Favor v. Henderson (348 F. Supp. 423, 1972)

ORDER

DAWKINS, Chief Judge.

Petitioner’s habeas application was received by this Court and permitted to be filed and prosecuted in forma pawperis.

March 3, 1972, we directed the State to file the complete record in this matter with this Court and further that the State, through its District Attorney for the Twenty-Sixth Judicial District Court, Bossier Parish, Louisiana, should file a brief of authorities or otherwise plead within the twenty days in response to applicant’s allegations that his conviction was unconstitutionally obtained by perjured testimony of Floyd E. Cumbey; that collusion existed between that State’s witness and the authorities of Bossier Parish; and that he was denied his right to appeal and to have the aid of counsel on appeal.

The record has been received, including the entire transcript of the trial (660 pages) and another volume of 14 pages of rebuttal transcript, and an additional volume with the Minutes of the Court, including motions, the habeas corpus petition of applicant, and judgment denying same. A general denial has been received from the respondent through the Attorney General’s office, but no brief or other pleadings.

Applicant has alleged in hjs petition, through counsel of record, Mr. J. B. Wells, that he was sentenced to life imprisonment on June 19, 1967, after trial, and raises three questions as to the alleged invalidity of his sentence, viz.,

I. Was relator’s conviction had by one sole witness’s perjured testimony?

II. Was there any collusion between “star” witness Cumbey and the Bossier Parish authorities which was not revealed to defense counsel or the jury?

III. Was relator denied his constitutional right to appeal and to have the aid of counsel on appeal?

The record before us shows that applicant had the benefit of most able counsel before and during his trial, through Messrs. Joe T. Cawthorn (now deceased) and J. B. Wells, who were retained and vigorously defended applicant. There is nothing in the record that indicates that retained counsel ever filed in the trial Court any motion to withdraw as counsel because of the indigency of applicant or that applicant desired to appeal. It can only be assumed that applicant and his counsel did not desire to appeal and that an out-of-time appeal at this late date would be of no avail as the habeas corpus application relating to the same questions has been denied by the State District Court and the Louisiana Supreme Court. See Johnson v. Wainwright, 456 F.2d 1200, Summary Calendar (5th Cir., February 25, 1972). The application for writ as to question III above therefore i,s denied.

As to question I presented above, this also is without merit and is denied as the jury heard the testimony of all the witnesses including applicant and the main witness for the State, Floyd E. Cumbey, who was rigorously cross-examined by defense counsel and his entire past and sordid record paraded before the jury.

The record before us i,s wholly silent as to question II. There is no evidence in the record or response from the State, with affidavits or otherwise, so that we can determine if applicant was in any wise prejudiced in his trial. It can no longer be questioned that “the suppression by the prosecution of evidence favorable to an accused upon request violates due process where the evidence is material either to guilt or to punishment, irrespective of the good faith or bad faith of the prosecution.” Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 87, 83 S.Ct. 1194, 1196, 10 L.Ed.2d 215. Moreover, the jury is entitled to know of “any understanding or agreement as to a future prosecution,” Giglio v. United States, 405 U.S. 150, 92 S.Ct. 763, 31 L.Ed.2d 104, 1972, or as to any quid pro quo for Cumbey’s testimony.

If there was an understanding between Cumbey, the prosecutor, and the Judge, as alleged, which was not communicated to defense counsel or to the jury, then the State Court should determine whether the failure to make the disclosure was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. See Schneble v. Florida, 405 U.S. 427, 92 S.Ct. 1056, 31 L.Ed.2d 340; Chapman v. California, 386 U.S. 18, 87 S.Ct. 824, 17 L.Ed.2d 705 (1966); Vaccaro v. United States, 461 F.2d 626 (5th Cir., 1972).

It is noted in the record and from judicial notice that the composition of the Twenty-Sixth Judicial District, comprising Bossier and Webster Parishes, Louisiana, has changed substantially since the trial and conviction of applicant: The Honorable O. E. Price, Presiding Judge at the trial now is a Judge of the Louisiana Court of Appeal, Second Circuit; The Honorable Louis E. Padgett, Jr., who was the District Attorney who prosecuted the case of applicant, is now District Judge in said Twenty-Sixth District; The Honorable Monty M. Wyche, who was Assistant District Attorney in applicant’s case, is now a District Judge of the Twenty-Sixth Judicial District; The Honorable Enos C. McClendon, Jr., the sole remaining Judge of the Twenty-Sixth Judicial District, already has rendered judgment denying applicant’s State habeas petition. He did not even address himself to the issues raised by question II. The Honorable Charles A. Marvin is now District Attorney of said Twenty-Sixth District, recently elected, and was and is a partner in the firm with Mr. J. T. Campbell in Minden, Louisiana, Mr. Campbell being associate counsel with Mr. J. B. Wells for applicant herein on his habeas petition in the State Court.

On the allegations of the petition herein an evidentiary hearing must be held.

It is therefore ordered, that the State of Louisiana, through the office of its Attorney General invoke in the State Court an evidentiary hearing within thirty days to determine the veracity vel non of the allegations made by applicant in his petition as to question II herein-above set forth. Cline v. Beto, 418 F.2d 549 (5th Cir., 1969). This Court is not ordering a trial de novo of Favor. We are not concerned with his guilt or innocence but only as to whether due process of law, under the State and Federal Constitutions, was accorded him in the State proceedings which resulted in his conviction and sentence. The inquiry to be conducted by the State Judge according to this Order should be limited to a factual determination as to the existence vel non of collusion between Cumbey, the prosecutor, and the trial Judge; whether it, if such there was, was communicated to defense counsel and the jury; and whether or not failure to reveal, if such indeed occurred as alleged, was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.

To that end, it is further ordered, that the Attorney General of Louisiana petition the Supreme Court of Louisiana to designate a State District Judge presiding in a district outside of the Twenty-Sixth Judicial District Court to preside over the evidentiary hearing, and to appoint a District Attorney outside the Twenty-Sixth Judicial District to represent the State. It is also ordered, that the State of Louisiana transfer petitioner from the Penitentiary at Angola to the Jail at Benton, Louisiana, ip ample time for retained counsel to prepare for the hearing.

Jurisdiction of this case is retained by this Court pending the final outcome of the State Court evidentiary hearing. A full written transcript of that hearing shall be made, and filed with us, as well as written findings of fact and conclusions of law to be made upon the factual and legal issues on question II presented by petitioner, said findings and conclusions to be made by the State trial Judge who conducts the evidentiary hearing, all of which will be reviewed by us before disposing of this habeas application.

Of course, the State may decide that an evidentiary hearing is not desirable, in which case we shall be entitled to find that the allegations of petitioner’s application are true and the writ of habeas corpus will be granted.

