Welton Vanhook v. Walter E. Craven

Petitioner-appellant filed a petition for habeas corpus alleging violation of his constitutional rights in proceedings in the California state courts which resulted in his conviction and imprisonment for selling marihuana.

He alleged that he was denied his right to plead not guilty, to confront and cross examine witnesses, and to the effective assistance of trial counsel, because his trial counsel stipulated to the submission of his case on the grand jury transcript, without petitioner’s consent and without informing petitioner that such a submission was tantamount to a plea of guilty. The…