Yesterday, the Supreme Court reversed the decision of the 11th Circuit in Maples v. Thomas, ruling that a capital defendant had shown cause to excuse his procedural default when he had been "abandoned by counsel...[and] left unrepresented at a critical time for his state postconviction proceeding..."
It was uncontested that Maples was blameless for the default.
Justice Ginsburg authored the opinion, Justice Alito filed a concurring opinion, and Justices Scalia and Thomas filed a dissenting opinion.
News and Commentary:
SCOTUSblog
Sentencing Law and Policy
NPR
Wall Street Journal Law Blog
It was uncontested that Maples was blameless for the default.
Justice Ginsburg authored the opinion, Justice Alito filed a concurring opinion, and Justices Scalia and Thomas filed a dissenting opinion.
News and Commentary:
SCOTUSblog
Sentencing Law and Policy
NPR
Wall Street Journal Law Blog