Washington v. Sobina

OPINION OF THE COURT

SLOVITER, Circuit Judge.

Federal judges reviewing habeas corpus matters often face a difficult assignment. Frequently, the state court records presented are in disarray or incomplete, the defendant was unrepresented or inadequately represented in the state proceedings, and the deference to be accorded is unclear, as it may depend on whether the state court’s decision was based on a finding of fact or conclusion of law. In the appeal before us, the District Court undertook a meticulous examination of the record and the applicable legal principles, but our decision hinges on…