United States Seventh Circuit

Habeas writ is granted. Given that the defense to the murder charge was self-defense, the victim's behavior was of critical importance; counsel's failure to obtain the toxicology report, which showed that the victim was drunk and cocaine-high, violated Strickland.

Appellate Information

• Argued 02/09/2004
• Decided 04/02/2004
• Published 04/02/2004

Judges

• BAUER, Circuit Judge., Before BAUER, MANION, and EVANS, Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States Seventh Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Linda T. Coberly (argued), Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw, Chicago, IL, for Petitioner-Appellant.


• For Appellees:
  
• James B. Martin (argued), Steve Carter, Office of the Attorney General, Indianapolis, IN, for Respondent-Appellee.