Chrisp Heard, Jr. v. United States

Appellant was convicted of narcotics offenses in 1963. On direct appeal, this court affirmed the conviction, with one judge dissenting. Heard v. United States, 121 U.S.App.D.C. 37, 348 F.2d 43 (1965). A petition for rehearing en banc was denied, with four judges dissenting.

In 1966 appellant moved to vacate sentence under 28 U.S.C. § 2255. He contended that (1) the trial judge erred in not holding a competency hearing sua sponte before trial or after viewing appellant’s conduct at trial; and (2) he received ineffective assistance of counsel at trial. Without holding a hearing, the district…