Jewel Bertram Wooley, Jr. v. Consolidated City of Jacksonville and Duval County, State of Florida

In this case the District Court held that a defendant in a municipal court, in the absence of waiver, has a right to counsel if the potential penalty in all pending charges could amount to as much as imprisonment for 90 days or a fine of $500.

The decision of the District Court is reported, 308 F.Supp. 1194 (M.D., Fla., 1970). We agree with the District Court that a prisoner in the custody of municipal authorities may, in proper cases, have the benefit of the writ of habeas corpus. We consider it of no moment that the pro se petitioner did not correctly style his case.

We further agree that…