Document: 522 U.S. 87118 S.Ct. 478139 L.Ed.2d 444 Richard F. TREST, Petitioner,v.Burl CAIN, Warden. No. 96-7901. Supreme Court of the United States Argued Nov. 10, 1997. Decided Dec. 9, Syllabus * In upholding District Court's refusal to issue a writ habeas corpus vacating petitioner Trest's Louisiana prison sentence, Fifth Circuit stated its belief that state court would refuse consider federal claims as untimely, and this "procedural default'' was an adequate independent ground for denying him relief. his petition certiorari, Trest pointed out had raised decided question sua sponte, language in court's opinion suggested it thought that, once noticed possibility procedural default, required raise matter on own. Held: A appeals is not "required'' default sponte. Pp. ___-___. (a) context, normally "defense'' State "obligated raise'' "preserv[e]'' if "lose right assert defense thereafter.'' Gray v. Netherland, 518 152, ----, 116 2074, 2082, 135 457. This unaware any precedent stating must such where itself does do so. P. ___. (b) appropriate case which examine whether law nonetheless permitted First, contains suggesting believed despite Louisiana's failure matter, required, simply permitted, potential default. Second, made clear certiorari he intended limit mandatory consideration, response did object, suggest alternate wording, or ask broader context. Third, cannot be easily answered context case, uncertain about matters arguably are relevant sponte: questions exhaustion rules applied. The parties might have considered these questions, determined their relevance answers, without giving opportunity argument. 94 F.3d 1005, vacated remanded. BREYER, J., delivered unanimous Court. Rebecca L. Hudsmith, Washington, DC, petitioner. Kathleen E. Petersen, respondent. Justice BREYER 1 Trest, seeks corpus, vacate long sentence serving armed robbery. refused writ. appealed Appeals ruled against default.'' Whitley, 1007 (1996). failed time court, now reason, reason amounted Hence, absence special circumstances, could reach merits claims. Id., at 1007-1009; see generally Coleman Thompson, 501 722, 111 2546, 115 640 (1991); Rose Lundy, 455 509, 102 1198, 71 379 (1982). 2 Court, themselves neither nor argued matter. And Appeals' consequently asked us decide appeals, reviewing district decision, "is . sponte'' petitioner's Pet. Cert i (emphasis added). We agreed 3 Precedent makes answer presented "no.'' It presence deprived jurisdiction, has is, critical comply with law, jurisdictional See Lambrix Singletary, 520 117 1517, 1522, 137 771 (1997); Coleman, supra, 730-731, S.Ct., 2554-2555. Rather, " [i]n application doctrine,'' typically instance, grounded concerns comity federalism.'' 730, 2554 (contrasting proceeding direct review judgment). Thus, 457 (1996); Jenkins Anderson, 447 231, 234, n. 1, 100 2124, 2127, 65 86 (1980). aware concedes much, says brief "the clearly "required' sponte invoke Brief Respondent 16-17. 4 Louisiana, however, like go beyond hold (though require) Cf. Granberry Greer, 481 129, 133-134, 107 1671, 1674-1675, 95 119 (1987) (appellate may exhaust remedies). recognize some uncertainty lower courts whether, just when, point waived, raise. Compare Esslinger Davis, 44 1515, 1525-1528 (C.A.11 1995) (sua invocation serves no important interest) Hardiman Reynolds, 971 F.2d 500, 502-505 (C.A.10 1992) (comity scarce judicial resources justify raising sponte); also Liebman & Hertz, Federal Habeas Corpus Practice Procedure §26.2, 814-817 (1994) (citing cases). Nonetheless, we believe several reasons. Circuit's (and permit court) See, e.g., F.3d, (" [T]his decision Sones Hargett, 61 410 (C.A.5 precludes from challenge''). 5 well arguments petition, way described. Yet object wording. Nor 6 disagree, example, fully, partially, exhausted current by them court. U.S., 518-520, 1203-1204. They disagree waived "nonexhaustion'' defense. supra. not, kind rely upon existence bar'' one. 735, 2557, 7 seem state's relevant. focus 35-year imprisonment imposed (under "habitual offender'' law) light earlier convictions Mississippi burglary. those were constitutionally invalid because they rested guilty plea accepted having first told rights appeal, trial jury, confront witnesses, incriminate himself. Boykin Alabama, 395 238, 242-244, 89 1709, 1711-1713, 23 274 (1969); Robicheaux, 412 So.2d 1313, 1316-1317 (La.1982). barred challenge under came too late day. Miss.Code. Ann. §99-39-5(2). amici supporting him, (for purposes doctrine) rather than Mississippi, holds custody. Mississippi's create "default'' bar considering (or not) use enhance subsequent crime. 8 note say always further briefing when disposes basis previously argued. But often, here, somewhat longer often fairer) "round shortest home. Regardless, presented, judgment Appeals, remand proceedings consistent opinion. 9 so ordered. syllabus constitutes part but been prepared Reporter Decisions convenience reader. Detroit Timber Lumber Co., 200 321, 337, 26 282, 287, 50 L.Ed. 499 (1906).

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