Atkins v. Crowell
In brief
The Supreme Court refused to hear Atkins's case and left the Sixth Circuit's ruling in place, but it did not decide whether the exception can cover a claim that he is innocent of his sentence rather than the underlying crime.
- Where it stands
- Decided
Decided · May 18, 2020
- What it’s about
- The Court denied review of Atkins’s case, leaving in place the Sixth Circuit’s ruling on whether the federal habeas deadline’s actual-innocence exception can apply to a claim of innocence of a sentence rather than innocence of the underlying crime.
- Who it affects
- The denial left the Sixth Circuit's ruling in place for Atkins, without a Supreme Court decision on the question he raised.
Summary: written with AI from the case record.
What it's about
The case came to the Supreme Court from the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
Question presented
Whether the "actual innocence" exception to the statute of limitations for federal habeas corpus petitions, as recognized in McQuiggin v. Perkins, 569 U.S. 383 (2013), applies to a petitioner who claims he is "actually innocent" of the sentence imposed, rather than the underlying crime of conviction?
What the Court decided
Holding
Petition DENIED.
What's next
The Court has finished this docket action. The Sixth Circuit's ruling remains in place in Atkins's case.
Documents
Opinions
Key filings
Docket activity
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AI analysis generated: Case Briefing
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More questions
- When did the Supreme Court deny review?
- The docket records the denial on May 18, 2020.
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.