Bell v. Ransom

The Supreme Court declined to review Larry Bell’s case. It left in place the Third Circuit’s denial of a certificate of appealability (permission to appeal) and did not decide the merits.

For Bell, the lower court’s decision remains in effect. For example, a prisoner who files a federal habeas challenge after AEDPA’s deadline still may face the same unresolved Supreme Court question about actual innocence and equitable tolling (a deadline extension).

The Supreme Court has finished its action on this docket. Bell’s case remains governed by the Third Circuit’s decision.

The Court declined to review Bell’s petition. It did not decide whether his actual-innocence claim justified extending the filing deadline.

Bell remains bound by the Third Circuit’s denial of permission to appeal. Other late-filing prisoners did not receive a new Supreme Court answer on equitable tolling.

The Supreme Court docket action is complete. The Third Circuit’s decision remains in place.