Samuel S. Jackson v. Terrell Don Hutto, Commissioner, Arkansas Department of Correction

Samuel S. Jackson, an Arkansas state prisoner, seeks relief in federal court from a state conviction and incarceration for robbery. Essentially, Jackson presents two grounds in support of his contention that he was convicted in violation of his constitutional rights:

1) the Arkansas trial court did not instruct the jury on the limited credibility to be given accomplice testimony; and

2) the trial judge, in the absence of the defendant, orally communicated with the jury on several occasions during jury deliberations.

Jackson raised these matters on direct appeal to the Arkansas Supreme Court but…