Baldwin v. Blackburn Brief of Amicus Curiae NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund in Support of Petition for Writ of Certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

Public Court Documents
January 1, 1981

Baldwin v. Blackburn Brief of Amicus Curiae NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund in Support of Petition for Writ of Certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit preview

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  • Brief Collection, LDF Court Filings. Baldwin v. Blackburn Brief of Amicus Curiae NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund in Support of Petition for Writ of Certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, 1981. 27a50a66-be9a-ee11-be36-6045bdeb8873. LDF Archives, Thurgood Marshall Institute. https://ldfrecollection.org/archives/archives-search/archives-item/c7d0ee80-3d23-4298-9e31-609f07588fd8/baldwin-v-blackburn-brief-of-amicus-curiae-naacp-legal-defense-and-educational-fund-in-support-of-petition-for-writ-of-certiorari-to-the-united-states-court-of-appeals-for-the-fifth-circuit. Accessed April 27, 2025.

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    No. 81-6301

I n  the

Glimrt ni tip Itttted î tafcpis
October Term, 1981

Timothy George Baldwin,

Y .

Petitioner,

P rank C. Blackburn, Warden, Louisiana State Penitentiary,
and

W illiam J. (Juste, J r., Attorney General, State of Louisiana,
Respondents.

BRIEF OF AMICUS CURIAE NAACP 
LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATIONAL FUND, INC.,

IN SUPPORT OF PETITION FOR WRIT OF CERTIORARI 
TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS 

FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

J ack Greenberg 
J ames M. Nabrit, III  
J oel Berger*
J ohn Charles Bogbb 
Deborah P ins 
J ames S. L iebman 

Suite 2030 
10 Columbus Circle 
New York, New York 10019 
(212) 586-8397

Anthony G. Amsterdam
New York University School of Law 
40 Washington Square South 
New York, New York 10012
(212) 598-2638

Attorneys for the NAACP Legal Defense 
and Educational Fund, Inc,

* Counsel of Record



TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

S t a t e m e n t  o f  I n t e r e s t  o f  Amicus
C u r i a e  ............................................................... 1

R e a s o n s  F o r  G r a n t i n g  The W r i t  ................  4

I .  IN VIEW OF THE GROSSLY INEFFEC­
TIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL 
ACCORDED THIS PETITIONER, THE 
DISTRICT COURT SHOULD HAVE 
CONDUCTED AN EVIDENTIARY 
HEARING ON HIS CLAIM OF 
INADEQUATE REPRESENTATION 
RATHER THAN SUMMARILY DIS­
MISSING HIS HABEAS CORPUS 
PETITION .................................. .. 6

I I .  THE LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT'S 
POLICY OF ENGAGING IN PROPOR­
TIONALITY REVIEW OF DEATH 
CASES ONLY ON A DISTRICT-WIDE 
RATHER THAN A STATEWIDE BASIS 
—  A POLICY CURRENTLY UNDER 
REVIEW BY THE EN BANC FIFTH 
CIRCUIT IN WILLIAMS V.
BLACKBURN —  VIOLATES THE 
EIGHTH AND FOURTEENTH
AMENDMENTS .......................................  21

C o n c l u s i o n  .................................................................  24

l



TABLE OF CASES

P a g e

CASES

Adams v .  T e x a s ,  448 U . S .  38
( 1 980)  .................................. ...........................  3

Beck v .  A l a b a m a ,  447 U . S .  625
( 1 980)  .......................... ...................................  25

C o k e r  v .  G e o r g i a ,  433 U . S .  584
(1 977)  ..........       2

D a v i s  v .  G e o r g i a ,  429 U . S .  122
( 1 976)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ------  2

E d d i n g s  v .  O k l a h o m a ,  _____ U . S .  ____ ,
71 L.  E d . 2d 1 ( 1982)  ..........................  25

Enmund v .  F l o r i d a ,  No.  81 - 5321
( A r g u e d  March 2 3 ,  1982)  . . . . . . . .  2

E s t e l l e  v .  S m i t h ,  451 U . S .  454
( 1 9 8 1)  . . . . ------ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  2

Fur man v .  G e o r g i a ,  408 U . S .  238
(1 972)  ..................      2

G a r d n e r  v .  F l o r i d a ,  430 U . S .  349
( 1 9 77 )  . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . .  2

G o d f r e y  v .  G e o r g i a ,  446 U . S .  420
(1 980)  ........... ................................................... 22

G re gg  v .  G e o r g i a ,  428 U . S .  153
( 1 9 7 6 )  ....................      3 , 21

-  i i



Page

J u r e k  v .  T e x a s ,  428 U . S .  262
( 1 9 7 6 )  ............................................................... 2 , 2 2

L o c k e t t  v .  O h i o ,  438 U . S .  586
( 1 9 78 )  ............................................................... 2

Maxwe l l  v .  B i s h o p ,  398 U . S .  262
( 1 9 70 )  ............................................................... 2

P r o f f i t t  v .  F l o r i d a ,  428 U . S .  242
( 1976)  ............................................................... 3 , 2 2

S t a n i s l a u s  R o b e r t s  v .  L o u i s i a n a ,
428 U . S .  280 ( 1976)  .............................  2

S t a t e  v .  P r e j e a n ,  379 S o .  2d 240
( L a .  1 980)  ....................................................  22

Townsend  v .  S a i n ,  372 U . S .  293
( 1 963)  ............................................................... 20

W i l l i a m s  v .  B l a c k b u r n ,  649 F . 2 d  
1019 ( 5 t h  C i r .  1 9 8 1 ) ,  r e ­
h e a r i n g en  b a n c  g r a n t e d ,
661 F . 1 d 1020 ( 5 t h  C i r .
1981)  ....................................................  i , 2 1 , 2 3 , 2 4

W i t h e r s p o o n  v .  I l l i n o i s ,  391 U . S .
510 ( 1968)  ....................................................  3

Woodson v .  N o r t h  C a r o l i n a ,  428
U . S .  280 ( 1 976)  .......................................  2

Z a n t  v .  S t e p h e n s ,  No.  8 1 —89 ( a r g u e d
F e b .  2 4 ,  1982)  .......................................  2 , 5

-  i i i  -



No.  81 - 6301

IN THE

SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES 

O c t o b e r  Te rm,  1981

TIMOTHY GEORGE BALDWIN,

P e t i t i o n e r ,

v .

FRANK C.  BLACKBURN, W a r de n ,  
L o u i s i a n a  S t a t e  P e n i t e n t i a r y ,  and 
WILLIAM J .  GUSTE, J R . ,  A t t o r n e y  
G e n e r a l ,  S t a t e  o f  L o u i s i a n a ,

R e s p o n d e n t s .

BRIEF OF AMICUS CURIAE NAACP 
LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATIONAL FUND, I N C . ,  

IN SUPPORT OF PETITION FOR WRIT OF CER­
TIORARI TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF 

APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

STATEMENT OF INTEREST OF 
AMICUS CURIAE

T h e  NAACP L e g a l  D e f e n s e  a n d  E d u c a ­

t i o n a l  F u n d ,  I n c . ,  i s  a n o n - p r o f i t  c o r p o r a ­

t i o n  e s t a b l i s h e d  t o  a s s i s t  b l a c k  c i t i z e n s



2

i n  s e c u r i n g  t h e i r  c o n s t i t u t i o n a l  r i g h t s .  

