Anderson v. Harless

Background

A Michigan man was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder and given life in prison. He appealed in Michigan's courts but was denied relief. He then asked a federal court to review his conviction through a habeas petition, arguing the trial judge's jury instruction on "malice" — the idea that using a deadly weapon implies bad intent — was unconstitutional. The federal district court granted relief, ordering a new trial unless the state retried him within 90 days; the Sixth Circuit affirmed.

Reasoning

The main question was whether the man had first given the state courts a fair chance to consider the precise federal due-process claim he later raised in federal court. The Supreme Court applied its earlier rule that a federal habeas petitioner must "fairly present" the substance of a federal claim to state courts. Because the Michigan courts treated his brief as relying on a state-law decision (People v. Martin) and were not asked to address the narrower federal argument based on Sandstrom about mandatory presumptions, the Court concluded he had not exhausted state remedies. The Supreme Court therefore reversed the Sixth Circuit and sent the case back for further proceedings.

Real world impact

The decision requires criminal defendants to present specific federal constitutional arguments to state courts before seeking federal habeas relief. The ruling does not decide whether the malice instruction was unconstitutional on the merits and leaves open future state or federal review.

Dissents or concurrances

Justice Stevens, joined by Justices Brennan and Marshall, dissented, arguing the state courts had in fact had a fair opportunity and that the Court's decision needlessly expands exhaustion rules and wastes judicial resources.