SUPPLEMENTAL ORDER

Pursuant to our order of May 16, 1972, we have received from the office of the Attorney General of Louisiana a copy of the motion he filed with the Louisiana Supreme Court for appointment of a Judge ad hoc, appended hereto as Exhibit No. 1. We also have received from the Clerk of the Louisiana Supreme Court its ruling, copy of which is appended as Exhibit No. 2.

We have obtained the Minutes and Judgments of the Twenty-Sixth Judicial District Court for Bossier Parish, Louisiana; a certificate from the Records Office of the Louisiana State Penitentiary, Angola, Louisiana, showing that Cumbey never was incarcerated in that institution; and a copy of a letter written by the Honorable W. E. Waggonner, Sheriff of Bossier Parish, dated October 22, 1970, showing that Cumbey was released without serving any part of his sentence. Moreover, we have received the State Court Minutes disclosing that Yates, a co-defendant ip this murder trial, after serving four years in confinement at Angola, was returned to the District Court in Bossier Parish where his life sentence was voided, pleaded guilty to two counts of manslaughter, and was sentenced by the District Court to seventeen-year terms on each count, to run concurrently, and concurrently with a federal sentence of twenty years for bank robbery which began in 1964. In the event Yates is paroled by federal authorities, the remainder of his State sentences are to be suspended. All of these documents are appended as Exhibits Nos. 3 through 7, respectively.

Yates filed a petition for habeas corpus in this Court on July 21, 1970. Since he had not exhausted State Court remedies, we directed him to refile his petition and ordered an evidentiary hearing. Upon request of the then .District Attorney, Honorable Louis E. Padgett, Jr., this Court granted a delay for conducting the evidentiary hearing for thirty days from October 27, 1970. Thereafter, once Yates’ sentence was reduced by the State Court as described above, and he was surrendered to the Federal Prison System, we received a handwritten motion by him to withdraw his petition for a writ of habeas corpus in this Court and to dismiss the suit, which motion was granted by us. Copy of this document is appended as Exhibit No. 8.

As heretofore noted in our original order, Favor alleges that there was collusion between “star” witness Cumbey, indicted on the same offenses — murder of an elderly couple in Bossier Parish— and the Bossier Parish authorities which was not revealed to defense counsel or to the jury. We there indicated an earlier habeas application entertained by the Honorable Enos C. McClendon, Jr., was dismissed in a written opinion which did not address itself at all to the “collusion” claim. Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 83 S.Ct. 1194, 10 L.Ed.2d 215 (1963), and Giglio v. United States, 405 U.S. 150, 92 S.Ct. 763, 31 L.Ed.2d 104 (1972), cast serious doubts on the methods used by the Bossier Parish authorities in obtaining jury convictions and two sentences of life imprisonment imposed upon Favor. Schneble v. Florida, 405 U.S. 427, 92 S.Ct. 1056, 31 L.Ed.2d 340 (1972), and Chapman v. California, 386 U.S. 18, 87 S.Ct. 824, 17 L.Ed.2d 705 (1966), supply the appropriate test for determining whether failure to disclose any understanding in such circumstances violated due process of law and mandated voiding the trial, conviction, and sentences.

The Supreme Court in Fay v. Noia, 372 U.S. 391, 401-402, 83 S.Ct. 822, 828, 9 L.Ed.2d 837 (1962), wrote:

“. . . It is no accident that habeas corpus has time and again played a central role in national crises, wherein the claims of order and of liberty clash most acutely, not only in England in the seventeenth century, but also in America from our very beginnings, and today. Although in form the Great Writ is simply a mode of procedure, its history is inextricably intertwined with the growth of fundamental rights of personal liberty. For its function has been to provide a prompt and efficacious remedy for whatever society deems to be intolerable restraints. Its root principle is that in a civilized society, government must always be accountable to the judiciary for a man’s imprisonment: if the imprisonment cannot be shown to conform wi,th the fundamental requirements of law, the individual is entitled to his immediate release. Thus there is nothing novel in the fact that today habeas corpus in the federal courts provides a mode for the redress of denials of due process of law. Vindication of due process is precisely its historic office.” (Footnotes omitted.)

Of course, federal courts are charged with making final federal constitutional decisions. Those decisions may be based on facts adduced at the federal district court’s evidentiary hearing or on the record as submitted by the State Court or by a State Court’s evidentiary hearing which provides a full, fair, and adequate determination of applicant’s claims. No matter the method chosen, the federal district court makes the independent determination of the facts and measures them against federal constitutional standards. This is not to say that i,n any manner we act as an appellate court or an overlord of the State Court judiciary. As Chief Judge Tuttle wrote in Stickney v. Ellis, 286 F.2d 755, 757 (1961), “The District Court’s review on habeas corpus of a state conviction is not ‘a ease of a lower court sitting in judgment on a higher court. It is merely one aspect of the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution whereby federal law is higher than State law.’ ”

This is acutely so when federal constitutional rights have been abused, as here alleged. The responsibility is squarely upon us and we have not shirked and will not shirk it. Indeed, we shall discharge that duty in its fullest measure.

Mindful of the statutory directive, 28 U.S.C. § 2254(c), in the interest of comity, to stay our hand in cases where applicants have not exhausted State remedies, initially we sent Favor back to the State Court, where he was required to present his allegations of constitutional deprivations for State scrutiny. The Court in Darr v. Burford, 339 U.S. 200, 70 S.Ct. 587, 94 L.Ed. 761, explained the rationality of exhaustion of State remedies:

“It would be unseemly in our dual system of government for a federal district court to upset a state court conviction without an opportunity to the state courts to correct a constitutional violation. . . . Solution was found in the doctrine of comity between courts, a doctrine which teaches that one court should defer action on causes properly within its jurisdiction until a court of another sovereignty with concurrent powers, and already cognizant of the litigation has had an opportunity to pass upon the matter.” (At page 204, 70 S.Ct. at page 590.)

Our sensitivity to this mandate and the federal jurisprudence’s insistence upon it convinces us that State Courts should be given every opportunity consistent with constitutional rights of habeas applicants to right their own wrongs. This common-sense policy does not reflect any reluctance on this Court’s behalf for exercising its duty. Indeed our retention of jurisdiction in this and other similar cases affirms our attention to federal constitutional affairs. Nevertheless, we recognize that federal interference is necessary only after the State allegedly has refused to provide any defendant due process under the federal Constitution. We have directed many applicants to file and refile their petitions for habeas relief in State Courts. Generally, the responses to our Court-ordered hearings have been thorough and fair investigations of the bases for defendants’ applications; and most often we have adopted the findings of fact made by the able State District Courts.