I n  1 9 6 7 ,  i t  u n d e r t o o k  t o  r e p r e s e n t  a l l  

c o n d e m n e d  p r i s o n e r s  f o r  whom a d e q u a t e  

r e p r e s e n t a t i o n  c o u l d  n o t  o t h e r w i s e  b e  

f o u n d .  I t  h a s  f r e q u e n t l y  r e p r e s e n t e d  

c o n d e m n e d  p r i s o n e r s  b e f o r e  t h i s  C o u r t .

E . g . , M a x w e 11  v . B i s h o p , 3 9 8  U . S . 2 6 2

( 1 9 7 0 ) ;  F u r m a n  v . G e o r g i a , 40 8  U . S . 238

( 1 9 7 2 ) ;  J u r e k  v . T e x a s  , 4 2 8  U . S . 2 6 2

( 1 9 7 6 ) ;  W o o d s o n  v . N o r t h C a r o l i n a , 428

U . S .  28 0  ( 1 9 7 6 ) ; S t a n i s l a u s  R o b e r t s v .

L o u i s i a n a , 428 D . S .  325 ( 1 9 7 6 ) ;  D a v i s  v .

G e o r g i a , 429 U . S .  122 ( 1 9 7 6 ) ;  G a r d n e r  v .

F l o r i d a , 4 30  U . S .  349  ( 1 9 7 7 ) ;  C o k e r  v .

G e o r g i a , 4 3 3  U . S .  5 8 4  ( 1 9 7 7 ) ;  L o c k e t t

v .  O h i o , 438 U . S .  586 ( 1 9 7 8 ) ;  E s t e l l e  v .

S m i t h , 451 U . S .  454 ( 1 9 8 1 ) ;  Z a n t  v .  S t e p h ­

e n s  , N o .  8 1 - 8 9  ( a r g u e d  F e b .  2 4 ,  1 9 8 2 ) ;

Enmund v .  F l o r i d a , No .  8 1 - 5 3 2 1  ( a r g u e d  

M a r c h  2 3 ,  1 9 8 2 ) .  T h e  F u n d  h a s  a l s o  a p ­

p e a r e d  b e f o r e  t h i s  C o u r t  a s  a m i c u s  c u r i a e



3

i n  o t h e r  c a p i t a l  c a s e s .  E . g . , W i t h e r s p o o n  

v .  I l l i n o i s , 391 U . S .  510 ( 1 9 6 8 ) ;  Gr e gg  v .  

G e o r g i a , 428 U . S .  153 ( 1 9 7 6 ) ;  P r o f f i t t  v .

F l o r  i d a , 42 8  U . S .  242  ( 1 976  ) ;  Adams  v .

T e x a s , 448 U . S .  38 ( 1 9 8 0 ) .

T h e  L e g a l  D e f e n s e  F u n d  c o n t i n u e s  t o  

p r o v i d e  l e g a l  a s s i s t a n c e  t o  i n d i g e n t  c o n ­

demned p r i s o n e r s ,  and  i s  now i n v o l v e d  i n  

o v e r  o n e  h u n d r e d  d e a t h  c a s e s .  I t  r e p ­

r e s e n t s  a s u b s t a n t i a l  number  o f  d e a t h - s e n ­

t e n c e d  i n m a t e s  w i t h i n  t h e  s t a t e s  o f  t h e  

F i f t h  C i r c u i t ,  who a r e  a t  v a r i o u s  s t a g e s  o f  

s t a t e  and f e d e r a l  p o s t c o n v i c t i o n  p r o c e e d ­

i n g s .  A d d i t i o n a l l y ,  t h e  F u n d  p r o v i d e s  

c o n s u l t a t i v e  a s s i s t a n c e  t o  a t t o r n e y s  

r e p r e s e n t i n g  a l a r g e  n u m b e r  o f  o t h e r  

c a p i t a l  d e f e n d a n t s  b o t h  i n  t h e  F i f t h  

C i r c u i t  and  e l s e w h e r e .

The i s s u e s  p r e s e n t e d  by t h i s  c a s e  a r e  

o f  g e n e r a l  a p p l i c a b i l i t y  t o  a n u m b e r  o f  

d e a t h - s e n t e n c e d  p r i s o n e r s  w i t h i n  t h e  F i f t h



4

C i r c u i t ,  i n c l u d i n g  s e v e r a l  r e p r e s e n t e d  by 

t h e  F u n d .  I n  v i e w  o f  t h e  F u n d ' s  e x ­

p e r i e n c e  w i t h  t h e s e  c o n s t i t u t i o n a l  q u e s ­

t i o n s ,  t h e  a d v e r s e  i m p a c t  upon  o u r  c l i e n t s  

o f  t h e  c o u r t  o f  a p p e a l s '  i n a d e q u a t e  t r e a t ­

m e n t  o f  t h o s e  q u e s t i o n s  b e l o w ,  a n d  t h e  

l a t e n e s s  o f  t h e  h o u r  f o r  M r .  B a l d w i n  

h i m s e l f ,  we r e s p e c t f u l l y  r e q u e s t  t h e  

o p p o r t u n i t y  t o  p r e s e n t  o u r  v i e w s  i n  t h e  

h o p e  t h a t  t h e y  may b e  o f  a s s i s t a n c e  t o  t h e  

C o u r t .

C o n s e n t  h a s  b e e n  g r a n t e d  b y  b o t h  

p e t i t i o n e r  and  r e s p o n d e n t  f o r  t h e  f i l i n g  o f  

t h i s  a m i c u s  c u r i a e  b r i e f .

REASONS FOR GRANTING THE WRIT 

INTRODUCTION

T h e  NAACP L e g a l  D e f e n s e  a n d  E d u c a ­

t i o n a l  F u n d ,  I n c . ,  b e l i e v e s  t h a t  t h e  

c e r t i o r a r i  p e t i t i o n  f i l e d  i n  t h i s  c a s e  d o e s  

n o t  d o  j u s t i c e  t o  M r .  B a l d w i n  a n d  t h e



5

s u b s t a n t i a l  c o n s t i t u t i o n a l  c l a i m s  u n d e r  

w h i c h  h e  i s  e n t i t l e d  t o  r e l i e f .  I n  p a r ­

t i c u l a r ,  o u r  s c r u t i n y  o f  t h e  L o u i s i a n a  

t r i a l  r e c o r d  r e v e a l s  s e v e r a l  c r i t i c a l  

f a c t s ,  n o t  c a l l e d  t o  t h e  a t t e n t i o n  o f  t h i s  

C o u r t  o r  t h e  f e d e r a l  c o u r t s  b e l o w ,  t h a t  a r e  

e x t r e m e l y  s i g n i f i c a n t  t o  Mr .  B a l d w i n ' s  

c l a i m s .  S i n c e  p e t i t i o n e r  w i l l  i n  a l l

l i k e l i h o o d  b e  p u t  t o  d e a t h  i f  r e v i e w  i s
1 /

d e n i e d  by  t h i s  C o u r t , -  h e  ±s  a t  t h e  v e r y

! /  M r • B a l d w i n  i s  t h e  f i r s t  d e a t h - s e n ­
t e n c e d  f e d e r a l  h a b e a s  c o r p u s  p e t i t i o n e r  t o  
b e  d e n i e d  r e l i e f  b y  a c o u r t  o f  a p p e a l s  
s i n c e  J o h n  S p e n k e l i n k ,  who was e x e c u t e d  i n  
F l o r i d a  on  May 2 5 ,  1979 .  Ho wev e r ,  a c c o r d ­
i n g  t o  o u r  r e c o r d s ,  42 o t h e r  d e a t h  c a s e s  
a r e  p r e s e n t l y  p e n d i n g  o n  f e d e r a l  h a b e a s  
c o r p u s  a p p e a l s  i n  t h e  F i f t h ,  E i g h t h  a n d  
E l e v e n t h  C i r c u i t s .  T h u s ,  t h e  a r g u m e n t  
a d v a n c e d  i n  some q u a r t e r s  t h a t  t h i s  C o u r t

r u l e  a g a i n s t  d e a t h - s e n t e n c e d  i n d i ­
v i d u a l s  m e r e l y  t o  c omb at  p u b l i c  f r u s t r a t i o n  
o v e r  t h e  s m a l l  n umbe r  o f  e x e c u t i o n s  ( s e e ,  
e . g . ,  B r i e f  o f  A m i c u s  C u r i a e  W a s h i n g t o n  
L e g a l  F o u n d a t i o n  i n  Z a n t  v .  S t e p h e n s , No.  
8 1 - 8 9 )  w i l l  i n  t h e  n e a r  f u t u r e  l o s e  i t s  
u n d e r l y i n g  f a c t u a l  p r e m i s e .  S u r e l y ,  u n d e r

