1. Home
  2. Browse Decisions
  3. U.S.
  4. 505 U.S.
  5. 505 U.S. 333 (1992)
 

SAWYER v. WHITLEY

No. 91-6382.

505 U.S. 333 (1992)

112 S.Ct. 2514

120 L.Ed.2d 269

SAWYER v. WHITLEY, WARDEN

Supreme Court of United States.

Decided June 22, 1992.

Attorney(s) appearing for the Case

R. Neal Walker argued the cause for petitioner. With him on the briefs were Nicholas J. Trenticosta and Sarah L. Ottinger.

Dorothy A. Pendergast argued the cause for respondent. With her on the brief was John M. Mamoulides.

Paul J. Larkin, Jr., argued the cause for the United States as amicus curiae urging affirmance. With him on the brief were Solicitor General Starr, Assistant Attorney General Mueller, Deputy Solicitor General Roberts, and Associate Deputy Attorney General McBride.*

Rehnquist, C. J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which White, Scalia, Kennedy, Souter, and Thomas, JJ., joined. Blackmun, J., filed an opinion concurring in the judgment, p. 350. Stevens, J., filed an opinion concurring in the judgment, in which Blackmun and O'Connor, JJ., joined, p. 360.

Chief Justice Rehnquist delivered the opinion of the Court.

The issue before the Court is the standard for determining whether a petitioner bringing a successive, abusive, or defaulted federal habeas claim has shown he is "actually innocent" of the death penalty to which he has been sentenced so that the court may reach the merits of the claim. Robert Wayne Sawyer, the petitioner in this case, filed a second federal habeas...

Let's get started

Leagle.com

Welcome to the leading source of independent legal reporting
Sign on now to see your case.
Or view more than 10 million decisions and orders.

  • Updated daily.
  • Uncompromising quality.
  • Complete, Accurate, Current.

Listed below are the cases that are cited in this Featured Case. Click the citation to see the full text of the cited case. Citations are also linked in the body of the Featured Case.

Cited Cases

  • No Cases Found

Listed below are those cases in which this Featured Case is cited. Click on the case name to see the full text of the citing case.

Citing Cases