No. 19-5755October Term 2019Decided Sep 4, 2019Updated Sep 3, 2026
Crutsinger v. Davis
The Court declined review and did not decide whether Crutsinger could reopen his federal habeas judgment.
Case status
Decided · September 4, 2019
Read the opinion (PDF)- Current stage
- Decided
- Latest event
- Decision released Sep 4, 2019
- What it's about
This case asks whether a Texas death-row inmate can reopen the judgment denying his federal habeas petition under Rule 60(b). He argues that a later change in the law and the alleged denial of his statutory right to counsel in his federal habeas case are extraordinary circumstances that justify relief from the final judgment.
Question presented
1. Whether in ruling on a 60(b) motion for relief from judgment, a court can consider "a change in the law" as one of many wide-range of factors, in determining whether extraordinary circumstances are present, warranting relief from the judgment? 2. Whether an allegation that an indigent, death-sentenced habeas applicant has been deprived of his statutory right to representation in a 28 U.S.C. § 2254 federal habeas corpus proceeding is an allegation that there existed a structural defect in the integrity of the proceeding, and whether an applicant can challenge that structural defect in a Motion for Relief From the Judgment under Fed. R. Civ. P. 60(b)?
- Case path
United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit / Decision released Sep 4, 2019
- Area
Criminal Procedure
Decision
What the Court decided
The Court declined review and did not decide whether Crutsinger could reopen his federal habeas judgment.
Impact
The action left the lower-court result in place for Crutsinger, a Texas death-row inmate. It also meant the Court did not address whether a legal change or alleged loss of counsel can justify reopening a final habeas judgment.
Not official Court text.
Opinion documents
Briefing
What it's about
The Supreme Court declined to review Crutsinger's petition on September 4, 2019. It did not decide the merits of his arguments about reopening his federal habeas case (a court challenge to a conviction or sentence).
Impact
The action left the lower-court result in place for Crutsinger, a Texas death-row inmate. It also meant the Court did not address whether a legal change or alleged loss of counsel can justify reopening a final habeas judgment.
What's next
The Supreme Court has finished its docket action. The lower-court result remains in place.
What did the Supreme Court do in Crutsinger v. Davis?
The Court declined to review the petition. It did not decide the legal questions raised by Crutsinger.
Who was affected by the Court's action in Crutsinger v. Davis?
Crutsinger, a Texas death-row inmate, remained subject to the lower-court result. Other habeas applicants received no new Supreme Court guidance from this action.
What happens next after Crutsinger v. Davis?
The Supreme Court docket action is complete. The lower-court result remains in effect.
Timing
Decided September 4, 2019
The Court released its decision on September 4, 2019 without hearing oral argument.
Documents
Activity
Docket activity3
AI analysis generated: Case Briefing
Sep 3, 2026 | Generated
Opinion added: Opinion
Sep 4, 2019 | Court records
Brief added: Petition
Aug 29, 2019 | Court records
Related cases
Grounding
- Grounding
- Primary materials plus reporting.
- Note
- Best-effort analysis: this explainer relies on a mix of primary materials and trusted secondary sources. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
- Checked
- Sep 3, 2026
- Method
- Methodology