Sperling v. Willingham

Decision Date03 November 1965
Docket NumberNo. 15005.,15005.
PartiesHerbert SPERLING, Petitioner-Appellant, v. J. T. WILLINGHAM, Warden, Respondent-Appellee.
CourtU.S. Court of Appeals — Seventh Circuit

Herbert Sperling, pro se.

Carl W. Feickert, U. S. Atty., East St. Louis, Ill., Raymond Francis Rose, Asst. U. S. Atty., Danville, Ill., for respondent.

Before HASTINGS, Chief Judge, and KNOCH and KILEY, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM.

Appellant, Herbert Sperling, has appealed to this Court from denial of his petition for writ of habeas corpus filed in the United States District Court. He states that he is concurrently serving two sentences: (1) for a term of 60 days to 6 years imposed on September 15, 1959, by the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, under the Youth Correction Act; and (2) for a term of 10 years imposed on February 19, 1960, by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, under Title 26, U.S.C.A. § 7237(d) Narcotic Control Act of 1956 under which he is ineligible for parole.

Unlike the petitioner, we find the sentences definite, clearly defined, and within the general rule of United States v. Daugherty, 269 U.S. 360, 363, 46 S.Ct. 156, 70 L.Ed. 309 (1926) that sentences must reveal with fair certainty the intent of the court and exclude serious misapprehensions by those who must execute them, but that the elimination of all possible doubts cannot be demanded.

We find no merit in petitioner's further contention that § 7237(d) is unconstitutional as a denial of equal protection of the laws, or other civil rights, or cruel and unusual punishment to persons convicted under that statute as contrasted with persons convicted of other offenses who may be eligible for parole. Stewart v. United States, 8 Cir., 1964, 325 F.2d 745, 746, and cases there cited.

The order of the District Court is affirmed.

Affirmed.

To continue reading

Request your trial
12 cases
  • United States v. Fiore, 906
    • United States
    • U.S. Court of Appeals — Second Circuit
    • September 27, 1972
    ...v. Lozaw, 427 F.2d 911, 917 (2d Cir. 1970). See also United States v. Drotar, 416 F.2d 914, 916 (5th Cir. 1969); Sperling v. Willingham, 353 F.2d 6, 7 (7th Cir. 1965), cert. denied, 384 U.S. 962, 86 S.Ct. 1591, 16 L.Ed.2d 675 (1966); Stewart v. United States, 325 F.2d 745, 746 (8th Cir.), c......
  • State v. Hall
    • United States
    • Iowa Supreme Court
    • March 19, 1975
    ...other jurisdictions upholding statutes precluding the availability of probation upon conviction of drug-related offenses. Sperling v. Willingham, 7 Cir., 353 F.2d 6; United States v. Sierra, 2 Cir., 297 F.2d 531; State v. Howard, 262 La. 270, 263 So.2d 32, 35; Doyle v. State, Okl.Cr., 511 P......
  • State v. Freeman
    • United States
    • Kansas Supreme Court
    • January 21, 1978
    ...permit in the first place." (p. 918.) See also United States v. Williams, 143 U.S.App.D.C. 16, 442 F.2d 738 (1970); and Sperling v. Willingham, 353 F.2d 6 (7th Cir. 1965), cert. den. 384 U.S. 962, 86 S.Ct. 1591, 16 L.Ed.2d In Stewart v. United States, 325 F.2d 745 (8th Cir. 1964), cert. den......
  • State v. White
    • United States
    • Louisiana Supreme Court
    • June 9, 1969
    ...States, 325 F.2d 745, cert. den. 377 U.S. 937, 84 S.Ct. 1344, 12 L.Ed.2d 301; 2 McWilliams v. United States, 394 F.2d 41; Sperling v. Willingham, 353 F.2d 6, cert. den. 384 U.S. 962, 86 S.Ct. 1591, 16 L.Ed.2d 675; 3 Vaughn v. United States, 7 Cir., 359 F.2d 809; United States ex rel. Fink v......
  • Request a trial to view additional results

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT