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Ninth Circuit Holds Undisclosed Relationship Between Murdered FBI Agent and Presiding Judge in Capital Case Created Intolerable Risk of Judicial Bias, Warranting Habeas Relief
by David Reutter
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit held that an undisclosed connection between an FBI agent and a judge entitled a death row prisoner to the grant of habeas corpus relief. The Court found there was a constitutionally intolerable risk of judicial bias.
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More from this issue:
- How Defense Lawyers Break Attorney-Client Privilege to Defend Ineffective Assistance of Counsel Claims, by Steve Horn
- Fee to Plead Guilty Burdens Indigent Defendants in Pennsylvania, by Dale Chappell
- California Court of Appeal: Youth Offender Parole Statute Trumps Consecutive Prison Term Statute, by Christopher Zoukis
- Very Few Have Taken Advantage of New York’s Program to Seal Criminal Records, by Edward Lyon
- Homeland Security One Step Closer to Becoming Big Brother Incarnate, by Christopher Zoukis
- St. Louis Police Department Fighting Prosecution Exclusion List, by Kevin Bliss
- Junk Sciences and Scientists Strike Again in Texas, by Edward Lyon
- Global Voice Recognition Database Alarms Privacy Groups, by Kevin Bliss
- Philadelphia Pays Out Millions to Settle Police Shootings, by Edward Lyon
- Scottish Psychologist’s Study Focuses On Why the Innocent May Confess to Crimes, by Derek Gilna
- U.S. Government Paid Out Over $60 Million to Settle Border Patrol Violence Claims, by Christopher Zoukis
- New Hampshire’s Secret List of Problematic Cops Gets Worse, by Dale Chappell
- Crime Labs Falling Short, by Edward Lyon
- Eleventh Circuit Denies Qualified Immunity to Florida Cop Who Seized iPhone from Accident Bystander, by Christopher Zoukis
- Fourth Circuit: Federal Conspiracy to Commit Murder in Aid of Racketeering Not a Crime of Violence for Purposes of Sentencing Guidelines Enhancement, by Christopher Zoukis
- Colorado Leads U.S. in Suppression of Court Cases, by Kevin Bliss
- Kansas Supreme Court Rules Fourth Amendment Violation Where Purported Inventory Search Was Performed in Absence of Standard Policy, by Richard Resch
- Massachusetts Supreme Court Shifts Burden on Government to Prove by Clear and Convincing Evidence Sex Offender Poses Continued Risk at Termination of Registry Hearings, by Dale Chappell
- Report: NYPD Assisted in Creating Facial Recognition Technology, by Kevin Bliss
- South Carolina Supreme Court Rules Mandatory Electronic Monitoring of Sex Offenders Must Be ‘Reasonableness’ Under Fourth Amendment, by Dale Chappell
- Minnesota Supreme Court Joins the Chorus by Announcing Birchfield is Retroactive, by Christopher Zoukis
- $1 Million Settlement by Cleveland to Six Rape, Murder Victims’ Families, by Kevin Bliss
- Connecticut Supreme Court Finds IAC for Failure to Investigate Key Alibi Witness, Grants New Trial, by Dale Chappell
- Ninth Circuit Holds Undisclosed Relationship Between Murdered FBI Agent and Presiding Judge in Capital Case Created Intolerable Risk of Judicial Bias, Warranting Habeas Relief, by David Reutter
- Ninth Circuit Rules California Robbery Not a ‘Crime of Violence’ in Light of Dimaya and Allows Withdrawal of Guilty Plea, by David Reutter
- Civil Rights Groups Urge Ending Use of Pretrial Bail Risk Assessment Tools, by Steve Horn
- California’s New Cashless Bail System More Likely to Increase Number of Detainees, by Kevin Bliss
- Article Calls for Courts to Implement ‘Brady Violation Disclosure Letter’ System, by Steve Horn
- Georgia Can No Longer Charge for Access to Its Statutes, Thanks to Eleventh Circuit Ruling
- I once wrote mandatory minimum laws. After ties to Abramoff landed me in prison, I know they must end., by Kevin Ring
- Seventh Circuit Vacates Conditions of Supervised Release Following Child Pornography Conviction, by Matthew Clarke
- Illinois: Chicago Police Misconduct Outed in Database 2.0 Version, by Edward Lyon
- Seventh Circuit: Bureau of Prisons Improperly Prolonged Prisoner’s Sentence, by Christopher Zoukis
- Oregon Supreme Court: ‘Grooming’ Evidence Requires Scientific Validity Foundation, by Mark Wilson
- Massachusetts Supreme Court Overturns Conviction Based on Prosecutor’s False Statement During Closing Argument, by Dale Chappell
- District Court Holds that Some White-Collar Felons May Lawfully Possess Firearms Due to a Little Known Exemption For Crimes ‘Relating to the Regulation of Business Practices’
- Harris County, Texas Prosecutors Review DWI Cases Impacted by Discredited Expert, by Derek Gilna
- Massachusetts Supreme Court Tosses Thousands of Drug Cases After Lab Tech Scandal and Government Cover-Up, by Dale Chappell
- Tenth Circuit Rules Police Seizure of Home Where No Evidence of Criminal Activity Apparent Violates Fourth Amendment Requiring Suppression of Incriminating Evidence, by Richard Resch
