Thomas v. Atchison

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS EASTERN DIVISION DERRICK THOMAS, ) ) Petitioner, ) 12 C 5373 ) v. ) Judge John Z. Lee ) CAMERON WATSON, Warden, ) Western Illinois Correctional Center, ) ) Respondent. ) MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER Derrick Thomas has filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254, as amended by the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 (“AEDPA”). Cameron Watson,1 Warden of Western Illinois Correctional Center (“Respondent”), contends that Thomas’s claims are procedurally defaulted, meritless,…