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Davis v. Jacobs

United States Supreme Court
454 U.S. 911 (1981)

Facts

Davis and 16 other defendants (defendants) were state prisoners whose habeas corpus petitions were dismissed by federal district judges as meritless. The district judges refused to issue certificates of probable cause to allow an appeal to the United States Court of Appeals. The defendants unsuccessfully sought review by the court of appeals without certificates. The defendants then sought petitions for writs of certiorari to the United States Supreme Court.

Rule of Law

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Issue

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Holding and Reasoning (Stevens, J.)

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  • A “yes” or “no” answer to the question framed in the issue section;
  • A summary of the majority or plurality opinion, using the CREAC method; and
  • The procedural disposition (e.g. reversed and remanded, affirmed, etc.).

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Dissent (Rehnquist, J.)

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