Supreme Court of the United States
Jefferson v. Upton
May 24, 2010560 U.S. 284
Summary
The Supreme Court vacated the Eleventh Circuit’s judgment and remanded for further proceedings, holding that the appellate court erred by considering only §2254(d)(8) and failing to evaluate the other seven statutory exceptions to the presumption of correctness. The Court emphasized that all eight exceptions must be considered and instructed the lower courts to determine whether any apply. Justice Scalia dissented, arguing that the majority decided a ground not raised below and mischaracterized the Eleventh Circuit’s analysis.