Gregory Dale English v. R. Michael Cody, Warden, Laveita Osborn Ogden v. Neville Massey

MURPHY, Circuit Judge.

I. INTRODUCTION

Gregory D. English and Laveita 0. Ogden (“Petitioners”) brought separate habeas corpus petitions pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma. Petitioners each argued, inter alia, that they were being detained in violation of the Constitution because they had been denied the effective assistance of counsel at trial. Wardens R. Michael Cody and Neville Massey (“Respondents”) moved the district court in each proceeding to deny the petitions on the grounds of procedural bar. According to Respondents,…