Maggie W. Thomas v. Dorothy Arn, Superintendent

ENGEL, Circuit Judge.

Petitioner Maggie W. Thomas’ appeal from the denial of her habeas corpus petition requires us to pass upon the constitutionality of Ohio’s statutory definition of proof beyond a reasonable doubt, and also requires us to determine whether — at the time of the offense — absence of self-defense was an element of the Ohio crimes of felonious assault and aggravated assault, and whether self-defense negated any element of these crimes. While this latter issue has been considered by this court before, see Isaac v. Engle, 646 F.2d 1129 (6th Cir.1980) (en banc), its resolution was…