rights which the petitioner might assert in the Circuit Court of Bay County, pursuant to the provisions of Criminal Procedure Rule #1.

In further consequence of the mandate of the Supreme Court of the United States the costs of the Clerk of that Court in the amount of $186.96, and the cost of printing the record in that Court, in the amount of $405.56, are ordered to be paid by Bay County Florida directly to the Clerk of the Supreme Court of the United States. See Carnley v. Cochran, Fla., 143 So.2d 327.

It is so ordered.

ROBERTS, C. J., and DREW, O’CON-NELL and HOBSON (Ret.), JJ., concur.


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Citator

Cited By (41 total)

  • State v. Weeks, 166 So. 2d 892 (Fla. 1964)
    …ion. Rule 1 is simply a Florida adaptation of Title 28, Section 2255, U.S.C.A. It provides a remedy co-equal with, but actually more expeditious than post-conviction habeas corpus. Roy v. Wainwright, Fla., 151 So. 2d 825; Gideon v. Wainwright, Fla., 153 So. 2d 299. Florida had anticipated the Gideon development and moved with dispatch to adapt its procedural facilities to the indicated increased demands for post-conviction relief against previously entered felony judgments. Roy v. Wainwright, supra. It is to…
  • State v. Youngblood, 217 So. 2d 98 (Fla. 1968)
    …focus. We do not here deal with the total deprivation of counsel. The mere fact of total deprivation of counsel is presumptively prejudicial. Gideon v. Wainwright, 372 U.S. 335, 83 S.Ct. 792, 9 L.Ed.2d 799 (1963), and on remand Gideon v. Wainwright, 153 So. 2d 299 (Fla.1963). See also, Harris v. State, 162 So. 2d 262 (Fla.1964), where we discussed the deprivation of counsel impact reflected by Hamilton v. Alabama, 368 U. S. 52, 82 S.Ct. 157, 7 L.Ed.2d 114 (1961), and White v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 59, 83 S.Ct. 1…
  • State v. Bolyea, 520 So. 2d 562 (Fla. 1988)
    …22 L.Ed.2d 227 (1969); Sanders v. United States, 373 U.S. 1, 83 S.Ct. 1068, 10 L.Ed.2d 148 (1963); United States v. Hayman, 342 U.S. 205, 72 S.Ct. 263, 96 L.Ed. 232 (1952). We have reached the same conclusion about Rule 3.850. Gideon v. Wainwright, 153 So. 2d 299, 300 (Fla.1963). Accord Rita v. State, 470 So. 2d 80, 82 (Fla. 1st DCA), review denied, 480 So. 2d 1296 (Fla.1985). We note that the lower federal courts generally have agreed that probation could entitle a petitioner to relief under the federal co…

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