Case Name: STATE of Louisiana v. Thomas LAM
Court: Louisiana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 2019-02-11
Citations: 263 So. 3d 416
Docket Number: No. 2018-KH-0108
Parties: STATE of Louisiana
v.
Thomas LAM
Judges: 
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Third Series
Volume: 263
Pages: 416–417

Head Matter:
STATE of Louisiana
v.
Thomas LAM
No. 2018-KH-0108
Supreme Court of Louisiana.
February 11, 2019
ON SUPERVISORY WRITS TO THE CRIMINAL DISTRICT COURT, PARISH OF ORLEANS

Opinion:
PER CURIAM:
Denied. Relator fails to show that he received ineffective assistance of counsel under the standard of Strickland v. Washington , 466 U.S. 668, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984). Relator also fails to show that the state withheld material exculpatory evidence in violation of Brady v. Maryland , 373 U.S. 83, 83 S.Ct. 1194, 10 L.Ed.2d 215 (1963). As to his remaining claims, relator fails to satisfy his post-conviction burden of proof. La.C.Cr.P. art. 930.2.
Relator has now fully litigated his application for post-conviction relief in state court. Similar to federal habeas relief, see 28 U.S.C. § 2244, Louisiana post-conviction procedure envisions the filing of a second or successive application only under the narrow circumstances provided in La.C.Cr.P. art. 930.4 and within the limitations period as set out in La.C.Cr.P. art. 930.8. Notably, the legislature in 2013 La. Acts 251 amended that article to make the procedural bars against successive filings mandatory. Relator's claims have now been fully litigated in accord with La.C.Cr.P. art. 930.6, and this denial is final. Hereafter, unless he can show that one of the narrow exceptions authorizing the filing of a successive application applies, relator has exhausted his right to state collateral review. The district court is ordered to record a minute entry consistent with this per curiam.