Neil Estes Scott v. W. J. Estelle, Jr., Director, Texas Department of Corrections

Neil Estes Scott, a Texas prisoner, appeals from the district court’s denial of ha-beas corpus relief. Because the district court neither required respondent to file an answer nor held an evidentiary hearing, we vacate the judgment below and remand the cause for further proceedings.

Appellant is confined for an aggravated robbery conviction. Represented by counsel appointed on the day he pleaded guilty, appellant was sentenced to life imprisonment. There was no direct appeal, but appellant has exhausted state remedies on the issues presented in his federal habeas corpus petition, although no…