Wright v. State

Decision Date27 March 1992
Citation597 So.2d 761
PartiesGissiander Clifford WRIGHT v. STATE. CR 90-1915.
CourtAlabama Court of Criminal Appeals

Gissiander Clifford Wright, pro se.

James H. Evans, Atty. Gen., and Jean A. Therkelsen, Asst. Atty. Gen., for appellee.

MONTIEL, Judge.

Gissiander Clifford Wright filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus, attacking his 1984 conviction for robbery in the third degree. The petition was filed in the Mobile Circuit Court, which was the court of original conviction and not the court of the county where he was imprisoned. In the petition, the appellant alleged that he was improperly sentenced under the Habitual Felony Offender Act. This allegation is cognizable under Rule 20, A.R.Crim.P.Temp., and this petition should have been treated as a Rule 20 petition. See Rule 20.4, A.R.Crim.P.Temp. While both the State's response to the petition and the court's order denying the petition acknowledged that this petition was actually a Rule 20 petition filed incorrectly as a habeas corpus petition, the court did not order the petition to be returned to the appellant to allow him to amend his petition to comply with the proper form of a Rule 20 petition as required by Rule 20.6(a), A.R.Crim.P.Temp.

Recently, this court in Graham v. State, 599 So.2d 82 (Ala.Crim.App.1992), held that when a petition for writ of habeas corpus, which is in reality a Rule 20, A.R.Crim.P.Temp., or Rule 32, A.R.Crim.P., petition, is filed, the cause should be transferred to the court of original conviction and the petitioner should be given the opportunity to file a proper Rule 20 or Rule 32 petition. See also Matkins v. State, 597 So.2d 760 (Ala.Crim.App.1992). In the case at bar, even though the petition was properly entertained in the court of original conviction, the appellant was not given the opportunity to file a proper Rule 20 petition. Therefore, this case is remanded to the circuit court with directions that the petition for writ of habeas corpus be returned to the appellant so that he can have the opportunity to file a proper Rule 20 petition.

REVERSED AND REMANDED.

All the Judges concur.

To continue reading

Request your trial
7 cases
  • Knight v. State
    • United States
    • Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals
    • October 13, 2017
    ...; Wheeler v. State, 615 So.2d 1330 (Ala. Crim. App. 1993) ; O'Neal v. State, 601 So.2d 1155 (Ala. Crim. App. 1992) ; Wright v. State, 597 So.2d 761 (Ala. Crim. App. 1992) ; and Drayton v. State, 600 So.2d 1088 (Ala. Crim. App. 1992). However, in 1995, the Alabama Supreme Court overruled tha......
  • Drayton v. State, CR-91-204
    • United States
    • Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals
    • June 12, 1992
    ...Graham v. State, 599 So.2d 82 (Ala.Crim.App.1992); Burks v. State, 597 So.2d 759 (Ala.Crim.App.1992); Wright v. State, 597 So.2d 761 (Ala.Crim.App.1992); Matkins v. State, 597 So.2d 760 (Ala.Crim.App.1992); Nickerson v. State, 597 So.2d 762 (Ala.Crim.App.1992); Buchannon v. State, 597 So.2d......
  • Jones v. State, CR-91-0609
    • United States
    • Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals
    • April 17, 1992
    ...See also Graham v. State, 599 So.2d 82 (Ala.Crim.App.1992); Matkins v. State, 597 So.2d 760 (Ala.Crim.App.1992); Wright v. State, 597 So.2d 761 (Ala.Crim.App.1992). REVERSED AND All the Judges concur. ...
  • Wheeler v. State, CR-92-0134
    • United States
    • Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals
    • February 12, 1993
    ...refile it in the proper form prescribed by Rule 20. Rule 20.6(a), A.R.Cr.P. Temp. (now Rule 32.6(a), A.R.Cr.P.). In Wright v. State, 597 So.2d 761, 762 (Ala.Cr.App.1992), this court "[W]hen a petition for writ of habeas corpus, which is in reality a Rule 20, A.R.Crim.P.Temp., or Rule 32, A.......
  • 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