On Point: a. Procedural Bar

Cory R. Maples v. Thomas, USSC No. 10-63, 1/18/12, reversing 586 F.3d 879 (11th Cir. 2009)

On “the uncommon facts presented here,” the Court finds that cause existed to excuse on federal habeas review Maples’ procedural default, namely his failure to file a timely appeal of his state (Alabama) postconviction petition.

The sole question this Court has taken up for review is whether,

seventh circuit court of appeals decision

Habeas – Ineffective Assistance, State Court Failure to Reach – Standard of Review 

… When “no state court has squarely addressed the merits” of a habeas claim, however, we review the claim under the pre-AEDPA standard of 28 U.S.C. § 2243, under which we “ ‘dispose of the matter as law and justice require.’ ” Id. at 326 (quoting § 2243). This is “a more generous standard,” George v.

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 proceeding, has a federal constitutional right to effective assistance of first post-conviction counsel specifically with respect to his ineffective-assistance-of-trial-counsel claim.

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 – Procedural Fault

Kerr’s pro se § 974.06 motion asserted ineffective assistance of counsel as a ground for relief.

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 the time of any default.

Cert petition

Scotusblog page

After Maples lost his direct appeal in (Alabama) state court,

Walker v. Charles W. Martin, USSC No. 09-996, 2/23/11

State court time limit for seeking postconviction relief needn’t be “fixed,” but instead may be discretionary in nature, for purposes of the habeas default rule.

In a recent decision, Beard v. Kindler, 558 U. S. ___ (2009), this Court clarified that a state procedural bar may count as an adequate and independent ground for denying a federal habeas petition even if the state court had discretion to reach the merits despite the default.

7th Circuit decision

Habeas – Procedural Default

“Adequate presentation of a claim requires a petitioner to present both the operative facts and the legal principles that control each claim to the state judiciary.” (Quoting, Stevens v. McBride, 489 F.3d 883, 894 (7th Cir. 2007).) Suh procedurally defaulted his theory of recusal based on the appearance of bias, where it was different from the theory of actual bias he presented to the state court.

7th circuit decision, habeas review of summary order of Wisconsin court of appeals, No. 2004AP2242-CR

Habeas – Procedural Bar, Sentencing Objection

Pomotor’s failure to object to information (the number of beers he allegedly consumed) in his alternative presentence report, worked a procedural default to his susbequent challenge to the sentencing court’s reliance on that information

Promotor accurately argues that a procedural defaultdoes not bar consideration of a federal claim unless the procedure is a “firmly established and regularly followed state practice.”  Smith v.

seventh circuit decision; denying rehearing and amending panel decision, Coleman v. Hardy (per curiam , 2/7/11)

Habeas – Defaulted Claim – Assertion of Innocence

Although Coleman defaulted his ineffective assistance of counsel claim by failing to raise it in state court, his allegation of actual innocence supports a “gateway” evidentiary hearing to determine whether to reach the merits of the defaulted claim.

Default may be excused if the petitioner can show 1) “cause”

seventh circuit decision

Habeas – Procedural Default

A federal claim procedurally defaulted in state court works foreclosure of federal habeas review. That the state court engaged plain error review doesn’t mean that the default was overlooked and the merits of the claim reached. Here, the Illinois court refused to reach the merits of Kaczmarek’s Apprendi claim because of his failure to object contemporaneously; the Illinois contemporaneous objection rule is firmly established and regularly followed,