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James v. Smith

United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
Feb 4, 1972
455 F.2d 502 (5th Cir. 1972)

Opinion

No. 71-2639. Summary Calendar.

Rule 18, 5th Cir.; see Isbell Enterprises, Inc. v. Citizens Casualty Co. of N.Y., 431 F.2d 409, Part I (5th Cir. 1970).

February 4, 1972.

William H. James, pro se.

Arthur K. Bolton, Atty. Gen., of Ga., William F. Bartee, Jr., Courtney Wilder Stanton, Ass't. Attys. Gen., Atlanta, Ga., Harold N. Hill, Jr., Executive Asst. Atty. Gen., Atlanta, Ga., for respondents-appellees.

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.

Before JOHN R. BROWN, Chief Judge, and INGRAHAM and RONEY, Circuit Judges.



The instant appeal is from the denial of habeas corpus relief. Appellant's claim for relief is based on the asserted failure of the state to live up to a "plea bargain." The district court denied relief without an evidentiary hearing, relying upon the record of appellant's state court proceedings, supplemented by affidavits from the prosecuting and defense attorneys at his trial.

On December 20, 1971, the Supreme Court rendered its decision in Santobello v. New York, 404 U.S. 257, 92 S.Ct. 495, 30 L.Ed.2d 427, which involved the validity of a guilty plea obtained through a plea bargaining process. There the judgment was vacated and the case remanded to the state court to determine whether the circumstances of the case require that there be "specific performance" of the agreement on the plea.

The appeal of the appellant in the case at bar presents a similar set of issues. Consequently, in light of Santobello and for whatever further evidentiary proceedings may be deemed warranted, we remand this case to the district court for reconsideration.

Vacated and remanded for further proceedings.


Summaries of

James v. Smith

United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
Feb 4, 1972
455 F.2d 502 (5th Cir. 1972)
Case details for

James v. Smith

Case Details

Full title:WILLIAM H. JAMES, PETITIONER-APPELLANT, v. S. LAMONT SMITH, WARDEN…

Court:United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit

Date published: Feb 4, 1972

Citations

455 F.2d 502 (5th Cir. 1972)

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