Opinion ID: 2977877
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: where the prosecutor extensively berated

Text: DEFENDANT’S CHARACTER BEFORE THE JURY WITH IMPERMISSIBLE EVIDENCE AND ARGUMENT TO THE JURY, A NEW TRIAL IS REQUIRED. IV. WHERE THE SENTENCING JUDGE FAILS TO RESOLVE OBJECTIONS TO THE SENTENCE INFORMATION REPORT (SIR) AND WHEN THE SENTENCE FOR CSC II AND OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE IS DISPROPORTIONATE TO THESE OFFENSES AND TO THE OFFENDER, THERE IS AN ABUSE OF SENTENCING DISCRETION REQUIRING RESENTENCING. V. DEFENSE COUNSEL’S FAILURE TO OBJECT TO IMPROPER EVIDENCE AND PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT WAS CONSTITUTIONALLY INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL. U.S. CONST. AMEND. V, VI AND XIV. The district court referred Hall’s petition to a magistrate judge for report and recommendation. The magistrate judge concluded that the prosecutor had violated Hall’s Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and his due process right to a fair trial. Hall v. Vasbinder, 551 F. Supp. 2d 652, 672-76 (E.D. Mich. 2008). The magistrate judge also concluded that Hall’s trial counsel had provided ineffective No. 08-1475 Hall v. Vasbinder Page 11 assistance for failing to object to the prosecutor’s questions about Hall’s earlier silence and comments made during closing. Id. at 668-72. The ineffective assistance served as cause for Hall’s procedural default of his Fifth Amendment and due process claims, and the magistrate judge concluded that Hall was sufficiently prejudiced by the errors to excuse the default. The district court adopted the magistrate judge’s report and recommendation over the Warden’s objections and conditionally granted habeas relief to Hall. Id. at 660. The Warden timely appealed.