Supreme Court of the United States · Official docket →
Scottie Bernard Shaver v. Russ Rurka, Acting Warden
IFP petition · United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, No. 25-1238 · judgment August 6, 2025
Question presented
(I) DID THE STATE TRIAL JUDGE DISPLAY JUDICIAL BIAS WHEN HE CREATED A BRUTON VIOLATION DURING THE SECOND TRIAL VIOLATING PETITIONER'S SIXTH AMEND RIGHT TO CONFRONTATION? (ID WERE PETITIONER'S CROSS EXAMINATION RIGHTS VIOLATED WHEN ANOTHER WITNESS TESTIFIED TO DR. MILLARD'S CHANGES IN THE DEATH CERTIFICATE WHERE DR. MILLARD DID NOT TESTIFY? (Ill) WERE PETITIONER'S RIGHTS VIOLATED WHEN THE STATE WITHHELD CRUCIAL EVIDENCE PERTAINING TO HIS GUILT OR PUNISHMENT UNDER BRADY V MARYLAND? (IV) WAS DEFENSE COUNSEL CONSTITUTIONALLY INEFFECTIVE FOR NOT PROPERLY INVESTIGATING PETITIONER’S CASE PRIOR TO TRIAL? (V) DID THE PROSECUTOR PROVE, BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT, THAT PETITIONER HAD THE NECESSARY SPECIFIC INTENT TO BE CONVICTED OF MURDER? (VI) IS PETITIONER ENTITLED TO A NEW TRIAL BASED ON NEW EVIDENCE OBTAINED BY PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR THOMAS BEREZA, SUPPORTING PETITIONER'S INNOCENCE? (VII) DID THE STATE USE FALSE TESTIMONY TO OBTAIN A CONVICTION VIOLATING PETITIONER'S DUE PROCESS RIGHT TO A FAIR TRIAL?
Counsel of record
For petitioner
Scottie Bernard Shaver
For respondent
Ann Maurine Sherman
Michigan Department of Attorney General
Case
Conference history
Distributed for 1 conference
Proceedings
- Aug 17 2026Rehearing DENIED.
- Jul 23 2026DISTRIBUTED.
- Jul 09 2026Petition for Rehearing filed.
- Jun 22 2026Petition DENIED.
- Jun 03 2026DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 6/18/2026.
- May 26 2026Waiver of right of respondent Russ Rurka, Acting Warden to respond filed.
- Dec 09 2025Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due June 1, 2026)