Opinion ID: 4535848
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: State Post-Conviction Review Proceedings

Text: Smith filed a pro per state habeas petition in August 1998. Several attorneys were sequentially appointed to represent him—Gary Gowen, David Schieck, Karen Connolly, Cristina Hinds, and Christopher Oram—during the first post-conviction proceedings. An amended petition and two supplements were filed on Smith’s behalf. The state district court denied Smith’s post-conviction petition in 2005, 18 SMITH V. BAKER and the Nevada Supreme Court affirmed that decision in 2006. In 2007, Smith filed a pro per habeas petition pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254 in federal court. An attorney appointed to represent Smith filed an amended petition several months later. The federal district court stayed the proceedings so Smith could return to state court to exhaust additional claims. Back in state court, Smith’s amended habeas petition was denied, and the Nevada Supreme Court affirmed that decision in 2010. Smith then resumed pursuit of his federal claims. The district court denied his habeas petition in March 2014, but subsequently granted a Certificate of Appealability for Claim 4 (ineffective assistance by penalty-phase counsel for failing to investigate and present mitigation evidence of Smith’s mental health). Smith timely filed a notice of appeal.