Alabama v. Evans

Background

John Louis Evans III, a death-row inmate in Alabama, faced execution scheduled for April 22, 1983. In the days before the date he filed a petition for certiorari and, about seven hours before the execution, a new habeas petition raising mostly previously rejected claims and one new challenge to an aggravating factor. A federal district judge temporarily stayed the execution because there was not time for meaningful review. The State asked the Court of Appeals and then this Court to vacate that stay.

Reasoning

The central question was whether the District Court abused its discretion in granting a last-minute stay and whether the new claim required further review. The Supreme Court concluded the newly asserted claim was raised too late, was largely repetitive of prior proceedings, and did not show a Godfrey-type arbitrariness in applying the aggravating factor. After reviewing the record and state court rulings, the Court found no basis for further hearings and granted Alabama’s application to dissolve the temporary stay, allowing state action to proceed.

Real world impact

Practically, the decision clears the way for Alabama to carry out the scheduled execution and signals reluctance to tolerate eleventh‑hour filings that repeat earlier rejected claims. The ruling resolved this procedural dispute, but it was not a full merits determination of every constitutional issue and could be revisited in a different posture.

Dissents or concurrances

Chief Justice Burger concurred, criticizing last‑minute tactics and endorsing vacatur. Justice Marshall dissented, arguing the stay should remain to allow meaningful review and warning against rushing a decision affecting a human life.