Here, we directed Louisiana's Attorney General to petition the State Supreme Court to assign a State trial judge ad hoc from outside the Twenty-Sixth Judicial District to conduct an evidentiary hearing wherein Favor might use the State’s post-conviction habeas remedy to re-present his claim which had not been disposed of by any of the State Courts. In Milton v. Wainwright, 396 F.2d 214 (5th Cir., 1968), Chief Judge Brown asked a rhetorical question:

“Should we, in the interest of genuine working comity, put the fact-finding responsibility as to this new factual thesis squarely on the . . . Courts where initially at least, it belongs?”

His answer recognizes that State Courts, to the same extent as federal, have duties and responsibilities in the administration of federal Constitutional law:

“We are now committed to the fullest exploitation of the many new and urgently needed State post-conviction remedies. In the long run, time is saved if constitutional rights are better vindicated by assuring that State mechanisms to ascertain and find facts are fully used. We reject again, as we have so many times recently the beguiling appeal of remanding it for the Federal Judge to do what is initially the clear duty of the State Court.

See State of Texas v. Payton, 5 Cir., 1968, 390 F.2d 261 ... . This is not abdication. To the contrary it effectuates the Supremacy Clause in a vivid way to (a) place initial responsibility where it belongs and (b) hopefully by fact ascertainment and finding the constitutional claim will be recognized by the state court or, if not, (c) the Federal Court would have an adequate record on which to make the inescapably independent judgment on the facts.” (At p. 215.) (Emphasis supplied.)

While we are aware of amazingly glaring refusals by Louisiana’s Supreme Court to apply federal constitutional law we are bound not only by United States Supreme Court rulings but also by decisions of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Recently that Court wrote in Cline v. Beto, 418 F.2d 549 (5th Cir., 1969):

“Upon remand it is not imperative that the District Court itself hold a hearing. The District Court may properly withhold the granting of relief and retain jurisdiction of this cause for a reasonable period of time during which the State may be afforded opportunity to give the appellant an evidentiary hearing and enter appropriate findings. The State Court findings, upon review, then may be the basis for the final order of the United States District Court.

“If no appropriate record of the State Court proceedings are filed within the time proscribed by the District Court, it should then exercise its continuing jurisdiction by directing a new trial within a reasonable time or discharging the appellant from custody.

“It is for the United States District Court to determine whether it should proceed to conduct the hearing itself or allow the State to conduct its own hearing and enter appropriate findings. The State hearing procedure in no way divests the District Court of its full jurisdiction. The District Court may well determine that affording the State the opportunity to exercise its initial, if not primary, right and responsibility, has great merit in the administration of law whjle, at the same time, reserving to the District Court its ‘inescapably independent judgment on federal issues.’ ” (Citations omitted.) (At p. 551.)

With deference, we are compelled at this point to observe that if Justice Bar-ham, on May 25, 1972, in confecti,ng his concurring opinion in the case before us, where he chose to characterize our order of May 16, 1972, as a “contumelious abuse of authority,” had spent as much effort in reading Cline v. Beto as he did in digging through the dictionary to find such a castigating appellation for our order, in which Cline was expressly cited, perhaps his feelings would have been ameliorated to some extent at least, and he might not have used such harsh language.

Our only interest in this matter is to enforce the right of personal liberty when that right has been denied and a person confined. We have been granted wide discretion in determining the facts and disposing of the matter as law and justice require. However, we cannot revise the State Court judgment (sent to us by its Clerk and appended hereto), but can act only on the body of the petitioner. The Supreme Court in Townsend v. Sain, 372 U.S. 293, 319, 83 S.Ct. 745, 760, 9 L.Ed.2d 770 (1962), wrote:

“. . . We are aware that the too promiscuous grant of [federal] evidentiary hearings on habeas could both swamp the dockets of the District Courts and cause acute and unnecessary friction wi,th the State organs of criminal justice, while the too limited use of such hearings would allow many grave constitutional errors to go forever uneorreeted.”

In light of Louisiana’s Supreme Court ruling herein, we conclude that our original order, which most unintentionally exacerbated the Federal-State friction potentially present whenever the writ of habeas corpus is applied for by state prisoners, should be modified.

Clearly, in light of developments here, we would have the right to release Favor. Fay v. Noia, supra-, Cline v. Beto, supra. Nevertheless, the remedy we fashion is in response to our duty in relation to habeas matters and not in reaction to the State Supreme Court’s opinion. Consequently, we now grant petitioner’s application for the writ of habeas corpus to the extent that the State retry petitioner within a reasonable time, not to exceed thirty days from this date. His convictions and sentences hereby are nullified and set aside.

For the reasons set forth in our first order, we direct that such new trial be conducted in the Tenth Judicial District of Louisiana, in Natchitoches Parish, before one of the Judges of that Court; and that the Louisiana Attorney General assign a District Attorney from outside the Twenty-Sixth Judicial District to serve as prosecutor.

If this is not done, as directed, we shall order his immediate release from the Louisiana State Penitentiary, to be prosecuted no more under the indictments by the Bossier Parish grand jury.

EXHIBIT NO. 1

SUPREME COURT OF LOUISIANA NO.

JACK G. FAVOR, P.M.B. 65386

VERSUS

C. MURRAY HENDERSON, WARDEN •LOUISIANA STATE PENITENTIARY

MOTION TO APPOINT JUDGE AD HOC

Pursuant to an order issued out of the UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA, SHREVEPORT DIVISION, in the matter of JACK G. FAVOR, P.M.B. 65386, versus C. MURRAY HENDERSON, WARDEN, LOUISIANA STATE PENITENTIARY, civil action No. 17,628, a copy of which is attached hereto and made a part hereof, the office of the Attorney General of the State of Louisiana, through the undersigned counsel respectfully requests this Honorable Court to order an evidentiary hearing on the question of the veracity vel non of an allegation made by Jack G. Favor to wit:

“Was there any collusion between ‘star’ witness Cumbey and the Bossier Parish authorities which was not revealed to defense counsel or the jury?”

and further in compliance with the said order issued out of the UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA, SHREVEPORT DIVISION, to designate and appoint a State District Judge outside of the Twenty-Sixth Judicial District Court to preside over the evidentiary hearing.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,

WILLIAM J. GUSTE, JR.

Attorney General

BY:

s/ Walter L. Smith Jr.

WALTER L. SMITH, JR.

Assistant Attorney General

EXHIBIT NO. 2

SUPREME COURT OF LOUISIANA

JACK G. FAVOR, P.M.B. 65386 V. C. MURRAY HENDERSON LOUISIANA STATE PENITENTIARY

MOTION TO APPOINT JUDGE AD HOC

The motion is denied—

The United States District Judge before whom the application for habeas corpus is pending, and who states in his order that he is retaining jurisdiction of the case, is without authority to order the Attorney General of Louisiana to apply to this Court to appoint a state court judge to conduct an evidentiary hearing in the state court on a claim made by a petitioner in a habeas corpus proceeding pending in the United States District Court. Since the case is pending in the United States District Court, that tribunal has ample authority to conduct an evidentiary hearing of its own; it cannot, and should not, request such a proceeding in the state court, where petitioner has already applied for and has been denied relief. See State ex rel. Favor v. Henderson, No. 52,122 of our docket, La., 256 So.2d 641.

