22. Habeas corpus

7th circuit decision, on habeas review of summary orders in 2001AP168 (§ 809.30 appeal) and 2003AP2332 (§ 974.06 appeal) Due to the nature of the issues and length of discussion, this case will be canvassed in multiple posts. Part I (IAC – adequate provocation defense) is here; Part III (evidentiary hearing, GP advice), here. Habeas –… Read more

William Kerr v. Thurmer, 7th Cir No. 09-1032, 3/28/11 – Part I 7th circuit decision, on habeas review of summary orders in 2001AP168 (§ 809.30 appeal) and 2003AP2332 (§ 974.06 appeal) Due to the nature of the issues and length of discussion, this case will be canvassed in multiple posts. Part II (procedural default) is… Read more

Docket Decision below (3rd Cir No. 07-2163, 5/28/10) Question Presented (by Scotusblog): For purposes of adjudicating a state prisoner’s petition for federal habeas relief, what is the temporal cutoff for whether a decision from this Court qualifies as “clearly established Federal law” under 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d), as amended by the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty… Read more

Gordon Sussman v. Jenkins, 7th Cir No. 09-3940, 4/1/11 7th circuit decision, granting habeas relief in State v. Sussman, 2007AP687-CR; in chambers opinion on stay Habeas – Confrontation – Rape Shield and Prior False Allegation The state court unreasonably restricted Sussman’s cross-examination of his chief accuser, and thus violated his right to confrontation, by precluding… Read more

7th circuit decision Habeas Review – Inadmissible Evidence – Harmless Error Error in jury exposure, during deliberations, to inadmissible police report deemed harmless where the report contained merely cumulative information, the trial court gave a curative instruction, and the evidence against Brown was overwhelming. The standard on direct appeal for measuring reversible error is the… Read more

Docket Decision below (11th Cir No. 07-15187, 10/26/09) Question Presented (by Scotusblog): Whether the Eleventh Circuit properly held that there was no “cause” to excuse any procedural default where petitioner was blameless for the default, the state’s own conduct contributed to the default, and petitioner’s attorneys of record were no longer functioning as his agents at… Read more

Felkner v. Steven Frank Jackson, USSC No. 10-797, 3/31/11 On habeas review under 28 U.S.C. § 2254, the court of appeals failed to give sufficient deference to the state court determination that the prosecutor had race-neutral reasons for striking 2 of 3 black prospective jurors. The prosecutor struck one juror because she had an MSW, and… Read more