Supreme Court of the United States · Official docket →
Obel Cruz-Garcia v. Eric Guerrero, Director, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Correctional Institutions Division
IFP petition · United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, No. 24-70003 · judgment February 6, 2025
Questions presented
CAPITAL CASE
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When a jury foreman in a capital murder trial brings a religious text to the jury room during punishment phase deliberations and reads passages concerning imposition of the death penalty to his fellow jurors, could reasonable jurists debate whether the jury has been exposed to an external influence under clearly established federal law?
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When deciding whether to grant a certificate of appealability, should a circuit court look to whether the district court’s resolution of the claim at issue is reasonably debatable in light of then-existing circuit precedent?
Counsel of record
For petitioner
Jeremy Don Schepers
Office of the Federal Public Defender NDTX
For respondent
Craig William Cosper
Texas Attorney General's Office
Proceedings
- Nov 10 2025Petition DENIED.
- Oct 23 2025DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 11/7/2025.
- Oct 20 2025Reply of petitioner Obel Cruz-Garcia filed.
- Oct 03 2025Brief of respondent Eric Guerrero, Director of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Correctional Institutions Division in opposition filed.
- Sep 15 2025Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is further extended to and including October 3, 2025.
- Sep 12 2025Motion to extend the time to file a response from September 19, 2025 to October 3, 2025, submitted to The Clerk.
- Aug 14 2025Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is further extended to and including September 19, 2025.
- Aug 13 2025Motion to extend the time to file a response from August 20, 2025 to September 19, 2025, submitted to The Clerk.
- Jul 15 2025Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including August 20, 2025.
- Jul 14 2025Motion to extend the time to file a response from July 21, 2025 to August 20, 2025, submitted to The Clerk.
- Jun 06 2025Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due July 21, 2025)
- Apr 15 2025Application (24A975) granted by Justice Alito extending the time to file until June 6, 2025.
- Apr 09 2025Application (24A975) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from May 7, 2025 to June 6, 2025, submitted to Justice Alito.