United States ex rel. Scott v. Davis

This is an appeal from the denial of a petition for a writ of habeas corpus. Appellant alleged that his conviction was unconstitutionally obtained in that he was denied competent counsel; that there was a systematic exclusion of Negroes from the grand jury which returned the indictment and the petit jury which convicted him; that his confession was coerced, and that he was unable to receive a fair trial because of the racial customs of Louisiana. No hearing was had below. The court refused relief because no denial of constitutional rights appeared on the face of the petition.

Inasmuch as a…