Hensley v. Municipal Court

Decision Date18 February 1972
Docket NumberNo. 26274.,26274.
Citation453 F.2d 1252
PartiesKirby H. HENSLEY, Appellant, v. MUNICIPAL COURT, SAN JOSE-MILPITAS JUDICIAL DISTRICT SANTA CLARA COUNTY, STATE OF CALIFORNIA, Appellee.
CourtU.S. Court of Appeals — Ninth Circuit

Peter R. Stromer (argued), San Jose, Cal., for appellant.

Dennis Lempert, Asst. Dist. Atty. (argued), San Jose, Cal., for appellee.

Before KOELSCH and CARTER, Circuit Judges, and SMITH,* District Judge.

PER CURIAM:

The sole question on appeal is whether or not a person released on his own recognizance following trial, conviction and sentence on a state criminal charge is within the purview of 28 U.S.C. § 2241, which extends the remedy of habeas corpus to persons "in custody" in violation of the federal constitution.1 We conclude that he is not.2

Not long ago, this court squarely ruled on this question in Matysek v. United States, 339 F.2d 389 (1964), cert. denied 381 U.S. 917, 85 S.Ct. 1545, 14 L.Ed.2d 437. We held that a person released on bail was not "in custody," actual or constructive, so as to satisfy 28 U.S.C. § 2241.3

Appellant Hensley urges that Matysek has been implicitly overruled by the recent Supreme Court cases of Walker v. Wainwright, 390 U.S. 335, 88 S.Ct. 962, 19 L.Ed.2d 1215 (1968); Peyton v. Rowe, 391 U.S. 54, 88 S.Ct. 1549, 20 L.Ed.2d 426 (1968) and Carafas v. LaVallee, 391 U.S. 234, 88 S.Ct. 1556, 20 L.Ed.2d 554 (1968). These cases are distinguishable because in each of them there existed actual or constructive custody. In Walker and Rowe, the petitioners were in actual custody and in Carafas, the petitioner was on parole. In Matysek, this court, while recognizing that release on parole constituted constructive custody, distinguished a bail situation holding that the attendant restrictions did not constitute custody. The Supreme Court has not, to this date, considered the express question posed herein.

We feel, therefore, constrained to follow Matysek v. United States, supra.

Affirmed.

* Honorable Russell E. Smith, United States District Judge, Missoula, Montana, sitting by designation.

1 Hensley has been at liberty on recognizance at all times since conviction. Initially the state court stayed execution of sentence. At the exhaustion of Hensley's state remedies the district court issued a stay of execution pending habeas proceedings therein. Both the district court and this court denied a stay of execution pending this appeal. Subsequently, the Circuit Justice granted the stay.

2 We are unable to treat this petition as one seeking coram nobis relief because Hensley seeks to challenge a state court proceeding in federal court. Coram nobis lies only to challenge errors occurring in the same court. 7 Moore's Federal Practice ¶ 60.14, p. 46.

3 The decisional rule is different in several other circuits. Capler v. Greenville, 422 F.2d 299 (5th Cir.1970); Burris v. Ryan, 397 F.2d...

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34 cases
  • Hensley v. 8212 1428
    • United States
    • U.S. Supreme Court
    • April 18, 1973
    ...constitute 'custody' within the meaning of the federal habeas corpus statute, 28 U.S.C. §§ 2241(c)(3), 2254(a). Pp. 348—353. (9 Cir. 1972) 453 F.2d 1252, reversed. Stanley A. Bass, New York City, for petitioner. Dennis Alan Lempert, San Jose, Cal., for respondent. Mr. Justice BRENNAN delive......
  • Harris v. Superior Court of State of Cal., Los Angeles County
    • United States
    • U.S. Court of Appeals — Ninth Circuit
    • July 12, 1974
    ...jurisdiction. See Hensley v. Municipal Court, 1973, 411 U.S. 345, 93 S.Ct. 1571, 36 L.Ed.2d 294, reversing our decision, reported at 9 Cir., 453 F.2d 1252.3 Picard v. Connor, 1971, 404 U.S. 270, 275, 92 S.Ct. 509, 30 L.Ed.2d 438; Fay v. Noia, 1963, 372 U.S. 391, 419, 438, 83 S.Ct. 822, 9 L.......
  • People of State of New York v. Baker
    • United States
    • U.S. District Court — Southern District of New York
    • January 26, 1973
    ...custody", so as to permit him to test the validity of the bail restriction by habeas corpus. 28 U.S.C. § 2254; Hensley v. Municipal Court, 453 F.2d 1252 (9th Cir. 1972), cert. granted October 10, 1972, 409 U.S. 840, 93 S.Ct. 43, 34 L. Ed.2d 79. There is substantial authority holding he may ......
  • Mundo v. California
    • United States
    • U.S. District Court — Central District of California
    • October 26, 2018
    ...nobis to set aside judgments of state courts"); Obado v. New Jersey, 328 F.3d 716, 718 (3rd Cir. 2003) (same); Hensley v. Municipal Court, 453 F.2d 1252 n.2 (9th Cir. 1972) ("We are unable to treat this petition as one seeking coram nobis relief because [the petitioner] seeks to challenge a......
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