Petitions of the week
Missouri man appeals death sentence after attorneys failed to press jury foreman’s bias
The Petitions of the Week column highlights some of the cert petitions recently filed in the Supreme Court. A list of all petitions we’re watching is available here.
People held in state prison can turn to federal court to challenge the validity of their conviction or sentence. But they face a high bar in doing so: They have to convince a federal trial judge that their state conviction or sentence was “unreasonable,” and if they fail in that endeavor, they need permission to appeal. This week, we highlight petitions asking the court to consider, among other things, whether a federal court can deny permission to appeal a request for post-conviction relief when at least one judge would grant it.
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