Supreme Court limits inmate reviews based on ineffective legal representation
The Supreme Court held in a 6–3 ruling on May 23 that federal courts reviewing inmate cases may not conduct evidentiary hearings to fully examine their ineffective-counsel claims that should have been raised in state court proceedings. The Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees a criminal defendant the right to effective assistance of counsel. The ruling is a victory for the state of Arizona, but a defeat for the two death-row inmates who claimed they had compelling claims that their lawyers failed to act on in state court. The decision is expected to make it more difficult for prisoners throughout … Continue reading Supreme Court limits inmate reviews based on ineffective legal representation
