Docket Decision below: Martinez v. Schriro, 623 F.3d 731 (9th Cir. 2010) Question Presented: Whether a defendant in a state criminal case who is prohibited by state law from raising on direct appeal any claim of ineffective assistance of trial counsel, but who has a state-law right to raise such a claim in a first postconviction… Read more
22. Habeas corpus
On Point is very pleased to present this guest post discussion of Skinner v. Switzer by Brandon L. Garrett, Professor of Law, University of Virginia. Professor Garrett’s most recent book, “Convicting the Innocent,” was reviewed by in the New York Times Sunday Book Review 5/26/11. The U.S. Supreme Court settled another boundary dispute about what… Read more
in-chambers opinion on motion to stay mandate Habeas – Stay of Mandate The State’s request to stay the mandate in the court’s grant of relief is denied by Judge Ripple’s in chambers opinion. The standard for granting a stay is set forth in Books v. City of Elkhart, 239 F.3d 826, 828 (7th Cir. 2001)… Read more
Bobby v. Harry Mitts, USSC No. 10-1000, 5/2/11 (per curiam) The death penalty may not be imposed when the jury isn’t permitted to consider a verdict of guilt on a lesser included, non-capital offense supported by the evidence, Beck v. Alabama, 447 U.S. 625 (1980). As the Court now notes: such a scheme intolerably enhances the… Read more
7th circuit decision Habeas – Appeal: Appointed Counsel’s Obligation to Argue Issues The court clarifies the “scope” of counsel’s responsibilities when appointed on habeas appeal. Counsel has no obligation to argue claims not certified for appeal by the court. Therefore, if after independent review, “counsel agrees that the non-certified claims are not debatable, he or she can safely set aside… Read more
Albert Price v. Thurmer, 7th Cir No. 09-3851, 4/18/11 7th circuit court of appeals decision, on remand after prior appeal, 514 F.3d 729, denying relief on review of unpublished decision of Wis COA Habeas – IAC – NGI Defense Trial counsel seemingly mishandled the court-appointed NGI expert, in failing to cure the latter’s apparent misapprehension that he… Read more
Cullen v. Scott Lynn Pinholster, USSC No. 09-1088, 4/4/11 We first consider the scope of the record for a §2254(d)(1) inquiry. The State argues that review is limited to the record that was before the state court that adjudicated the claim on the merits. Pinholster contends that evidence presented to the federal habeas court may… Read more
7th circuit court of appeals decision Habeas – Certificate of Appealability We pause briefly to note the district court’s error in denying a certificate of appealability in this case. The statute provides that a certificate of appealability may issue “only if the applicant has made a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right.”… Read more
