No. 19-5755October Term 2019Decided Sep 4, 2019
Crutsinger v. Davis
This case asks whether a Texas death-row inmate can reopen the judgment denying his federal habeas petition under Rule 60(b).
Case status
- 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
Timing
Decided September 4, 2019
The Court released its decision on September 4, 2019 without hearing oral argument.
Documents
Related cases
Grounding
- Grounding
- Primary-source trail available.
- Note
- Plain-English explainer. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
- Checked
- Jul 25, 2026
- Method
- Methodology