Smith v. Hobbs

Summary

The court affirmed dismissal of Smith's habeas petition because his challenge to prosecution by felony information did not establish that the trial court lacked jurisdiction or that the judgment was facially invalid. The court held that the federal grand-jury indictment requirement does not apply to state prosecutions and that Arkansas law validly permits felony prosecutions by information. Because the claims were not cognizable in habeas proceedings, they could not support issuance of the writ.