Joe Delegal v. United States

Appellant’s conviction, after a trial without a jury, was affirmed by this Court in Delegal v. United States, 5 Cir., 1964, 329 F.2d 494, cert. denied, 379 U.S. 821, 85 S.Ct. 44, 13 L.Ed.2d 32. Appellant subsequently sought to vacate his sentence pursuant to 28 U.S.C.A. § 2255, on the grounds that (1) at his trial the Government was permitted to question him regarding prior convictions over his objection that, not having put his character in issue, he could not be required to incriminate himself in this manner and (2) the Judge’s oral response to this objection indicated bias on the part of…