Jones v. Cunningham, 371 U.S. 236 (1963), was a Supreme Court case in which the court first ruled that state inmates had the right to file a writ of habeas corpus challenging both the legality and the conditions of their imprisonment.[1] Prior to this, starting with Pervear v. Massachusetts, 72 U.S. 475 (1866),[2] the court had maintained a "hands off" policy regarding federal interference with state incarceration policies and practices, maintaining that the Bill of Rights did not apply to the states.[3] Subsequently, in Cooper v. Pate (1964),[4] an inmate successfully obtained standing to challenge the denial of his right to practice his religion through a habeas corpus writ.
Jones v. Cunningham | |
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Argued December 3, 1962 Decided January 14, 1963 | |
Full case name | Jones v. Cunningham |
Citations | 371 U.S. 236 (more) 83 S. Ct. 373; 9 L. Ed. 2d 285; 1963 U.S. LEXIS 2261 |
Case history | |
Prior | 297 F.2d 851 (4th Cir. 1962); 313 F.2d 347 (4th Cir. 1963) |
Holding | |
A state prisoner who has been placed on parole, under the "custody and control" of a parole board, is "in custody" within the meaning of 28 U.S.C. § 2241; and, on his petition for a writ of habeas corpus, a Federal District Court has jurisdiction to hear and determine his charge that his state sentence was imposed in violation of the Federal Constitution. | |
Court membership | |
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Case opinion | |
Majority | Black, joined by unanimous |
Laws applied | |
28 USC 2241-2255 (habeas corpus) | |
This case overturned a previous ruling or rulings | |
Pervear v. Massachusetts (1867) |
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References
editFurther reading
edit- Gertmenian, Alfred (1963). "Criminal Procedure: The Custody Requirement for Habeas Corpus Relief in the Federal Courts". California Law Review. 51 (1): 228–232. doi:10.2307/3478912. JSTOR 3478912.
External links
edit- Text of Jones v. Cunningham, 371 U.S. 236 (1963) is available from: CourtListener Findlaw Google Scholar Justia Library of Congress Oyez (oral argument audio)