Habeas Corpus—Restrictions, andvscc.virginia.gov/Habeas Present Ver. 12.pdf · – The writ can also be used to obtain judicial review of the extradition process, bail or the jurisdiction

HabeasCorpus—Restrictions,DeadlinesandReliefOctober3,2016

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Overview• StudyAuthorization

• Background

• VirginiaLaw:HabeasCorpus

• OtherMeansofRelief

• TexasLaw:HabeasCorpus

• Summary

• PolicyConsiderations

• PolicyOptionVIRGINIA STATE CRIME COMMISSION

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StudyAuthorization

• InApril2016,theMid‐AtlanticInnocenceProjectandtheInnocenceProjectsentalettertotheCrimeCommissionrequestingastudyofVirginia’sexistingpost‐convictionstatutoryframework,includingwritsofactualinnocenceandhabeascorpus,andhowthesestatutescouldbemodifiedtoassurethatanactuallyinnocentpersonconvictedonthebasisofnon‐DNAscientificevidencecanobtainrelief.

• Theletterreferenceda2013Texasstatutewhichallowsforawritofhabeascorpus onthebasisofneworchangingscientificevidence.

VIRGINIA STATE CRIME COMMISSION

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StudyAuthorization

• Theissuepresentedwashowtoresolveclaimsforpost‐convictionreliefthatdonotfallwithinexistinghabeascorpusandactualinnocencelaw.– Thisquestioncontemplatesasituationwherenewordiscreditedsciencecastsseriousdoubtonaconviction,butwheretherewerenodueprocessviolationsandthepetitionercannotmeettheburdenofprovingactualinnocence.

• TheExecutiveCommitteeoftheCrimeCommissionrequestedstafftoreviewthewritofhabeascorpusinVirginiaasitrelatestotherestrictions,statuteoflimitations,availableremediesandrelief,andactualinnocence.


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Background

• Overtheyearsseveralscientificfieldsthatwereoncethoughttobereliablehavebeendiscredited,includingarsoninvestigations,microscopichairanalysis,andbitemarkanalysis.

• Whyisthisanimportantissue?– TherecentcaseofKeithAllenHarward broughtattentiontothefactthat“bitemark”evidencehasbeendiscreditedasaforensicscience.

– TheFBIhasacknowledgedsignificantflawsinitsmicroscopichaircomparisonunitandexperttestimonywhichoccurredpriortotheyear2000.


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Background

• In2015,theWashingtonPost publishedaninvestigativereportwhichnotedthatthesciencebehindthediagnosisofShakenBabySyndromehascomeintodoubtamongstexpertsasnewresearchshowsthatdiseases,geneticconditions,andaccidentscanproducethesameresultsasobservedinShakenBabySyndrome.

• Currently,theVirginiaDepartmentofForensicScience(DFS)isintheearlystagesofreviewingpastbloodtyping(serology)andmicroscopichaircomparisoncasesconductedbyitsstatelabs.


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Background

• Habeascorpus isdefinedbyBlack’sLawDictionaryas“[a]writemployedtobringapersonbeforeacourt,mostfrequentlytoensurethattheperson’simprisonmentordetentionisnotillegal.”– Thewritcanalsobeusedtoobtainjudicialreviewoftheextraditionprocess,bailorthejurisdictionofacourtthatimposedacriminalsentence.


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Background

• Litigationofhabeascorpusclaimscaninvolvevariousareasoflaw,withthemostcommonareasincluding:– Criminalmatters;– Civilcustodymatters;and,– Immigrationmatters.

• Stafffocusedonhabeascorpusinthecriminalcontext.– Generally,inthecriminalcontext,petitionsforhabeascorpusallegesuchclaimsasineffectiveassistanceofcounsel,failuretodiscloseexculpatoryevidence,neworrecantingwitnessstatements,failureofthecourttoprovidesufficienttimeorexpertresources,jurorimproprietyorbias,etc.


