Joe Smith, Appellant, v. United States of America, Appellee, 392 F.2d 169 (5th Cir. 1968)

Joe Smith appeals from his perjury conviction in United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama. The charge arose out of events that occurred during a habeas-corpus hearing in the same district court in which appellant alleged that he was not represented by counsel when he entered a guilty plea in state court to the charges of burglary and assault with intent to murder. The judge and prosecutor in the state court testified that he was represented by counsel, and a lawyer named W. T. Starnes said that he acted as Smith's attorney by court appointment. This testimony formed the basis for the denial of habeas relief and also for the perjury indictment that eventually led to this conviction.

Appellant's paramount attack on his perjury conviction is that the district court erred in admitting his original petition for writ of habeas corpus and testimony given at the habeas corpus proceeding because this evidence was prejudicial and irrelevant to the perjury charge. The case of Harrell v. United States, 5 Cir. 1955, 220 F.2d 516 forecloses this contention. There this court said that willfulness is an essential element of perjury and that a jury cannot determine whether false testimony was willfully given unless it has a complete understanding of the issues on trial at the time the alleged perjury was committed. See Luse v. United States, 9th Cir. 1931, 49 F.2d 241. We have also considered appellant's other contentions and find them equally without merit. Therefore, after careful consideration of the entire record, we are convinced that no reversible error was committed and that appellant's perjury trial was fair.

Affirmed.