Explore 25 court opinions on Procedural Default. AI-powered plain English summaries, key holdings, and legal analysis.
25 recent cases analyzed in this topic area.
Seventh Circuit Denies Motion to Vacate Judgment Based on Untimely Due Process Claim
Bato Petrov v. Todd W. Blanche, decided by Seventh Circuit on April 14, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Seventh Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of a motion to vacate a prio...
Eighth Circuit Affirms Habeas Denial, Upholds Murder Conviction
Ronald Hamilton, Jr. v. Superintendent DeAngelo Earl, decided by Eighth Circuit on February 17, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Eighth Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of Ro...
Ninth Circuit Denies Habeas Corpus for Due Process Claim Due to Procedural Default
Montejo-Gonzalez v. Bondi, decided by Ninth Circuit on February 5, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Ninth Circuit reviewed the denial of a petition for a writ of habeas corpus, where the...
Ohio Supreme Court Denies Death Row Inmate's Postconviction Relief
State ex rel. Mack v. Robinson, decided by Ohio Supreme Court on December 24, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Ohio Supreme Court considered whether a defendant, who was convicted of agg...
Ineffective Assistance Claim Procedurally Barred on Appeal
Barnes v. United States, decided by Second Circuit on December 15, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Second Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of a motion to vacate a conviction...
Eleventh Circuit Denies Habeas Corpus for Ineffective Counsel Claim
Frank A. Walls v. Secretary, Department of Corrections, decided by Eleventh Circuit on December 13, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the district court's denial...
Fourth Amendment challenge to evidence fails in habeas corpus petition
Davis v. Coleman, Warden, decided by Georgia Supreme Court on November 4, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, a state prisoner, sought a writ of habeas corpus, alleging that his ...
Ineffective Assistance Claim Procedurally Barred in Personal Restraint Petition
In re Pers. Restraint of Schoenhals, decided by Washington Supreme Court on September 25, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The core dispute involved whether the petitioner, who was convicted...
Fifth Circuit Denies Habeas for Capital Murderer Milam
In Re: Blaine Milam, decided by Fifth Circuit on September 19, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Fifth Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of a habeas corpus petition filed by Bl...
SC Supreme Court Denies Habeas Corpus for Ineffective Counsel Claim
In the Matter of Travis W. White, decided by South Carolina Supreme Court on September 17, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Supreme Court of South Carolina affirmed the circuit court's d...
Eighth Circuit: Counsel's Silence on Hearsay Was Strategic, Not Ineffective
Eugene Perkins v. Derrick Frye, decided by Eighth Circuit on August 19, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Eighth Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of Eugene Perkins's habeas co...
Ninth Circuit Denies Habeas Corpus for Child Molestation Conviction
Bieganski v. Shinn, decided by Ninth Circuit on August 12, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Ninth Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of a habeas corpus petition filed by a stat...
Third Circuit Denies Habeas Relief in Murder Conviction
Kevin Johnson v. Superintendent Mahanoy SCI, decided by Third Circuit on July 30, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Third Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of habeas corpus rel...
Third Circuit Denies Habeas Relief for Murder Conviction Due to Procedural Default
Kevin Johnson v. Superintendent Mahanoy SCI, decided by Third Circuit on July 30, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Third Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of habeas corpus rel...
Third Circuit Denies Habeas Relief for Murder Conviction
Kevin Johnson v. Superintendent Mahanoy SCI, decided by Third Circuit on July 14, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Third Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of habeas corpus rel...
Second Circuit Affirms Racketeering Conviction, Denies Ineffective Assistance Claim
United States v. Coonan, decided by Second Circuit on July 9, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Second Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of a motion to vacate a conviction for ...
Ninth Circuit Denies Habeas Relief for Actual Innocence Claim
Husayn v. Mitchell, decided by Ninth Circuit on June 30, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Ninth Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of a habeas corpus petition, holding that the...
Ninth Circuit Upholds Warrantless Vehicle Search Under Automobile Exception
Chang v. United States, decided by Ninth Circuit on June 9, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Ninth Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of a motion to suppress evidence obtained ...
First Circuit Affirms Denial of Habeas Corpus for Pro Se Defendant
Grant v. Trial Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, decided by First Circuit on May 9, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The First Circuit affirmed the District Court's denial of a pet...
Third Circuit Denies Habeas Relief in Death Penalty Case
Dion Horton v. Administrative Judge Jill Rangos, decided by Third Circuit on May 2, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Third Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of habeas corpus r...
Fifth Circuit Denies Habeas Relief, Citing Failure to Prove Actual Innocence
Reed v. Goertz, decided by Fifth Circuit on May 1, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Fifth Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of a habeas corpus petition, holding that the petit...
Florida Supreme Court Affirms Sexual Battery Convictions, Denies Postconviction Relief
Michael A. Tanzi v. State of Florida; Michael A. Tanzi v. Secretary, Department of Corrections & Michael A. Tanzi v. Secretary, Department of Corrections, decided by Florida Supreme Court on April 1, ...
Appellate court affirms denial of postconviction relief and habeas corpus petition
Edward T. James v. State of Florida & Edward T. James v. Secretary, Department of Corrections, decided by Florida Supreme Court on March 13, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The court consol...
Habeas Corpus Denied: No Entrapment Defense Warranted
Gristina v. Merchan, decided by Second Circuit on March 12, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Second Circuit affirmed the District Court's denial of a petition for a writ of habeas corpus...
Actual innocence alone not grounds for federal habeas relief
Bufkin v. Collins, decided by Supreme Court of the United States on March 5, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Supreme Court considered whether a state prisoner's claim of actual innocenc...