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Background

• Stafffocusedprimarilyonthreeareasofrelevantlaw:– Virginiastatutesgoverninghabeascorpus.

• Va.Code§ § 8.01‐654to8.01‐668,withaprimaryfocuson§ 8.01‐654.

– Virginiastatutesgoverningactualinnocencebasedonnonbiological evidence.• Va.Code§ § 19.2‐327.10to19.2‐327.14.

– Texashabeascorpusstatuteonneworchangingscientificevidence.• TexasCodeCrim.Proc.Art.11.073andArt.11.07.


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VirginiaLaw:HabeasCorpus

HabeasCorpusunderVirginiaLaw:

– Civilproceedingusedtoremedydueprocessviolations‐ itisnotasubstituteforacriminalappealorameanstoproveactualinnocence.

– Probablecausestandard.– Strictstatuteoflimitationsapplyatstateandfederallevel.

– Successivepetitionsaregenerallyprohibited.– Remedyisgenerallyanewtrial,sentencing,orappeal.


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DeadlinesunderVirginialaw:

• Petitionschallengingacriminalconvictionshalladheretothefollowingdeadlines,whicheverislater:– Withintwoyearsfromthedateoffinaljudgmentinthetrialcourt;or,

– Withinoneyearfromeitherthefinaldispositionofthedirectappealinstatecourtorthetimeforfilingsuchanappealhasexpired.

• Inthe2015caseofHicksv.Dir.,Dep’tofCorr.,289Va.288,768S.E.2d415,theSupremeCourtofVirginiaheldthataBrady violationtolledthesefilingprovisions.


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• TheprincipalstatutegoverninghabeascorpusclaimsinVirginiaisVa.Code§ 8.01‐654.

• Overthepast20years,therehavebeenthreesignificantamendmentstoVa.Code§ 8.01‐654:– In1995,newproceduresandtimelineswereenactedrelatingtopetitionsfiledbypetitionersheldunderthesentenceofdeath;

– In1998,filingdeadlineprovisionswereaddedinregardtonon‐deathsentencehabeascorpus claims;and,

– In2005,languagewasaddedtoclarifythatahabeascorpuspetitionfiledsolelyduetothepetitionerbeingdeprivedoftherighttopursueanappealdoesnotqualifyasapreviouspetitionunderthestatute.


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VirginiaLaw:HabeasCorpusDeathpenaltyhabeascorpusclaims:• AsofSeptember2016,therewere7inmatesondeathrowinVirginiainvariousstagesoflitigation.

• TheSupremeCourthasexclusivejurisdictiontoconsiderandawardwritsfiledbydeath‐sentencedpetitioners.

• ThecircuitcourthastheauthoritytoconductevidentiaryhearingsifdirectedbytheSupremeCourtandlimitedtothesubjectmatterorderedbytheSupremeCourt.

• Va.Code§ 8.01‐654.1providesthefilingdeadlinesforhabeaspetitionsrelatedtodeath‐sentencedpetitioners.

• Va.Code§ 19.2‐163.7providesthatifthesentenceofdeathisaffirmedonappeal,thenthecourtshallappointcounseltorepresenttheindigentprisonerinhisstatehabeascorpusproceeding.


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CY TotalFilings*2013 4202014 3172015 327

WritsofHabeasCorpusFiledintheCircuitCourts,CY13‐CY15

Source: Supreme Court of Virginia. *Does not include Fairfax and Alexandria.

TotalAppealsofWritsandOriginalWritsofHabeasCorpusFiledintheSupremeCourt,CY11‐CY15

CY Appeals ofWritsFiled OriginalWritsFiled2011 119 3582012 124 3172013 130 3302014 113 2662015 92 253Source: Supreme Court of Virginia

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OtherMeansofReliefFederalLaw:HabeasCorpus

• Pursuantto28USCS§ 2254,anapplicationforawritofhabeascorpus shallnotbegrantedbyafederalcourtunlesstheapplicanthasexhaustedallremedies availableinstatecourt.

