No. 21-1587October Term 2021Decided Nov 14, 2022
Shoop v. Cunningham
This case asks whether the Sixth Circuit wrongly granted federal habeas relief to an Ohio state prisoner despite AEDPA’s strict limits on overturning state-court convictions.
Case status
- Current stage
- Decided
- Latest event
- Decision released Nov 14, 2022
- What it's about
This case asks whether the Sixth Circuit wrongly granted federal habeas relief to an Ohio state prisoner despite AEDPA’s strict limits on overturning state-court convictions. It also asks whether a federal court may hold an evidentiary hearing when the only evidence supporting the hearing is juror testimony that Federal Rule of Evidence 606(b) says cannot be considered.
Question presented
1. AEDPA generally prohibits courts from awarding habeas relief to state prisoners. It lifts that prohibition with respect to prisoners in custody because of a state-court ruling that was “contrary to, or involved an unreasonable application of, clearly established Federal law, as determined by the Supreme Court of the United States.” 28 U.S.C. §2254(d)(1). Did the Sixth Circuit err by granting habeas relief based on an alleged misapplication of its own circuit precedent? 2. If the requirements for a federal evidentiary hearing are otherwise satisfied, but Federal Rule of Evidence 606(b)(1) forbids considering the only evidence supporting an evidentiary hearing, must a court hold the hearing regardless?
- Case path
United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit / Decision released Nov 14, 2022
- Area
Criminal Procedure
Timing
Decided November 14, 2022
The Court released its decision on November 14, 2022 without hearing oral argument.
Documents
Related cases
Grounding
- Grounding
- Primary materials plus reporting.
- Note
- Best-effort analysis: this explainer relies on a mix of primary materials and trusted secondary sources. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
- Checked
- Jul 2, 2026
- Method
- Methodology