James F. Dempsey, Petitioner-appellant, v. Louie L. Wainwright, Director, Division of Corrections,respondent-appellee, 471 F.2d 604 (5th Cir. 1973)

This is another habeas case in which the petitioner contends that the district court denied him relief without a hearing. We affirm, principally on Townsend v. Sain, 1963, 372 U.S. 293, 83 S. Ct. 745, 9 L. Ed. 2d 770.

In 1969, James F. Dempsey, the petitioner, was convicted of second degree murder in a Florida state court and sentenced to a term of thirty-five years. His conviction was affirmed on direct appeal, Dempsey v. State, 1970 Fla.App. 3rd, 238 So. 2d 446. Later, the Florida Supreme Court denied his petitions for certiorari and habeas corpus. On May 12, 1971, Dempsey filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. He alleged that his right against self-incrimination had been violated because the state trial court admitted into evidence a statement made after he was taken into custody and had requested assistance of counsel.¹  The district court denied Dempsey's first petition but later granted his petition for rehearing. The district court found that the state trial court had conducted a full and fair hearing on petitioner's motion to suppress and that there was ample evidence to support the state court's decision that Dempsey's statement was voluntary and was not a product of interrogation. The district court held that the statement was admissible and that the petition for a writ of habeas corpus must be denied. Dempsey appealed.

It is well established that there is no absolute requirement that the district court conduct an evidentiary hearing. When a full and fair hearing has been held in the state court, the district court may, in its discretion, admit into evidence the transcript of that hearing in lieu of an independent hearing. In addition to Townsend v. Sain, supra, see Dillard v. Smith, 5 Cir. 1970, 430 F.2d 1294; Chisolm v. Wainwright, 5 Cir. 1970, 427 F.2d 1138; Ryan v. Wainwright, 5 Cir. 1970, 424 F.2d 198; Walker v. Wainwright, 5 Cir. 1969, 409 F.2d 1311; Heyd v. Brown, 5 Cir. 1969, 406 F.2d 346. The state court's findings are presumed to be correct. 28 U.S.C. § 2254.²  If the state court did not make express findings of fact, the district court may determine whether the state court impliedly found material facts. Furthermore, if the state court did not articulate the constitutional standards applied, the district court may presume that the state court applied correct findings, in the absence of evidence that an incorrect standard was applied. Townsend v. Sain, supra; 28 U.S.C. § 2254.

Although here the state court did not make express and detailed findings of fact and law, the record clearly indicates that the state court found that Dempsey's statement was voluntary.³  The district court made its own examination of the record and also found that the statement was voluntary. In these circumstances, we conclude that the district court was not required to hold an evidentiary hearing.

Dempsey contends, however, that he was not fully apprised of his rights because his attorney told him that the state would "bring up defendant's prior criminal record at the subsequent trial" if he testified at the pretrial hearing on the motion to suppress. Dempsey argues that he should now be permitted to testify on the issue of voluntariness. We disagree. The district court may reject such self-serving testimony if, as here, it is contradicted by the record and not otherwise credible. Lujan v. United States, 5 Cir. 1970, 431 F.2d 871. Since there is ample evidence that Dempsey's statement was voluntarily made, the district court did not abuse its discretion in refusing to permit Dempsey to testify.

The decision of the district court must be affirmed.

Affirmed.

RIVES, Circuit Judge (dissenting):

The state trial court conducted an evidentiary hearing but made no express findings of fact. Instead, it simply ruled that "on the testimony and evidence presented the court would deny your motion to suppress in all particulars." (R. 561.) The federal district court relied upon the facts as found by the state appellate court in affirming the judgment of conviction. Dempsey v. State, D.C.App.Fla., 3rd Dist., 1970, 238 So. 2d 446.

Appellant's statement to Lieutenant Shepherd quoted in n. 1 to the majority opinion was found not to have been the result of questioning, but to have been made approximately two hours after the appellant had asked for a lawyer, and when one had not been provided. Appellant's request for counsel should have been honored within a reasonable time under all of the circumstances. Beyond such time, appellant should not be subjected to the risk of making a damaging statement without the advice of counsel. I would reverse for an evidentiary hearing as to whether appellant's statement was a result of a failure or refusal to provide him counsel within a reasonable time after his request.