Supreme Court Report

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Michael Wayne Keller v. Chadwick Dotson, Director, Virginia Department of Corrections

IFP petition · United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, No. 25-6194 · judgment May 23, 2025

Certiorari denied · April 6, 2026

Questions presented

  1. Was the definition of malice given to the jury a proper Virginia model jury instruction defining heat of passion?

  2. Did counsel for appellant request a proper, specific, and complete jury instruction defining heat of passion?

  3. Did the trial court error by allowing Commonwealth Jury Instruction “#14”?

Counsel of record

For petitioner
Michael Wayne Keller

For respondent
Ethan Padilla Fallon
Virginia Office of the Attorney General

Case

Conference history
Distributed for 1 conference

Proceedings

  1. Apr 06 2026
    Petition DENIED.
  2. Mar 18 2026
    DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 4/2/2026.
  3. Mar 16 2026
    Waiver of right of respondent Chadwick Dotson to respond filed.
    Main Document
  4. Aug 20 2025
    Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due March 16, 2026)
    Motion for Leave to Proceed in Forma PauperisPetitionAppendixProof of Service