State ex rel. Ernest Johnson v. Paul Blair, Warden of Potosi Correctional Center

SUPREME COURT OF MISSOURI en banc STATE EX REL. ERNEST JOHNSON, ) Opinion issued August 31, 2021 ) Petitioner, ) ) v. ) No. SC99176 ) PAUL BLAIR, WARDEN OF POTOSI ) CORRECTIONAL CENTER, ) ) Respondent. ) ORIGINAL PROCEEDING IN HABEAS CORPUS PER CURIAM Facts and Procedural History In February 1994, Ernest Lee Johnson bought a bottle of beer and a package of cigarettes at a Columbia convenience store he frequented. 1 Johnson made a second trip to the convenience store but did not purchase anything. On one of these trips, Johnson questioned the cashier about who would be working the next shift.…