United States v. Marshall Dewayne Williams

THORNBERRY, Circuit Judge:

Marshall Williams appeals the district court’s denial of his motion for post-conviction relief. Williams presents two constitutional claims. He first argues that the district court should have held a competency hearing. Williams also argues that he was in fact incompetent. Although similar, those two claims involve two separate rights, one procedural and the other substantive. The district court analyzed and rejected both claims. We affirm.

In June 1984, a federal grand jury indicted Williams for the murder of his stepfather. In July 1984 and before Williams’ trial…