Smith v. Hooey/Dissent Harlan

by John Marshall Harlan II

United States Supreme Court

393 U.S. 374

Smith  v.  Hooey

 Argued: Dec. 11, 1968. --- Decided: Jan 20, 1969

Separate opinion of Mr. Justice HARLAN.

I agree that a State may not ignore a criminal accused's request to be brought to trial, merely because he is incarcerated in another jurisdiction, but that it must make a reasonable effort to secure his presence for trial. This much is required by the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, and I would rest decision of this case on that ground and not on 'incorporation' of the Sixth Amendment's speedy-trial provision into the Fourteenth. See my opinion concurring in the result in Klopfer v. North Carolina, 386 U.S. 213, 226, 87 S.Ct. 988, 995, 18 L.Ed.2d 1 (1967).

I believe, however that the State is entitled to more explicitness from us as to what is to be expected of it on remand than what is conveyed merely by the requirement that further proceedings not be 'inconsistent with this opinion.' Must the charges against petitioner be dismissed? Or may Texas now secure his presence and proceed to try him? If petitioner contends that he has been prejudiced by the nine-year delay, how is this claim to be adjudicated?

This case is one of first impression for us, and decides a question on which the state and lower federal courts have been divided. Under these particular circumstances, I do not believe that Texas should automatically forfeit the right to try petitioner. If the State still desires to bring him to trial, it should do so forthwith. At trial, if petitioner makes a prima facie showing that he has in fact been prejudiced by the State's delay, I would then shift to the State the burden of proving the contrary.

Notes