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Gifford Johnson, III v. Eric Guerrero, Director, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Correctional Institutions Division

IFP petition · United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, No. 24-40497 · judgment February 11, 2025


Certiorari denied · April 20, 2026

Questions presented

  1. WHETHER THE FIFTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEAL'S APPLICATION OF SCHULP'S CLAIM WAS UNREASONABLE WHEN THE NEWLY PRESENTED EVIDENCE WAS NOT HEARD AT TRIAL AND WOULD QUALIFY AS NEWLY DISCOVERED EVIDENCE IN THE 3 RD,7 TH and 9 TH CIRCUIT COURT ■ OF APPEALS ?

  2. WHETHER WHERE TRIAL COUNSEL HAS A CONSTITUTIONAL DUTY TO INVESTIGATE WHETHER DEFENDANT INFORMS OF EXCULPATORY PHY< SICAL DISABILITY OR NOT AND SUCH INJURY COULD PROVE INJURY, WAS IT INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL IN LIGHT OF THE SIXTH AMENDMENT'S IMPOSED DUTY FOR COUNSEL TO INVESTIGATE IRRESPECTIVE OF DEFENDANT'S ACTIONS ?

  3. WHETHER IN THE CONTEXT UNDER SCHULP WHERE TRIAL COUNSEL IS INEFFECTIVE FOR FAILING TO DISCOVER EXCULPATORY EVIDENCE THAT WAS READILY AVAILABLE OF THE PETITIONER'S ACTUAL INNOCEF ENCE THE EVIDENCEONCE OBTAINED,DOES IT CONSTITUTE NEWLY DIS­ COVERED EVIDENCE ?

Counsel of record

For petitioner
Gifford Johnson III

For respondent

Case

Conference history
Distributed for 1 conference

Proceedings

  1. Apr 20 2026
    Petition DENIED.
  2. Mar 26 2026
    DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 4/17/2026.
  3. Aug 28 2025
    Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due March 16, 2026)