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Habeas Corpus - State Prisoner (28 USC 2254)

Every decision we've filed under Habeas Corpus - State Prisoner (28 USC 2254).

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Mar 10 2026
11th Cir. 1:23-cv-21478-RNS Per Curiam

RENELL JONES v. FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the denial of Renell Jones's habeas petition, ruling that Florida state courts reasonably applied federal law regarding his Miranda waiver and invocation of counsel. The court held that a detective's mischaracterization of a rights form as a literacy test did not invalidate the waiver, and that Jones's statements regarding an attorney were too equivocal to require police to stop questioning.

Constitutional Fifth Amendment - Self-Incrimination Habeas Corpus - General (28 USC 2241) Habeas Corpus - State Prisoner (28 USC 2254)
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Mar 9 2026
6th Cir. 24-6022 Published

Ricky Lee Welch v. Laura Plappert, Warden

The Sixth Circuit reversed a district court dismissal of a federal habeas petition, holding that a prisoner's motion for a belated appeal under Kentucky law tolls the federal statute of limitations. The court ruled that because the state appeal remained pending under a recognized exception for ineffective assistance of counsel, the one-year federal clock did not run during that period.

Constitutional Habeas Corpus - State Prisoner (28 USC 2254)
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Mar 6 2026
9th Cir. 2:22-cv-06206-ODW-ADS Unpublished

JOSE LUIS AYALA v. ROBERTO A. ARIAS, Warden

The Ninth Circuit affirmed the denial of a state prisoner's habeas petition, ruling that his request to represent himself was made too close to trial to be considered timely under federal law. The court held that the California Court of Appeal reasonably applied Supreme Court precedent by finding the request untimely when made on the eve of trial.

Constitutional Habeas Corpus - State Prisoner (28 USC 2254)
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Mar 5 2026
3rd Cir. 2:13-cv-06437 Panel Decision

JOSE MENDEZ v. SUPERINTENDENT HOUTZDALE SCI; THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA; THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY OF THE COUNTY OF PHILADELPHIA

The Third Circuit granted appointed counsel's motion to withdraw from a habeas corpus appeal after determining the case presented no nonfrivolous issues. The court affirmed the District Court's denial of Jose Mendez's petition challenging his first-degree murder conviction.

Constitutional Habeas Corpus - General (28 USC 2241) Habeas Corpus - State Prisoner (28 USC 2254) Sixth Amendment - Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
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Mar 5 2026
10th Cir. 4:17-CV-00367-GKF-CDL Panel Decision

DEANDRE BETHEL v. DAVID LOUTHAN

The Tenth Circuit denied Deandre Bethel a certificate of appealability because his attempt to add a Fourth Amendment claim via a Rule 60(b) motion constituted an unauthorized second or successive habeas petition. The court held that the motion substantively challenged the validity of his conviction rather than addressing a procedural defect in the habeas proceedings themselves.

Constitutional Fourth Amendment - Search & Seizure Habeas Corpus - State Prisoner (28 USC 2254)
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Mar 5 2026
10th Cir. 5:00-CV-03146-DES Panel Decision

In re MAURICE B. MOORE

The Tenth Circuit denied Maurice Moore's application to file a second or successive habeas corpus petition because he failed to meet the strict statutory requirements of the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act. The court held that Moore's claims did not rely on a new retroactive rule of constitutional law nor did they present previously undiscoverable facts establishing actual innocence.

Constitutional Habeas Corpus - State Prisoner (28 USC 2254)
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Mar 3 2026
7th Cir. 23-1595 Panel Decision

MICHAEL J. CONNOR v. BRITTANY GREENE

The Seventh Circuit affirmed the denial of federal habeas relief, holding that the state court's finding that the petitioner would not have accepted a plea offer was not objectively unreasonable. The court ruled that the petitioner's steadfast claim of innocence throughout the proceedings rebutted his later testimony that he would have pleaded guilty if informed of the mandatory life sentence.

Constitutional Habeas Corpus - State Prisoner (28 USC 2254)
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Mar 2 2026
10th Cir. 26-5027 Panel Decision

In re ERICK WANJIKU

The Tenth Circuit denied Erick Wanjiku's request to file a second or successive habeas corpus petition because his claims did not meet the strict statutory exceptions required by federal law. The court emphasized that Wanjiku's own motion admitted his claims failed to rely on a new rule of constitutional law or present previously undiscoverable facts establishing innocence.

Constitutional Habeas Corpus - State Prisoner (28 USC 2254) Sixth Amendment - Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
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