State v. Sherwood , 214 Or. 594 ( 1958 )

SLOAN, J.

This proceeding was initiated when the defendant presented to the trial court a pleading designated “Defendant’s Motion to Vacate Judgment, Sentence and Information in the Nature of Coram Nobis.” The grounds specified by him which are pertinent to our inquiry are as follows:

“(1) The Order Waiver and Presentment of Indictment filed September 8, 1949, is a false document filed without the knowledge, consent or any participation of the defendant at a time and date when the defendant was not before the Court.

“(2) The Waiver Arraignment and Plea filed September 8,1949, is a false document filed without the knowledge, consent or any participation of the defendant at a time and date when the defendant was not before the Court.”

This pleading was one of a series of similar motions and affidavits filed in the lower court and here. A drastically condensed version of the voluminous pleadings discloses defendant was arrested on the streets of Ashland on September 3, 1949; was confined in the jail there until September 8, 1949, during which time he sought and was denied any opportunity to talk to an attorney; was transferred to the county jail in Medford September 8, 1949; was there held until September 20, 1949, likewise incommunicado. The crucial allegation, for our immediate purpose, is that he was not formally present before the court on September 8, 1949, and was only present in the court on September 20, 1949, when sentence was imposed. He claims no opportunity was afforded him to be represented by or advise with an attorney. He was sentenced to a term of 12 years and removed to the penitentiary September 27, 1949. He attempts to explain his long delay in asserting his rights by stating he was denied the opportunity to obtain a copy of the record in the circuit court until September, 1956.

In response to this “Motion” the trial court entered a memorandum opinion declining to hear the motion and, in effect, refusing jurisdiction upon the ground that defendant was possessed of another and exclusive remedy in the form of habeas corpus. In so doing the court relied upon Huffman v. Alexander, 197 Or 283, 251 P2d 87, rehearing denied 253 P2d 289, and on State v. Huffman, 207 Or 372, 297 P2d 831.

We are, therefore, confronted primarily with a factual situation. If the facts are ultimately determined to be as so alleged defendant’s constitutional rights have been violated. Johnson v. Zerbst, 304 US 458, 82 L ed 1461, 58 S Ct 1019, 146 ALR 357; Oregon Constitution Art VII, § 18, provides that a person may waive the right to indictment if that “person appear before any judge of the circuit court * # (Italics ours.)

The problem present here is the procedural course available or proper to determine such facts. This basically involves an interpretation of the two recent Huffman cases, just cited. In these two opinions Justice Brand, speaking for the majority, explored fully the inner and outer reaches of the writs of habeas corpus and coram nobis. It is to be recalled that this motion is, by title affixed thereto by the defendant, labeled in the nature of coram nobis. For reasons later appearing we are treating this as a motion to correct the record.

In attempting to reach a conclusion we are confronted with the Order of Waiver and Presentment of Indictment and Waiver, Arraignment and Plea as entered in the original proceedings. Each of these documents asserts the defendant appeared on September 8,1944, “in person and by-, his attorney.” Each also recites that the defendant did, in open court, waive presentment to and indictment by a grand jury. The latter document also recites the defendant entered a plea of guilty on that date and “said matter was continued for F. B. I. record.” It is immediately apparent that defendant’s charges directly contradict these judicial records. As previously noted he claims he was not in court on that day. In Huffman v. Alexander, supra, at page 317, it is held “# * * as a general rule, recitals in the judicial record, showing what was said and done in the court import absolute verity, and therefore cannot be collaterally attacked in habeas corpus. * * * if the judicial record does not correctly state what occurred in court, the remedy is by motion to correct the record. [Citing cases.]” (Italics ours.)

By this decision, together with the opinion in State v. Huffman, supra, this court left no doubt that a circuit court of this state has jurisdiction to entertain a motion to review and correct the record of a prior conviction or plea of guilty in that court if: (1) the purpose thereof is to determine whether constitutional requirements or limitations have been violated and (2) the alleged violation is in contradiction of the recitations in that record. The interpretive consideration given these cases in Anderson v. Britton, 212 Or 1, 318 P2d 291 reaches the same conclusion.

We hold that the court shall assume jurisdiction of this motion and require an answer from the state. It will be within the court’s prerogative to determine the necessity of a hearing requiring the presence of the defendant. The method of the exercise of this jurisdiction is within the province of the trial court. State v. Huffman, supra at 418 Or. If the written record and proof submitted by the answer leave doubt the denial of right to hearing should be exercised with caution. A reference to recent decisions of the Supreme Court of the United States will disclose the reason therefor. Pennsylvania v. Claudy, 350 US 116, 100 L ed 126, 76 S Ct 223; Marino v. Ragen, 332 US 561, 92 L ed 170, 68 S Ct 240; and also Daugharty v. Gladden, U. S. Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit, decided June 20, 1958, 257 F2d 750.

Other claims are made by defendant which we have not considered. These are exclusively for the trial court to consider. Upon reconsideration the court can examine the merits of these as well as the two mentioned. We do not express any opinion as to the merits of any of defendant’s claims.

Comment is required upon the brief filed here by this defendant. Its legal arguments are well prepared and the analysis of the law adequate. However, the attacks made upon the trial court are unwarranted, improper and scurrilous. Let it be understood by any person who considers such matter to be acceptable in such a brief, or who might refer to the one filed here as a model that any subsequent brief submitted to this court containing similar attacks shall he forthwith stricken.

See also, 209 Or. 178, 298 P.2d 842. Robert Y. Thornton, Attorney General, and Peter S. Herman, Assistant Attorney General, Salem, for the petition. Perry, C.J., did not participate in this decision.