United States Supreme Court Cases & Opinions

U.S. Supreme Court

Gardner v. California, 393 U.S. 367 (1969)

Gardner v. California

No. 73

Argued November 20, 1968

Decided January 20, 1969

393 U.S. 367

Syllabus

Petitioner, a California state prisoner, filed a request for habeas corpus relief, which the Superior Court denied. Under California law, he has no right of appeal, but may file a new petition for habeas corpus in the intermediate Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court. Petitioner desired to file a new petition, and asked for a free transcript of the evidentiary hearing before the Superior Court, which was denied.

Held: Under this system of repeated hearings, where transcripts are readily available to judicial and prosecuting officials of the State, and where no suggestion is made that there is any adequate substitute therefor, they may not be furnished to those who can afford them and denied to those who are paupers. Griffin v. Illinois, 351 U. S. 12; Long v. District Court, 385 U. S. 192. Pp. 393 U. S. 368-371.

Reversed.