Barham, J., concurs with written reasons.

. Sheriff Waggonner volunteered the information that he deliberately left vague the source which directed him to release Cumbey to prevent an embarrassing situation.

. As noted, Cumbey was released from custody, but the jury in convicting Favor was told he, Cumbey, would serve a life term in the penitentiary. (State Court Trial, pp. 367, 396-398, 406-409, 622-623, 628.) After the trial, on December 11, 1967, Cumbey was allowed to change his plea from guilty of murder to guilty on two counts of manslaughter, received two twenty-one year sentences, and was released on December 12, 1967, without serving a day on any of his sentences. See Exhibits Nos. 3, 4, and 6.

. The Supremacy Clause referred to by Judge Tuttle reads:

“Article 6, Clause 2. This Constitution and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof; and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land; and the judges in every State shall be bound thereby, anything in the Constitution or laws of any State to the contrary notwithstanding.”

Under that Clause, the federal courts’ interpretations thereof are controlling vis d vis State Court decisions, especially where federal constitutional rights of individuals prosecuted in State Courts are involved. The following cases illustrate that a United States Court’s analysis of the Constitution binds the State judiciaries and overrides their notions of federal constitutional law: North Carolina v. Pearce, 395 U.S. 711, 89 S.Ct. 2072, 23 L.Ed.2d 656 (1969), (due process denied by State by more drastic sentence on second trial); Ashe v. Swenson, 397 U.S. 436, 90 S.Ct. 1189, 25 L.Ed.2d 469 (1870) (Fifth Amendment guarantee against double jeopardy, applicable to States, Benton v. Maryland, 395 U.S. 784, 89 S.Ct. 2056, 23 L.Ed.2d 707; embodies collateral estoppel); Mayer v. City of Chicago, 404 U.S. 189, 92 S.Ct. 410, 30 L.Ed.2d 372 (1971) (State must afford indigent non-felony defendant a trial record of sufficient completeness to effect an appeal).

. See also Fitzgerald v. Wainwright, 440 F.2d 1049 (5th Cir., 1971); Bryan v. State of Louisiana, 418 F.2d 560, at 561 (5th Cir., 1969); and Savant v. Henderson, 319 F.Supp. 984 (W.D.La., Alex. Div., 1970).

. See State ex rel. LeBlanc v. Henderson, La., 259 So.2d 557 (1972). There that Court determined that Boykin v. Alabama, 395 U.S. 238, 89 S.Ct. 1709, 23 L.Ed.2d 274 (1969), would apply from the effective date of State ex rel. Jackson v. Henderson, 260 La. 90, 255 So.2d 85 (1971). Justice Barham, dissenting, wrote: “Now comes the most unfathomable legal principle in the opinion. The majority has decided to apply Boykin v. Alabama not upon its effective date, June 2, 1969, but as of December 8, 1971, when we handed down State ex rel. Jackson v. Henderson. Is it reasonable to believe that a state court can ignore and deny effect to a United States Supreme Court pronouncement until it finds it convenient or expedient to apply it to federal issues which are affected by the decision?” (259 So.2d at p. 565.) See, e. g., Johnson v. New Jersey, 384 U.S. 719, 86 S.Ct. 1772, 16 L.Ed.2d 882 (1966).

BARHAM, Justice,

concurring.

A federal district judge has here, in his exercise of jurisdiction over a federal writ application, tried to exercise supervisory jurisdiction over a state court, in fact, over the Louisiana State Supreme Court. If that federal district court believes under its consideration of a federal writ application that an evidentiary hearing is required before a judge other than the trial court judge (who is the only judge designated by state law to consider this if it were a state writ), it should comply with the federal law which mandates the federal court to hold such a hearing. The federal district court has neither the right nor the power to order a state district court to conduct the hearing for the federal district court under a federal writ application. It is especially inappropriate to ask a state district court to hold such a hearing when that federal court states its concern is with alleged collusion between the state trial judge and other state officials effectuating a denial of due process for thé applicant. If the federal court has such a strong conviction about the need for an evidentiary hearing to determine the merits of the application before it, that court cannot absolve itself of its obligation by threatening a state court to release the convict if the state court does not act pursuant to the federal court’s order. The federal court cannot wash its hands of the blood of this deed through this contumelious abuse of authority. The federal law does not grant to the federal court the right to make the assumption that the allegations are true without having an evidentiary hearing. Nothing permits a federal court to threaten that convicted state prisoners will be turned loose if the state court does not act as requested by the federal court when that request is neither authorized by law nor even contemplated. A reasonable request for cooperation may often be, and it should be, responded to by courts in both systems, and respect and reciprocity are to be sought between the systems. Here, after this state has determined through its highest tribunal that there was no merit in relator’s claims, a contrary federal determination should not shift to the state the expense of special counsel and the cost of assignment of special court personnel including the judge. This is a gross encroachment upon the assignment of separate functions between the two systems. There is authority for an adequate disposition to be made of the matter in federal law and in the federal court. It should exercise that authority if it is so persuaded. It should not usurp authority not granted and totally unneeded. Again, respect between the systems depends upon restraint. See State ex rel. McNeely v. Henderson, 256 La. 869, 239 So.2d 364.

Vol S. Dooley, Jr., Chief Criminal Deputy. James H. McKellar, Chief Civil Deputy and Deputy Tax Collector

EXHIBIT NO. 6

W. E. WAGGONNER

SHERIFF AND EX-OFFICIO TAX COLLECTOR

For Bossier Parish

Telephone 965-2203

Benton, Louisiana 71006

October 22, 1970

Mr. Jack McBride

P.M. B.84966-132

Leavenworth, Kansas 66048

Dear Mr. McBride:

In reply to your letter dated September 29, 1970, I am enclosing the following listed documents :

1. A copy of the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Department Daily Prisoner List, dated August 6, 1965, since Floyd Cumbey was incarcerated after the daily prisoner list had been typed on August 5, 1970.

b. The arresting officer was Chief Criminal Deputy Vol. S. Dooley, Jr.

2. A copy of the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Department Daily Prisoner List, dated December 12, 1967, which shows Floyd Cumbey released.

This department does not have any written order signed by Judge O. E. Price or District Attorney Louis H. Padgett, Jr., regarding the release or transfer of Floyd Cumbey, however, the Court instructed this department to release Floyd Cumbey.

