No. 25-6510

Tilon Lashon Carter v. Texas

Lower Court: Texas
Docketed: 2026-01-07
Status: Pending
Type: IFP
IFP
Tags: due-process evidence-exclusion fundamental-fairness habeas-corpus postconviction-relief state-appellate-court
Key Terms:
DueProcess HabeasCorpus Punishment
Latest Conference: N/A
Question Presented (from Petition)

In a state postconviction habeas corpus proceeding in which the petitioner alleged that a material witness testified falsely at trial, does it violate "fundamental fairness" —per Pennsylvania v. Finley, 481 U.S. 552 (1987) and District Attorney's Office for the Third Judicial District v. Osborne, 557 U.S. 50 (2009) —for the state appellate court to exclude from its consideration relevant, reliable, material evidence related to the false testimony claim admitted in the state postconviction proceedings because the habeas petitioner failed to plead facts related to that evidence in his habeas petition, where there was no such pleading requirement as a matter of state law until the decision in the habeas petitioner's case?

Question Presented (AI Summary)

Whether it violates fundamental fairness for a state appellate court to exclude reliable evidence in a postconviction habeas proceeding due to a procedural technicality not previously existing

Docket Entries

2026-02-04
Brief of Texas in opposition submitted.
2026-02-04
Brief of respondent Texas in opposition filed.
2025-12-29
Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due February 6, 2026)
2025-11-12
Application (25A429) granted by Justice Alito extending the time to file until December 27, 2025.
2025-11-07
Application (25A429) to extend further the time from November 27, 2025 to December 27, 2025, submitted to Justice Alito.
2025-10-16
Application (25A429) granted by Justice Alito extending the time to file until November 27, 2025.
2025-10-09
Application (25A429) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from October 28, 2025 to December 12, 2025, submitted to Justice Alito.

Attorneys

Texas
Victoria Ann Ford OblonTarrant County Criminal District Attorney's Office, Respondent
Tilon Lashon Carter
Raoul D. SchonemannUniversity of Texas School of Law, Petitioner