Document: 544 U.S. 269 RHINESv.WEBER, WARDEN. No. 03-9046. Supreme Court of United States. Argued January 12, 2005. Decided March 30, After petitioner Rhines' state conviction for first-degree murder and burglary became final his habeas petition was denied, he filed a federal petition. Because the 1-year statute limitations imposed by Antiterrorism Effective Death Penalty Act 1996 (AEDPA) tolled while pending, see 28 U. S. C. § 2244(d)(2), had more than 11 months before period expired. However, time District ruled that eight claims not been exhausted in court, run. If court dismissed "mixed" petition, Rhines would have unable to refile after exhausting claims, so decided hold abeyance presented unexhausted provided commenced proceedings within 60 days returned completing exhaustion. The Eighth Circuit, which previously held district has no authority mixed petitions absent truly exceptional circumstances, vacated stay remanded case determine whether could proceed deleting claims. Held: A discretion allow present first instance then return review perfected Pp. 273-279. (a) Fourteen years Congress enacted AEDPA, this courts may adjudicate but must give opportunity decide petitioner's claims; "total exhaustion" requirement; directed effectuate requirement dismissing without prejudice allowing petitioners court. Rose v. Lundy, 455 509, 518-519. At time, there on petitions. But changed with preserved Lundy's total exhaustion imposing period, is during pendency state, federal, As result, such as run risk forever losing their Even who files early cannot control when will resolve question. gravity difficulty problem led some adopt "stay-and-abeyance" procedure at issue. 273-276. (b) AEDPA does deprive issue stays are proper exercise discretion, it circumscribe discretion. Any solution therefore be compatible AEDPA's purposes. Staying frustrates objective encouraging finality judgments delay resolution proceedings, undermines goal streamlining decreasing incentive exhaust all filing Thus, should available only limited circumstances. granting effectively excuses failure courts, appropriate determines good cause if existed, abuse its granted plainly meritless. Where appropriate, court's still timeliness concerns. place reasonable limits trip back, petitioners, especially capital frustrate dragging out indefinitely review. And engages abusive litigation tactics or intentional delay, grant all. On other hand, likely an deny dismiss exhaust, potentially meritorious, indication engaged intentionally dilatory tactics. Such interest obtaining outweighs competing interests speedy For same reason, inappropriate, delete ones entire unreasonably impair right obtain relief. 276-279. 346 F. 3d 799, remanded. O'CONNOR, J., delivered opinion Court, REHNQUIST, STEVENS, SCALIA, KENNEDY, THOMAS, GINSBURG, BREYER, JJ., joined. concurring opinion, GINSBURG joined, post, p. 279. SOUTER, part judgment, CERTIORARI TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR EIGHTH CIRCUIT. Roberto A. Lange, appointment 543 806, argued briefs petitioner. Lawrence E. Long, Attorney General South Dakota, respondent. With him brief Craig M. Eichstadt, Deputy General.* JUSTICE O'CONNOR Court. 1 We confront here corpus relief prisoner presents single containing not. More precisely, we consider instance, 2 * Petitioner Charles Russell convicted Dakota third-degree sentenced death. His December 2, 1996, denied initial certiorari. 519 1013. 5, corpus. App. 32. affirmed February 9, 2000, Weber, 2000 SD 19, 608 N. W. 2d 303. pro se pursuant 2254 States 22, 2000. 3. left expiration period. 3 assistance court-appointed counsel, amended writ statement November 20, asserting 35 constitutional defects sentence. 39-60. State challenged 12 those unexhausted. Id., 72-79. July 3, 2002, approximately 18 8 exhausted. See Duncan Walker, 533 167, 181-182 (2001) (holding pendancy petition). point, moved pending courts. motion issued "conditioned upon commencing sixty order returning exhaustion." 136. In compliance order, second August 2002. 4 appealed Court's Appeals Circuit. Relying decision Akins Kenney, 341 681, 686 (2003) "a circumstances" (internal quotation marks omitted)), from 799 (2003). certiorari split Circuits regarding propriety procedure. 