No. 20-7480

Mickey Thomas v. Dexter Payne, Director, Arkansas Department of Correction

Lower Court: Eighth Circuit
Docketed: 2021-03-17
Status: Denied
Type: IFP
Relisted (2)IFP
Tags: appellate-procedure day-v-mcdonough federal-habeas habeas-corpus ineffective-assistance ineffective-assistance-of-counsel martinez-v-ryan procedural-default sua-sponte wood-v-milyard
Key Terms:
HabeasCorpus JusticiabilityDoctri
Latest Conference: 2021-11-19 (distributed 2 times)
Question Presented (AI Summary)

Whether a court of appeals can sua sponte raise a habeas defense that a state abandons on appeal

Question Presented (from Petition)

QUESTIONS PRESENTED The district court vacated Petitioner’s death sentence because his trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance. On appeal, Respondent contested only the district court’s resolution of the merits. But the Eighth Circuit reversed on the basis of a procedural defense that Respondent abandoned on appeal. Specifically, the Eighth Circuit held that “bare bones, boilerplate allegations” of ineffectiveness in state court did not lead to a default that may be excused under Martinez v. Ryan, 566 US. 1 (2012). The questions presented are: 1. Whether Wood v. Milyard, 566 U.S. 463 (2012), prohibits a court of appeals from sua sponte raising a habeas defense that a state abandons on appeal. 2. Whether opportunity to object to an appellate court’s actions in a rehearing petition satisfies this Court’s conditions for sua sponte adjudication of habeas defenses. See Wood and Day v. McDonough, 547 U.S. 198 (2006). 3. Whether fair presentation of a federal habeas claim requires a petitioner to inform the state courts of the facts that support the claim. i PARTIES The caption contains the names of all parties. ii

Docket Entries

2021-11-22
Rehearing DENIED.
2021-11-02
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 11/19/2021.
2021-10-28
Petition for Rehearing filed.
2021-10-04
Petition DENIED. Statement of Justice Sotomayor respecting the denial of certiorari. (Detached <a href = 'https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/21pdf/20-7480_4gdj.pdf'>Opinion</a>)
2021-07-01
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 9/27/2021.
2021-06-29
Reply of petitioner Mickey Thomas filed. (Distributed)
2021-06-15
Brief of respondent Dexter Payne in opposition filed.
2021-04-07
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including June 15, 2021.
2021-04-06
Motion to extend the time to file a response from April 16, 2021 to June 15, 2021, submitted to The Clerk.
2021-03-12
Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due April 16, 2021)

Attorneys

Dexter Payne
Vincent Moore WagnerOffice of the Arkansas Attorney General, Respondent
Vincent Moore WagnerOffice of the Arkansas Attorney General, Respondent
Nicholas Jacob BronniSolicitor General of Arkansas, Respondent
Nicholas Jacob BronniSolicitor General of Arkansas, Respondent
Mickey Thomas
John Charles WilliamsFederal Public Defender, Petitioner
John Charles WilliamsFederal Public Defender, Petitioner