T33 Transcript of Writ of Habeas Corpus on behalf of Jack Ruby, 1966
Object number1994.002.0011.0003
Date03/18/1966
ClassificationsDocuments
ObjectDocument
Credit LineDallas County District Clerk Collection/The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza
MediumPaper
Dimensions14 1/16 × 8 9/16 × 1/2 in. (35.7 × 21.7 × 1.3 cm)
Terms
- Jack Ruby trial
- Transcripts
- Court records
- Habeas corpus
- Trials
- Ruby, Jack
- Holland, Louis T.
- Burleson, Phil
- Clinton, Sam Houston, Jr.
- Kunstler, William M.
- Gertz, Elmer
- Dann, Sol
- Dalton, Pat
- Shaw, Bill
- Brown, Judge Joe B.
- Decker, Bill
- Dallas County Criminal Courts Building
- Criminal District Court No. 3
- Dallas County District Attorney's Office
- State of Texas
- Dallas
DescriptionTranscript of Writ of Habeas Corpus on behalf of Jack Ruby, 1966.
Phil Burleson, Sam Houston Clinton Jr., Sol Dann, Elmer Gertz and William N. Kunstler appeared for the defense.
The original trial judge, Judge Joe B. Brown, wrote a letter to recuse himself. Judge Louis T. Holland was appointed to take his place. The defendant filed a writ of habeas corpus, claiming that he was falsely imprisoned because the verdict of the jury that found him guilty was voided by the illegal behavior of the judge. Namely, that Judge Brown was writing a book about the Ruby trial during the trial itself and had received a cash advance for the book. The defendant claimed that this pecuniary interest in the outcome of the trial made Brown's role as presiding judge problematic. Ruby's lawyers then requested Judge Brown provide them a copy of his book's manuscript to support their efforts to build their case; Judge Holland ordered Brown to provide a copy of the manuscript.
After hearing the case for and against the writ of habeas corpus, Judge Holland denied the writ and ordered Ruby to remain in Sheriff Bill Decker's custody.
Photocopy of typed original document, on regular paper with original blue back and front covers, 61 pages. Has an original signature page at the back, signed by deputy Pat Dalton and dated March 18, 1966.
Text on the front cover:
"No. 2076
Ex Parte
Jack Ruby, Petitioner
In the Criminal District Court No. 3 of Dallas County,
Texas, Before the Honorable Louis T. Holland, Judge
Thereof Presiding
Attorneys for Petitioner
Phil Burleson
LTV National Bank of Commerce
Dallas, Texas
Sam Houston Clinton, Jr.
205 Texas AFL-CIO Building
308 West 11th Street
Austin, TX 78701
William N. Kunstler,
Elmer Gertz,
Sol Dann,
Of Counsel
Writ of Habeas Corpus"
Curatorial CommentaryA writ of habeas corpus is defined as a recourse in law in which a person can report an unlawful detention or imprisonment. Ruby filed a writ of habeas corpus, claiming that he was falsely imprisoned because the verdict of the jury that found him guilty was voided by the illegal behavior of the judge. - Lindsey Richardson, Curator of Collections
The Museum recorded an oral history with the late defense attorney Phil Burleson. His lengthy interview was videotaped in April 1995, less than two months before his death. - Stephen Fagin, Curator
Judge Joe B. Brown's infamous book on the Jack Ruby trial, referenced in this document, was never published during the judge's lifetime. Joe B. Brown died of a heart attack on February 20, 1968. Decades later, his son, the late Judge Joe B. Brown, Jr. -- himself a district court judge in Dallas from 1988 to 1996 -- worked with psychologist and author Dr. Diane Holloway to edit his father's unpublished manuscript. The end result, coupled with Warren Commission testimony and new psychological commentary, was published as Dallas and the Jack Ruby Trial: Memoir of Judge Joe B. Brown, Sr. in 2001.
The judge's son, Judge Joe B. Brown, Jr., recorded an oral history with the Museum in 2004. - Stephen Fagin, Curator
01/20/1964 - 01/21/1964
