Court Opinion

ID: 9683415
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 13:28:15.7951+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:17:47.681468
License: Public Domain

BAIRD, Judge,
concurring.
While it is true that McCleskey v. Zant, 499 U.S. 467, 111 S.Ct. 1454, 113 L.Ed.2d 517 (1991), dealt with the “cause and prejudice standard,” it is more important to consider the context in which that standard was developed.
State courts consider only habeas applications from inmates convicted of state crimes. However, federal courts consider habeas petitions from defendants convicted of either state or federal crimes. The federal courts in McCleskey considered the habeas application of a state prisoner. The “cause and prejudice” standard established a procedural bar which precludes federal courts from considering habeas applications from state inmates. Because Tex.Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 11.07 deals exclusively with a unitary system of state inmates and state courts, the majority’s reliance on McCleskey is misplaced, ante at 473-474, and for that reason, I cannot join the majority opinion.
Accordingly, I join only the judgment of the Court.
OVERSTREET, MEYERS and PRICE, JJ., join this opinion.