Donald Paul Greene v. Louis Wainwright and the Attorney General of the State of Florida, Jim Smith

VANCE, Circuit Judge:

Donald Paul Greene was convicted in state court in Duval County, Florida, of sale or delivery of a controlled substance. Having exhausted his state remedies, he applied in federal district court for a writ of habeas corpus, claiming violations of his sixth amendment right to confrontation. The case was referred to a magistrate, who recommended that the petition be granted. After the respondent filed objections, the district court reviewed the case de novo and dismissed the petition with prejudice. Petitioner appeals, and we reverse.

I

Donald Greene was a patrolman for the…