[Download] "Rompilla V. Horn" by United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit # Book PDF Kindle ePub Free
eBook details
- Title: Rompilla V. Horn
- Author : United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
- Release Date : January 13, 2004
- Genre: Law,Books,Professional & Technical,
- Pages : * pages
- Size : 121 KB
Description
The Commissioner of the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections (hereinafter "the Commonwealth") appeals from a District Court order granting the petition for a writ of habeas corpus that was filed by Ronald Rompilla, a Pennsylvania prisoner who was sentenced to death. The District Court ordered that Rompilla be released unless he is either resentenced to life imprisonment or a new penalty phase trial is held. Rompilla cross-appeals from the denial of his petition insofar as it challenged his conviction. We conclude that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court's decision regarding Rompilla's sentencing proceeding was not contrary to and did not involve an unreasonable application of clearly established Supreme Court precedent, and therefore we reverse the decision of the District Court with respect to Rompilla's sentence. We affirm the decision of the District Court with respect to his conviction. By separate order, however, we have granted Rompilla's application to file a successive petition for a writ of habeas corpus so that he will be able to assert his claim that, under Atkins v. Virginia, 536 U.S. 304 (2002), he may not be executed because of mental retardation.