Michael J. Padgett v. William O'Sullivan

BAUER, Circuit Judge.

Michael Padgett was tried and convicted for the murder of his wife. The court sentenced him to serve a prison term of twenty-eight years. He petitioned for a writ of habeas corpus declaring that his trial was rendered fundamentally unfair by the trial court’s denial of his request for a continuance. The district court denied the petition. We agree with the district court’s conclusion albeit for different reasons.

The facts of this case are set forth at length in the Illinois Appellate Court’s opinion affirming Padgett’s conviction. People v. Padgett, 248 Ill.App.3d 1018,…