• Pursuantto28USCS§ 2244,thereisafiling deadlineofoneyear foranapplicationforawritofhabeascorpus filedbyapersonincustodyunderajudgmentofaStatecourt.Thisdeadlinerunsfromthedatewhichthejudgmentbecamefinalbytheconclusionofthedirectreviewortheexpirationofthetimeforseekingsuchreview.– Thisperiodistolledwhileanyrelatedandproperlyfiledapplicationforstatepost‐convictionrelieforothercollateralreviewispending.


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OtherMeansofRelief

WritofActualInnocencebasedonNonbiological Evidence:– Usedtoremedythewrongfulconvictionofanactuallyinnocentperson.

– Petitionermustestablishthatthematerialevidencewasnotavailablepriortoorwithin21daysaftertheentryoffinaljudgment,thatnorationaltrieroffactwouldhavefoundhimguilty,andthatheisactuallyinnocentoftheoffense.

– Clearandconvincingevidencestandard.– Nostatuteoflimitations.– Strictlimitofonepetition.– Musthaveenteredapleaofnotguiltytoafelonyoffense.– Remedyisactualinnocenceorreductiontolesser‐includedoffense.


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OtherMeansofRelief

• TheVirginiastatutesregardingthewritofactualinnocencebasedonnonbiological evidencearecontainedwithinVa.Code§ § 19.2‐327.10through19.2‐327.14.

• TheCourtofAppealshasbeengrantedtheauthoritytoissueawritofactualinnocencebasedonnonbiological evidence.– Intheeventofanappeal,theVirginiaSupremeCourthastheauthorityto

issuesuchawrit.

• Thecourtmaydisposeofthepetitioninoneofthefollowingmanners:– Dismisssummarilyforfailuretostateaclaimorgrounduponwhichrelief

couldbegranted;– Dismissthepetitionforfailuretoestablishthatthepreviouslyunknown

evidencewassufficienttojustifytheissuanceofawrit;– Modifytheconvictionordertofindthepetitionerguiltyofalesser

includedoffense;or,– Grantthewritandvacatetheconviction.VIRGINIA STATE CRIME COMMISSION

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OtherMeansofRelief

• In2016caseofFlemingv.Commonwealth (RecordNo.0031‐15‐2),theVirginiaCourtofAppealsissuedarulingonapetitionforawritofactualinnocencebasedonnonbiological evidenceinvolvingascientificdispute.

• FleminghadbeenconvictedofmurderingherhusbandandclaimedthattheCommonwealth’sevidenceconcerningthecauseofdeath(acutemethanolpoisoning)wasinaccurate.

• TheCourtofAppealsorderedtheCircuitCourttoconductahearingandultimatelydismissedthepetitionbecauseFlemingfailedtomeettheburdenofproof,failedtorebuttheotherevidenceattrial,andherscientifictheorycouldhavebeenadvancedattrial.


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OtherMeansofRelief

ApetitionercanalsoseekredressfromtheGovernor.

PardonsGrantedbytheGovernor,January15,2009‐ January8,2016

DateRange SimplePardon AbsolutePardon ConditionalPardon1/15/09 to1/15/10 53 3 81/16/10to1/16/11 1 0 01/17/11to1/16/12 5 0 01/17/12to1/16/13 1 0 21/17/13to1/10/14 46 0 61/11/14to1/16/15 6 0 01/17/15to1/08/16 32 2 5Source: Governor’s Annual Report to the General Assembly—List of Pardons, Commutations, Reprieves and Other Forms of ClemencyPardons as defined by the Secretary of the Commonwealth:Simple Pardon: A statement of official forgiveness; does not remove conviction from criminal record.Absolute Pardon: Allows for removal of conviction from criminal record.Conditional Pardon: Available only to incarcerated individuals; typically grants early release with conditions.

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OtherMeansofRelief

• In2015,theGovernorgrantedanabsolutepardontoDaveyJamesReedyforhisconvictionsoffirstdegreemurder(2counts)andarsoninthedaytime.

