Christopher Klein, Superintendent, Department of Detention Facilities for Anne Arundel County, et al., Petitioners v. Charles Brandon Martin

The Supreme Court reversed the Fourth Circuit in a case about federal habeas review (a prisoner's challenge to a state conviction in federal court). The dispute was whether federal courts should judge a state court's result under Supreme Court precedents, rather than criticize how the state court wrote its opinion.

The Court decided the case without oral argument and reversed in an 8-1 per curiam opinion.

“"Under the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 (AEDPA), strict standards govern the grant of federal habeas relief to prisoners convicted in state court."”

The decision matters for state prisoners and federal judges because it reinforces the tough AEDPA limits on overturning state convictions in federal court. For example, a federal appeals court may have to deny relief even if it would have analyzed the case differently itself.

The case goes back to the lower courts for further proceedings consistent with the Supreme Court's decision. The Supreme Court's work on this case is finished.

The fight was over the right way to review a state-court decision under AEDPA. The Court addressed whether the focus is the state court's result, not its writing style.

State prisoners seeking federal habeas relief are directly affected. Federal trial and appeals judges also must apply AEDPA's strict limits when reviewing state convictions.

The case returns to the lower courts on remand. They must continue the case using the Supreme Court's instructions.