Donnie Long v. David R. McKeen

Petitioner, Donnie Long, challenges the denial of his petition for a writ of habeas corpus. Because he has failed to show adequate “cause” for his trial counsel’s failure to object to the jury instructions given at trial, we affirm.

Long was indicted by a Summit County, Ohio Grand Jury on one count of aggravated murder, O.R.C. § 2903.01. A jury found him guilty of the lesser included offense of murder, O.R.C. § 2903.02. His conviction was upheld by the Ohio Court of Appeals and the Ohio Supreme Court, State v. Long, 53 Ohio St.2d 91, 372 N.E.2d 804 (1978).

Long then sought federal habeas corpus…