I am returning your U. S. Treasury Check No. 97,369,649 in the amount of $10.00, as there is no charge for the copies I have furnished you.

Sincerely yours,

(s) W. E. Waggonner W. E. Waggonner, Sheriff

WEW :ert Enclosures

EXHIBIT NO. 8

WESTERN DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA

SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA

DONALD LEE YATES,

Petitioner pro se. February 1, 1971.

versus

C. MURRAY HENDERSON, Warden et al

Respondent Civil Action No. 15875-S

U. S. DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA FILED

Feb 1-1971

ALTON L. CURTIS, CLERK By T. W. Thompson

Deputy

Motion to Withdraw Petition For Writ of Habeas Corpus, without Prejudice

Your Petitioner, Donald Lee Yates, respectfully requests this Court to withdraw petition for writ of habeas corpus, entitled, Civil Action No. 15875, said petition having become mute by reason of State District Court relief to your petitioner. Also your petitioner respectfully requests petition be withdrawn without prejudice.

Respectfully submitted

Donald Lee Yates

Petitioner pro se

I, Donald Lee Yates, do swear and aver the above is true and correct, on this the 1 day of February, 1971. Submitted from the Bossier Parish Jail, Benton, Louisiana.

Respectfully

Donald Lee Yates

Pro se

2-1-71

Motion granted and this suit is dismissed.

Ben C. Dawkins, Jr.

Chief Judge

ORDER DIRECTING THAT RECORD BE SUPPLEMENTED BY ADDING THE FOLLOWING EXHIBITS TO CERTIFIED COPIES OF DOCUMENTS ATTACHED TO ORDER OF JUNE 2, 1972

Since entry of our Order of June 2, 1972, we have obtained from the Clerk of Court, Twenty-Sixth Judicial District, Bossier Parish, Louisiana, the following certified copies of documents pertaining to this habeas case, which should be appended as exhibits to that Order to complete the record upon which our Order was based:

EXHIBITS A and A-l: Minutes of Court, dated April 25, 1967, showing Cumbey pleaded guilty to murder without capital punishment, on the day after Favor’s trial began, while the jury which tried him was being selected. (See Exhibit C.)

This also shows that on December 11, 1967, some four months after Favor’s conviction, Cumbey was allowed to withdraw his plea of guilty, with no reason being given; and on the same day pleaded guilty to two counts of manslaughter, receiving two 21-year sentences. (See Exhibits Nos. 3(a) and 3(b), appended to our Order of June 2, 1972.) On the next day, December 12, 1967, Cumbey was released, without serving a day of any of his sentences. It is common knowledge that two days later he murdered two women in Tulsa, was later convicted, and now is serving a life sentence in the Oklahoma Penitentiary. See also Exhibit No. 5 — Memorandum from Records Clerk, Louisiana State Penitentiary; Exhibit No. 6 — Letter from W. E. Waggonner, Sheriff, dated October 22, 1970; Exhibit No. 6-B — Bossier Parish Jail Day Book — showing original entry under date of “12-12-67,” originally reading “Transferred to Angola,” being stricken through, the word “Released — • W. E. W.,” being the Sheriff’s initials, being written thereon above the entry stricken. This also is referred to at Page 426, and Footnote 2 on Page 427, of our Order of June 2, 1972, wherein we stated “ . . . but the jury in convicting Favor was told he, Cumbey, would serve a life term in the penitentiary”, citing five places in the State Court trial transcript; Exhibits B and B-l, Minutes of the Court showing Cumbey as having pleaded guilty to two counts of manslaughter, on December 11, 1967, and receiving two 21-year sentences. See, also, Exhibits Nos. 4-A and 4-B, being written judgments of sentence, signed by Judge O. E. Price, on December 11, 1967;

EXHIBIT C — Minutes of Court in murder trial of Favor;

EXHIBITS D and D-l — Minutes showing Donald Lee Yates, charged on two counts of murder, on 11-27-67, withdrew his plea of not guilty in both cases, being sentenced to life in the Louisiana State Penitentiary on November 29, 1967.

These exhibits further show that on February 1, 1971, after Yates had filed a second petition for habeas corpus in the State District Court, upon this Court’s direction, in which we also ordered an evidentiary hearing, the State District Judge entered an order reading, “The writ of habeas corpus herein is granted. The sentences of the Court, imposed under Docket Nos. 35,520 and 35,521 are recalled and vacated.” No evidentiary hearing was held.

As noted at Pages 426 and 427 of our Order of June 2, 1972, Yates then received two sentences of 17 years each, to run concurrently, and concurrently with a federal sentence of 20 years for bank robbery which began in 1964; and, as stated in our June 2 Order, the State Judge provided, “In the event Yates is paroled by Federal authorities, the remainder of his State sentences are to be suspended.” See, also, in this connection, Exhibits 7-A and 7-B, appended to our Order of June 2,1972.

EXHIBIT E — Suit by former District Judge O. E. Price, No. 51650, Twenty-Sixth Judicial District Court, moving to recuse Charles A. Marvin as advisor to the Grand Jury, filed on June 13, 1972 (the Grand Jury having convened itself, pursuant to State law). See Exhibit H, Page 463, Hearing on Motion to Recuse Conducted by Judge Enos C. McClendon, Jr., on June 19, 1972, wherein, at page 465 thereof, Judge McClendon ordered the Grand Jury not to investigate the Favor case. Exhibits F and F-l are exceptions filed by Mr. Marvin in this suit; and Exhibit G is his Answer to the Motion.

Although not shown by the record, Judge McClendon then recused himself in the case and designated Judge Frank M. Dougherty, of the Third Judicial District Court, Claiborne Parish, Louisiana, adjacent to Bossier Parish, as judge ad hoc, to conduct a hearing. Exhibit I is the transcript of the hearing conducted by Judge Dougherty, June 22, 1972, in which he recused Mr. Marvin and upheld Judge McClendon’s order that the Grand Jury should not consider the Favor case.

EXHIBIT J — Order signed by Judge Dougherty under date of June 21, 1972, in which he “. . . ordered that Charles A. Marvin, District Attorney, be and is hereby recused in these proceedings or in any proceedings arising out of the trial, conviction or sentencing of one Jack Favor and the release of Floyd Cumbey.”

EXHIBIT K — This is a notice filed by Mr. Marvin, addressed to Judge Dougherty, as Judge ad hoc, after the Judge’s ruling, giving notice of Mr. Marvin’s intention to apply to the Louisiana Supreme Court for writs of certiorari, probition, and mandamus. He allowed Mr. Marvin until June 23, 1972, to file this application, which was done.

EXHIBIT L — This is the order of the Louisiana Supreme Court dated June 23, 1972, in which Mr. Marvin’s application for the writs was granted on the recusation motion.

