Higgins v. Parker

Habeas corpus. Twelve years ago the petitioner was convicted in the circuit court of Buchanan county of robbery in the first degree under Sec. 4450, 1 and also as a second offender under the habitual criminal statute, Sec. 4854. Accordingly, his punishment was assessed by the jury at the maximum, life imprisonment in the state penitentiary, as fixed by Sec. 4453.

He prosecutes this writ on the theory that the trial proceedings were at least voidable and subject to attack by this writ, because Bernard Rodin, chief counsel representing him therein, was a layman and had not been admitted to the…