Sheppard v. State of Ohio, No. 352

CourtUnited States Supreme Court
Writing for the CourtFRANKFURTER.
Citation1 L.Ed.2d 119,352 U.S. 910,77 S.Ct. 118
PartiesSamuel H. SHEPPARD, Petitioner, v. The STATE OF OHIO
Docket NumberNo. 352
Decision Date13 November 1956

352 U.S. 910
77 S.Ct. 118
1 L.Ed.2d 119
Samuel H. SHEPPARD, Petitioner,

v.

The STATE OF OHIO.

No. 352.

Supreme Court of the United States

November 13, 1956
Rehearing Denied Dec. 17, 1956.
See 352 U.S. 955, 77 S.Ct. 323.

Messrs. William J. Corrigan and Paul M. Herbert, for petitioner.

Messrs. Frank T. Cullitan and Saul S. Danaceau, for respondent.

Mr. Justice FRANKFURTER.

The truth that education demands reiteration bears on the understanding, and not only by the laity, of the meaning of the denial of a petition for certiorari. Despite the Court's frequent exposition, misconception recurrently manifests itself regarding the exercise of our discretion in not bringing a case here for review. Appropriate occasions may therefore be utilized to make explicit what ought to be assumed. This is one.

The divided Supreme Court of Ohio sustained the conviction in a capital case the trial of which was enveloped in circumstances thus summarized in the opinion of that court:

'Murder and mystery, society, sex and suspense were combined in this case in such a manner as to intrigue and captivate the public fancy to a degree perhaps unparalleled in recent annals. Throughout the preindictment investigation, the subsequent legal skirmishes and the nine-week trial, circulation-conscious editors catered to the insatiable interest of the American public in the bizarre. Special seating facilities for reporters and columnists representing local papers and all major news services were installed in the courtroom. Special rooms in the Criminal Courts Building were equipped for broadcasters and telecasters. In this atmosphere of a 'Roman holiday' for the news media, Sam Sheppard stood trial for his life.' 165 Ohio St. 293, 294, 135 N.E.2d 340, 342.

Page 911

The defendant claimed that a proceeding so infused and enveloped by the 'atmosphere of a 'Roman holiday" precluded a fair trial and could not but deprive him of the due process of law guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution. The Supreme Court of Ohio rejected this claim and the defendant then invoked the discretionary power of this Court to review the correctness of its decision. This Court in turn now refuses the defendant the opportunity to bring the case here for review.

Such denial of his petition in no wise implies that this Court approves the decision of the Supreme Court of Ohio. It means and means only that for one reason or another this case did not commend itself to at...

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60 practice notes
  • Martin v. Beto, No. 24672.
    • United States
    • United States Courts of Appeals. United States Court of Appeals (5th Circuit)
    • August 14, 1968
    ...to exercise its discretion in reviewing a lower court\'s decision.\' Memorandum of Mr. Justice Frankfurter, Sheppard v. State of Ohio, 352 U.S. 910, 911 77 S.Ct. 118, 1 L.Ed.2d 119; see also, Maryland v. Baltimore Radio Show, Inc., 338 U.S. 912, 70 S. Ct. 252, 94 L.Ed. Martin v. Texas, 1965......
  • Sheppard v. Maxwell, No. 16077.
    • United States
    • United States Courts of Appeals. United States Court of Appeals (6th Circuit)
    • July 14, 1965
    ...340 (1956), two judges dissenting. Application for certiorari was denied by the United States Supreme Court, Sheppard v. State of Ohio, 352 U.S. 910, 77 S.Ct. 118, 1 L.Ed.2d 119 (1956), and rehearing was denied, Sheppard v. Ohio, 352 U.S. 955, 77 S.Ct. 323, 1 L.Ed.2d 245 (1956). Dr. Sheppar......
  • State v. Ravenell, No. A--147
    • United States
    • United States State Supreme Court (New Jersey)
    • July 31, 1964
    ...418--419 (1963); State v. Sheppard, 100 Ohio App. 345, 128 N.E.2d 471, 478 (1955), aff'd, 165 Ohio St. 293, 135 N.E.2d 340, cert. denied, 352 U.S. 910, 77 S.Ct. 118, 1 L.Ed.2d 119 (1956); Hewitt v. United States, 110 F.2d 1, 6 (8 Cir.), cert. denied, 310 U.S. 641, 60 S.Ct. 1089, 84 L.Ed. 14......
  • United States v. Williams, No. CR-2-81-45.
    • United States
    • United States District Courts. 6th Circuit. Eastern District of Tennessee
    • March 31, 1982
    ...are defied' * * *." MacNeil v. United States, C.A. 1st (1956), 236 F.2d 149, 1534, certiorari denied (1956), 352 U.S. 912, 77 S.Ct. 150, 1 L.Ed.2d 119. This is not to adjudicate that Mr. Butcher, Jr. must be punished by fine or imprisonment for his disobedient failure, to vindicate the auth......
  • Request a trial to view additional results
60 cases
  • Martin v. Beto, No. 24672.
    • United States
    • United States Courts of Appeals. United States Court of Appeals (5th Circuit)
    • August 14, 1968
    ...to exercise its discretion in reviewing a lower court\'s decision.\' Memorandum of Mr. Justice Frankfurter, Sheppard v. State of Ohio, 352 U.S. 910, 911 77 S.Ct. 118, 1 L.Ed.2d 119; see also, Maryland v. Baltimore Radio Show, Inc., 338 U.S. 912, 70 S. Ct. 252, 94 L.Ed. Martin v. Texas, 1965......
  • Sheppard v. Maxwell, No. 16077.
    • United States
    • United States Courts of Appeals. United States Court of Appeals (6th Circuit)
    • July 14, 1965
    ...340 (1956), two judges dissenting. Application for certiorari was denied by the United States Supreme Court, Sheppard v. State of Ohio, 352 U.S. 910, 77 S.Ct. 118, 1 L.Ed.2d 119 (1956), and rehearing was denied, Sheppard v. Ohio, 352 U.S. 955, 77 S.Ct. 323, 1 L.Ed.2d 245 (1956). Dr. Sheppar......
  • State v. Ravenell, No. A--147
    • United States
    • United States State Supreme Court (New Jersey)
    • July 31, 1964
    ...418--419 (1963); State v. Sheppard, 100 Ohio App. 345, 128 N.E.2d 471, 478 (1955), aff'd, 165 Ohio St. 293, 135 N.E.2d 340, cert. denied, 352 U.S. 910, 77 S.Ct. 118, 1 L.Ed.2d 119 (1956); Hewitt v. United States, 110 F.2d 1, 6 (8 Cir.), cert. denied, 310 U.S. 641, 60 S.Ct. 1089, 84 L.Ed. 14......
  • United States v. Williams, No. CR-2-81-45.
    • United States
    • United States District Courts. 6th Circuit. Eastern District of Tennessee
    • March 31, 1982
    ...are defied' * * *." MacNeil v. United States, C.A. 1st (1956), 236 F.2d 149, 1534, certiorari denied (1956), 352 U.S. 912, 77 S.Ct. 150, 1 L.Ed.2d 119. This is not to adjudicate that Mr. Butcher, Jr. must be punished by fine or imprisonment for his disobedient failure, to vindicate the auth......
  • Request a trial to view additional results

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