Supreme Court of the United States

Terrance Williams, Petitioner v. Pennsylvania. — Thomas, J., Dissenting

June 9, 2016195 L. Ed. 2d 132

Summary

Justice Thomas dissents from the majority's holding that the Due Process Clause was violated when the Chief Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court reviewed the petitioner's post-conviction petition after having served as district attorney in the petitioner's criminal trial. Thomas argues post-conviction proceedings are civil rather than criminal and historical practice does not require a former prosecutor to recuse from collateral review of the same case.