EXHIBIT M — is a grand jury indictment returned on July 25, 1972, against Judge O. E. Price, charging him with perjury in his testimony before the Grand Jury. This indictment presently is pending, the defendant having not yet been arraigned.

EXHIBIT N — is an indictment against Judge Louis H. Padgett, Jr., returned by the Grand Jury July 25, 1972, also charging him with perjury committed before the Grand Jury. This indictment presently is pending, the defendant having not yet been arraigned.

As noted at Page 425 of our Order of May 16, 1972, in 1967, when Favor was tried, convicted and sentenced; when Yates pleaded as.above stated; and when Cumbey, after pleading guilty to murder without capital punishment, on the day after Favor’s trial began, received a life sentence; was allowed to withdraw his two pleas on November 11, 1967, with no reasons being given, and receiving two sentences of 21 years each for manslaughter, and having been released the next day, December 12, 1967 — Louis E. Padgett, Jr., then was the District Attorney for the Twenty-Sixth Judicial District Court of Louisiana, Bossier Parish, and Judge 0. E. Price then was the District Judge handling these cases.

Moreover, it is necessary that we correct the title page of our Order of June 2, 1972, wherein we showed John T. Campbell as one of the attorneys for Favor in this habeas proceeding. However, as brought out in Mr. Marvin’s answer to Judge Price’s motion, we were mistaken in that; Mr. Campbell did serve as one of Favor’s attorneys in the State Court habeas corpus proceeding, but he had not served as such since January 1, 1972.

It is ordered that the Clerk of this Court file this Order in the record of this case and forward the Order and its Exhibits to the Clerk of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, to supplement the record therein; and to send copies to all counsel of record, including Mr. Marvin.

EXHIBIT E

In re: O. E. Price vs Charles A. Marvin, District Attorney

..Number: 51650 26th Judicial District Court Bossler Parish, Louisiana

MOTION TO RECUSE AND FOR STAY

The motion of O. E. PRICE, a resident and domiciliary of Bossier Parish, Louisiana, respectfully represents:

1.

Mover has been subpoenaed to appear before the Grand Jury presently serving for Bossier Parish, Louisiana, at 1:00 P.M., 13 June 1972.

2.

Mover is informed, believes and therefore alleges that the said Grand Jury is planning an investigation in some way related to or arising out of the trial of Jack G. Favor, which trial was held in Bossier Parish, Louisiana, with Mover as Presiding Judge, in April 1967.

3.

Jack G. Favor was indicted for two murders, was tried, convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment and is currently incarcerated at Angola Penitentiary. The said proceedings were entitled “State of Louisiana vs. Jack G. Favor”, bearing numbers 35,522 and 35,523 on the docket of the Twenty-Sixth Judicial District Court, Bossier Parish, Louisiana.

4.

Subsequent to his conviction and sentence Jack G. Favor filed an application for Habeas Corpus in the above identified proceedings. The proceedings were filed by Jack G. Favor in proper person, however, shortly thereafter J. B. Wells, Esq., of Bossier Parish and John T. Campbell, Esq., of Webster Parish, enrolled as counsel for Jack G. Favor. The application was denied by the Honorable Enos C. McClendon, Jr., on 13 October 1971. Writs were applied for to the Louisiana Supreme Court in proceedings entitled “State of Louisiana, ex rel Jack G. Favor v. C. Murray Henderson, Warden, Louisiana State Penitentiary”, No. 52,122 on the docket of said court and same were refused on 3 February 1972.

5.

Mover shows that thereafter, on 22 February 1972, Jack G. Favor filed an application for writ of Habeas Corpus in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana in proceedings entitled “Jack G. Favor, P. M. B. 65386 versus C. Murray Henderson, Warden, Louisiana State Penitentiary”, bearing No. Civil Action 17,628 on the docket of said Court. This writ was granted and Jack G. Favor was ordered released from custody subject to the right of the State of Louisiana to re-try the defendant within 30 days of 2 June 1972 in the Tenth Judicial District Court, Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana. That matter is presently pending.

6.

Appearing as counsel of record on said federal writ application were James B. Wells and John T. Campbell of the firm of Campbell, Campbell, Marvin and Johnson of Minden, Louisiana.

7.

Mover shows that the Marvin in the firm of Campbell, Campbell, Marvin and Johnson is Charles A. Marvin, District Attorney for the Twenty-Sixth Judicial District, composed of Bossier and Webster Parishes. Charles A. Marvin was elected District Attorney subsequent to the application for writ of Habeas Corpus filed in the State Court as set forth herein and before the filing of the writ of Habeas Corpus now before the Federal Court. Charles A. Marvin is and was a member of the said firm at all times mentioned herein. He is also the son-in-law of John T. Campbell of said firm.

8.

In the identified Federal Court proceeding, the Honorable Ben C. Dawkins, Jr., Chief Judge, concluded that any further proceedings in State Court should not be held before the Twenty-Sixth Judicial District Court and should not be handled by District Attorney Charles A. Marvin.

9.

Mover shows that Charles A. Marvin, is, by law, the legal advisor for any Grand Jury impaneled within his jurisdiction in Bossier and Webster Parishes.

10.

Mover shows that the specific purpose and primary motive of the applications for writs of Habeas Corpus in both the State and Federal Courts is the release of Jack G. Favor who has been convicted of two murders by a jury in Bossier Parish, Louisiana. Under these circumstances, it is imperative that any session of a Grand Jury directly or indirectly involving the Favor matter be conducted by and with the assistance of a legal advisor who is in no way connected personally or through his law firm, with that litigation.

11.

It was and is the responsibility of the attorneys representing Jack G. Favor on the writ applications to seek to secure the relief sought, i.e., his release from the penitentiary. At such time as he is tried again, as has been ordered by the Federal Court, it will be their responsibility to defend Favor, seeking an acquittal on the murder indictments. The conflict which would exist is apparent and compelling.

12.

Mover further shows that the Order rendered by Honorable Ben C. Dawkins, Jr., on 16 May 1972, noted that there was no filing in response to the application by Jack G. Favor other than a general denial filed by the Attorney General’s office. Attorney General William J. Guste, Jr., had just taken office a few days pri- or thereto. There were no filings of pleadings or briefs or affidavits or evidence of any kind presented to the Federal Court to rebut the naked allegations in the Favor application. No apparent effort was made by the office of the District Attorney to assist the Attorney General in properly representing the interest of the State of Louisiana in opposition to the writ of Habeas Corpus filed by Jack G. Favor.

13.

Mover asserts that Charles A. Marvin is disqualified to act as District Attorney herein by virtue of the provisions of Code of Criminal Procedure Article 680 which provides:

“A district attorney shall be recused when he:

(1) Has a personal interest in the cause which is in conflict with fair and impartial administration of justice;

(2) Is related to the party accused or to the party injured, or to the spouse of the accused or party injured, to such an extent that it may appreciably influence him in the performance of the duties of his office; or

(3) Has been employed or consulted in the ease as attorney for the defendant before his election or appointment as district attorney.”

