Evanchyk v. Stewart

FELDMAN, Justice.

¶ 1 Michael Evanchyk filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona. Seeking relief under 18 U.S.C. § 2254, Evanchyk named Terry L. Stewart, Director of the Arizona Department of Corrections, and others as Respondents (“the state,” collectively). District Judge William D. Browning certified questions of Arizona law to this court. See Rule 27, Ariz.R.Sup.Ct. We accepted jurisdiction, ordered supplemental briefing, and heal’d oral argument.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

¶2 In his certification order, the district…