Anderson v. Valenzuela
In brief
The Supreme Court refused to hear Anderson’s petition, leaving the Nevada Supreme Court’s ruling in place without deciding whether his lawyer was constitutionally ineffective.
- Where it stands
- Decided
Decided · May 26, 2020
- What it’s about
- The Court denied Anderson’s petition for review, leaving in place the Nevada Supreme Court’s ruling that his trial lawyer was not constitutionally ineffective for failing to object to the prosecutor’s closing-argument comments.
- Who it affects
- The Nevada Supreme Court’s ruling remains in place for Anderson, but the Supreme Court did not decide whether his lawyer was constitutionally ineffective.
Summary: written with AI from the case record.

What it's about
The Court therefore did not decide the merits of Anderson’s ineffective-assistance claim.
The case reached the Supreme Court from the Ninth Circuit after the Nevada Supreme Court ruled on Anderson’s claim about his trial lawyer’s failure to object during closing argument.
Question presented
1. Whether the Nevada Supreme Court’s decision, which held that Petitioner’s trial counsel was not ineffective for failing to object to the prosecutor’s comments during closing argument, is contrary to, or involves an unreasonable application of, clearly established Federal law, as determined by the Supreme Court of the United States in Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984). 2. Whether the Nevada Supreme Court’s decision, which held that Petitioner’s trial counsel was not ineffective for failing to object to the prosecutor’s comments during closing argument, is based on an unreasonable determination of the facts in light of the evidence presented in the State court proceeding.
What the Court decided
Holding
Petition DENIED.
What's next
The Supreme Court’s docket action is finished. No further Supreme Court review is shown for this petition.
Documents
Opinions
Key filings
Docket activity
New analysis added
AI analysis generated: Case Briefing
New analysis added
New analysis added
New analysis added
Show 7 moreShow fewer
New analysis added
New analysis added
New analysis added
New analysis added
New analysis added
New analysis added
New analysis added
More questions
- What did the Nevada Supreme Court rule?
- It ruled that Anderson’s trial lawyer was not constitutionally ineffective for failing to object to the prosecutor’s closing-argument comments.
Sources
Primary materials plus reporting. Best-effort analysis: this explainer relies on a mix of primary materials and trusted secondary sources. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.