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487 F.2d 341

Docket No. 73-2788

Patterson v. United States

Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals

Decided Nov. 9, 1973.

Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals · decided 1973-11-09

Cited by 8 later decisions — most recently November 1984

5 federal appellate ·

2 counsel of record

Applies 18 U.S.C. § 751 · 28 U.S.C. § 2255 (Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996)

Relies on Isbell Enterprises, Inc. v. Citizens Casualty Co. of New York · United States v. Strother

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Opinion by (per_curiam) · Decided 1973-11-09

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¶1Summary Calendar.*

¶2Thomas A. Deas, Mobile, Ala., Court-Appointed, for petitioner-appellant.

¶3Charles S. White-Spunner, U. S. Atty., Irwin W. Coleman, Jr., Asst. U.S. Atty., Mobile, Ala., for respondent-appellee.

¶4Before GEWIN, COLEMAN and MORGAN, Circuit Judges.

¶6PER CURIAM:

¶7Appellant Patterson filed a habeas corpus petition in the district court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255 (1970) seeking to have his previous conviction of escaping from federal custody in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 751 (1970) set aside. As a basis for relief, appellant contended that his court-appointed counsel had refrained from requesting the court to have him examined for possible insanity at the time of his escape. Because of the alleged incompetence of counsel, appellant contended that he had been denied due process of law. ■

¶8The district court conducted a hearing to ascertain the facts surrounding appellant’s claims. Appellant and two witnesses testified that appellant had indeed requested counsel to seek a psychiatric examination. Court-appointed counsel denied ever receiving such a request. Crediting the counsel’s testimony, the district court denied relief.

¶9 We affirm. Factual questions must be determined by the district court, and unless clearly erroneous are binding on the court of appeals. See United States v. Strother, 458 F.2d 424, 430 (5th Cir. 1972). Since this case falls within the well established rule,, we are bound to affirm the district court’s determinations of the factual issues.

¶10Affirmed.

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