Opinion ID: 200987
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Neverson's First Habeas Petition and State Post-Trial Proceedings

Text: 9 On August 28, 1996, almost three years after the SJC rejected his direct appeal, Neverson (acting pro se) filed his first petition for habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2254. On respondents' motion, the district court (Judge O'Toole) dismissed the petition without prejudice because it included unexhausted claims. See Rose v. Lundy, 455 U.S. 509, 522, 102 S.Ct. 1198, 71 L.Ed.2d 379 (1982) (federal courts must dismiss mixed habeas petitions, i.e., those containing both exhausted and unexhausted claims). 4 10 Neverson then returned to state court to exhaust his state post-conviction remedies. His pro se motion for a new trial, filed on July 9, 1997, was denied by the trial judge. The Massachusetts Appeals Court turned down Neverson's appeal of that order, Commonwealth v. Neverson, 45 Mass.App.Ct. 1104, 699 N.E.2d 28 (1998) (table), and the SJC again denied further review, Commonwealth v. Neverson, 700 N.E.2d 544 (Mass.1998) (table).