14.

Mover further shows that Article 682 of the Code of Criminal Procedure mandates that upon recusation of the District Attorney the court shall appoint an attorney at law of that district, who has the qualifications of a District Attorney, other than the assistants to the recused District Attorney, to act in the place of the subject District Attorney during the time of the recusal.

15.

Mover shows that an Order should issue herein, staying any further proceedings by the Grand Jury of Bossier Parish, Louisiana, with reference to any matter related to the indictment, trial and conviction of Jack G. Favor, until this motion is finally disposed of, and subject to further orders of the Court, and continuing Mover’s subpoena and the subpoena of any other witness called to appear before the Grand Jury on said matter subject to further orders of this court.

16.

Mover further shows that a contradictory hearing should be had herein with Charles A. Marvin, on this Motion to Recuse, at a time and place as fixed by this Court.

WHEREFORE, Mover prays that this Motion be deemed sufficient and allowed, that an Order be issued herein instanter, staying any further proceedings by the Grand Jury of Bossier Parish in any matter relating directly or indirectly to the indictment, trial and conviction of Jack G. Favor pending further orders of the Court finally disposing of the Motion to Recuse District Attorney Charles A. Marvin as legal advisor of the said Grand Jury in such instances, and continuing all subpoenas issued for appearances before said Grand Jury subject to further orders of the Court.

Mover further prays that a rule nisi issue herein to Charles A. Marvin, District Attorney for the Twenty-Sixth Judicial District, ordering him to show cause, if any he has or can, before this Court, at a time and place as fixed by the Court, why he should not be recused as District Attorney and legal advisor to the Grand Jury of Bossier Parish, Louisiana, in any and all proceedings, investigations or hearings it might conduct which relate directly or indirectly to the indictment, trial and conviction of Jack G. Favor, and why the Court should not appoint an ad hoc District Attorney, for that purpose.

BOOTH, LOCKARD, JACK, PLEASANT & LeSAGE

BY (s) Henry A. Politz_

Henry A. Politz

By (s) H. F. Soekrider, Jr.

H. F. Soekrider, Jr.

1004 Mid South Towers P. 0. Drawer 1092 Shreveport, Louisiana 71163 ATTORNEYS FOR MOVER

BEFORE ME, the undersigned authority, personally came and appeared O. E. PRICE, who being first duly sworn, did depose and state:

That he is Mover in the foregoing Motion to Recuse; that he has read the same and all of the allegations of fact contained therein are true and correct to the best of his information, knowledge and belief.

O. E. Price O. E. PRICE

ORDER

MOTION CONSIDERED:

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that any and all proceedings, hearings or investigations by the Grand Jury of Bossier Parish, Lousiana, relating directly or indirectly to the indictment, trial and conviction of Jack G. Favor be and the same are stayed, subject to further orders of the Court, and all subpoenas issued for appearances before said Grand Jury are also continued subject to further orders of the Court.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that a rule nisi issue herein to Charles A. Marvin, District Attorney for the Twenty-Sixth Judicial District, ordering him to show cause, if any he has or can, before this Court at 9:30 o’clock, A.M., on the 21st day of June 1972, why he should not be recused as District Attorney and legal advisor to the Grand Jury of Bossier Parish, Louisiana, in any and all proceedings, investigations or hearings it may conduct which relate directly or indirectly to the indictment, trial and conviction of Jack G. Favor, and why a District Attorney ad hoe should not be appointed for that purpose.

THUS DONE AND SIGNED in Benton, Bossier Parish, Louisiana, on this 13th day of June 1972.

State of Louisiana Parish of Caddo

(s) Enos C. McClendon, Jr. DISTRICT JUDGE

EXHIBIT F

In Re: O. E. Price versus Charles A. Marvin, District Attorney

Number 51650 ■ 26th Judicial District Court Bossier Parish, Louisiana

PREEMPTORY EXCEPTION NO CAUSE OF ACTION

COMES NOW, CHARLES A. MARVIN, District Attorney, who preemptorily excepts to Plaintiff’s Motion as follows:

1.

Said Motion sets forth no cause of action against Exceptor in that the allegations do not comprise any of the three grounds upon which a district attorney shall be recused under Article 680, La. C.Cr.P.

2.

Mover, Honorable O. E. Price, alleges only that he was subpoenaed to appear before the said Grand Jury.

3.

Mover is not a “defendant” or “injured party”, does not allege that he is, and does not allege he has employed or consulted Exceptor prior to Exceptor’s election as District Attorney.

WHEREFORE EXCEPTOR PRAYS that this exception be sustained and the motion dismissed, at Mover’s cost.

(s) C. A. Marvin

CHARLES A. MARVIN District Attorney 26th Judicial District Bossier Parish Courthouse Benton, Louisiana

EXHIBIT F — 1

In Re: O. E. Price versus Charles A. Marvin, District Attorney

Number 51650 26th Judicial District Court Bossler Parish, Louisiana

PREEMPTORY EXCEPTION NO RIGHT OF ACTION

COMES NOW, CHARLES A. MARVIN, District Attorney, who preemptorily excepts to Plaintiff’s Motion as follows:

Mover is without right of action for the following reasons:

1.

Mover alleges merely that he was subpoenaed to appear before the Grand Jury.

2.

Mover is not a defendant in any criminal action.

3.

The Grand Jury has not indicted Mover or anyone regarding any matter concerning Mover.

4.

Mover is seeking to recuse a district attorney from acting as a legal advisor to a Grand Jury and from assisting the Grand Jury in an investigation into the possibility of criminal acts or omissions by persons other than one Jack Favor with respect to the release of a convict under sentence, one Floyd Edward Cum-bey, on December 12, 1967, after he was sentenced by Mover on December 11, 1967 to a total of 42 years in the state penitentiary.

5.

Mover does not show he is an “injured” person or that he is a defendant.

WHEREFORE EXCEPTOR PRAYS that this exception be sustained and the motion dismissed, at Mover’s cost.

(s) C. A. Marvin

CHARLES A. MARVIN DISTRICT ATTORNEY

CERTIFICATE

I CERTIFY that a copy of the foregoing has been forwarded by United States Mail to Honorable O. E. Price, Judge, Second Circuit Court of Appeal, and to his attorneys, Booth, Lockard, Jack, Pleasant & LeSage.

This 21 day of June, 1972.

