In Re: Lewis

Texas death row inmate David Lee Lewis (“Lewis”) has applied for our authorization to file a successive application for a writ of habeas corpus in the district court. He seeks to challenge his death sentence pursuant to the Supreme Court’s decision in Atkins v. Virginia, 1 which prohibits execution of mentally retarded criminals. We deny Lewis’s motion for authorization because it is time-barred and because he has not demonstrated the sort of “rare and exceptional circumstances” that would justify equitable tolling of the limitations period.

The following is a summary of the significant dates:

I…