Strickland v. Washington

Holding an "error by counsel" doesn't "warrant setting aside the judgment of a criminal proceeding" where in the context of the whole proceeding the identified error "had no effect on the judgment"

Williams v. Taylor

Holding that counsel's performance was deficient when their investigation failed to uncover "extensive records" filled with mitigation evidence concerning the defendant's family history, education, mental health, and rehabilitation

Apprendi v. New Jersey

Holding that “[o]ther than the fact of a prior conviction, any fact that increases the penalty for a crime beyond the prescribed statutory maximum must be submitted to a jury, and proved beyond a reasonable doubt”

Coleman v. Thompson

Holding in relevant part that federal habeas review of a procedurally defaulted claim is barred "unless the prisoner can demonstrate cause for the default and actual prejudice as a result of the alleged violation of federal law"

Estelle v. Gamble

Holding that the government has an obligation to provide medical care to incarcerated persons

Hudson v. McMillian

Holding that, to determine whether the force used by a prison official amounts to a constitutional violation, "the core judicial inquiry is . . . whether force was applied in a good-faith effort to maintain or restore discipline, or maliciously and sadistically to cause harm"

Hill v. Lockhart

Holding that a Strickland claim can be brought to challenge a guilty plea, but rejecting the claim at issue

Brecht v. Abrahamson

Holding that when a court has "never squarely addressed the issue, and ha at most assumed" something in a prior decision, it is "free to address the issue on the merits"

Batson v. Kentucky

Holding that the Equal Protection Clause applies to the use of peremptory strikes

Daniels v. Williams

Holding that "the Due Process Clause [of the Fourteenth Amendment] is simply not implicated by a negligent act of an official causing unintended loss of or injury to life, liberty, or property"

Section 15

Affording “the right ... to compel attendance of witnesses in the defendant's behalf”

Section 7

Guaranteeing due process and equal protection

Section 16

Stating that the right to a "trial by jury is an inviolate right"

Section 17

Prohibiting cruel or unusual punishment

Section 1

Providing "[a]ll people are by nature free and independent and have inalienable rights," including the right of "privacy"

Section 1260 - Reversal, affirmance, or modification of judgment or order

Granting appellate court power to reduce punishment imposed

Section 190.4 - Special circumstances

In section 190.4, subdivision (e), it provides in pertinent part that, "[i]n every case in which the trier of fact has returned a verdict or finding imposing the death penalty, the defendant shall be deemed to have made an application for modification of such verdict or finding pursuant to Subdivision 7 of Section 11 [ sic: read Section 1181]" on the ground that it is "contrary to law or the evidence presented."

Section 9

Section 10

Granting original jurisdiction to courts in habeas matters

Section 1043 - Presence of defendant

Section 3349 - Restricted Housing Records

Rule 4.423 - Circumstances in mitigation