[ F o o t n o t e  _1_/ c o n t i n u e s  on n e x t  p a g e ]



6

l e a s t  e n t i t l e d  t o  a f u l l  a i r i n g  o f  t h e  

f a c t s  o f  r e c o r d  w h i c h  s u p p o r t  t h e  i s s u e s  he  

h a s  a d v a n c e d .

I

IN VIEW OF THE GROSSLY INEFFECTIVE 
ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL ACCORDED THIS 
PETITIONER, THE DISTRICT COURT SHOULD 
HAVE CONDUCTED AN EVIDENTIARY HEARING 
ON HIS CLAIM OF INADEQUATE REPRESENTA­
TION RATHER THAN SUMMARILY DISMISSING 
HIS HABEAS CORPUS PETITION

P e t i t i o n e r  T i m o t h y  B a l d w i n  s t a n d s

c o n d e m n e d  t o  d i e  a s  a  r e s u l t  o f  g r o s s l y

i n a d e q u a t e  r e p r e s e n t a t i o n  by  h i s  a t t o r n e y s .

D e s p i t e  Mr .  B a l d w i n ' s  c l a i m  t h a t  h e  i s

i n n o c e n t  and  was  i n  A r k a n s a s  a t  l e a s t  70

m i l e s  away when t h e  c r i m e  t o o k  p l a c e ,  t r i a l

c o u n s e l  f a i l e d  a d e q u a t e l y  t o  c o n s u l t

w i t h  h im b e f o r e  t r i a l  and  t o  e n g a g e  i n  t h e

2 /  C o n t i n u e d

a n y  c i v i l i z e d  s y s t e m  o f  j u s t i c e ,  M r .  
B a l d w i n ' s  c l a i m s  s h o u l d  n o t  r e c e i v e  
a ny  l e s s  c o n s i d e r a t i o n  b e c a u s e  he  i s  t h e  
f i r s t  i n d i v i d u a l  s i n c e  J o h n  S p e n k e l i n k  t o  
r e a c h  t h e  e l e v e n t h  h o u r .



7

p r e t r i a l  i n v e s t i g a t i o n  a n d  p r e p a r a t i o n  

n e c e s s a r y  t o  p r e s e n t  t h i s  d e f e n s e .  As a 

r e s u l t ,  no e v i d e n c e  o t h e r  t h a n  p e t i t i o n e r ' s  

own t e s t i m o n y  was i n t r o d u c e d  a t  t r i a l  t o  

s u p p o r t  h i s  v e r s i o n  o f  t h e  f a c t s .  E v e n  

upon  d i s c o v e r i n g  new e v i d e n c e  a f t e r  t r i a l  

w h i c h  c o n c l u s i v e l y  e s t a b l i s h e s  t h e  v i a b i l ­

i t y  o f  p e t i t i o n e r ' s  a l i b i  d e f e n s e , —̂ h i s  

l a w y e r s  f a i l e d  t o  move  f o r  a new t r i a l .  

T h e i r  i n a t t e n t i v e n e s s  was  s o  g r e a t  t h a t  

t h e y  d i d  n o t  e v e n  n o t i c e  t h e  t r i a l  c o u r t ' s  

f a i l u r e  t o  i n s t r u c t  t h e  j u r y  on  t h e  e l e ­

m e n t s  o f  t h e  c r i m e  f o r  w h i c h  p e t i t i o n e r  was 

c o n v i c t e d ;  a n d ,  f o l l o w i n g  h i s  c o n v i c t i o n ,  

t h e y  p u t  on  v i r t u a l l y  no c a s e  a t  a l l  a t  t h e  

p e n a l t y  p h a s e .

2 /  The p o r t i o n s  o f  t h e  t r i a l  r e c o r d  w h i c h  
r e n d e r e d  t h i s  new e v i d e n c e  so  c r u c i a l  t o  
p e t i t i o n e r ' s  c l a i m  o f  i n n o c e n c e  a r e  n o t  
o n l y  a b s e n t  f r om t h e  c e r t i o r a r i  p e t i t i o n ,  
b u t  a l s o  w e r e  n o t  c a l l e d  t o  t h e  a t t e n t i o n  
o f  e i t h e r  t h e  c o u r t  o f  a p p e a l s  o r  t h e  
d i s t r i c t  c o u r t  b e l o w .  S ee  p p .  1 3 - 1 7 ,  i n f r a .



8

A .

D e f e n s e  c o u n s e l ' s  f a i l u r e  t o  c o n s u l t  

w i t h  Mr.  B a l d w i n  a d e q u a t e l y  i n  a d v a n c e  o f  

t h e  t r i a l  i s  b e s t  i l l u s t r a t e d  b y  a c o n ­

c e s s i o n  c o u n s e l  m a d e  d u r i n g  a p r e t r i a l  

h e a r i n g  o n  a n  u n s u c c e s s f u l  m o t i o n  f o r  

a p p o i n t m e n t  o f  a p s y c h i a t r i s t  a t  t h e  

S t a t e ' s  e x p e n s e .  C o u n s e l  t o o k  t h e  s t a n d  

and  s t a t e d  t h a t  " i t  i s  my f e e l i n g  t h a t  a

p s y c h i a t r i s t  i s  i n d i c a t e d  i n  t h i s  c a s e , "  R. 
3 /

5 2 6 ,  b u t  u p o n  c r o s s - e x a m i n a t i o n  a d ­

m i t t e d  t h a t  h e  h ad  n o t  e v e n  a s k e d  Mr.  B a l d ­

w i n  a b o u t  any  h i s t o r y  o f  m e n t a l  d i s o r d e r .  

C o u n s e l  h ad  f i l e d  t h e  m o t i o n  and  come t o  

t h e  h e a r i n g  w i t h o u t  s o  m u c h  a s  q u e s ­

t i o n i n g  p e t i t i o n e r  a s  t o  w h e t h e r  h e  h a d  

e v e r  b e e n  t r e a t e d  b y  a p s y c h i a t r i s t  o r  

p s y c h o l o g i s t ,  o r  w h e t h e r  he  had  e v e r  b e e n

3 /  Numbers  p r e c e d e d  by " R . "  r e f e r  t o  p a g e s  
o f  t h e  r e c o r d  o f  p e t i t i o n e r ' s  a p p e a l  t o  t h e  
L o u i s i a n a  S upr eme  C o u r t .



9

t o  a m e n t a l  h e a l t h  c e n t e r  o r  a m e n t a l
1 /

h o s p i t a l .

