Supreme Court of the United States · Official docket →
Cody James Martinez v. Ryan Thornell, Director, Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry, et al.
IFP petition · United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, No. 25-6539 · judgment March 30, 2026
Question presented
I. Whether Arizona, having refused Strickland cumulative error determination of prejudice, is entitled to AEDPA deference for a decision made using the wrong standard? II. Whether Mr. Martinez has made a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right to support a certificate of appealability where the trial court granted sentencing relief as to Count 1 (Murder) but denied relief as to Count 2 (Kidnapping) even though its determination as to Count 1 (Murder) was based on a determination of ineffective assistance of trial counsel as to many of the same aggravating factors that resulted in the aggravated sentence as to Count 2 (Kidnapping)?
Counsel of record
For petitioner
Stephen Jonathan Young
Law Office of S. Jonathan Young
For respondent
Jimmy Dale Nielsen
Office of the Arizona Attorney General
Case
Subject area
Criminal Procedure (estimated from the questions presented, in the Supreme Court Database’s categories)
Conference history
Distributed for 1 conference
Order
Order list, October 5, 2026 · Certiorari denied
Proceedings
- Oct 05 2026Petition DENIED.
- Aug 27 2026DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 9/28/2026.
- Aug 21 2026Waiver of right of respondent Ryan Thornell, Director, Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry, et al. to respond filed.
- Jul 18 2026Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due September 17, 2026)