542 936 (2004). Compare, e. g., Crews Horn, 360 146, 152 (CA3 2004); Zarvela Artuz, 254 374, 381 (CA2 2001), (case below). II 5 509 (1982), corpus, is, both reasoned comity federalism dictate noted "[b]ecause `it unseemly our dual system government upset correct violation,' apply doctrine comity." 518 (quoting Darr Burford, 339 200, 204 (1950)). That "`teaches one defer action causes properly jurisdiction until another sovereignty concurrent powers, already cognizant litigation, pass matter.'" S., 518. 6 Accordingly, instance. 522. When come back relative ease. Slack McDaniel, 529 473, 486 (2000) (dismissal under Lundy "contemplated requisite exhaustion"). 7 enactment dramatically altered landscape requirement, 2254(b)(1)(A) ("An application ... shall unless appears applicant remedies State"), also petitions, 2244(d). Although "properly post-conviction collateral review," toll limitations, Duncan, supra, 181-182. result interplay between dismissal any timely dismisses expired, mean termination example, because contained barred Similarly, close end chances refiling runs slim. file deadline. way controlling question ever receives turn happens hear case. 9 recognize posed alike. attempt solve problem, adopted version employed below. Under procedure, rather might returns Once exhausts remedies, lift 10 do ordinarily stays, Landis North American Co., 299 248, (1936), where Clinton Jones, 520 706 (1997). authority, cf. State" (emphasis added)), One statute's purposes "reduce delays execution criminal sentences, particularly cases." Woodford Garceau, 538 202, 206 179. "quite serves well-recognized judgments." Ibid. It "reduces potential road restricting prospective seek review." Moreover, against backdrop requirement. tolling provision 2244(d)(2) "balances served limitation period" "by protecting prisoner's ability later being pursued." thus encourages review" pending. 2244(d)(2). This scheme reinforces importance "simple clear instruction litigants: you bring sure taken each court." 520. 13 Stay abeyance, too frequently, undermine these twin proceedings. prior Cf. 180 ("[D]iminution statutory incentives increase very piecemeal designed reduce"). 14 reasons, even failure, were 2254(b)(2) merits, notwithstanding State"). 15 structuring concerns reflected AEDPA. stayed indefinitely. Though, generally, "principal claims," (plurality opinion), quickly possible. particular, deliberately engage prolong incarceration avoid sentence Without limits, back. See, Zarvela, 3d, ("[District courts] explicitly condition pursuing interval, normally 30 days, entered similarly completed"). id., 380-381. 16 stay, dismiss, 522 (the intended "unreasonably relief"). case, opinion) ("[A petitioner] can always amend claims"). 17 erred extent concluded impermissible. vacate judgment remand determine, consistent constituted ordered. Notes: ofamicus curiae urging reversal National Association Criminal Defense Lawyers Pamela Harris David Porter. ofamici affirmance California et al. Bill Lockyer, California, Manuel Medeiros, Solicitor General, Robert R. Anderson, Chief Assistant Hamanaka, Senior Donald de Nicola Paul Roadarmel, Jr., Attorneys Christopher L. Morano, State's Connecticut, respective follows: Troy King Alabama, Terry Goddard Arizona, Mike Beebe Arkansas, Jane Brady Delaware, Thurbert Baker Georgia, Mark J. Bennett Hawaii, G. Wasden Idaho, Steve Carter Indiana, Joseph Curran, Maryland, Thomas Reilly Massachusetts, Jim Hood Mississippi, Jeremiah (Jay) Nixon Missouri, McGrath Montana, Jon Bruning Nebraska, Brian Sandoval Nevada, Kelly Ayotte New Hampshire, Patricia Madrid Mexico, Eliot Spitzer York, Wayne Stenehjem Petro Ohio, Gerald Pappert Pennsylvania, Summers Tennessee, Shurtleff Utah, Jerry Kilgore Virginia, Darrell V. McGraw, West Patrick Crank Wyoming. 19 whom BREYER join, concurring. 20 While I join understanding reference "good cause" failing promptly, ante, 277, impose sort strict inflexible "`trap unwary prisoner.'" (1982); 487 (2000). 21 judgment. 22 reservation, doctrinal practical. Instead conditioning stay-and-abeyance simply unavailable demonstration "intentionally tactics," 278. trickiness determinations promises infect issues finds exhaust; (as most are) well trained address matters. fear threshold enquiries into much trouble worth time; far better wait alarm sound gaming system.

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