- Seventh Circuit: Procedural Error Occurs When Miscount of Prior Convictions Basis for Sentence, Resentencing Required, by David Reutter
- Police Misconduct Threatens Over 20,000 New Jersey Drunk Driving Convictions, by Derek Gilna
- Nevada Court of Appeals Rules Police May Not Conduct Warrantless Search Based on Third-Party Consent Where No Effort Made to Determine Whether Person Has Authority to Do So, by Richard Resch
- New York City Cops Using Supposedly Sealed Arrest Records, by Edward Lyon
- Ninth Circuit Grants Habeas for IAC of Resentencing Counsel Who Failed to Challenge Sole Aggravating Factor or Investigate Mitigating Circumstances, by Matthew Clarke
- News in Brief
- Kansas Supreme Court Holds Travel Plan Questions Unconstitutionally Extended Traffic Stop, by Matthew Clarke
- The Fallibility of Forensic Science: Crime-Solving Tool Can Lead to Wrongful Convictions—and Belated Exonerations, by Rick Anderson
More from David Reutter:
- Eight Circuit Reverses Denial of Partial Qualified Immunity in Detainee’s Pepper Ball Claim, Remands Excessive Force Claims, Sept. 1, 2026
- Nevada Prisoners, Families Call Out Predatory Tablet Program, Sept. 1, 2026
- Fourth Circuit: Error in Granting Judgment Prior to Adjudging Spoliation Motion, Sept. 1, 2026
- Fourth Circuit Affirms Qualified Immunity in Strip Searches Resulting from Anonymous Tips, Sept. 1, 2026
- Tenth Circuit: Colorado Governor Unentitled to Eleventh Amendment Immunity on Claim Related to DOC Religious Policies, Aug. 1, 2026
- Michigan Appeals Court: Witnesses Cannot be Forced to Wear Jail Clothes at Trial, Aug. 1, 2026
- Sixth Circuit Affirms Denial of State-Law Qualified Immunity in Scabies Case, Aug. 1, 2026
- Fourth Circuit Revives Disabled Prisoner’s Claim for Denial of Out-of-Cell Exercise Time, Aug. 1, 2026
- Sixth Circuit Announces State-Law Exceptions to Appeal Deadlines Preserve “Pending” Status Under AEDPA, Holding Belated-Appeal Procedures Toll Federal Habeas Limitations Period, April 1, 2026
- Florida Supreme Court Announces Rule 3.170(f)’s Good-Cause Plea-Withdrawal Standard Does Not Apply at Post-Appeal Resentencing, April 1, 2026
More from these topics:
- Federal Habeas Quick Reference Guide for State Prisoners, Sept. 1, 2026. Retroactivity, Habeas Corpus, AEDPA, Actual Innocence/Claim of Innocence, Cause and Prejudice.
- Sixth Circuit Holds Kentucky Deficient-Counsel Belated-Appeal Procedure Tolls Federal Habeas One-Year Limitations Period, Sept. 1, 2026. Limitations, Habeas Corpus, AEDPA, Failure to Preserve Challenge, Tolling of Statutes of Limitations and Laches.
- Formally Available, Rarely Granted: A State Prisoner’s Guide to Federal Habeas Relief, Sept. 1, 2026. Administrative Exhaustion, Habeas Corpus, Bureau of Prisons Orders, Administrative Law/Remedies, Evidence - Integrity/Reliability of, Tolling of Statutes of Limitations and Laches, Federal Rules of Evidence, Statute of Limitations.
- Eleventh Circuit Holds § 2255 Motion Not “Second or Successive” After Intervening Amended Judgment Corrected Unlawful Sentences, Even as to Claims Concerning an Undisturbed Count, Aug. 1, 2026. Habeas Corpus, AEDPA, Effect of Vacatur.
- Eighth Circuit Dismisses Federal Prisoner’s Challenge to BOP Denying His Request for Expedited Transfer to Prerelease Custody, June 1, 2026. Release and Reentry, Habeas Corpus, First Step Act, Community Confinement/Home Detention, Credits.
- Sixth Circuit Announces State-Law Exceptions to Appeal Deadlines Preserve “Pending” Status Under AEDPA, Holding Belated-Appeal Procedures Toll Federal Habeas Limitations Period, April 1, 2026. Limitations, Habeas Corpus, AEDPA, Appealable Issues/Orders, Failure to Address/Advise Defendant.
- SCOTUS Sides with Federal Prisoner in Habeas Review Case, March 1, 2026. Habeas Corpus, AEDPA, Mandatory Minimum Sentence, Statutory Construction/Interpretation, Predicate Acts/Offenses.
- SCOTUS Announces Federal Prisoners May Seek Certiorari Review of Authorization Denials Under § 2255(h) and Are Not Subject to § 2244(b)(1)’s Bar on Previously Presented Claims, Feb. 1, 2026. Habeas Corpus, AEDPA, Appealable Issues/Orders, Statutory Construction/Interpretation, Authority and Jurisdiction.
- California Court of Appeal: Trial Courts Have Inherent Authority to Correct Unauthorized Sentences at Any Time Without Habeas Petition, Jan. 1, 2026. Habeas Corpus, Possession or Use of Firearms, Sentences - Authorized, Sentences - Corrections or Modifications of, Effect of Vacatur.
- First Circuit Announces Modification of Juvenile’s Life-Without-Parole Sentence to Parole-Eligible Life Term Constitutes “New Judgment” Under AEDPA, Exempting Second-in-Time Habeas Petition From Gatekeeping Requirements, Jan. 1, 2026. Parole, Habeas Corpus, Life without Parole (LWOP), AEDPA, Juvenile Offenses/Offenders.





