Law360, New York (February 23, 2011, 6:52 PM EST) -- The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday unanimously backed the unique rule used by the state of California to determine whether a prisoner has waited too long to file an appeal.
The court found that the state’s timeliness rule was adequate and that it qualified as an independent, state ground that could justify the denial of habeas corpus petitions in federal court.
Convicted murderer Charles W. Martin waited nearly five years after his sentence became final, and provided no explanation for the delay, before he raised new...
High Court OKs Calif. Time Rule In Prisoner Appeals
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