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459 So. 2d 997

Clemmons v. State

Court of Criminal Appeals of Alabama

Decided October 23, 1984

Court of Criminal Appeals of Alabama · decided 1984-10-23

Cited by 5 later decisions — most recently August 1993

5 state decisions

Key passage — most relied on by later courts

“' "Even where conflicting evidence is presented at a hearing on a petition for writ of error coram nobis, the trial judge must 'believe' the evidence offered by the petitioner before he will be justified in granting relief. Seibert v. State , 343 So.2d 788 , 790 (Ala. 1977).”

quoted by 4 later decisions, including Winstead v. State, 655 So. 2d 1074 - Smiley v. State

Relies on 366 So. 2d 336 - Summers v. State · Miles v. State · 35 Ala. App. 13 - Fagan v. State

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1984-10-23

View the full empirical analysis of this case →

¶1

¶2Willie J. Clemmons pled guilty to the fraudulent use or possession of a credit card in December of 1983. There is no indication that the conviction was appealed. In March of 1984, Clemmons filed a pro se petition for writ of error coram nobis alleging that his appointed counsel was ineffective, that a plea bargain agreement was not honored, and that his confession was coerced. After a hearing, at which Clemmons was represented by appointed counsel, the trial judge denied the petition. Clemmons appeals from that denial.

¶3In ruling on the petition, the trial judge found the allegations incredible: "From the evidence produced in this case, the Court does not find that the Petitioner's story is creditable. . . . [T]he Court finds this petition frivolous, not made in good faith." Our review of the testimony presented at the hearing convinces us that the judge's conclusions are justified by the evidence.

¶4Clemmons did not carry his burden of proof.

¶5 "In a coram nobis proceeding the petitioner bears the burden of submitting clear, full and satisfactory proof of matters which, had they been timely submitted at trial, would have prevented a judgment of conviction . . . This burden extends beyond a mere balancing of probabilities to clearly and convincingly satisfy the court . . .

¶6 "The degree of proof is `highly exacting as to facts "and always means more than reasonably satisfying."` The petitioner must convince the trial judge of the truth of his allegation and the judge must `believe' the testimony." Summers v. State, 366 So.2d 336, 343 (Ala.Cr.App. 1978), cert. denied, Ex parte Summers, 366 So.2d 346 (Ala. 1979) (citations omitted).

¶7"Even where conflicting evidence is presented at a hearing on a petition for writ of error coram nobis, the trial judge must `believe' the evidence offered by the petitioner before he will be justified in granting relief. Seibert v. State,343 So.2d 788, 790 (Ala. 1977)." Howton v. State, 432 So.2d 548, 550 (Ala.Cr.App. 1983).

¶8"This Court cannot pass upon the credibility of witnesses",Grimes v. State, 24 Ala. App. 419, 136 So. 485 (1931), nor "pass judgment on its possible truthfulness or falsity." Fagan v.State, 35 Ala. App. 13, 17, 44 So.2d 634, cert. denied, 253 Ala. 444, 44 So.2d 638 (1949).

¶9This record supports no finding that the trial judge abused his judicial discretion in weighing the evidence. The judgment of the circuit court is affirmed.

¶10AFFIRMED.

¶11All Judges concur. *999

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