Newsom v. Smyth, 365 U.S. 604 (1961)

Newsom v. Smyth


No. 116


Argued January 16-17, 1961
Decided March 27, 1961
365 U.S. 604

CERTIORARI TO THE SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA

Syllabus

Certiorari was granted in this case because it was believed to present the question whether the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment requires a State to appoint counsel to assist an indigent prisoner in prosecuting his appeal from a state conviction of murder. After oral argument and full consideration, held, the record does not adequately establish that the State Supreme Court found or was required to find that the federal claim was presented to it; the case fails to present a federal question, and the writ of certiorari is dismissed as improvidently granted. Pp. 604-605.

Writ dismissed.