Herman Russell McLawhorn III v. State of North Carolina

BOREMAN, Senior Circuit Judge:

Herman Russell McLawhorn, III (hereafter petitioner or McLawhorn) appeals the district court’s denial of his petition for a writ of habeas corpus. He complains that the State’s refusal to reveal the identity of an informant who participated in illegal activities with respect to narcotic drugs of which petitioner was convicted in state court is a denial of due process. Since we conclude that this refusal to reveal the identity of a participant in the offenses charged constitutes a denial of fundamental fairness required by the Four teenth Amendment, we reverse and…