People v. Pobuta, 26532.

Decision Date02 February 1971
Docket NumberNo. 26532.,26532.
Citation437 F.2d 1200
PartiesThe PEOPLE OF the STATE OF CALIFORNIA, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Ronald POBUTA, Ellsworth Swait and William Monroe Vick, Defendants. Appeal of William Monroe VICK.
CourtU.S. Court of Appeals — Ninth Circuit

Roland S. Barcume, Newport Beach, Cal., for appellant.

Thomas C. Lynch, Atty. Gen., William E. James, Asst. Atty. Gen., Howard J. Schwab, Deputy Atty. Gen., Los Angeles, Cal., for appellee.

Before HAMLEY, MERRILL, and BROWNING, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:

Appellant filed a petition under 28 U. S.C. § 1443(1) to remove a state criminal prosecution pending against him. On the day the petition was filed the district court entered a minute order denying the petition and remanding the case to the state superior court. Eight days later the court filed a memorandum order reaffirming the prior order and stating the ground therefor, namely, that the petition failed to state a claim for removal under section 1443(1).

We do not reach the merits of the district court's order. The district court failed to give petitioner notice of the proposed dismissal and an opportunity to present his arguments in opposition. It thereby deprived him of the "essence of our judicial system""the right to a hearing on the merits of a claim over which the court has jurisdiction." Harmon v. Superior Court, 307 F.2d 796, 798 (9th Cir. 1962). See also Potter v. McCall, 433 F.2d 1087 (9th Cir. 1970), and cases cited.

Petitions under section 1443 are often without merit for the grounds for removal have been narrowly construed (See People v. Sandoval, 434 F.2d 635 (9th Cir. 1970)); and, obviously, such petitions result in delay of state court trials. 28 U.S.C. § 1446(e). But short-cutting petitioner's procedural rights in the district court is calculated to prolong that delay, not abbreviate it, as this case demonstrates.

The case is remanded to the district court to afford appellant the procedural rights outlined in Potter v. McCall, supra.

To continue reading

Request your trial
4 cases
  • Davis v. Superior Court of State of California, 72-1245.
    • United States
    • U.S. Court of Appeals — Ninth Circuit
    • July 11, 1972
    ...He relies on a number of our decisions: Sanders v. Veterans Administration, 9 Cir., 1971, 450 F.2d 955; People of State of California v. Pobuta, 9 Cir., 1971, 437 F.2d 1200; Potter v. McCall, 9 Cir., 1970, 433 F.2d 1087; Dodd v. Spokane County, 9 Cir., 1968, 393 F.2d 330; Armstrong v. Rushi......
  • Tomasino v. People of State of California, 71-1076.
    • United States
    • U.S. Court of Appeals — Ninth Circuit
    • December 16, 1971
    ...judge ordered the cause remanded because the petition for removal failed to state a claim under § 1443(1). Relying on People v. Pobuta, 437 F.2d 1200 (9th Cir. 1971); Potter v. McCall, 433 F.2d 1087 (9th Cir. 1970); and Harmon v. Superior Court, 307 F.2d 796 (9th Cir. 1962), the appellant s......
  • U.S. ex rel. Walker v. Gunn
    • United States
    • U.S. Court of Appeals — Ninth Circuit
    • February 12, 1975
    ...dismissal and an opportunity to present arguments in opposition denied him the 'essence of our judicial system', citing People v. Pobuta, 437 F.2d 1200 (9 Cir. 1971). Pobuta, supra, is inapposite, however, because in that case the district court summarily and without notice dismissed a remo......
  • People of State of California v. Vick, 71-1898.
    • United States
    • U.S. Court of Appeals — Ninth Circuit
    • November 19, 1971
    ...2, 1971, we reversed the district court's order denying the petition and remanded the case on procedural grounds. People v. Pobuta, 9 Cir., 1971, 437 F.2d 1200. At a "Hearing on Filing and Spreading Judgment of Court of Appeals," it appeared that petitioner was a member of the Marines and w......

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT