Opinion ID: 203863
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: O'Laughlin's Habeas Petition

Text: In his habeas petition before the district court, O'Laughlin alleged that (1) the evidence at trial was insufficient to prove that he was a perpetrator of the offenses for which he was convicted; and (2) the trial court violated his right to present a defense by excluding a handwritten note that, according to O'Laughlin, supported his third-party culprit defense. After briefing by the parties and a non-evidentiary hearing, the district court denied O'Laughlin's petition reasoning that like the courts that have looked at this cold record before me, this is a close question. But the petition must be under federal law denied. O'Laughlin then filed a timely notice of appeal and requested a Certificate of Appealability (COA) as to his sufficiency and right-to-present a defense claims. The district court granted a COA with respect to both issues.