seventh circuit decision Habeas – Jury Exposure to Extraneous Information Subsequent to trial, Hall discovered that a juror’s son was a fellow inmate of Hall who initially told the juror that Hall was likely innocent, but later indicated that he “and several co-inmates had changed their mind about Hall and thought him guilty.” The (Indiana) state court ruled… Read more
B. Federal
seventh circuit decision Habeas – Procedural Default Defense: Waiver by State Procedural default (here, failure to perfect the appeal in state court, hence failure to exhaust the claim) is an affirmative defense which may be forfeited or waived by the State. The State expressly waived any failure-to-exhaust objection, hence the court proceeds to the merits… Read more
seventh circuit decision Habeas Review – Right to Counsel – Collateral Attack Resendez litigated an unsuccessful pro se challenge to revocation of his state court parole, on the ground that he had completed service of that sentence therefore wasn’t in fact on parole. Forced to litigate the issue on his own, he argues on federal… Read more
seventh circuit decision Habeas Review – Confessions – Voluntariness Given the deferential nature of habeas review, the state court reasonably determined that a 16-year-old’s confession after 55 hours of interrogation was voluntary: Particularly in light of the highly deferential standard due to the state court, we have no reason to doubt that it took into account all… Read more
seventh circuit decision Habeas Procedure – Appellate Jurisdiction Where a party has filed a timely notice of appeal to a judgment, and the district court subsequently enters an amended judgment nunc pro tunc (“now for then”) conforming language in the original judgment, an amended notice of appeal isn’t necessary to confer appellate jurisdiction: … The district court’s February… Read more
seventh circuit court of appeals decision, affirming habeas grant following remand in 539 F.3d 766 (further case history: here) Habeas Review – Evidentiary Hearing The rule of Cullen v. Pinholster, 131 S. Ct. 1388 (2011), that 2254(d)(1) review is limited to the state-court record, doesn’t apply where the state court didn’t address a component part of the claim (here, deficient performance on… Read more
seventh circuit court of appeals decision Habeas Review – IAC/Suppression Claim, Generally Under Strickland, Rann must show that his counsel’s performance was deficient and that the deficient performance prejudiced his defense. Grosshans, 424 F.3d at 590 (citing Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687). When reviewing claims of ineffective assistance of counsel in habeas petitions, however, we… Read more
seventh circuit court of appeals decision Habeas Review – Miranda-Edwards Coleman’s argument that his confession violated Edwards v. Arizona, 451 U.S. 477 (1981) (interrogation must cease immediately if suspect requests counsel) was rejected by the state court based upon a determination that he did not in fact assert his to counsel. Denial of relief is affirmed: Coleman admits but… Read more
