Overview
- The Supreme Court declined to hear Lance Shockley's appeal, leaving a circuit split on certificates of appealability unresolved.
- Shockley, convicted of killing a Missouri police officer in 2005, raised concerns about juror bias and ineffective counsel during his trial.
- Justice Sotomayor, joined by Justice Jackson, dissented, emphasizing the need for uniformity in appellate standards across circuits.
- The 8th Circuit denied Shockley a certificate of appealability despite one judge voting in favor, a stricter standard than other circuits.
- Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey argued there is no significant circuit split, while Sotomayor expressed hope the Court will address the issue in the future.