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William Strong, Petitioner, v. Charles A. Edmondson, Warden, Kansas State Penitentiary, Respondent

Kansas Supreme Court1954-12-11No. No. 39,584
177 Kan. 247277 P.2d 585

Summary

Holding. The petition for habeas corpus relief was denied. Habeas corpus is not a proper proceeding to challenge trial errors or to obtain a new trial; the appropriate remedies are a motion for new trial followed by appeal.

William Strong sought habeas corpus relief from his rape conviction and sentence, arguing he was being held illegally because the trial court lacked jurisdiction over venue in Doniphan County. He requested a new trial. The respondent warden moved to dismiss, contending that habeas corpus is not the proper mechanism for challenging trial errors and that the time to appeal had already expired.

The court sustained the motion to dismiss. The court explained that habeas corpus cannot serve as a substitute for appellate review of trial errors or as a replacement for a motion for new trial. The proper remedies for correcting district court errors in criminal cases are first a motion for new trial in the trial court, followed by appeal if that motion is denied. The court also noted that convictions carry a presumption of regularity and validity, and that the petitioner bore the burden of proving his claims by clear and convincing evidence. Additionally, the court found no evidence in the record supporting the contention that venue was improperly established in Doniphan County.

Summary generated by law.co from the public-domain opinion. The opinion text itself is public domain.

Key issues

  • Whether habeas corpus is an appropriate remedy for challenging trial court errors
  • Whether venue was properly established in Doniphan County
  • Proper procedural remedies for criminal defendants challenging conviction and sentence

Procedural posture

This is an original habeas corpus proceeding filed directly in the state supreme court by a prisoner seeking release from the Kansas State Penitentiary.

Authorities cited

No cited authorities resolved to law.co cases yet.

Opinion

majority opinion

The opinion of the court was delivered by

Wedell, J.:

This is an original proceeding in habeas corpus.

The petition for the writ, in substance, alleges: Petitioner is being held illegally and restrained by respondent, Charles A. Edmondson, Warden of the Kansas State Penitentiary, without due process of law, in direct violation of the constitution of the United States, its amendments, and the constitution of the state of Kansas and the bill of rights; the district court of Doniphan county, in which he was convicted and sentenced, was without jurisdiction for the reason venue was not established.

The prayer of the petition is for a new trial.

A certified copy of the journal entry of judgment and sentence, filed by respondent, in substance, recites:

Petitioner was convicted of the crime of rape under the provisions of G. S. 1949, 21-424 in Doniphan county on January 15, 1952; in the course of the trial petitioner filed a motion for his release on the ground venue had not been established in Doniphan county; the motion was argued, considered, and overruled; petitioner was represented by counsel; there were no objections to instructions to the jury; petitioner filed a motion for new trial, which was argued, considered and overruled, and petitioner was sentenced and committed to the state penitentiary for a term of not less than one nor more than twenty-one years.

The instant petition for a writ was filed in this court on June 4, 1954.

Respondent has moved for dismissal of the proceeding on the grounds petitioner did not perfect an appeal from the judgment of conviction and sentence; the time for such an appeal has expired; habeas corpus is not a proper proceeding to obtain a review of trial errors or to obtain a new trial in the criminal action. The motion must be sustained.

A proceeding in habeas corpus is not a substitute for a review of trial errors by appeal and does not serve the function of a motion for new trial. (In re MacLean, 147 Kan. 678, 78 P. 2d 855; Kneisley v. Hudspeth, 161 Kan. 772, 173 P. 2d 247; Townsend v. Hudspeth, 167 Kan. 366, 205 P. 2d 483.) The remedy for correction of errors committed by the district court in the course of a prosecution for crime is not by habeas corpus but by a motion for new trial, and if such motion is denied, by appeal. (In re Bundy, 144 Kan. 64, 58 P. 2d 80; Townsend v. Hudspeth, supra, p. 367.) A judgment of conviction bears a presumption of regularity and validity. (Bissell v. Amrine, 159 Kan 358, 364, 155 P. 2d 413; Miller v. Hudspeth, 164 Kan. 688, 192 P. 2d 147; Current v. Hudspeth, 173 Kan. 694, 250 P. 2d 798, cert. denied, 345 U. S. 943, 97 L. ed. 1369, 73 S. Ct. 837.)

The burden of proof rests on the petitioner to establish the grounds alleged for his release by a clear and convincing pre ponderance of the evidence. (Bissell v. Amrine, Miller v. Hudspeth, Current v. Hudspeth, omnia supra.)

In passing we also may say the record in the instant proceeding contains no evidence whatsoever that the venue for the trial of the criminal action was improperly laid in Doniphan county.

The petition for the writ must be denied. It is so ordered.