Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/boundvolumes/558bv.pdf
Page Number: 381.0

220 

OCTOBER  TERM,  2009 

Per  Curiam 

WELLONS  v.  HALL,  WARDEN 

on  petition  for  writ  of  certiorari  to  the  united 
states court of appeals for the eleventh circuit 

No. 09–5731.  Decided January 19, 2010 

In afﬁrming petitioner Wellons’ murder conviction and death sentence, the 
Georgia  Supreme  Court  rejected  claims  of  misconduct  by  the  trial 
judge,  some  jurors,  and  a  bailiff.  Wellons  sought  state  habeas  relief 
and moved to develop evidence supporting the claims, but the court held 
that  the  matter  had  been  decided  on  appeal  and  thus  was  res  judicata. 
The  Federal  District  Court  denied  Wellons’  requests  for  habeas  relief, 
discovery,  and  an  evidentiary  hearing,  ruling that  his  claims  of  miscon­
duct were procedurally barred.  The Eleventh Circuit afﬁrmed. 

Held:  The Eleventh Circuit’s holding was in error under Cone v.  Bell, 556 
U. S. 449.  “When a state court declines to review the merits of a peti­
tioner’s  claim  on  the  ground  that  it  has  done  so  already,  it  creates  no 
bar to federal habeas review.”  Id., at 466.  On remand, the court must 
address  Wellons’  entitlement  to  discovery  and  an  evidentiary  hearing. 

Certiorari granted; 554 F. 3d 923, vacated and remanded. 

Per Curiam. 
From beginning to end, judicial proceedings conducted for 
the  purpose  of  deciding  whether  a  defendant  shall  be  put 
to  death  must  be  conducted  with  dignity  and  respect.  The 
disturbing facts of this case raise serious questions concern­
ing the conduct of the trial, and this petition raises a serious 
question  about  whether  the  Court  of  Appeals  carefully  re­
viewed  those  facts  before  addressing  petitioner’s  constitu­
tional  claims.  We  know  that  the  Court  of  Appeals  com­
mitted the same procedural error that we corrected in Cone 
v.  Bell, 556 U. S. 449, 466–467  (2009).  We do not know how 
the  court  would  have  ruled  if  it  had  the  beneﬁt  of  our  deci­
sion in that case. 

Petitioner Marcus Wellons was convicted in Georgia state 
court of rape and murder and sentenced to death.  Although 
the  trial  looked typical,  there  were  unusual events  going  on 
behind  the  scenes.  Only  after  the  trial  did  defense  counsel