Facts

Plaintiff Barry Williams filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus in federal court challenging his murder convictions and sentence of death.

PETITIONER'S CONTENTIONS:
Williams contended that he presented compelling evidence to the California Supreme court that constitutional errors relating to the presentation of false testimony and withholding of critical evidence resulted in his unlawful convictions and death sentence.He contended he was entitled to an evidentiary hearing under the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act because the state court made an unreasonable determination of facts and unreasonably applied clearly established law.

RESPONDENT'S CONTENTIONS:
The Attorney General of California contended that Williams failed to show that the state court unreasonably denied any of his claims on the merits or that he qualified for an evidentiary hearing.

Result

The court conditionally granted Williams' petition. It ordered his conviction and death sentence vacated and ordered his release from custody.