Legal Opinion
William James Rummel v. W. J. Estelle, Jr., Director, Texas Department of Corrections, Respondent
Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Decided April 21, 1978No. 76-2946PublishedCited by 36 opinions
1Opinion of the Court
CLARK, Circuit Judge:
Petitioner William James Rummel appeals the district court’s denial of habeas corpus relief from state confinement. He complains that the enhanced sentence he received constituted cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the eighth amendment and that his court-appointed attorney rendered ineffective assistance of counsel in violation of his sixth amendment rights. Because we hold that Rummel’s life sen*1195tence is so grossly disproportionate to his crimes that it violates the Cruel and Unusual Punishments Clause, we do not reach the question whether Rummel’s trial counsel…
2Cases cited28 opinions
- Gregg v. GeorgiaSupreme Court of the United States · 1976
- Furman v. GeorgiaSupreme Court of the United States · 1972
- Yick Wo v. HopkinsSupreme Court of the United States · 1886
- Ingraham v. WrightSupreme Court of the United States · 1977
- Trop v. DullesSupreme Court of the United States · 1958
23 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.
3Cited by36 opinions
- Rummel v. EstelleSupreme Court of the United States · 1980
- State v. ShelbyLouisiana Court of Appeal · 1983
- United States v. Wendy Jean Wardlaw, Etc., United States of America v. Beverly Deanne Randell, Etc.Court of Appeals for the First Circuit · 1978
- Carmona v. WardCourt of Appeals for the Second Circuit · 1978
- William James Rummel v. W. J. Estelle, Jr., Director, Texas Department of Corrections, RespondentCourt of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit · 1978
31 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.