Cavazos v. Smith

Docket No.	Op. Below	Argument	Opinion	Vote	Author	Term
10-1115	9th Cir.	Not Argued	Oct 31, 2011	6-3	Per Curiam	OT 2011

Holding: The Ninth Circuit exceeded its authority under 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d)when it substituted its own judgment for that of a California jury on the question whether the prosecution’s or the defense’s expert witnesses more persuasively explained the cause of a death.

Judgment: Summarily reversed in a per curiam opinion on October 31, 2011. Justice Ginsburg filed a dissenting opinion, which was joined by Justices Breyer and Sotomayor.

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Cases argued	70
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Editor's Note :

Cavazos v. Smith

SCOTUSblog Coverage

Briefs and Documents

Certiorari-stage documents

Featured Posts

City returns in gun-rights case – Amy Howe

A Supreme Court ceremony for Justice Stevens: “A modest and humble man” – Mark Walsh

Remembering Justice Stevens: A lost link to our past – Gregory Garre

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Merits Case Pages and Archives

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Calendar: July 2019

July 2019

Holiday

Download our App in the Apple Store

Videos see all

Peabody Award

Sigma Delta Chi

National Press Club Award

Silver Gavel Award

American Gavel Award

Webby Award