Gooch v. Hobbs

Summary

The court affirmed dismissal of Gooch's habeas petition without a hearing. It held that his conviction was not facially invalid because the charged felony-murder form of first-degree murder was classified as a capital felony under the sentencing law in effect when he committed the offenses, making life imprisonment without parole an authorized sentence. The petition did not establish probable cause that Gooch was illegally detained.