E a r l i e r  o n  t h e  d a y  o f  t h i s  h e a r i n g ,  

c o n d u c t e d  12 d a y s  b e f o r e  t r i a l ,  d e f e n s e  

c o u n s e l  c o n c e d e d  t h a t  h e  had  n o t  e x p l o r e d  a 

p o s s i b l e  i n s a n i t y  d e f e n s e  s o o n e r  b e c a u s e  

" I ' v e  b e e n  somewha t  b u s y  t h e  l a s t  m o n t h . "  

R. 4 1 1 .  And i n  h i s  m o t i o n  f o r  a new t r i a l ,  

c o u n s e l  e x p a n d e d  upon  t h i s  e x c u s e :  a t  t h e  

t i m e  o f  t h e  p r e t r i a l  h e a r i n g ,  he  and h i s  

c o - c o u n s e l  "h ad  o n l y  r e c e n t l y  f i n i s h e d  a s i x  

d a y  l o n g  m u r d e r  t r i a l "  i n  a n o t h e r  c a s e .  R. 

171.

4 /  Q. [By t h e  P r o s e c u t o r ]  . . .  do  y o u  
k n o w  o f  a n y  h i s t o r y  o f  m e n t a l  
p r o b l e m s ,  d i s e a s e s ,  i l l n e s s ,  o r  
a n y  t r e a t m e n t  i n  t h e  p a s t  t h a t  
y o u r  c l i e n t  h a s  u n d e r g o n e ?

A. [By D e f e n s e  C o u n s e l ]  To my p e r ­
s o n a l  k n o w l e d g e  I  k n o w  o f  n o  
m e n t a l  i l l n e s s  p e r  s e .  I  d o n ' t  
k n o w  e x a c t l y  w h a t  y o u  m e a n  b y  
m e n t a l  i l l n e s s ?

[ F o o t n o t e  4 /  c o n t i n u e s  on  n e x t  p a g e ]



1 0

H a v i n g  f a i l e d  t o  e x p l o r e  a d e f e n s e  o f  

i n s a n i t y  u n t i l  l e s s  t h a n  two w e e k s  b e f o r e  

t r i a l ,  d e f e n s e  c o u n s e l  d i d  n o t  e n g a g e  i n

4 /  C o n t i n u e d

Q. W e l l ,  h a s  h e  e v e r  b e e n  t o  a  m e n t a l  
h e a l t h  c e n t e r  t o  s e e k  a n y  k i n d  o f  
h e l p  o r  t r e a t m e n t ?

A. I  d o n ' t  k n o w  t h a t  o f  my o w n  
p e r s o n a l  k n o w l e d g e .

Q. Do yo u  h a v e  a ny  i n f o r m a t i o n  t h a t  
h e  h a s ?

A . No.  I  do  n o t .

Q. Has h e  e v e r  b e e n  t o  a p s y c h i a t r i s t  
o r  a p s y c h o l o g i s t ,  t o  y o u r  k n o w l ­
e d g e ,  t o  s e e k  a n y  t r e a t m e n t ?

A.  To b e  h o n e s t ,  I  d o  n o t  k n o w .  I 
h a v e  n o t  g o n e  i n t o  t h a t .

Q. To y o u r  k n o w l e d g e  h a s  h e  e v e r  b e e n  
e v a l u a t e d  m e n t a l l y  by  a p s y c h i a t r -  
i s t ,  p s y c h o l o g i s t ,  o r  a n y  m e n t a l  
h e a l t h  c e n t e r ?

A.  A g a i n ,  I  do  n o t  know t h e  a n s w e r  t o  
t h a t .

[ F o o t n o t e  _4/ c o n t i n u e s  on  n e x t  p a g e ]



- 1 1 -

a n y  s e r i o u s  p r e t r i a l  i n v e s t i g a t i o n  o r  

p r e p a r a t i o n  t o  s u p p o r t  p e t i t i o n e r ' s  c l a i m  

o f  i n n o c e n c e .  At  t r i a l ,  o n l y  two d e f e n s e  

w i t n e s s e s  w e r e  c a l l e d .  The f i r s t ,  p e t i ­

t i o n e r ' s  w i f e ,  was n o t  w i t h  h im d u r i n g  t h e  

r e l e v a n t  t i m e  p e r i o d  and had  no t e s t i m o n y  

t o  o f f e r  c o n c e r n i n g  h i s  a l i b i .  R.  1587— 

1 6 2 0 .  T h e  s e c o n d ,  Mr .  B a l d w i n  h i m s e l f ,  

t e s t i f i e d  t h a t  he  h ad  v i s i t e d  t h e  d e c e a s e d  

e a r l i e r  o n  t h e  e v e n i n g  o f  t h e  c r i m e ,

4 /  C o n t i n u e d

Q. I n  o t h e r  w or d s  you  h a v e n ' t  q u e s ­
t i o n e d  y o u r  c l i e n t  a b o u t  t h o s e  
s u b j e c t s ?

A.  I  h a v e  n o t  q u e s t i o n e d  h i m a b o u t  
h i s  h i s t o r y  o r  p o s s i b l e  h i s t o r y  
w i t h  p s y c h i a t r i s t  and p s y c h o l o g ­
i s t .  No,  I  h a v e n ' t ,  and  I  do n o t  
k no w w h e t h e r  o r  n o t  h e  h a s  e v e r  
b e e n  t o  a m e n t a l  h e a l t h  c e n t e r  o r  
a  m e n t a l  h o s p i t a l .

R. 526



12

s o c i a l i z e d  w i t h  h e r  a s  h e  h ad  many t i m e s  i n  

t h e  p a s t ,  a n d  l e f t .  R . 1 6 3 9 - 4 5 .  He 

m a i n t a i n e d  t h a t  h e  had  n o t  r e t u r n e d  t o  h e r  

h o u s e  l a t e r  t h a t  n i g h t ,  b u t  r a t h e r  h a d  

p r o c e e d e d  t o  E l  D o r a d o ,  A r k a n s a s .  R .  

1 6 4 4 - 4 6 .  He d e n i e d  s t r i k i n g  o r  h u r t i n g  t h e  

d e c e a s e d  i n  a n y  way .  R . 1658 .

D e f e n s e  c o u n s e l  d i d  n o t  p r e s e n t  a 

s h r e d  o f  i n d e p e n d e n t  e v i d e n c e  i n  s u p p o r t  o f  

p e t i t i o n e r ' s  v e r s i o n  o f  t h e  f a c t s ,  b u t  

r a t h e r  r e s t e d  a f t e r  t h e  c o n c l u s i o n  o f  

p e t i t i o n e r ' s  t e s t i m o n y .  R . 1664 .

