Another ineffective assistance case headed to the Supreme Court?
The justices of the U.S. Supreme Court this week hinted that they may take another look at ineffective assistance of counsel claims.
SCOTUSblog’s Lyle Denniston reports that the Court stayed the execution of a Texas man, who claimed that the state’s system for appointing lawyers to death penalty defendants makes it impossible to raise ineffective assistance claims later. Under the system, such defendants are appointed two lawyers by the state, with one to handle verdict challenges, and another to deal with post-trial challenges.
Though the 5th Circuit denied the defendant’s challenge, the Supreme Court granted a temporary stay while they consider whether to grant cert on the issue.
