Odell Aaron Hicks v. Louie L. Wainwright, Secretary, Department of Corrections, State of Florida

RONEY, Circuit Judge:

This is an appeal from the- grant of a writ of habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C.A. § 2254. Although mindful of the difficulties which confront state trial judges in managing busy dockets, especially in the handling of professional witnesses and in the recalcitrance of some counsel, we nevertheless agree with the district court that the denial of a continuance in this case prevented petitioner from presenting his only expert witness on his insanity defense, the sole issue at trial, and deprived petitioner of his right to due process. The conditional grant of a writ of habeas…