Opinion ID: 884966
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Fifth Claim for Relief

Text: ¶ 49 Gollehon requests that we reconsider our rulings and judgment with regard to issues Nos. 5 and 7 of his direct appeal, because the State claims in federal court that he did not present a due process and fair notice claim under the Fourteenth Amendment with regard to whether the death penalty could be applied for deliberate homicide by accountability. ¶ 50 The Petitioner focuses on the dissent of Justice Gray in his direct appeal and concludes that this Court understood and addressed his due process and fair notice claim when it considered his argument under the rule of lenity. Although the Petitioner states that he is confident that the federal courts will rule that these claims were addressed, he requests that we revisit claims Nos. 5 and 7 of his direct appeal for the following reasons: (1) to give this Court every opportunity to pass on a substantial and important constitutional claim before it reaches a federal venue; (2) to clarify how this Court actually dealt with these issues; (3) and because consideration of a matter previously decided in direct appeal is permissible under the 1995 postconviction statutes. ¶ 51 We decline to again address these issues. Postconviction relief is not available upon claims that a petitioner could have raised on direct appeal. See § 46-21-105(2), MCA. If the Petitioner failed to adequately raise these issues in his direct appeal, he is procedurally barred from doing so now. If they were adequately raised, the doctrine of res judicata bars relitigation of the issues. ¶ 52 The Fifth Claim for Relief is denied.