As t h e  o p i n i o n  o f  t h e  c o u r t  o f  a p p e a l s  

r e f l e c t s ,  " [ f ] i v e  m o n t h s  a f t e r  t r i a l ,  

[ d e f e n s e ]  c o u n s e l  a c q u i r e d  a m o t e l  r e c e i p t  

i n d i c a t i n g  t h a t  a p p e l l a n t  was i n  El  D o r a d o ,  

A r k a n s a s ,  s o m e  70  m i l e s  a w a y ,  o n  t h e  

n i g h t  o f  t h e  m u r d e r . "  C e r t i o r a r i  p e t i t i o n  

A p p e n d i x  C,  p .  2 4 ;  653 F . 2 d  a t  9 4 7 .  The

c o u r t  o f  a p p e a l s  e x c u s e d  c o u n s e l ' s  f a i l u r e



1 3

t o  move  f o r  a new t r i a l  o n  t h e  b a s i s  o f  

t h i s  e v i d e n c e ,  r e a s o n i n g  t h a t  i t  " p r o b a b l y "  

d i d  n o t  p r o v i d e  an a d e q u a t e  a l i b i  b e c a u s e  

i t  d i d  n o t  r e f l e c t  " a  c h e c k - i n  t i m e  i n c o n ­

s i s t e n t  w i t h  a p p e l l a n t ' s  p r e s e n c e  i n  t h e  

v i c t i m ' s  h o u s e  [ i n  Wes t  M on r oe ,  L o u i s i a n a ]  

b e t w e e n  1 0 : 0 0  and  1 1 : 0 0  p . m . ,  t h e  t i m e  o f  

t h e  m u r d e r .  S t a t e  v .  B a l d w i n , 388 S o .  2d 

a t  6 6 9 . "  I b i d . T h e  c o u r t  o f  a p p e a l s  

f u r t h e r  a s s u m e d  o n  t h i s  b a s i s  t h a t  t h e  

a l i b i  d e f e n s e  was " w i t h o u t  m e r i t , "  i cL a t  

2 3 ,  6 5 3  F . 2 d  a t  9 4 7 ,  a n d  t h a t  c o u n s e l

s h o u l d  n o t  b e  f a u l t e d  f o r  f a i l i n g  t o  p u r s u e  

i t  a t  t r i a l .

T h e  c o u r t  o f  a p p e a l s  d i d  n o t  u n d e r -
/

s t a n d  t h e  s i g n i f i c a n c e  o f  t h e  m o t e l  c h e c k ­

i n  r e c e i p t ,  b e c a u s e  p e t i t i o n e r ' s  p r e s e n t  

c o u n s e l  d i d  n o t  c a l l  t o  t h e  a t t e n t i o n  o f  

t h a t  c o u r t  o r  t h e  d i s t r i c t  c o u r t  t h e  

p o r t i o n  o f  t h e  r e c o r d  t h a t  p r o v e s  i t s



14

i m p o r t a n c e .  T h e  r e c e i p t  d o e s  n o t  r e ­

f l e c t  any  c h e c k - i n  t i m e ,  b u t  i t  i s  d a t e d
5 /

t h e  d a y  o f  t h e  m u r d e r  —  A p r i l  4 ,  1 9 7 8 . —

And a c c o r d i n g  t o  o ne  o f  t h e  S t a t e ' s  w i t ­

n e s s e s ,  a n e i g h b o r  o f  t h e  d e c e a s e d  named 

J . C .  H a w k i n s ,  t h e  v a n  d r i v e n  b y  t h e  

k i l l e r  o r  k i l l e r s  was  s t i l l  p r e s e n t  o u t s i d e  

t h e  d e c e a s e d ’ s h o u s e  i n  W e s t  M o n r o e  a t  

1 1 : 1 0  P . M. o n  t h e  n i g h t  o f  t h e  m u r d e r .  

When a s k e d  w h e t h e r  s h e  was  " r e a l l y  p o s i t i v e  

a b o u t  t h e  t i m e , "  M r s .  Hawki ns  r e s p o n d e d :

Yes  s i r  . . .  b e c a u s e  I  w e n t  i n t o  my 
k i t c h e n  t o  t u r n  my k i t c h e n  l i g h t s  
o u t  a t  t e n  m i n u t e s  a f t e r  e l e v e n  
and  i t  [ t h e  van ]  was  s t i l l  s i t ­
t i n g  o v e r  t h e r e  w i t h  t h e  l i g h t s  
o n .

6/
R. 1102 .  S i n c e  E l  D o r a d o ,  A r k a n s a s  i s  a t

5 /  D i s t r i c t  c o u r t  r e c o r d  a t  9 1 .

6 /  Two o t h e r  S t a t e ' s  w i t n e s s e s  saw a  v a n  
o u t s i d e  t h e  h o u s e  a s  l a t e  a s  a l i t t l e  a f t e r  
10 P.M.  (R.  1 1 1 8 ,  1 1 3 0 ) ,  b u t  d i d  n o t  know
how much l o n g e r  i t  h ad  s t a y e d .  S t i l l  two

[ F o o t n o t e  6 /  c o n t i n u e s  o n  n e x t  p a g e ]



15

l e a s t  70 m i l e s  f r o m  W e s t  M o n r o e ,  i t  i s

u t t e r l y  i m p l a u s i b l e  t h a t  p e t i t i o n e r  c o u l d

h a v e  r e a c h e d  El  D o r a d o  by  m i d n i g h t  i n  t i m e

t o  h a v e  c h e c k e d  i n  on A p r i l  4 ,  1 9 78 .  The

a l i b i  d e f e n s e  w a s  b y  no  m e a n s  f r i v o l o u s
7 /

o r  i n s u b s t a n t i a l . -

6 /  C o n t i n u e d

more  S t a t e ' s  w i t n e s s e s  saw a v a n  o u t s i d e  
t h e  h o u s e  a t  a b o u t  1 0 : 1 5  P . M .  ( R .  1 1 4 3 ,
1 1 4 7 ,  1 1 9 6 ,  1 1 9 8 ) ,  a n d  o b s e r v e d  w h a t
a p p e a r e d  t o  be  a b e a t i n g  i n s i d e  t h e  h o u s e  
a t  t h a t  t i m e  ( R .  1 1 4 5 - 4 6  , 1 1 9 7 ) ;  t h e s e
w i t n e s s e s  p r o c e e d e d  t o  a  s t o r e  l e s s  t h a n  a 
b l o c k  away (R.  1 1 4 4 ) ,  w h e r e  t h e y  s t a y e d  a
b r i e f  w h i l e  —  8 m i n u t e s  a c c o r d i n g  t o  o ne  
(R.  1149 ,  1 1 6 2 ) ,  15 m i n u t e s  a c c o r d i n g  t o  
t h e  o t h e r  (R.  1 1 9 8 ,  1 1 9 9 ) .  W a l k i n g  b a c k
f r o m  t h e  s t o r e  t o g e t h e r ,  t h e y  s a w  a man 
and a woman l e a v e  t h e  h o u s e  and e n t e r  t h e  
v an  (R.  1 1 4 9 - 5 1 ,  1 1 9 9 - 1 2 0 0 ) .  One o f  t h e s e  
w i t n e s s e s  s a i d  t h a t  t h e  v an  " s l o w l y  d r o v e  
o f f "  a t  t h i s  t i m e  ( R .  1 1 5 1 ) ;  t h e  o t h e r ,
w he n  a s k e d  " a n d  t h e y  j u s t  d r o v e  o f f ? " ,  
r e p l i e d :  "No we w e n t  o n  t o  t h e  [ w i t ­
n e s s e s ' ]  h o u s e ,  I  d i d n ' t  s t i c k  a r o u n d "  (R.  
1 21 2 ).
7 /  A c c o r d i n g  t o  t h e  S t a t e ' s  w i t n e s s e s ,  
p e t i t i o n e r  w as  a t  a s t a t e  p a r k  i n  M i s s ­
i s s i p p i  o n  A p r i l  3 r d  a n d  d i d  n o t  l e a v e  
t h e r e  u n t i l  a b o u t  10 A.M.  on  t h e  m o r n i n g  o f

[ F o o t n o t e  7 /  c o n t i n u e s  on  n e x t  p a g e ]



16

T h e  c o u r t s  b e l o w  s i m i l a r l y  w e r e  n o t  

d i r e c t e d  t o  t h e  f a c t s  t h a t  ( i )  o n e  o f  t h e  

w i t n e s s e s  w ho  h a d  o b s e r v e d  a m a l e  a n d  

f e m a l e  v i s i t o r  t o  t h e  d e c e a s e d ' s  home and 

had  s e e n  w ha t  a p p e a r e d  t o  be  a b e a t i n g  i n  

h e r  home on  t h e  n i g h t  o f  t h e  m u r d e r  ( s e e  

n . 6 ,  s u p r a ) v i e w e d  p e t i t i o n e r  i n  a l i n e - u p  

a n d  i d e n t i f i e d  a n o t h e r  p e r s o n  i n  t h e  

l i n e - u p  a s  t h e  m a l e  v i s i t o r  h e  h a d  s e e n  (R.  

