US Supreme Court Docket

Supreme Court Docket

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Beard v. Kindler
No. 08-992

Title:

Beard v. Kindler

Subject:

Habeas Corpus, Constitutional Law

Question:

After murdering a witness against him and receiving a sentence of death, respondent broke out of prison, twice. Prior to his recapture in Canada years later, the trial court exercised its discretion under state forfeiture law to dismiss respondent's post-verdict motions, resulting in default of most appellate claims. On federal habeas corpus review, the court of appeals refused to honor the state court's procedural bar, ruling that, because "the state court ... had discretion" in applying the rule, it was not "firmly established" and was therefore "inadequate." Is a state procedural rule automatically inadequate under the adequate-state grounds doctrine - and therefore unenforceable on federal habeas corpus review - because the state rule is discretionary rather than mandatory?

Decisions:

• U.S. Court of Appeals - 3rd Circuit Opinion Filed: September 3, 2008

Resources:

• Docket Sheet From the U.S. Supreme Court.

Briefs:

Coming Soon

Counsel of Record

For Petitioner:

Ronald Eisenberg
Deputy District Attorney
Philadelphia, PA

For Respondent:

Matthew C. Lawry
Defender Association of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PA

 

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