United States Ex Rel. Nistler v. Chrans

MEMORANDUM OPINION

BRIAN BARNETT DUFF, District Judge.

This case presents a rare instance where a federal court may have to bridle the discretion granted to a state trial judge by the state itself — discretion which, in most cases, this court could not properly constrain. The record here reveals a state court decision which may be arbitrary, as the state has not presented any valid rationale for it.

According to the briefs and exhibits filed in this court — there is no formal state court record here — Martin Nistler is a 21-year-old man whom the State of Illinois holds at the Sheridan…