No. 19-8162October Term 2019Decided May 4, 2020
In re Smith
Oscar Smith filed an application with the Supreme Court seeking to stay his execution in Tennessee.
Case status
- Current stage
- Decided
- Latest event
- Decision released May 4, 2020
- What it's about
Oscar Smith filed an application with the Supreme Court seeking to stay his execution in Tennessee. The Court ultimately rejected his bid to block the execution.
Question presented
1. Whether the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit’s failure to rule on Petitioner’s motion for a certificate of appealability for over fourteen months constitutes an undue delay. 2. Whether a writ of mandamus should issue to compel the Sixth Circuit to rule on the pending motion.
- Case path
Decision released May 4, 2020
- Area
Decided Supreme Court case
Timing
Decided May 4, 2020
The Court released its decision on May 4, 2020 without hearing oral argument.
Documents
Related cases
Grounding
- Grounding
- Primary-source trail available.
- Note
- Plain-English explainer. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
- Checked
- Jun 2, 2026
- Method
- Methodology