U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, 1986

The court affirmed the denial of habeas relief, concluding that Mira’s general objections did not require de novo review, the district court did not abuse its discretion by failing to appoint counsel, and the challenged jury instructions and indictment did not establish a constitutional violation.

The en banc court held that the Appeals Council may review an administrative law judge’s favorable disability determination on its own motion and that judicial review defers to the Council’s final findings, not the ALJ’s, if the Council’s findings are supported by substantial evidence.