Schack v. State, 1-161

Decision Date17 January 1967
Docket NumberNo. 1-161,1-161
Citation194 So.2d 53
CourtFlorida District Court of Appeals
PartiesLeon G. SCHACK, Appellant, v. STATE of Florida, Appellee.

Leon G. Schack, in pro. per.

Earl Faircloth, Atty. Gen., and R. L. Edwards, Asst. Atty. Gen., for appellee.

SACK, Judge.

Appellant seeks reversal of an order denying his petition for a writ of habeas corpus. While incarcerated in the state prison at Raiford, Florida, he presented a complaint, addressed to Attorney General Nicholas Katzenbach, to a prison official and asked that it be forwarded by 'certified mail--return receipt requested.' The official refused but advised the prisoner that he would give assurance that the document had been mailed. Appellant objected that this would not constitute positive proof of service and subsequently filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus which was denied.

Appellant contends that he has been prohibited from properly forwarding legal documents in compliance with Rule 4, Federal Rules Civil Procedure, in violation of his rights under the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.

It is well established that prisoners lawfully confined to state penitentiaries may be subjected to reasonable internal discipline concerning the use of the mails. Lee v. Tahash, 352 F.2d 970 (8th Cir. 1965); United States ex rel. Thompson v. Fay, 197 F.Supp. 855 (S.D.N.Y.1961). However, we do not reach the question of the reasonableness of the prison official's action in this case.

Even assuming, arguendo, that the refusal to forward prisoner's complaint by 'certified mail--return receipt requested' was improper, the writ was properly denied. A writ of habeas corpus cannot issue if the petitioner is not entitled to immediate release from his confinement. Ex parte Hull, 312 U.S. 546, 61 S.Ct. 640, 85 L.Ed. 1034 (1940); Warfield v. Raymond, 195 Md. 711, 71 A.2d 870 (1950).

Petitioner, appellant here, having failed to establish that he is being unlawfully confined, the order below is affirmed.

WIGGINTON, Acting C.J., and CARROLL, DONALD K., J., concur.

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3 cases
  • Brown v. Justice's Court of Carson Tp., Ormsby County
    • United States
    • Nevada Supreme Court
    • 7 Junio 1967
    ...v. Hill, Warden, 293 U.S. 131, 55 S.Ct. 24, 79 L.Ed. 238 (1934); Boseant v. Fitzharris, 370 F.2d 105 (9th Cir. 1966); Schack v. State, 194 So.2d 53 (Fla.App.1967); State v. Adams, 4 Ariz.App. 298, 419 P.2d 739 (1966). Likewise, they could not appeal from the denial of their motion to dismis......
  • Schack v. State, 49
    • United States
    • Florida District Court of Appeals
    • 21 Julio 1967
    ...by petition for mandamus in the Circuit Court of Bradford County. The denial of relief was affirmed by the Supreme Court of Florida, Fla.1967, 194 So.2d 53. The petitioner also was denied habeas corpus in the Supreme Court of Florida in September 1966. Schack v. State of Florida, Fla.1966, ......
  • Schack v. State.
    • United States
    • Florida Supreme Court
    • 1 Febrero 1967
    ...814 200 So.2d 814 Leon G. SCHACK v. STATE. No. 35940. Supreme Court of Florida. Feb. 1967. Certiorari denied without opinion. 194 So.2d 53. ...

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