West v. United States

• Decision Date: 17 May 1963
• Docket Number: No. 757-63.,757-63.
• Citation: 217 F. Supp. 391
• Parties: James S. WEST, Petitioner, v. UNITED STATES of America, Defendant.
• Court: U.S. District Court — District of Columbia

217 F. Supp. 391

James S. WEST, Petitioner, v. UNITED STATES of America, Defendant.

No. 757-63.

United States District Court District of Columbia.

May 17, 1963.

Joseph P. Clancy, Washington, D. C., for petitioner.

Michael Rauh, Asst. U. S. Atty., Washington, D. C., for respondent.

JOSEPH R. JACKSON, Judge.

This is an action brought pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255 in behalf of petitioner, who was convicted, together with a co-defendant, Frederick A. Young, of the offense of assault with intent to commit robbery in Criminal Case No. 362-59. On June 26, 1959, both defendants were sentenced to serve a term of imprisonment of from five to fifteen years. West did not appeal that conviction within the time prescribed by law, but the co-defendant, Young, did appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. In Young v. United States, D.C.Cir., 309 F.2d 662, the U. S. Court of Appeals remanded the case for a new trial in holding that the trial court had committed error in failing to give a lesser included offense instruction. Subsequent thereto, on January 29, 1963, the District Court granted a motion by defendant Young to dismiss the indictment. That motion was not opposed by the Government because the complaining witness in the case could not be found.

The object of this action is to vacate sentence on the ground that erroneous instructions were given by the trial court, and that since his co-defendant was granted a new trial by reason of the error hereinbefore mentioned, justice requires that West too should receive similar treatment.

As the Court stated at the time of the oral hearing in this case, it appears "manifestly unfair and unjust to have a co-defendant walking the streets while the other defendant is in jail under the circumstances of this case."

But the question before the Court is not whether the error hereinbefore mentioned requires reversal upon an appeal, but whether it provides a basis for an action to vacate sentence pursuant to Section 2255. The scope of review of Section 2255 is the same as in habeas corpus proceedings. Meyers v. United States, 86 U.S.App.D.C. 320, 181 F.2d 802. And habeas corpus is not available as a substitute for appeal. Smith v. United States, 88 U.S.App.D.C. 80, 187 F.2d 192. As the Supreme Court stated in Sunal v. Large, 332 U.S. 174 at 181, 182, 67 S.Ct. 1588, at 1592, 91 L.Ed. 1982:

"* * * Congress, moreover, has provided a regular orderly method for correction of all such errors by granting an appeal to the Circuit Court of Appeals and by vesting us with certiorari jurisdiction. It is not uncommon after a trial is ended and the time for appeal has passed to discover that a shift in the law or the impact of a new decision has given increased relevance to a point made at the trial but not pursued on appeal. Cf. Warring v. Colpoys, supra 74 App.D.C. 303, 122 F.2d 642, 136 A.L.R. 1025. If in such circumstances, habeas corpus could be used to correct the error, the writ would

...