Wainwright v. Stone

In separate trials, appellees were convicted of violating Fla. Stat. §800.01 (1965), which proscribed “the abominable and detestable crime against nature, either with mankind or with beast . ...” Having exhausted state remedies, 2 appellees sought federal habeas corpus, asserting, among other things, that the Florida statute was impermissibly vague. The writ was granted to both appellees. The Court of Appeals affirmed on the sole ground that § 800.01 was unconstitutionally vague and void on its face for failure to give appellees adequate notice that the conduct for which they were convicted…