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McConnell v. Rhay

U.S.
Oct 14, 1968
393 U.S. 2 (1968)

Summary

holding retroactive Mempa v. Rhay, 389 U.S. 128

Summary of this case from Desist v. United States

Opinion

ON PETITION FOR WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO THE SUPREME COURT OF WASHINGTON.

No. 87, Misc.

Decided October 14, 1968.

Together with No. 458, Misc., Stiltner v. Rhay, Penitentiary Superintendent, also on petition for writ of certiorari to the same court.

The decision in Mempa v. Rhay, 389 U.S. 128, holding that the Sixth Amendment, as applied through the Fourteenth Amendment, requires that counsel be afforded felony defendants in a proceeding for revocation of probation and imposition of deferred sentencing, should be applied retroactively.

Certiorari granted; judgments reversed and remanded.

Michael H. Rosen for petitioner in No. 458, Misc.

John J. O'Connell, Attorney General of Washington, and Stephen C. Way, Assistant Attorney General, for respondent in both cases.



The sole issue presented by these cases is whether our decision in Mempa v. Rhay, 389 U.S. 128 (1967), should be applied retroactively.

The facts in both cases are quite similar to those in Mempa. Petitioner Jack D. McConnell pleaded guilty to two counts of grand larceny by check. At a hearing on December 23, 1965, he was placed on probation for five years upon condition that he serve one year in the county jail. He was released from jail the following April, but five months later the prosecuting attorney moved that the December 23 order be revoked, alleging that McConnell had violated the terms of his probation. Two hearings on the motion followed — one on September 29, 1966, and the other on November 23, 1966. As a result of these hearings, McConnell was sentenced to two concurrent 15-year terms. At neither hearing was he represented by counsel or advised of his right to have counsel appointed.

Petitioner Douglas Stiltner pleaded guilty to burglary in the second degree and grand larceny, and on June 23, 1958, he was placed on probation and sentencing was deferred. As in McConnell's case, the prosecuting attorney later moved for revocation of this order. Hearings on December 30, 1958, and January 8, 1959, led to the imposition of two concurrent 15-year sentences. Stiltner was neither represented nor advised of his right to have counsel appointed. Although Stiltner was subsequently convicted of another offense and is serving a sentence for that crime, the Washington Supreme Court found that it had the power to fashion appropriate relief, were Mempa v. Rhay applicable.

In habeas corpus proceedings, the Washington Supreme Court properly found that both petitioners' Sixth Amendment rights were violated at their deferred sentencing hearings. That question was settled by our decision in Mempa. But the court denied relief in both cases, holding that Mempa should not be applied to cases in which probation and deferral or suspension of sentences had been revoked before November 13, 1967, the date upon which Mempa was decided. This was error.

This Court's decisions on a criminal defendant's right to counsel at trial, Gideon v. Wainwright, 372 U.S. 335 (1963); at certain arraignments, Hamilton v. Alabama, 368 U.S. 52 (1961); and on appeal, Douglas v. California, 372 U.S. 353 (1963), have been applied retroactively. The right to counsel at sentencing is no different. As in these other cases, the right being asserted relates to "the very integrity of the fact-finding process." Linkletter v. Walker, 381 U.S. 618, 639 (1965); cf. Roberts v. Russell, 392 U.S. 293 (1968). As we said in Mempa, "the necessity for the aid of counsel in marshaling the facts, introducing evidence of mitigating circumstances and in general aiding and assisting the defendant to present his case as to sentence is apparent." 389 U.S., at 135. The right to counsel at sentencing must, therefore, be treated like the right to counsel at other stages of adjudication.

Certiorari and the motions to proceed in forma pauperis are granted in both cases, the judgments are reversed, and the cases are remanded for further proceedings not inconsistent with this opinion.

It is so ordered.


Summaries of

McConnell v. Rhay

U.S.
Oct 14, 1968
393 U.S. 2 (1968)

holding retroactive Mempa v. Rhay, 389 U.S. 128

Summary of this case from Desist v. United States

holding the rule requiring that counsel be furnished in proceedings for probation or imposition of deferred sentence as announced in Mempa v. Rhay, 389 U.S. 128, 88 S.Ct. 254, 19 L.Ed. 2d 336, to be retroactive

Summary of this case from Schlomann v. Moseley

holding the right to counsel at revocation of "probation and deferral or suspension of sentences" must "be treated like the right to counsel at other stages of adjudication"

Summary of this case from White v. Davis

holding retroactive Mempa v. Rhay, 389 U.S. 128, 88 S.Ct. 254, 19 L.Ed.2d 336

Summary of this case from Workman v. Cardwell

holding retroactive the ruling in Mempa v. Rhay, 389 U.S. 128, 19 L.Ed.2d 336, that counsel must be provided at a hearing concerning the revocation of probation

Summary of this case from State v. Jackson

giving retroactive effect to the right to counsel provided in Mempa v. Rhay, 389 U.S. 128

Summary of this case from Williams v. United States

In McConnell v. Rhay (1968) 393 U.S. 2, 89 S.Ct. 32, 21 L.Ed.2d 2, the Supreme Court held that, as in Gideon v. Wainwright (1963) 372 U.S. 335, 83 S.Ct. 792, 9 L.Ed.2d 799 (right to counsel at trial) and Douglas v. California (1963) 372 U.S. 353, 83 S.Ct. 814, 9 L.Ed.2d 811 (right to counsel on appeal), the right to counsel at dispositional proceedings "relates to `the very integrity of the fact-finding process.'"

Summary of this case from Harris v. Procunier

In McConnell v. Rhay, 393 U.S. 2, 89 S.Ct. 32, 21 L.Ed.2d 2 (1968), the Court was compelled by these considerations to treat the right to counsel at sentencing like the right to counsel at other critical stages of adjudication — the Court held Mempa to apply retroactively.

Summary of this case from Ellhamer v. Wilson

stating that sentencing relates to the integrity of the fact-finding process under Linkletter

Summary of this case from People v. Carp

In McConnell v. Rhay, 393 U.S. 2, 89 S.Ct. 32, 21 L.Ed.2d 2 the Supreme Court held that its decision in Mempa v. Rhay, supra, was to be given full retroactive application.

Summary of this case from Ex Parte Sanders

giving retroactive effect to the right to counsel provided in Mempa v. Rhay, 389 U.S. 128

Summary of this case from Wiggins v. State

giving retroactive effect to the right to counsel provided in Mempa v. Rhay, 389 U.S. 128, 88 S.Ct. 254, 19 L.Ed.2d 336

Summary of this case from Ex Parte Pennington

giving retroactive effect to the right to counsel provided in Mempa v. Rhay, 389 U.S. 128, 88 S.Ct. 254, 19 L.Ed.2d 336

Summary of this case from Rutherford v. State

noting Hamilton's holding that an accused had the right to counsel "at certain arraignments"

Summary of this case from State v. Woolery
Case details for

McConnell v. Rhay

Case Details

Full title:McCONNELL v . RHAY, PENITENTIARY SUPERINTENDENT

Court:U.S.

Date published: Oct 14, 1968

Citations

393 U.S. 2 (1968)
89 S. Ct. 32

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