1 1 7 6 ) ;  ( i i )  t h e  i n i t i a l  p o l i c e  b u l l e t i n s  

h ad  d e s c r i b e d  t h e  k i l l e r  a s  b e i n g  i n  h i s  

t w e n t i e s ,  w h e r e a s  p e t i t i o n e r  i s  i n  h i s  

f o r t i e s  (R.  1 4 6 5 - 6 6 ) ;  and  ( i i i )  t h e  i n i t i a l  

p o l i c e  b u l l e t i n s  had  d e s c r i b e d  t h e  k i l l e r ' s

7 /  C o n t i n u e d

A p r i l  4 t h ;  h e  a r r i v e d  i n  W e s t  M o n r o e  a t  
a b o u t  noon  on t h e  4 t h ,  and  s t a y e d  t h e r e  t h e  
e n t i r e  d a y  v i s i t i n g  w i t h  h i s  c h i l d r e n  and 
s t e p c h i l d r e n  (R.  1 2 2 4 - 2 5 ,  1 2 5 9 - 6 1 ,  1 3 5 3 ) .
Any s u g g e s t i o n  t h a t  h e  w e n t  t o  El  D o r a d o ,  
A r k a n s a s  o n  t h e  m o r n i n g  o r  a f t e r n o o n  o f  
A p r i l  4 t h  w ou l d  be  d i r e c t l y  c o n t r a d i c t o r y  
t o  t h e  S t a t e ' s  e v i d e n c e .



17

v e h i c l e  a s  a b r o w n  D o d g e  v a n  a n d  o n e  

n e i g h b o r  had  d e s c r i b e d  i t s  c o l o r  a s  " g o l d ­

i s h "  (R.  1 121 ,  1 5 2 6 ) ,  w h e r e a s  p e t i t i o n e r

was  d r i v i n g  a b l a c k  F o r d  v a n  ( R .  1 2 0 1 ) .

A c c o r d i n g l y ,  t h e r e  i s  more  t h a n  e no u g h  

e v i d e n c e  o f  r e c o r d  t o  d e m o n s t r a t e  t h a t  t h e  

d e f e n s e  o f  a l i b i  was v i a b l e  i n  t h i s  c a s e .  

The d i s t r i c t  c o u r t ' s  s u r m i s e  t h a t  " [ o j b v i -

o u s l y ,  had  an a d e q u a t e  a l i b i  d e f e n s e  b e e n
8/

a v a i l a b l e ,  i t  w ou l d  h a v e  b e e n  d e v e l o p e d "  

s i m p l y  i s  n o t  s u p p o r t e d  by t h e  r e c o r d  and 

s h o u l d  n o t  h a v e  b e e n  a c c e p t e d  by  t h e  c o u r t  

o f  a p p e a l s .  We b e l i e v e  t h a t  n e i t h e r  o f  t h e  

c o u r t s  b e l o w  w ou l d  h a v e  made t h i s  a s s u m p ­

t i o n  h ad  t h e  r e c o r d  b e e n  d e s c r i b e d  t o  them 

i n  a n y  s i g n i f i c a n t  d e t a i l .

B.

O t h e r  i n d i c a t i o n s  o f  r e c o r d  make  i t  

i m p o s s i b l e  t o  i n d u l g e  a n y  s u c h  b e n i g n

8 /  C e r t i o r a r i  p e t i t i o n  A p p e n d i x  D a t  37 .



1 8

e x p l a n a t i o n  o f  t r i a l  c o u n s e l ' s  l a c k  o f  

p r e t r i a l  p r e p a r a t i o n ,  f a i l u r e  t o  d e v e l o p  

a n y  c o h e r e n t  t h e o r y  o f  d e f e n s e ,  and  r e f u s a l  

t o  p u r s u e  upon  t h e  r e c e i p t  o f  new e v i d e n c e  

p e t i t i o n e r ' s  c o n s i s t e n t  c l a i m  t h a t  he  d i d  

n o t  commi t  t h e  h o m i c i d e  f o r  w h i c h  h e  s t a n d s  

condemned  t o  d i e .  C o u n s e l ' s  h a n d l i n g  o f  

t h e  w h o l e  c a s e  was  i n e x c u s a b l y  s l i p s h o d .

F o r  e x a m p l e ,  a s  t h e  o p i n i o n  b e l o w  

c o n c e d e s ,  t h e  j u r y  i n  t h i s  c a s e  was n e v e r  

i n s t r u c t e d  on  t h e  e l e m e n t s  o f  f i r s t  d e g r e e

m u r d e r  u n d e r  L o u i s i a n a  l aw b e f o r e  f i n d i n g
. . 9 /

p e t i t i o n e r  g u i l t y  o f  t h a t  o f f e n s e . -  j t  i s

h a r d  t o  i m a g i n e  a n y  d u t y  o f  d e f e n s e  c o u n s e l

i n  a  c r i m i n a l  t r i a l  more  r u d i m e n t a r y  t h a n

r e v i e w i n g  t h e  t r i a l  j u d g e ' s  c h a r g e  t o

d e t e r m i n e  t h a t ,  a t  t h e  v e r y  minimum,  t h e

j u r y  w i l l  b e  t o l d  w h a t  i t  n e e d s  t o  f i n d

9 /  C e r t i o r a r i  p e t i t i o n  A p p e n d i x  C a t  27? 
653 F . 2 d  a t  9 50 .



i n  o r d e r  t o  c o n v i c t .  Y e t  d e f e n s e  c o u n s e l
1 0/

i g n o r e d  t h a t  d u t y  h e r e . —

N o w h e r e  i s  d e f e n s e  c o u n s e l ' s  l a x i t y  

more  a p p a r e n t  t h a n  a t  t h e  p e n a l t y  p h a s e ,  

w h i c h  f r o m  b e g i n n i n g  t o  e n d  l a s t e d  50 

m i n u t e s .  R .  1 8 ,  1 6 8 0 ,  1 7 0 1 .  C o u n s e l

c a l l e d  o n l y  p e t i t i o n e r ' s  w i f e  a n d  t w o  

s t e p d a u g h t e r s ,  e a c h  o f  whom was q u e s t i o n e d  

i n  t h e  m o s t  c u r s o r y  f a s h i o n .  R. 1 6 8 4 - 9 4 .

