{"ID":55687,"name":"Wong v. Belmontes","href":"https:\/\/api.oyez.org\/cases\/2009\/08-1263","view_count":0,"docket_number":"08-1263","additional_docket_numbers":null,"manner_of_jurisdiction":"Writ of \u003Ci\u003Ecertiorari\u003C\/i\u003E","first_party":"Wong","second_party":"Belmontes","timeline":[{"event":"Granted","dates":[1258351200],"href":"https:\/\/api.oyez.org\/case_timeline\/case_timeline\/40502"},{"event":"Decided","dates":[1258351200],"href":"https:\/\/api.oyez.org\/case_timeline\/case_timeline\/40503"}],"lower_court":{"ID":5,"name":"United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit","href":"https:\/\/api.oyez.org\/taxonomy\/term\/5"},"facts_of_the_case":"\u003Cp\u003EA California state court convicted Fernando Belmontes of murder and sentenced him to death. After exhausting his state court remedies, Mr. Belmontes filed for habeas corpus relief in a California federal district court arguing that at sentencing his Sixth Amendment right to effective counsel was violated. The district court denied the petition.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EOn appeal, the U.S Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit reversed and granted the petition. The court held that Mr. Belmontes did suffer ineffective counsel at sentencing. The court reasoned that Mr. Belmontes\u0027 attorney failed to prepare and present sufficient evidence to humanize Mr. Belmontes that may have mitigated his sentence.\u003C\/p\u003E\n","question":"\u003Cp\u003EDid the Ninth Circuit err when it held that petitioner\u0027s Sixth Amendment right to effective counsel was violated when his attorney at sentencing failed to bring forward sufficient evidence to humanize him and other mitigating evidence.\u003C\/p\u003E\n","conclusion":"\u003Cp\u003EYes. In a per curiam opinion, the Supreme Court reversed the Ninth Circuit. 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