Davis v. Booker, No. 09-1140

District court's issuance of the writ of habeas corpus for a defendant claiming that the key witness in his murder trial was the shooter who killed the victim is reversed where: 1) the only significant evidence in the record showing what an uncalled witness would have testified, if produced, is a letter that actually implicates defendant for the shooting, not the key witness who testified against him; 2) it is clear from the record that defendant was not prejudiced by his lawyer's failure to locate and call the uncalled witness; and 3) the prosecutor's statements did not constitute improper vouching because the key witness's charge was in the record and his personal interest in the case was obvious to the jury. 

Read Davis v. Booker, No. 09-1140

Appellate Information

Argued: November 19, 2009

Decided and Filed: December 15, 2009

Judges

Opinion by Circuit Judge Merritt

Counsel

For Appellant:   Brian O'Neill, Office of the Michigan Attorney General

For Appellee:    Joan Ellerbusch Morgan