Dwayne Williams v. State of Louisiana

Summary

The court held that the district court did not abuse its discretion by denying the State's request to stay a wrongful-conviction compensation proceeding while the petitioner's related federal civil-rights action remained pending. The court emphasized that the two actions involve materially different causes of action and that the compensation statute directs the court to decide the state proceeding as soon as practical. The court affirmed the denial of the stay.