No. 24-496

William Michael Crothers v. Wyoming

Lower Court: Wyoming
Docketed: 2024-10-31
Status: Denied
Type: Paid
Response Waived
Tags: brady-violation criminal-procedure due-process exculpatory-evidence prosecutorial-misconduct witness-credibility
Key Terms:
AdministrativeLaw DueProcess Privacy JusticiabilityDoctri Jurisdiction
Latest Conference: 2024-11-22
Question Presented (AI Summary)

Did Wyoming state courts misapply the Brady v. Maryland rule by concluding that the prosecution's withholding of material exculpatory evidence did not constitute a Brady violation?

Question Presented (OCR Extract)

QUESTION PRESENTED The Constitutional rule set out in Brady v. Maryland and its progeny requires prosecutors to disclose material, exculpatory evidence to the defense. In a criminal case involving disputed eyewitness testimony—and no other evidence—the prosecution failed to disclose its sole corroborating witness’s prior theft and enrollment in a diversion and probation program. The prosecution further failed to disclose its key witness’s changing recollection of events during pre-trial, prep meetings with the prosecution. Finally, the prosecution failed to disclose that it had promised its witnesses that they would not be prosecuted for their own misconduct. The jury rendered a split verdict with the defense conducting only a limited cross-examination on the prosecution’s key witness and its sole corroborating witness. Did Wyoming state courts misapply the Constitutional rule set out in Brady v. Maryland and its progeny in concluding that that the prosecution’s withholding of this evidence—even when considered cumulatively— did not constitute a Brady violation? (i)

Docket Entries

2024-11-25
Petition DENIED.
2024-11-06
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 11/22/2024.
2024-11-04
Waiver of The State of Wyoming of right to respond submitted.
2024-11-04
Waiver of right of respondent The State of Wyoming to respond filed.
2024-10-28
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due December 2, 2024)

Attorneys

The State of Wyoming
Kristen Reeves JonesOffice of the Wyoming Attorney General, Respondent
William Michael Crothers
Thomas Arthur FleenerFleener Petersen , LLC, Petitioner