Opinion ID: 78594
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Direct and Collateral Appeals

Text: On August 23, 1996, the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed Williams' convictions and death sentence. [6] On October 3, 1997, the Supreme Court of Alabama affirmed the decision of the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals. [7] On June 15, 1998, the U.S. Supreme Court denied Williams' petition for a writ of certiorari. [8] In 1999, Williams filed a state habeas petition (Rule 32 petition) in State court asserting ineffective assistance of counsel claims pursuant to Alabama Rule of Criminal Procedure 32. [9] On August 17, 2000, the trial court held an evidentiary hearing. On October 9, 2001, the trial court denied Williams' Rule 32 petition. On November 14, 2003, the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed the trial court's denial of Williams' Rule 32 petition. [10] On May 14, 2004, the State court denied his application for a rehearing. On October 1, 2004, the Alabama Supreme Court denied Williams' petition for a writ of certiorari. Williams then timely filed a petition for writ of federal habeas corpus in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. On April 11, 2007, the district court denied his federal habeas corpus petition, and on April 28, 2008, the district court issued a COA restricting issues on appeal to determine: (1) whether trial counsel were ineffective in presenting an invalid insanity defense; (2) whether trial counsel were ineffective in failing to present a challenge to intent based on intoxication; (3) whether the jury charges unconstitutionally shifted to him the burden of proof on intent, and whether counsel were ineffective for failing to challenge them on that basis. Doc. 49.