Howard St. Jules v. Oscar Savage

Appellant St. Jules, together with 12 other petitioners, all inmates of the Texas Department of Corrections, brought a “class action” habeas claim, challenging the constitutionality of the former Texas enhancement statute, Art. 63 (now § 12.-42(d)) of the Texas Penal Code, Y.T.C.A., as it applied to them and others similarly situated, who are serving mandatory life terms under Article 63 after having been convicted following pleas of not guilty. Appellant contends that: (1) the enhancement statute is used as a tool to coerce guilty pleas; and (2) the petitioners have been denied equal…