ROBERT L. HOOPER, PETITIONER,
v.
LOUIE L. WAINWRIGHT, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF CORRECTIONS, RESPONDENT

Fla. 2d DCA | 1964-11-20
No. 4904
SMITH, C. J., and SHANNON, J., concur.
168 So. 2d 769 Florida District Court of Appeal, Second District (1964) Positive Treatment
Cited by 2 cases

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Synopsis

Hooper petitioned for habeas corpus after being denied appellate review of his conviction due to improper conduct by state functionaries. The court found that denying Hooper access to appeal documents until after the appeal deadline expired violated the equal protection clause, entitling him to discharge from one sentence but remanding him for service of another.


Holding

Hooper is entitled to discharge from the Hillsborough County sentence due to denial of equal protection under the Federal Constitution, but is remanded for service of the Dade County sentence. When a prisoner is denied appellate review through state functionaries' misconduct, he should be discharged unless the state provides a full appellate review.


Key Quotes

“the action of prison officials in preventing a prisoner in sending out appeal documents, until the time for appeal had' expired, was a denial of the equal protection of the law under the Federal Constitution”

Establishes the core legal violation that prison officials' conduct in blocking appeal documents constitutes equal protection denial

Previewing 1 of 3 key quotes on this case — the court’s exact language, pinpointed for members.

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Facts & Procedural History

Hooper was convicted and sentenced in Hillsborough County on February 20, 1962, and also had a sentence from Dade County entered on September 22, 1961…

The full statement of facts, procedural history, and disposition for this case are member content.

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Opinion of the Court
ALLEN, Judge.

ALLEN, Judge.

This cause occurs upon a petition for writ of habeas corpus filed by petitioner after this court was prohibited from entertaining an appeal from a conviction and sentence under which petitioner is presently incarcerated. State ex rel. Ervin v. Smith, Fla.1964, 160 So.2d 518. Upon receipt of the petition we issued the writ and a return thereto was filed, denying or disclaiming knowledge of the facts alleged in the petition and contesting the propriety of the writ under the circumstances of the case. We rejected the latter contention upon authority of Dora v. Cochran, Fla.1962, 138 So.2d 508, and designated Honorable J. H. Willson, a Judge of the Tenth Judicial Circuit, as a Commissioner to make determinations of fact and appropriate recommendations with respect to the allegations- and prayer of the petition. The cause recurs now ttpon the excellent report and recommendations of Judge Willson.

An extended discussion of the facts of this cause is unnecessary, the crux of petitioner’s claim having been indicated instate v. Smith, supra. Suffice to say that Judge Willson, after full hearing and consideration of briefs submitted by the State and counsel for petitioner, determined that petitioner had been denied the equal protection of the law guaranteed him by the Federal Constitution and recommended that petitioner be discharged from further custody under the sentence of the Criminal Court of Record of Hillsborough County-We deem it appropriate to quote a portion of Judge Willson’s conclusions of law:

“The Supreme Court of this state in State ex rel Ervin v. Smith, et al., 160 So.2d 518, indicated that petitioner might seek relief by way of habeas corpus, on the basis he has been denied due process through the improper conduct of the state’s functionaries, which deprived him of his right to an appellate review of his case. While this-does not constitute a decision on the question posed, it is a recognition that a substantial question has been raised by petitioner.
“In Cochran v. Kansas, 316 U.S. 255, 62 S.Ct. 1068, 86 L.Ed. 1453, and Dowd. v. U. S., 340 U.S. 206, 71 S.Ct. 262, 95 L.Ed. 215, the Court held that the action of prison officials in preventing a prisoner in sending out appeal documents, until the time for appeal had', expired, was a denial of the equal protection of the law under the Federal Constitution, and in the latter case the-Court also held that on habeas corpus-by one denied this right he should be-discharged, unless the State affords him' a full appellate review. * * *
“Since State v. Smith, supra, precludes any appellate review of petition*771■er’s conviction and sentence, he should be released from imprisonment.”

Upon consideration of the record, Judge Willson’s excellent report and all relevant authorities, we accept and adopt our Commissioner’s findings of fact, findings of law and recommendation. Accordingly, petitioner Hooper is discharged from custody under the sentence of the Criminal Court •of Record of Hillsborough County entered •on February 20, 1962, but remanded to respondent’s custody for continued service of the sentence of the Criminal Court of Record of Dade County entered on September 22, 1961.

SMITH, C. J., and SHANNON, J., concur.


Cases With Similar Vibessemantic neighbors from the corpus


Citator

Cited By

  • Meyer v. State, 415 So. 2d 70 (Fla. 5th DCA 1982)
    …procedure than outright dismissal of the charges. Prior to Hollingshead, the frustration of the right to appeal by a state functionary resulted in dismissal of the charges when a petition for writ of habeas corpus was granted. Hooper v. Wainwright, 168 So. 2d 769 (Fla. 2d DCA 1964), complying with State ex rel. Ervin v. Smith, 160 So. 2d 518 (Fla.1964). .The District Courts of Appeal have routinely granted such habeas corpus relief where the facts readily show entitlement thereto. See, e.g., Daniel v. Wainw…

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