• Ingrantingtheabsolutepardon,theGovernornoted:– “HavingreviewedthemultiplereportsrefutingthecauseofthefirewhichledtoDaveyReedy’s conviction,theconflictingreportsonthepresenceofgasolineproductswithintheCommonwealth’sownDepartmentofForensicScience,andthetestimonypresentedattrial,itisnowclearthatDaveyReedy’s convictions…arenotsupportedbytheforensicevidencereliedupon.”


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TexasLaw:HabeasCorpus

TexasCodeCrim.Proc.Art.11.073“ProcedureRelatedtoCertainScientificEvidence”:

– Enactedin2013toremedyconvictionsbasedonneworchangingscientificevidence.

– Preponderanceoftheevidencestandard.–Nostatuteoflimitations.– Successivepetitionsaregenerallyprohibited.– Remedyissettingasidetheconviction—butanewtrialispossible.


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ProcedureforfilingunderTexaslaw:• Thepetitionistobefiledwiththecourtwherethechallengedconvictionwasobtained.

• Theconvictingcourtthendetermineswhetherany“controverted,previouslyunresolvedfactsmaterialtothelegalityoftheapplicant’sconfinement”exist.– Ifsuchissuesexist,thecourtmayhearevidenceandordernon‐DNAtestingbeforeforwardingitsfindingsoffacttotheCourtofCriminalAppeals.

• TheCourtofCriminalAppealsmaydocketandhearthecaseandshallenteranordereitherremandingtheapplicanttocustodyororderinghisrelease.


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TexasLaw:HabeasCorpusRestrictionsunderTexaslaw:• Article11.073appliesto“relevantscientificevidence”:– thatwasnotavailabletobeofferedbytheconvictedpersonattrial;or,

– thatcontradictsscientificevidencerelieduponbythestateattrial.

• Indeterminingwhetherrelevantscientificevidencewasnotascertainablethroughduediligenceonorbeforeaspecificdate,“thecourtshallconsiderwhetherthefieldofscientificknowledge,atestifyingexpert’sscientificknowledge,orascientificmethodonwhichtherelevantscientificevidenceisbased haschanged.”


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ReliefavailableunderTexaslaw:

• Acourtmaygranthabeascorpus reliefbasedonneworchangingscientificevidenceif:– Relevantscientificevidenceiscurrentlyavailablewhichwasnotavailablebeforeorduringtrialthroughtheuseofduediligence;

– Suchscientificevidencewouldbeadmissibleatatrialheldonthedateoftheapplication;and,

– Thecourtfurtherfindsbyapreponderanceoftheevidencethatthepersonwouldnothavebeenconvictedifthescientificevidencehadbeenpresentedattrial.


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ReliefavailableunderTexaslaw(cont.):

• Uponconsiderationofaclaim,theCourtofCriminalAppealsshallenteranordereitherremandingtheapplicanttocustodyororderinghisrelease.

• PerTexasCodeCrim.Proc.Art.11.57,apersonwhoisdischargedandlaterindictedforthesameoffensemaybecommittedonthenewindictment.


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• AsofSeptember2016,therehasonlybeenonewritofhabeascorpusgrantedunderArticle11.073in2014,intheExparteRobbins matter(478S.W.3d678).

• Thewritwasgrantedonthebasisthatthetestifyingexpertfromthe1999trialchangedheropinionregardingthecauseandmannerofdeath.– In1999,shetestifiedthatthechild’sdeathwasasphyxiaduetocompressionofthechestandabdomenandthemannerofdeathwashomicide.

– In2007,shereviewedtheautopsyandrecommendedthatthecauseandmannerofdeathbechangedto“undetermined.”


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• TheInnocenceProjectofTexasadvisedthatveryfewclaimshavebeenfiledunderthenewTexasstatute.

