United States Third Circuit

Denial of habeas relief for a Pennsylvania inmate sentenced to death for murdering his wife, two children, and other family members, is affirmed over petitioner's claims of error regarding: 1) ineffective assistance of counsel; 2) competency issues; 3) the validity of a guilty plea and waiver of specific defenses; 4) additional guilt-phase waiver arguments; 5) a waiver of a penalty phase jury; and 6) penalty phase waiver issues and ineffective assistance claims.

Appellate Information

• Argued 10/18/2006
• Decided 09/20/2007
• Published 09/20/2007

Judges

• BEFORE:  BARRY, FUENTES, and ROTH, Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States Third Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Matthew C. Lawry, Esq., (Argued), Michael Wiseman, Defender Association of Philadelphia, Federal Capital Habeas Corpus Unit, Philadelphia, PA, for Paul Gamboa Taylor., Stuart Suss, Esq. (Argued), Office of the Pennsylvania Attorney General, Appeals and Legal Services Section, Norristown, PA, for Martin Horn, Commissioner, Pennsylvania Department of Corrections;  Gregory White, Superintendent, State Correctional Institution at Pittsburgh;  and Joseph P. Mazurkiewicz, Superintendent, State Correctional Institution at Rockview.