John A. Braxton v. Louie L. Wainwright, Director, Florida Division of Corrections

Braxton’s petition for habeas corpus relief from his Florida conviction and sentence was denied by the court below, and he appeals. The sole question raised, the claim of knowing use by state officials of perjured testimony at his trial, had been decided adversely to petitioner-appellant at a full evidentiary hearing by his trial court. The District Court of Appeals of Florida affirmed the trial court on appeal.

The federal habeas petition was denied by the court below without evidentiary hearing, on the basis that an adequate hearing on the state level satisfied the requirements of Townsend…