Summary
Maples v. Thomas: U. S. Supreme Court review of a convicted Alabama murderer’s claim that he is entitled to federal habeas corpus review of his case even though he missed the state deadline for requesting review. Cory Maples was convicted on strong evidence of the 1995 execution-style murders of two acquaintances and the theft of the car of one of the victims. In 1997 he was convicted on all charges and sentenced to death. After his conviction and sentence were upheld by the state court of appeals and supreme court, attorneys from a New York law firm representing Maples pro bono argued on state collateral review that his trial attorney had been ineffective. Prior to the state court’s ruling denying these claims, the attorneys who had appeared in the court quit the firm, and the firm failed to inform the court of the change of attorneys. As a result, Maples did not receive notice of the ruling, and he missed the state deadline for filing an appeal, which also prevented review of his claims on federal habeas corpus. CJLF has joined the case to argue that Supreme Court precedent makes it clear that criminals are not entitled to counsel for state collateral review or federal habeas corpus. While Maples pro bono lawyers certainly failed him, absent compelling evidence that he is innocent, the post-conviction review of his case should be over. The Court issued a narrow opinion holding that on the unusual facts of this case, the failings of the lawyers constitute cause for the default. [CJLF brief in PDF.]
