Something for everyone; lawyers see things to like in habeas review decisions

Article Abstract:

The Supreme Court's review of three state criminal cases is discussed. The court gave force to its stand that federal courts should intervene only with violations of clearly established constitutional rights at the state court level with its decision to grant a new trial to a retarded man sentenced to death.

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The door closes; sexual predators barred from claiming that confinement is punishment

Article Abstract:

Supreme Court rulings in the past five years proving that it has grown more difficult for sex offenders to claim confinement is punishment are discussed. These rulings state that the sentences did not violate the double jeopardy laws because they involved only imprisonment.

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9th Circuit rebuked again; signaling habeas views, Court raps panel for late reprieve

Article Abstract:

The US Supreme Court in Calderon v. Thompson showed its disdain for long federal habeas appeals in capital punishment cases and may also signal how the justices will interpret the Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act, a law passed mostly in response to state prosecutors about slow and expensive capital habeas appeals. The court heard the case after the 9th Circuit decided almost 16 years after the murder and seven years after the first federal habeas petition to reopen it.

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