Sarah Weeden v. Deborah Johnson

There is no denying that this case is tragic: a young man’s life was stolen from him, a family was deprived of a son, and four young people made decisions that will dramatically alter the course of their lives. However, this tragedy is no excuse for making bad law, which is exactly what the majority opinion does. In its quest to free a 14-year-old girl from the consequences of a felony murder conviction, the majority disregards the substantial deference federal courts owe to both trial counsel and state courts, and establishes, in essence, a per se rule regarding experts that will call into…