Benjamin Williams Jr v. Larry Norris

Benjamin Williams, Jr. appeals the district court’s 1 denial of 28 U.S.C. § 2254 habeas petition. Reviewing de novo the district court’s conclusion that Williams procedurally defaulted his claims, we affirm. See Frasier v. Maschner, 304 F.3d 815, 817 (8th Cir.2002) (standard of review).

Williams concedes that at least two of his three claims are procedurally defaulted because he did not properly appeal the denial of postconviction relief in state court. See Reagan v. Norris, 279 F.3d 651, 656 (8th Cir.2002). He argues that the district court was not barred from considering these claims,…