EX PARTE APPLICATION OF GEORGE M. QUIGLEY FOR WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS, PLAINTIFF IN ERROR,
v.
STATE OF FLORIDA, DEFENDANT IN ERROR
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George Quigley sought habeas corpus relief from detention under a capias based on an alleged violation of a Florida statute prohibiting city employees from soliciting political support. The Florida Supreme Court reversed the trial court's denial of the writ, holding that habeas corpus is an appropriate remedy to challenge the constitutionality of the statute underlying the detention.
Habeas corpus is available to challenge detention when the statute under which the charge is made is unconstitutional or when the charge fails to allege a crime. The trial court erred in denying the writ as futile because the petition presented a justiciable question regarding the statute's validity and constitutionality, and the allegations must be taken as true absent contrary showing.
“While the habeas corpus is not a remedy for relief against imprisonment under a warrant that charges a criminal offense defectively or inartificially, yet it may be used as a remedy where the offense charged does not constitute a crime under the laws of the State by reason of the statute under which the charge is made being unconstitutional, or when the charge wholly fails to allege a crime.”
Establishes the fundamental principle that habeas corpus is available to challenge unconstitutional statutes underlying criminal charges
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceQuigley was detained by the Sheriff of Escambia County under a capias issued by the Court of Record based on a charge under Section 35 of Chapter 6746…
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Buford, J.
George M. Quigley filed a petition in the Circuit Court for Escambia County for writ of habeas corpus. The petition alleged that the relator was unlawfully detained in the custody of the Sheriff of Escambia. County, Florida, under and by virtue of a certain capias issued out of the Court of Record of such county.
The petition further alleged that the information was predicated upon Sec. 35 of Chapter 6746, Laws of Fla. of 1913, and the petitioner alleges that the statute which he is charged with having violated is void because of its being in conflict with certain stated provisions of the Constitution, particularly is it alleged to be in conflict with Sec. 13 of the Declaration of Rights and with Sec. 8 of the Declaration of Rights, with Sec. 5 of Article YI, with Sec. 12 of the Declaration of Rights; and for other reasons. The section of the statute referred to is as follows:
“Sec. 35. Any officer or employee of the City of Pensacola who solicits support for any candidate for Commissioner, in any primary or general election, or any such officer or employee who shall endeavor to influence any voter to vote for or against any candidate for Commissioner, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction shall be punished as may be provided by law or city ordinance, and shall be removed from office or employment with the city, and ineligible to any such office or employment.”
Upon the petition being presented, the Judge made an order denying the writ, giving as his reason for such order, “ It is considered by the Court that from the records and the proceedings that issuance of a writ of habeas corpus would be futile under the circumstances.”
The order of the Judge further allowed the petitioner a writ of error from the order refusing the writ and upon such writ of error the case is here for review.
In Lewis v. Nelson, 62 Fla. 71, 56 So. R. 436, the Court say:
‘ ‘ While the habeas corpus is not a remedy for relief against imprisonment under a warrant that charges a criminal offense defectively or inartificially, yet it may be used as a remedy where the offense charged does not constitute a crime under the laws of the State by reason of the statute under which the charge is made being unconstitutional, or when the charge wholly fails to allege a crime.”
See also Thorpe v. Smith, 64 Fla. 154, 59 So. R. 193; Jackson v. State, 71 Fla. 342, 71 So. R. 332; in re E. E. Robinson, 73 Fla. 1068, 75 So. R. 604; Ex parte R. M. Davidson, 76 Fla. 272, 79 So. R. 727; Cooper v. Lipscomb, 97 Fla. 668, 122 So. R. 5, and cases there cited.
We find nothing in the record upon which to base a conclusion that the issuance of a writ of habeas corpus would be futile in this case. Certainly, if the allegations of the petition as to facts are true, and they must be taken to be true in the absence of a showing to the contrary, the issuance of the writ would not be futile unless it appears upon the face of the petition that the petitioner is lawfully held in custody under a capias charging an offense against the law.
The petition clearly presents for determination by the Court the question of the validity and constitutionality of the statute for the violation of which the petitioner is alleged to be restrained of his liberty. This is a justiciable question as to the determination of which the petitioner is entitled to the judgment of the Court and such question may be properly presented in habeas corpus proceedings.
For the reasons stated the judgment of the Court denying the writ of habeas corpus is reversed with directions that the writ issue.
Reversed.
Ellis, Strum and Brown, J. J., concur. Terrell, C. J., and Whiteield, J., not participating.
Cases With Similar Vibessemantic neighbors from the corpus
Citator
Cited By
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Sylvester v. Young Tindall, 154 Fla. 663 (Fla. 1944)…e, in addition to the cases already cited, the following: Lehman v. Sawyer, 106 Fla. 396, 143 So. 310;Jones v. Cook, 146 Fla. 253, 200 So. 856; French v. Turner, 103 Fla. 425, 137 So. 521; Ex parte Lewis, 101 Fla. 624, 135 So. 147; Quigley v. State, 99 Fla. 933, 127 So. 898; White v. Penton, 92 Fla. 837, 110 So. 533; Hardee v. Brown, 56 Fla. 377, 47 So. 835; Bronk v. State, 43 Fla. 461, 31 So. 248; Ex parte Prince, 27 Fla. 196, 9 So. [*682] 659; Ex parte Bowen, 25 Fla. 214, 6 So. 65; Srarw v. Vasquez, 49 F…
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Buchanan v. State of Fla. ex rel. Clyde R. Husk, 167 So. 2d 38 (Fla. 3d DCA 1964)…n which he is now charged upon an information resulting from the unconstitutional interrogation. It has often been held in Florida that habeas corpus will lie to prevent a prosecution upon an unconstitutional statute or ordinance. Quigley v. State, 99 Fla. 933, 127 So. 898, Cason v. Quinby, 60 Fla. 35, 53 So. 741. It has further been held that the jurisdiction of a court to render a judgment depends upon the due observance of the constitutional rights of the accused. Sneed v. Mayo, Fla.1953, 66 So. 2d 86…
Authorities Cited
- In re Robinson, 73 Fla. 1068 (Fla. 1917)
- Ex parte Davidson, 76 Fla. 272 (Fla. 1918)
- Lewis v. Nero Nelson, 62 Fla. 71 (Fla. 1911)
- Thorp v. Smith, 64 Fla. 154 (Fla. 1912)
- Jackson v. State, 71 Fla. 342 (Fla. 1916)
- Cooper v. Lipscomb, 97 Fla. 668 (Fla. 1929)