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Ayestas v. Davis

Docket No.16-6795
Op. Below5th Cir.
ArgumentOct 30, 2017

Holding

The district court's denial of Carlos Ayestas' request for funding for "reasonably necessary" services of experts, investigators and the like, under 18 U.S.C. § 3599(f), to develop his claim that both his trial and state habeas counsel were ineffective was a judicial decision subject to appellate review under the standard jurisdictional provisions; the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit did not apply the correct legal standard in affirming the denial of that request.

Judgment

Vacated and remanded, 9-0, in an opinion by Samuel Alito on Mar 21, 2018. Justice Sotomayor filed a concurring opinion, in which Justice Ginsburg joined.

Proceedings & orders timeline

Aug 5, 2016
Application (16A130) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from September 8, 2016 to October 24, 2016, submitted to Justice Thomas.
Aug 10, 2016
Application (16A130) granted by Justice Thomas extending the time to file until October 24, 2016.
Oct 14, 2016
Application (16A130) to extend further the time from October 24, 2016 to November 7, 2016, submitted to Justice Thomas.
Oct 19, 2016
Application (16A130) granted by Justice Thomas extending the time to file until November 7, 2016.
Nov 7, 2016
Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due December 9, 2016)
Dec 5, 2016
Order extending time to file response to petition to and including January 9, 2017.
Dec 23, 2016
Order further extending time to file response to petition to and including February 8, 2017.
Feb 8, 2017
Brief of respondent Lorie Davis, Director, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Correctional Institutions Division in opposition filed.
Feb 23, 2017
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of March 17, 2017.
Feb 23, 2017
Reply of petitioner Carlos Manuel Ayestas, aka Dennis Zelaya Corea filed. (Distributed)
Mar 20, 2017
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of March 24, 2017.
Mar 27, 2017
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of March 31, 2017.
Apr 3, 2017
Motion of petitioner to proceed in forma pauperis is granted. The petition for a writ of certiorari is GRANTED limited to Question 2 presented by the petition.
Apr 10, 2017
Motion to appoint counsel filed by petitioner Carlos Manuel Ayestas, aka Dennis Zelaya Corea.
May 5, 2017
Consent to the filing of amicus curiae briefs, support of either party or of neither party, received from counsel for respondent.
May 5, 2017
Consent to the filing of amicus curiae briefs in support of either party or either party from counsel for the petitioner.
May 12, 2017
The time to file the joint appendix and petitioner's brief on the merits is extended to and including June 9, 2017.
May 12, 2017
The time to file respondent's brief on the merits is extended to and including August 1, 2017.
May 16, 2017
Motion to appoint counsel DISTRIBUTED for Conference of June 1, 2017.
Jun 5, 2017
Motion to appoint counsel filed by petitioner GRANTED. and Lee B. Kovarsky, Esquire, of Baltimore, Maryland, is appointed to serve as counsel for the petitioner in this case.
Jun 9, 2017
Joint appendix filed. (Statement of costs filed)
Jun 9, 2017
Brief of petitioner Carlos Manuel Ayestas, aka Dennis Zelaya Corea filed.
Jun 16, 2017
Brief amici curiae of The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers,and The American Civil Liberties Union filed.
Jun 16, 2017
Brief amicus curiae of The Constitution Project filed.
Jun 16, 2017
Brief amicus curiae of The American Bar Association filed.
Jun 16, 2017
Brief amicus curiae of The Capital Punishment Center of the University of Texas at Austin School of Law filed.
Aug 1, 2017
Brief of respondent Lorie Davis, Director, Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice, Correctional Division filed.
Aug 8, 2017
Brief amici curiae of States of Arizona, et al. filed.
Aug 31, 2017
Reply of petitioner Carlos Manuel Ayestas filed.
Aug 31, 2017
SET FOR ARGUMENT on Monday, October 30, 2017
Sep 7, 2017
CIRCULATED
Sep 12, 2017
Record requested from the U.S.C.A.5th Circuit.
Sep 28, 2017
Record received from the U.S.D.C. Southern District of Texas - Brownsville Division is electronic.
Oct 30, 2017
Argued. For petitioner: Lee Kovarsky, Baltimore, Md. (Appointed by this Court.) For respondent: Scott A. Keller, Solicitor General of Texas, Austin, Tex.
Mar 21, 2018
Judgment VACATED and case REMANDED. Alito, J., delivered the opinion for a unanimous Court. Sotomayor, J., filed a concurring opinion, in which Ginsburg, J., joined.
Apr 23, 2018
JUDGMENT ISSUED.
Apr 23, 2018
JUDGMENT ISSUED.

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