United States Seventh Circuit

In a first-degree murder case, denial of habeas relief is reversed and remanded where: 1) an ineffective assistance of counsel claim was not procedurally defaulted; 2) counsel's failure to call a potentially exculpatory witness at trial was prejudicial; and 3) a remand was necessary to determine whether counsel's cumulative errors constituted ineffective assistance.

Appellate Information

• Argued 01/10/2008
• Decided 08/18/2008
• Published 08/18/2008

Judges

• RIPPLE, Circuit Judge., Before EASTERBROOK, Chief Judge, and RIPPLE and ROVNER, Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States Seventh Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Barry Levenstam, Melanie K. Nelson (argued), Jenner & Block, Chicago, IL, for Petitioner-Appellant.


• For Appellees:
  
• Michael R. Blankenheim (argued), Office Of The Attorney General, Chicago, IL, for Respondent-Appellee.