• TheywereonlyawareofthreecasesinwhichthetrialjudgerecommendedthattheCourtofCriminalAppealsgrantthewrit:– Acaseinvolvingbitemarkevidence;– Acaseinvolvingnewmedicalstudiesconcerningphysicalsignsofsexualabuseinyounggirls;and,

– Anarsoncaseinvolvingamisunderstandingofwhenagaschromatographytestshowedthepresenceofanaccelerant.


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Summary

HabeasCorpusunderVirginiaLaw:

– Civilproceedingusedtoremedydueprocessviolations‐ itisnotasubstituteforacriminalappealorameanstoproveactualinnocence.

– Probablecausestandard.– Strictstatuteoflimitationsapplyatstateandfederallevel.

– Successivepetitionsaregenerallyprohibited.– Remedyisgenerallyanewtrial,sentencing,orappeal.


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Summary

WritofActualInnocencebasedonNonbiological Evidence:– Usedtoremedythewrongfulconvictionofanactuallyinnocentperson.

– Petitionermustestablishthatthematerialevidencewasnotavailablepriortoorwithin21daysaftertheentryoffinaljudgment,thatnorationaltrieroffactwouldhavefoundhimguilty,andthatheisactuallyinnocentoftheoffense.

– Clearandconvincingevidencestandard.– Nostatuteoflimitations.– Strictlimitofonepetition.– Musthaveenteredapleaofnotguiltytoafelonyoffense.– Remedyisactualinnocenceorreductiontolesser‐includedoffense.


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Summary

TexasCodeCrim.Proc.Art.11.073“ProcedureRelatedtoCertainScientificEvidence”:

– Enactedin2013toremedyconvictionsbasedonneworchangingscientificevidence.

– Preponderanceoftheevidencestandard.–Nostatuteoflimitations.– Successivepetitionsaregenerallyprohibited.– Remedyissettingasidetheconviction—butanewtrialispossible.


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PolicyConsiderations

ChallengesofEnactingaSimilarStatuteinVirginia:

• Itmaybedifficultforacourttodeterminewhether“scientificevidence”haschanged.

• Theremaybea“battleoftheexperts”withinthepost‐convictionareaoflaw.

• Retryingoldcasescanbedifficult– missingwitnessesorevidenceorold/incompletecasefiles/transcripts.

• Thecourtsmaystrugglewithreconcilingexpertswholaterchangetheiropinionortestimony.

• Successivepetitionsmaybedifficulttolimitinnumber.VIRGINIA STATE CRIME COMMISSION

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PolicyConsiderationsBenefitsofEnactingaSimilarStatuteinVirginia:

• Providesaspecificremedynotcurrentlyavailableunderhabeascorpusoractualinnocence.

• Removesthestrictstatuteoflimitationsfoundunderhabeascorpus.• ProvidestheopportunityforcaseswithoutDNAevidencetobeheardbasedonchangingordiscreditedscience,especiallyforarson,bitemarkanalysis,andmicroscopichaircomparisonanalysis.

• CouldallowanavenueforcasesidentifiedinDFS’smicroscopichaircomparisoncasereviewwheretheremaynotbeevidenceremainingforDNAtesting.

• Wouldallowamechanismforconsiderationofa2001Virginiaarsoncasewhichmayqualifyforreliefundersuchastatute.

• Maytakedecadesforsciencestoberesolvedbyexpertsinthefieldanddiscredited,whichwouldallowforanaturalprogressionofapplications.


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PolicyOption

PolicyOption:

• ShouldlegislationbeenactedsimilartotheTexasscientificevidencestatutetoallowforamechanismtoseekpost‐convictionreliefwhenneworchangingscientificevidencecallsintoquestiontheoutcomeoftheoriginaltrialandDNAevidenceisnotavailable?


Discussion

Documents

Habeas Corpus—Restrictions, andvscc.virginia.gov/Habeas Present Ver. 12.pdf · – The writ can also be used to obtain judicial review of the extradition process, bail or the jurisdiction