No. 24-421

Cynthia Davis, Warden v. David M. Smith

Lower Court: Sixth Circuit
Docketed: 2024-10-15
Status: Denied
Type: Paid
Relisted (3) Experienced Counsel
Tags: aedpa constitutional-violation due-process eyewitness-identification habeas-corpus sixth-circuit
Key Terms:
DueProcess FourthAmendment HabeasCorpus CriminalProcedure
Latest Conference: 2025-01-24 (distributed 3 times)
Question Presented (AI Summary)

Did the Sixth Circuit exceed its powers under AEDPA in concluding that 'every fairminded jurist would agree' that the Ohio court violated the Constitution?

Question Presented (OCR Extract)

QUESTION PRESENTED The Due Process Clause requires exclusion of police-initiated eyewitness identification testimony in exceedingly rare cases. Exclusion of such evidence, the Court has said, is required only if the testimony poses “a very substantial likelihood of irreparable misidentification.” Perry v. New Hampshire, 565 U.S. 228, 232 (2012) (citation omitted). This Court has done so only once, 55 years ago. See Sexton v. Beaudreaux, 585 U.S. 961, 966 (2018) (citing Foster v. California, 394 U.S. 440 (1969)). In this AEDPA-governed case, a majority of a Sixth Circuit panel concluded that the Constitution barred testimony from a victim of attempted murder identifying her attacker. The panel held that Ohio courts unreasonably applied this Court’s precedent, which mandates a look at reliability, even though: the victim knew the attacker; had texted with the attacker 80-plus times in the day leading up to the attack; and was expecting the attacker to arrive at her house when he did. The Question Presented is: Did the Sixth Circuit exceed its powers under AEDPA in concluding that “every fairminded jurist would agree” that the Ohio court violated the Constitution? Brown v. Davenport, 596 U.S. 118, 136 (2022).

Docket Entries

2025-01-27
Petition DENIED. Justice Thomas, with whom Justice Alito joins, dissenting from the denial of certiorari. (Detached <a href = 'https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24pdf/24-421_6jfm.pdf'>Opinion</a>)
2025-01-21
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/24/2025.
2025-01-13
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/17/2025.
2024-12-04
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/10/2025.
2024-11-26
2024-11-22
Application (24A419) referred to the Court.
2024-11-22
Application (24A419) for stay and recall of the mandate presented to Justice Kavanaugh and by him referred to the Court is denied.
2024-11-14
Brief of David M. Smith in opposition submitted.
2024-11-14
2024-11-12
Response to application from respondent David M. Smith filed.
2024-11-04
Response to application (24A419) requested by Justice Kavanaugh, due by 4 p.m. (EST), on November 12, 2024.
2024-10-24
Application (24A419) for a stay and recall of the mandate, submitted to Justice Kavanaugh.
2024-10-16
Letter to the Court of Cynthia Davis, Warden submitted.
2024-10-10

Attorneys

Cynthia Davis, Warden
Thomas Elliot GaiserOffice of the Ohio Attorney General, Petitioner
Thomas Elliot GaiserOffice of the Ohio Attorney General, Petitioner
David M. Smith
Sarah Marie KonskyJenner & Block Supreme Court and Appellate Clinic, Respondent
Sarah Marie KonskyJenner & Block Supreme Court and Appellate Clinic, Respondent