1 0 /  The c o u r t  o f  a p p e a l s  r e a s o n e d  t h a t  t h e  
d e f i c i e n t  c h a r g e  was i n c o n s e q u e n t i a l  b e ­
c a u s e  t h e  j u r y  was  s u b s e q u e n t l y  i n s t r u c t e d  
a s  t o  t h e  a g g r a v a t i n g  c i r c u m s t a n c e s  a t  t h e  
p e n a l t y  p h a s e .  S e e  c e r t i o r a r i  p e t i t i o n  
A p p e n d i x  C a t  2 8 - 2 9 ;  653 F . 2 d  a t  9 5 1 - 5 2 .  
B u t ,  h a v i n g  j u s t  c o n v i c t e d  p e t i t i o n e r  o f  a 
c r i m e  d e s c r i b e d  a s  m u r d e r  w i t h  ( u n d e f i n e d )  
a g g r a v a t i n g  c i r c u m s t a n c e s ,  t h e  j u r y  c o u l d  
h a r d l y  t h e n  do an  a b o u t - f a c e  and  f i n d  t h a t  
no a g g r a v a t i n g  c i r c u m s t a n c e s  e x i s t e d .  To 
do  s o  w ou ld  h a v e  r e q u i r e d  a  c o m p l e t e  r e p u ­
d i a t i o n  o f  t h e  v e r d i c t  o f  g u i l t  r e n d e r e d  
o n l y  a  f e w  h o u r s  e a r l i e r  t h a t  s am e  d a y .  
The p e n a l t y  p h a s e  d e l i b e r a t i o n s  t h u s  became 
l i t t l e  more  t h a n  a r u b b e r - s t a m p i n g  o f  t h e  
g u i l t  d e t e r m i n a t i o n  - -  a d e t e r m i n a t i o n  
w h i c h  i t s e l f  h ad  b e e n  b a s e d  upon a d e f i ­
c i e n t  c h a r g e .



-  20

T h e r e  w as  no  e f f o r t  t o  d e l v e  i n t o  p e t i ­

t i o n e r ' s  l i f e  h i s t o r y  i n  a n y  d e p t h ,  and  no 

e f f o r t  t o  c a l l  n o n - f a m i l y  w i t n e s s e s .  

A s t o n i s h i n g l y ,  n o t  o n c e  d i d  d e f e n s e  c o u n s e l  

e v e n  m e n t i o n  t h e  f a c t  t h a t  p e t i t i o n e r  had  

n e v e r  b e f o r e  b e e n  c o n v i c t e d  o f  a c r i m e  o f  

v i o l e n c e .  See  R. 1 6 6 3 - 6 4 .

C.

We w i l l  n o t  b u r d e n  t h e  C o u r t  w i t h  

l e n g t h y  a r g u m e n t a t i o n  t h a t  u n d e r  Townsend  

v . S a i n  , 3 7 2  U . S .  2 9 3  ( 1 9 6 3 ) ,  a n d  i t s

p r o g e n y ,  p e t i t i o n e r  w a s  e n t i t l e d  t o  a 

h a b e a s  c o r p u s  h e a r i n g  on  t h e  i s s u e  o f  i n e f ­

f e c t i v e  a s s i s t a n c e  o f  c o u n s e l .  O b v i o u s l y ,  

p e t i t i o n e r  was e n t i t l e d  t o  s u c h  a  h e a r i n g .  

Our  p u r p o s e  h a s  b e e n  t o  d e m o n s t r a t e ,  a s  t h e  

p e t i t i o n  d o e s  n o t  - -  a n d  a s  t h e  p a p e r s  

s u b m i t t e d  t o  t h e  c o u r t s  b e l o w  d i d  n o t  —• 

t h a t  t h e  c l a i m  h a s  a v e r y  s u b s t a n t i a l  b a s i s  

i n  f a c t .  T h i s  C o u r t  s h o u l d  e i t h e r  g r a n t



21

c e r t i o r a r i  t o  h e a r  i t  o r ,  a l t e r n a t i v e l y ,  

s u m m a r i l y  r e v e r s e  and r emand  t o  t h e  d i s ­

t r i c t  c o u r t  w i t h  i n s t r u c t i o n s  t o  c o n d u c t  an  

e v i d e n t i a r y  h e a r i n g .

I I

THE LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT'S 
POLICY OF ENGAGING IN PROPORTION­
ALITY REVIEW OF DEATH CASES ONLY 
ON A DISTRICT-WIDE RATHER THAN A 
STATEWIDE B A SI S  - -  A POLICY 
CURRENTLY UNDER REVIEW BY THE EN 
BANC FIFTH CIRCUIT IN WILLIAMS V . 
BLACKBURN —  VIOLATES THE EIGHTH 
AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS

On a p p e a l  o f  p e t i t i o n e r ' s  c a s e ,  t h e  

L o u i s i a n a  Supr eme  C o u r t  f o l l o w e d  i t s  p o l i c y  

o f  e n g a g i n g  i n  p r o p o r t i o n a l i t y  r e v i e w  o f  

t h e  s e n t e n c e  o n l y  on  a d i s t r i c t - w i d e  r a t h e r  

t h a n  a s t a t e w i d e  b a s i s .  We r e s p e c t f u l l y  

s u b m i t  t h a t  t h i s  r e v i e w  f a l l s  f a r  s h o r t  o f  

t h a t  e n v i s i o n e d  by t h i s  C o u r t  i n  G re gg  v .  

G e o r g i a , 428 U . S .  153,  2 0 4 - 0 7  ( 1 9 7 6 ) ( p l u -  

r a l i t y  o p i n i o n ) ;  i^d. a t  2 1 1 - 1 2 ,  2 2 3 - 2 4



-  2 2 -

( c o n c u r r i n g  o p i n i o n  o f  J u s t i c e  W h i t e ) ;  

P r o f f i t t  v .  F l o r i d a , 428 U . S .  2 4 2 ,  2 5 8 - 6 0  

( 1 9 7 6 )  ( p l u r a l i t y  o p i n i o n ) ;  a n d  J u r e k  v .  

T e x a s  , 428 U . S .  2 6 2 ,  276 ( 1 976)  ( p l u r a l  i t y  

o p i n i o n ) . See  a l s o  G o d f r e y  v .  G e o r g i a , 446 

U . S .  4 2 0 ,  4 2 7 - 2 9  ( 1 9 8 0 ) ( p l u r a l i t y  o p i n i o n ) .

T h e  o p i n i o n  o f  t h e  c o u r t  o f  a p p e a l s  

s u r m i s e d  t h a t  t h e  L o u i s i a n a  Supr eme  C o u r t  

d o e s  n o t  r e a l l y  l i m i t  i t s  r e v i e w  t o  c a s e s  

f r o m  t h e  s a m e  j u d i c i a l  d i s t r i c t . — ^  B u t  

t h a t  a s s u m p t i o n  i s  s i m p l y  i n c o r r e c t :  t h e  

L o u i s i a n a  S u p r e m e  C o u r t  h a s  n e v e r  o n c e  

c l a i m e d  t h a t  i t  e n g a g e s  i n  s t a t e - w i d e  

p r o p o r t i o n a l i t y  r e v i e w ,  and  o n e  J u s t i c e  o f  

t h a t  c o u r t  h a s  e x p r e s s l y  s t a t e d  —  w i t h o u t  

c o n t r a d i c t i o n  by h i s  c o l l e a g u e s  —  t h a t  t h e  

c o u r t  d o e s  n o t  do s o .  S t a t e  v .  P r e j e a n , 

379 S o .  2d 2 4 0 ,  250 ( L a .  1980)  ( D e n n i s ,

1 V  C e r t i o r a r i  p e t i t i o n  A p p e n d i x  C a t  31 ;  
653 F . 2 d  a t  953 .



23

J . ,  d i s s e n t i n g  f r o m  t h e  d e n i a l  o f  r e h e a r ­

i n g )  .

A l t h o u g h  t h e  r e h e a r i n g  p e t i t i o n  f i l e d  

on  Mr.  B a l d w i n ' s  b e h a l f  d i d  n o t  p e r s u a d e  a 

m a j o r i t y  o f  F i f t h  C i r c u i t  j u d g e s  t h a t  

r e h e a r i n g  e n  b a n c  s h o u l d  b e  g r a n t e d  t o  

c o n s i d e r  t h e  c o n s t i t u t i o n a l i t y  o f  L o u i s ­

i a n a ' s  s ch eme  o f  d i s t r i c t - w i d e  p r o p o r t i o n ­

a l i t y  r e v i e w ,  t h e  F i f t h  C i r c u i t  h a s  

s u b s e q u e n t l y  g r a n t e d  r e h e a r i n g  en  b a n c  on 

t h e  i d e n t i c a l  i s s u e  i n  a n o t h e r  c a s e .  

