Supreme Court of the United States

Amadeo v. Zant

May 31, 1988486 U.S. 214

Summary

Justice Marshall delivered the unanimous opinion holding that the Court of Appeals improperly rejected the District Court’s factual findings supporting cause to excuse Amadeo’s procedural default of his jury-discrimination claim. The findings that county officials concealed evidence of intentional discrimination and that counsel did not deliberately bypass a jury challenge were supported by the record and were not clearly erroneous. Those findings established cause because official interference made the factual basis of the claim not reasonably available to counsel. The State could not contest prejudice after conceding it in both courts below. The Court reversed and remanded. There were no separate opinions.

Holding

  • Appellate review of the factual findings supporting cause.. The District Court’s findings concerning concealment and the absence of deliberate bypass were not clearly erroneous, and the Court of Appeals improperly substituted its own factual determinations.
  • Cause excusing procedural default of the jury-discrimination claim.. The supported findings that officials concealed the memorandum and that concealment rather than tactical considerations caused counsel’s failure to challenge the juries established cause for the procedural default.
  • The State’s attempt to contest prejudice in the Supreme Court.. The State could not dispute prejudice after conceding in both lower courts that the finding of intentional racial discrimination satisfied that requirement.

Docket 87-5277

Cited authorities

  • Rule 52(a)
  • Rule 52(a)
  • CA11
  • Fed. R. Evid. 103(d)

Cited by

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