Supreme Court of the United States · Official docket →
Thomas Bartholomew Simpson v. Joseph Walters, Director, Virginia Department of Corrections
IFP petition · United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, No. 23-6980 · judgment March 25, 2025
Question presented
I. Whether it requires the circuit court to probe lay witness tes testimony or specialist forensic analysis testimony to overcome foundational objections at a criminal trial to admission of text messages in order to protect Due Proces rights to a fair hearing in accordance with the Constitutional protections. HL. Whether prosecutorialmisconduct occurred by the state and lay witness giving improper expert testimony as to the foundation of the text messages in violation of Due Process. IH.Whether prosecutorial misconduct occurred by allowing witness to deny defendant the right to effectively cross-examination by giving misl&adihggjury of hisgcharacter and trustworthlyness.
Counsel of record
For petitioner
Thomas Bartholomew Simpson
For respondent
Ethan Padilla Fallon
Virginia Office of the Attorney General
Proceedings
- Jul 20 2026Rehearing DENIED.
- Jun 24 2026DISTRIBUTED.
- May 15 2026Petition for Rehearing filed.
- Apr 20 2026Petition DENIED.
- Apr 02 2026DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 4/17/2026.
- Mar 27 2026Waiver of right of respondent Walters, Dir., VA DOC to respond filed.
- Aug 22 2025Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due March 27, 2026)
- Aug 06 2025Application (25A156) granted by The Chief Justice extending the time to file until August 22, 2025.
- Jun 20 2025Application (25A156) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from June 23, 2025 to August 22, 2025, submitted to The Chief Justice.