Williams v. Pennsylvania

136 S. Ct. 1899, 195 L.Ed.2d 132 (2016)

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Williams v. Pennsylvania

United States Supreme Court
136 S. Ct. 1899, 195 L.Ed.2d 132 (2016)

SC
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Facts

Terrance Williams was charged with first-degree murder. District Attorney (DA) Ronald Castille approved the case for the death penalty. The jury convicted Williams and sentenced him to death. Williams appealed and the conviction was affirmed. Williams filed a petition for habeas corpus in state court. The state court granted Williams’s habeas corpus petition and stayed his execution. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania appealed to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. The Chief Justice of the state supreme court at the time was former DA Castille. Williams filed a motion to recuse Castille from hearing his case. Castille denied the motion and heard the case. The state supreme court reinstated the death penalty on the ground that Williams’s habeas petition was untimely. The United States Supreme Court granted certiorari.

Rule of Law

Issue

Holding and Reasoning (Kennedy, J.)

Dissent (Thomas, J.)

Dissent (Roberts, C.J.)

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