Opinion ID: 4023529
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: State Appeals and Federal Court Proceedings

Text: In his direct appeal, Lisle argued that allowing Lee to testify about Hearn’s out-of-court statement that “Steve” (Lisle) had shot him violated his Confrontation Clause rights. The state appellate court affirmed in an opinion issued October 5, 2007. The date is important because it is the date of the state courts’ last decision on the merits of Lisle’s federal claim. Under 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d)(1), the issue is whether the state court’s 4 No. 14-3047 decision was an unreasonable application of Supreme Court precedent at that time. The Illinois Supreme Court denied Lisle’s petition for leave to appeal. After unsuccessful efforts to obtain post-conviction relief in the state courts, Lisle filed a federal habeas corpus petition in 2013. He raised several claims, but the claim that was properly before the federal court was his Confrontation Clause claim based on Lee’s testimony about Hearn’s out-ofcourt statement that Lisle had been the shooter. The district court denied relief, finding that the state appellate court’s decision was not contrary to or an unreasonable application of Supreme Court precedent. The district court declined to issue a certificate of appealability. We granted a certificate on the Confrontation Clause claim, and we appointed counsel who have ably represented Lisle.