Sorensen v. Young

Decision Date19 April 1968
Docket NumberNo. 3-68 Civ. 111.,3-68 Civ. 111.
Citation282 F. Supp. 1009
PartiesHarley M. SORENSEN, Petitioner, v. Jack YOUNG, Warden, Respondent.
CourtU.S. District Court — District of Minnesota

Harley M. Sorensen, pro se.

No appearance for respondent.

NEVILLE, District Judge.

Petitioner, convicted in State court and sentenced indeterminately "not to exceed 20 years," seeks a writ of habeas corpus contending his constitutional rights have been violated because he was "denied counsel during sentence review by the Adult Corrections Commission." The Adult Corrections Commission exercises parole jurisdiction under Minnesota Statutes, M.S.A. § 243.05 and can adjust sentences and release prisoners. The statute provides in part:

"In considering applications for parole or final release, the commission shall not be required to hear oral argument from any attorney or other person not connected with the prison or the reformatory in favor of or against the parole or release of any prisoners, * * *."

At the review of petitioner's case by the commission on February 1, 1968, his confinement was ordered continued for three more years.

Petitioner apparently applied for relief first to the State Court. Upon a denial of his petition by the lower court under the Minnesota 1967 post conviction remedy statute, he alleges he wrote a letter to the Chief Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court and received a reply to the effect that "I know of no provision in the law for appointment of counsel before the Adult Corrections Commission."

Even the most liberal interpretation of Escobedo v. State of Illinois, 378 U.S. 478, 84 S.Ct. 1758, 12 L.Ed.2d 977 (1964), In re Gault, 387 U.S. 1, 87 S.Ct. 1428, 18 L.Ed.2d 527 (1967), Gideon v. Wainwright, 372 U.S. 335, 83 S.Ct. 792, 9 L.Ed.2d 799 (1963), United States v. Wade, 388 U.S. 218, 87 S.Ct. 1926, 18 L. Ed.2d 1149 (1967) and other decisions does not suggest that a prisoner is entitled to counsel before parole boards or commissions reviewing a prisoner's sentence to determine his possible early release on parole. There is no judicial authority cited nor to be found for petitioner's position. Mempa v. Rhay, 389 U.S. 128, 88 S.Ct. 254, 19 L.Ed.2d 336 (1967) accorded an attorney to a defendant where his probation was sought to be revoked. The rationale of that case has no application to the situation at hand. In Mempa deferred sentencing in effect was involved. In the case at bar, parole considerations follow long after the completion of the...

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6 cases
  • Cole v. Holliday
    • United States
    • Iowa Supreme Court
    • October 14, 1969
    ...(D.C.1968); Holder v. United States, 285 F.Supp. 380 (D.C.1968); Sammons v. United States, 285 F.Supp. 100 (D.C.1968); Sorensen v. Young, 282 F.Supp. 1009 (D.C.1968); Beal v. Turner, 22 Utah 2d 418, 454 P.2d 624 There are no statutory provisions in this jurisdiction for the granting of noti......
  • Knight v. State
    • United States
    • Court of Special Appeals of Maryland
    • June 25, 1969
    ...and probation and finding Mempa not applicable see: Williams v. Patterson, 389 F.2d 374 (U.S.C.A. 10th cir. 1968); Sorenson v. Young, 282 F.Supp. 1009 (U.S.D.C.Minn.1968); Lawson v. Coiner, 291 F.Supp. 79 (U.S.D.C.W.Va.1968); Wingo v. Lyons, 432 S.W.2d 821 (Ky.1968); People ex rel. Johnson ......
  • Beckworth v. New Jersey State Parole Bd.
    • United States
    • New Jersey Supreme Court
    • March 19, 1973
    ...v. Ciccone, 326 F.Supp. 609 (D.Mo.1970); Schawartzberg v. United States Board of Parole, 399 F.2d 297 (10 Cir. 1968); Sorensen v. Young, 282 F.Supp. 1009 (D.Minn.1968); Briguglio v. New York State Board of Parole, Supra, 24 N.Y.2d 21, 298 N.Y.S.2d 704, 246 N.Ed.2d 512; In re Schoengarth, 66......
  • Riggins v. Rhay, 40374
    • United States
    • Washington Supreme Court
    • January 30, 1969
    ...Holder v. United States, 285 F.Supp. 380 (E.D.Tex.1968); Sammons v. United States, 285 F.Supp. 100 (S.D.Tex.1968); Sorenson v. Young, 282 F.Supp. 1009 (D.Minn.1968); United States v. Hartsell, 277 F.Supp. 993 (E.D.Tenn.1967); People v. Jones, Cal.App., 70 Cal.Rptr. 13 (1968); John v. State,......
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