W i l l i a m s  v .  B l a c k b u r n , 649 F . 2 d  101 9 ,  1021

( 5 t h  C i r .  1 9 8 1 ) ,  r e h e a r i n g  e n  b a n c  g r a n t e d , 

661 F . 2d 1020 ( 5 t h  C i r .  1 9 8 1 ) .  W i l l i a m s  

w a s  a r g u e d  b e f o r e  t h e  e n  b a n c  c o u r t  on  

J a n u a r y  1 3 ,  1 9 8 2 ,  a n d  a d e c i s i o n  may b e

e x p e c t e d  s h o r t l y .  A c c o r d i n g l y ,  t h i s  C o u r t  

s h o u l d  a t  a m i n i mu m h o l d  Mr .  B a l d w i n ' s

c e r t i o r a r i  p e t i t i o n  i n  a b e y a n c e  p e n d i n g  t h e  

F i f t h  C i r c u i t ' s  e n  b a n c  r e s o l u t i o n  o f



-  24 -

W i l l i a m s . I f  t h e  e n  b a n c  F i f t h  C i r c u i t  

r u l e s  i n  f a v o r  o f  W i l l i a m s  on  t h e  p r o p o r ­

t i o n a l i t y  r e v i e w  i s s u e ,  t h e  a p p r o p r i a t e  

d i s p o s i t i o n  w ou l d  be  a r emand  t o  t h e  c o u r t  

o f  a p p e a l s  f o r  r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n  i n  l i g h t  

° f  W i l l i a m s . I f  i t  r u l e s  a g a i n s t  W i l l i a m s ,  

t h i s  C o u r t  s h o u l d  c o n s i d e r  t h e  e n  b a n c  

W i l l i a m s  o p i n i o n  b e f o r e  d e c i d i n g  w h e t h e r  

t h e  i s s u e  w a r r a n t s  f u r t h e r  r e v i e w .

CONCLUSION

P e t i t i o n e r  t o d a y  f a c e s  i m m i n e n t  

e x e c u t i o n  d e s p i t e  t h e  a b s e n c e  o f  ( i )  a 

c o n s c i e n t i o u s  e f f o r t  by  h i s  a t t o r n e y s  t o  

s u b s t a n t i a t e  h i s  c l a i m  t h a t  he  i s  i n n o c e n t ;  

( i i )  a d e t e r m i n a t i o n  b y  a p r o p e r l y  i n ­

s t r u c t e d  j u r y  t h a t  h e  i s  g u i l t y  o f  f i r s t  

d e g r e e  m u r d e r ;  ( i i i )  a r e v i e w  by  a L o u i s ­

i a n a  a p p e l l a t e  c o u r t  c o n c l u d i n g  t h a t  h i s  

c a s e ,  when c o mp a r e d  w i t h  o t h e r  f i r s t  d e g r e e  

m u r d e r  c a s e s  t h r o u g h o u t  t h e  S t a t e  o f



25

L o u i s i a n a ,  m e r i t s  i m p o s i t i o n  o f  t h a t  

S t a t e ' s  m o s t  e x t r e m e  c r i m i n a l  s a n c t i o n ;  and 

( i v )  a f e d e r a l  h a b e a s  c o r p u s  p r o c e e d i n g  i n  

w h i c h  t h e  f a c t s  r e l e v a n t  t o  p e t i t i o n e r ' s  

c o n s t i t u t i o n a l  c l a i m s  we r e  a c c u r a t e l y  p r e ­

s e n t e d  t o  a n d  u n d e r s t o o d  b y  t h e  c o u r t s  

b e l o w .

T h i s  C o u r t  h a s  o n l y  r e c e n t l y  r e i t e r ­

a t e d  i t s  v i e w  t h a t  " c a p i t a l  p u n i s h m e n t  

[ mus t ]  be  i m p o s e d  f a i r l y ,  and w i t h  r e a s o n ­

a b l e  c o n s i s t e n c y ,  o r  n o t  a t  a l l . "  E d d i n g s

v .  O k l a h o m a , ____ O . S .  ____, 71 L . E d .  2d 1,  9

( 1 9 8 2 ) .  I t s  i n s i s t e n c e  upon  " e x t r a o r d i n a r y  

m e a s u r e s "  t o  g u a r a n t e e  f a i r n e s s  and  r e l i a ­

b i l i t y  i n  d e a t h  c a s e s ,  E d d i n g s  v .  O k l a h o m a , 

s u p r a , 71 L . E d .  2d a t  13 ( c o n c u r r i n g  

o p i n i o n  o f  J u s t i c e  O ' C o n n o r ) ,  a p p l i e s  b o t h  

t o  t h e  d e t e r m i n a t i o n  t h a t  t h e  d e f e n d a n t  i s  

g u i l t y  a n d  t o  t h e  d e t e r m i n a t i o n  t h a t  h e  

d e s e r v e s  t o  d i e .  Beck v .  A l a b a m a , 447 U . S .

6 2 5 ,  6 3 7 - 3 8  ( 1 9 8 0 ) .



26

T h e  e x e c u t i o n  o f  T i m o t h y  G e o r g e  

B a l d w i n  w o u l d  m a k e  a m o c k e r y  o f  t h e s e  

p r i n c i p l e s .  A c c o r d i n g l y ,  t h e  C o u r t  s h o u l d  

e i t h e r  ( i )  g r a n t  c e r t i o r a r i  t o  d e c i d e  

p e t i t i o n e r ' s  c l a i m s ,  ( i i )  s u m m a r i l y  r e v e r s e  

a n d  r e m a n d  t o  t h e  d i s t r i c t  c o u r t  w i t h  

i n s t r u c t i o n s  t o  c o n d u c t  a n  e v i d e n t i a r y  

h e a r i n g  on  t h e  i s s u e  o f  i n e f f e c t i v e  a s s i s ­

t a n c e  o f  c o u n s e l ,  o r  ( i i i )  h o l d  t h e  c e r ­

t i o r a r i  p e t i t i o n  i n  a b e y a n c e  p e n d i n g  t h e



27

F i f t h  C i r c u i t ' s  en  b a n c  r e s o l u t i o n  o f  t h e  

p r o p o r t i o n a l i t y  r e v i e w  i s s u e  i n  W i l l i a m s  v .  

B l a c k b u r n .

R e s p e c t f u l l y  s u b m i t t e d ,

JACK GREENBERG 
JAMES M. NABRIT, I I I  
JOEL BERGER*
JOHN CHARLES BOGER 
DEBORAH FINS 
JAMES S .  LIEBMAN 

S u i t e  2030 
10 Co lumbus  C i r c l e  
New Y o r k ,  New York  10019 
[212]  5 8 6 - 8 3 9 7

ANTHONY G. AMSTERDAM
New York  U n i v e r s i t y  S c h o o l  

o f  Law
40 W a s h i n g t o n  S q u a r e  S o u t h  
New Y o r k ,  New York  10012 
[212]  5 9 8 - 2 6 3 8

A t t o r n e y s  f o r  t h e  NAACP L e g a l  
D e f e n s e  and  E d u c a t i o n a l  F u n d ,  I n c .

♦ C o u n s e l  o f  R e c o r d



MEILEN PRESS iNC — N. Y. C. ,«§gs«. 219

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