/internal/media/dispatcher/58828/fullT33 Transcript of Writ of Habeas Corpus on behalf of Jack Ruby, 196603/18/196614 1/16 × 8 9/16 × 1/2 in. (35.7 × 21.7 × 1.3 cm)PaperDallas County District Clerk Collection/The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza1994.002.0011.00030Two photocopies of a transcript of The State of Texas vs. Ex Parte Jack Ruby: Writ of Habeas Corpus; filed on behalf of Jack Ruby, 1966.
The original trial judge, Judge Joe B. Brown, writes to recuse himself. Judge Louis T. Holland is appointed to take his place. The defendant files a writ of habeas corpus, claiming that he is 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 claims that this pecuniary interest in the outcome of the trial made his role as presiding judge problematic. Ruby's lawyers then requested that Judge Brown provide them a copy of his 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 Dallas County Sheriff Bill Decker's custody.
Both documents are copies of typed original, on regular paper, with original blue front and back covers, 61 pages. Both have an original signature page at the back, signed by deputy Pat Dalton and dated March 18, 1966. Both have three holes punched along the top edge and are held together with butterfly clips. Both have a smaller paper insert under the front cover that says, "Following Document(s) Are Not Good Reproductive Quality Best Available Copy".
The front covers are typed:
"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"
[NOTE - Numbering issue needs to be resolved. Two separate items; should have two separate numbers. (LR 07/13/2015)]
Transcript in ok condition. Photocopied pages are in better condition than front and reverse covers; paper slightly yellowed. Covers are slightly discolored, and edges have tears and folds, particularly at top of front cover. Edges of three-hole punches have been worn with small tears. (JM 11/21/2019)Documents6617221.748793497635.71882143765549Document1.2700025400Transcript 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"Jack Ruby trialTranscriptsCourt recordsHabeas corpusTrialsRuby, JackHolland, Louis T.Burleson, PhilClinton, Sam Houston, Jr.Kunstler, William M.Gertz, ElmerDann, SolDalton, PatShaw, BillBrown, Judge Joe B.Decker, BillDallas County Criminal Courts BuildingCriminal District Court No. 3Dallas County District Attorney's OfficeState of TexasDallasA 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 CollectionsThe 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, CuratorJudge 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