(s) C. A. Marvin

CHARLES A. MARVIN DISTRICT ATTORNEY 26TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT

EXHIBIT G

In Re: O. E. Price versus Charles A. Marvin, District Attorney

Number 51650 26th Judicial District Court Bossier Parish, Louisiana

ANSWER OF RESPONDENT DISTRICT ATTORNEY

CHARLES A. MARVIN, District Attorney, reserving all rights under exceptions hereto filed and without abandoning said exceptions, hereby answers the Motion of Honorable O. E. Price as follows:

1.

Mover neither admits or denies this allegation on the grounds that the names of witnesses subpoenaed by a Grand Jury are legally secret and privileged information.

2.

Mover neither admits or denies this allegation on the grounds that the plans of the Grand Jury are legally secret and privileged information.

3.-5.

These articles are denied as written, as the Court records are the best evidence of what occurred in the case referred to.

6.

This article is denied as written. John T. Campbell has not appeared as counsel of record on the federal writ application as alleged. Mr. Campbell was a co-counsel with Attorney J. B. Wells on the state court habeas corpus application but withdrew before this District Attorney took office on January 1, 1972. He has not since appeared for or been counsel in any state or federal habeas corpus proceeding.

7.

Admitted.

8.

This article is .denied as written, it being shown that the record of the case referred to is the best evidence of the Court’s “conclusion”.

9.

Admitted.

10.

Denied as written.

11.

Denied as written.

12.

Denied as written.

13.

Denied as written.

14.

Denied as written.

15.

Denied as written.

16.

Denied as written.

Wherefore Respondent prays that the Motion for recusation be denied and that the Grand Jury be allowed to proceed with its investigation.

(s) C. A. Marvin

CHARLES A. MARVIN DISTRICT ATTORNEY 26TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT BOSSIER PARISH COURTHOUSE BENTON, LOUISIANA

CERTIFICATE

I certify that a copy of the foregoing has been forwarded by United States Mail to Honorable O. E. Price, Judge, Second Circuit Court of Appeal, and to his attorneys, Booth, Lockard, Pleasant & LeSage. Jack,

This 21 day of June, 1972.

(s) C. A. Marvin

CHARLES A. MARVIN

EXHIBIT H

EVIDENCE

In The Twenty-Sixth Judicial District Court in and for the Parish of Bossier State of Louisiana

In Re: O. E. Price

versus No. 51,650

Charles A. Marvin,

District Attorney

Evidence adduced on the trial of the above entitled and numbered cause, before His Honor, Enos C. McClendon, Jr., Judge of the Twenty-Sixth Judicial District Court in and for Bossier Parish, Louisiana on the 13th day of June, 1972, at Benton, Louisiana.

APPEARANCES:

Henry A. Politz

Suite 1004, Mid South Towers

Shreveport, Louisiana

H. F. Sockrider, Jr.

Suite 1004, Mid South Towers

Shreveport, Louisiana

Counsels for Plaintiff

Charles A. Marvin

Minden

Louisiana

Counsel for Defendant

FILINGS

MOTION TO RECUSE AND FOR STAY — Page 11

THE COURT: Gentlemen of the Grand Jury, I’ve asked you to come into open court, for the reason, that I have been informed that you have elected, under the law, to call yourself into session. And in connection with that call, you were to meet at one o’clock. We normally go back into session at one thirty. But because of the fact, I learned, you were to meet at one o’clock, I opened court at one and ask that you attend, for the purposes of hearing what I had to say, and because I had further been advised, that the motion was to be filed. I’ve been presented with the motion before court, and have examined it. I am advised by attorneys here, that they desire to file this motion in open court, and they may do so at this time, at which time I will give you further instructions.

MR. POLITZ: Your Honor, consistent with that, at this time, we wish to file this motion to recuse and for stay. I stand, prepared to explain the motion at Your Honor’s directions.

THE COURT: You desire to make a statement, in connection with the filing at this time. Possibly would save some explanation on the Court’s part. You are more familiar with it, I haven’t seen it, only ten minutes ago.

MR. POLITZ: Your Honor, the motion is filed on behalf of O. E. Price, who has been subpoenaed to appear before this Grand Jury this afternoon at one P. M. together with a number of other people. We are informed that the purpose of this investigation, by the Grand Jury, in some way relates to the indictment, trial and conviction of Jack G. Favor. Jack Favor was tried before this court in April of 1967, with Judge O. E. Price presiding. He was indicted for two murders and was sentenced to life imprisonment and is now down at Angola. Subsequent to his conviction, Jack Favor applied for a writ of habeas corpus to this court, which was presented to this court, and considered by Your Honor, and in October of 1971, denied. The writ was submitted to the Louisiana Supreme Court in February, 1972. That writ was denied. Subsequent to the denial by the Louisiana Supreme Court, Jack Favor filed an application for writ of habeas corpus, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, in which he asked for a release from custody. After the initial decision by the court, and action by the Louisiana Supreme Court thereon, the Federal District Court in Shreveport granted the writ, ordered him released from custody, subject to the right of the Court of the State Court, to retry him, within thirty days of June the 2nd. That thirty day period is now running. The retrial, in accordance with the order of the Federal District Court, is to take place in Natchitoches Parish. As I noted, that matter is still pending. Appearing as counsel of record in the Federal Court application, were James B. Wells, an attorney in Bossier City, and Mr. John T. Campbell, of the firm of Campbell, Campbell, Marvin and Johnson of Minden. The firm of Campbell, Campbell, Marvin and Johnson is composed of the gentlemen named, and the Marvin in the firm name, is the Honorable Charles A. Marvin, District Attorney for the Twenty-Sixth Judicial District. Mr. Marvin was elected District Attorney in between the filing in the State Court, of the writ by Favor, and prior to the filing in Federal Court, of the writ by Favor. In addition to being a member of the firm, representing Favor in that action, he is the son-in-law of the lead counsel, Mr. John T. Campbell, of that firm. In his order, Judge Dawkins, concluded that the retrial of Favor should not be had before this court, the Twenty-Sixth Judicial District Court, and he further concluded that it should not be handled by the District Attorney for this district, Mr. Marvin. By law, Mr. Marvin is the legal advisor to the Grand Jury. Necessarily follows, that the specific reason for the applications of writs of habeas corpus, in both the State and Federal Court, is the release from custody of Jack Favor, who has been convicted in this court of the two murders. This opposition, as we so submit to the court, that it is imperative that any session of the Grand Jury, which in any way, directly or indirectly, involves the Favor matter, should be had with, and by, the assistance of a legal advisor, who is in no way connected personally or through his firm, with the litigation on which as preceded the present term involving Jack Favor. It’s the responsibility of the attorney, who files the writ to seek the release from the penitentiary. It will be the responsibility of the defense counsel, on the retrial, at such time as it’s had, to defend Favor, and to seek to, an acquittal, to the extent, that they can, within the law and their responsibility as trial counsel. The conflict, which would appear, is apparent to us and is compelling. We note that the provision of the Code of