Johnson v. Crouse, 7679.

Decision Date23 June 1964
Docket NumberNo. 7679.,7679.
PartiesFloyd E. JOHNSON, Appellant, v. Sherman H. CROUSE, Warden Kansas State Penitentiary, Lansing, Kansas, Appellee.
CourtU.S. Court of Appeals — Tenth Circuit

Robert P. Grueter, Denver, Colo., for appellant.

Robert J. Lewis, Jr., Asst. Atty. Gen., of Kansas (William M. Ferguson, Atty. Gen., of Kansas, on the brief), for appellee.

Before BREITENSTEIN, HILL and SETH, United States Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM.

The appeal is from a denial of a petition for a writ of habeas corpus.1 Appellant, now a prisoner confined in the Kansas State Penitentiary, was charged in the District Court of Marion County, Kansas, with second degree burglary and grand larceny. The trial judge appointed counsel to represent him, although Johnson stated at that time that he understood all the points involved and the appointment of counsel was not necessary. After consultation with his appointed counsel, he appeared before the court, waived arraignment and entered a plea of guilty to both counts of the information, stating then to the court that he did so voluntarily and after consultation with his counsel. The county attorney then gave notice, in open court, that he was invoking the Kansas habitual criminal act (Kan.G.S.1949, 21-107a) and offered into evidence certified copies of two journal entries of judgment, each showing a separate prior felony conviction. The county attorney, at this stage of the proceedings stated, "I would like to offer into evidence, and give the accused and his counsel opportunity to study these whatever time is necessary." Upon inquiry in open court by his attorney, Johnson admitted the two prior convictions and thereafter the journal entries were admitted into evidence and sentence was pronounced pursuant to the mandatory sentencing provisions of the Kansas statutes.

Appellant makes two contentions here: (1) That he was not afforded adequate or effective assistance of counsel; and (2) that he was not given proper notice of the State's intention to proceed against him under the habitual criminal statutes of the State.

These questions were resolved against Johnson by the Supreme Court of Kansas in an original habeas corpus proceeding had in that court prior to the filing of this case in the court below.2 Both that court and the trial court in this case found that Johnson had failed to sustain his factual burden and, in addition, found as facts, as well as under the law, that...

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7 cases
  • Brooks v. State, G-64
    • United States
    • Florida District Court of Appeals
    • March 16, 1965
    ...test of effective assistance of counsel. Mitchell v. United States, 104 U.S.App.D.C. 57, 259 F.2d 787.' See, also, Floyd E. Johnson v. Crouse, Warden, 10 Cir., 332 F.2d 417.' We pause to note that the transcript of this trial reveals able and vigorous representation on the part of the publi......
  • Price v. Lake Sales Supply R. M., Inc.
    • United States
    • U.S. Court of Appeals — Tenth Circuit
    • December 5, 1974
  • Hickock v. Crouse, 7605
    • United States
    • U.S. Court of Appeals — Tenth Circuit
    • July 1, 1964
    ...test of effective assistance of counsel. Mitchell v. United States, 104 U.S. App.D.C. 57, 259 F.2d 787." See, also, Floyd E. Johnson v. Crouse, Warden, 10 Cir., 332 F.2d 417. Petitioners urge that the crimes with which they were charged were so extensively publicized by the news media in Fi......
  • Byers v. Crouse
    • United States
    • U.S. Court of Appeals — Tenth Circuit
    • December 11, 1964
    ...him subject to the penalties of the habitual criminal statute. The time for complaint was then, not now. * * *" See also Johnson v. Crouse, 10 Cir., 332 F.2d 417. Appellant's next argument that the Act is a bill of attainder is equally without merit. People v. Lawrence, 390 Ill. 499, 61 N.E......
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