murray giarratano argued march decided june respondents class indigent virginia death row inmates counsel pursue postconviction proceedings brought suit district various state officials alleging constitution required provided counsel state expense purpose pursuing collateral proceedings related convictions sentences district concluded respondents receive greater assistance outlined bounds smith held prisoner right access courts required state furnish access adequate law libraries legal aid prisoners might prepare petitions judicial relief since death row inmates limited amount time prepare petitions since cases unusually complex since shadow impending execution interferes ability legal work found virginia efforts access law library lawbooks availability unit attorneys appointment counsel petition filed afford prisoners meaningful access courts guarantee prisoners continuous assistance counsel thus ordered virginia develop program appointment counsel upon request indigent death row inmates wishing pursue habeas corpus state light ross moffitt federal appeals affirmed viewed lower special considerations relating death row inmates findings fact clearly erroneous reasoned case controlled pennsylvania finley held neither due process clause fourteenth amendment equal protection guarantee meaningful access required state appoint counsel indigent prisoners seeking postconviction relief since finley meaningful access case since address rule enunciated bounds since involve death penalty held judgment reversed case remanded reversed remanded chief justice joined justice white justice justice scalia concluded neither eighth amendment due process clause requires appoint counsel indigent death row inmates seeking state postconviction relief pp decisions require conclusion rule pennsylvania finley apply differently capital cases noncapital cases see smith murray state collateral proceedings constitutionally required adjunct state criminal proceeding serve different limited purpose either trial appeal eighth amendment safeguards imposed trial stage jury hear testimony receive evidence decide question guilt punishment sufficient assure reliability process death penalty imposed pp inconsistency whatever holdings bounds finley right access issue bounds rests constitutional theory considered finley extending bounds partially overrule subsequently decided finley reject categorical rule usual tack taken right counsel cases adoption determination based factual findings standard result different constitutional rules applied different pp justice kennedy joined justice concluded virginia scheme securing representation indigent death row inmates violate constitution although virginia procedures far reaching effective available virginia death row inmates unable obtain counsel represent postconviction proceedings virginia prison system staffed institutional lawyers assist inmates matters bounds requirement satisfied various ways state legislatures prison administrators must given wide discretion select appropriate solutions range complex options pp robert harris assistant attorney general virginia argued cause petitioners briefs mary sue terry attorney general lane kneedler chief deputy attorney general stephen rosenthal deputy attorney general francis ferguson assistant attorney general gerald zerkin argued cause respondents brief jonathan sasser martha geer briefs amici curiae urging affirmance filed american civil liberties union et al elizabeth alexander alvin bronstein steven shapiro john powell maryland state bar association et al john blume national legal aid defender association et al ephraim margolin steven pesner robert raven ronald tabak george kendall clifford stromberg filed brief american bar association amicus curiae chief justice rehnquist announced judgment delivered opinion justice white justice justice scalia join virginia death row inmates brought civil rights suit various officials commonwealth virginia prisoners claimed based several theories constitution required provided counsel commonwealth expense purpose pursuing collateral proceedings related convictions sentences courts ruled appointment counsel upon request necessary prisoners enjoy constitutional right access courts pursuit state habeas corpus relief think holding inconsistent decision two terms ago pennsylvania finley rests misreading decision bounds smith joseph giarratano virginia prisoner sentence death initiated action pro se complaint federal district various state officials including edward murray director virginia department corrections months later district certified class comprising current future virginia inmates awaiting execution afford counsel pursue postconviction proceedings inmates asserted number constitutional theories entitlement appointed counsel case tried evidence briefs memoranda district expressed serious doubts viability many th theories supp ed however satisfied decision bounds dictates plaintiffs granted form relief ibid district noted three special considerations relating death row inmates believed required inmates receive greater assistance bounds outlined found death row inmates limited amount time prepare petitions cases unusually complex shadow impending execution interfere ability legal work considerations led believe plaintiffs incapable effectively using lawbooks raise claims result found virginia policy either allowing death row inmates time prison law library permitting lawbooks sent cells little satisfy virginia obligation virginia must fulfill duty providing inmates trained legal assistance ibid district evaluated avenues inmates convicted capital crimes obtain aid counsel virginia found inadequate availability unit attorneys appointed virginia various penal institutions assist inmates litigation found ven virginia appointed additional institutional attorneys service death row inmates duty bounds fulfilled acting legal advisors scope assistance attorneys provide simply limited ibid along lines district concluded virginia provisions appointment counsel petition filed cure problem primarily timing appointment fatal defect inmate receive attorney assistance critical stages developing claims even together virginia efforts afford prisoners meaningful right access courts opinion district guarantee continuous assistance counsel ibid district feared imminent depletion pool volunteer attorneys willing help virginia death row inmates attack convictions sentences felt stakes simply high grant least part relief therefore ordered virginia develop program appointment counsel upon request indigent death row inmates wishing pursue habeas corpus state decided however decision ross moffitt indicated virginia similar constitutional obligation appoint counsel pursuit habeas corpus federal appeal appeals fourth circuit divided panel reversed district judgment commonwealth constitutionally required provide personal attorneys represent death row inmates state collateral proceedings en banc subsequently reheard case affirmed district en banc viewed findings fact special considerations relating death row inmates led district conclude virginia compliance constitutional rights access accepted findings clearly erroneous affirmed district remedial order en banc believe case controlled pennsylvania finley held constitution require provide counsel postconviction proceedings finley meaningful access case address rule enunciated bounds smith significantly thought fourth circuit finley involve death penalty ibid four judges dissented granted certiorari reverse finley ruled neither due process clause fourteenth amendment equal protection guarantee meaningful access required state appoint counsel indigent prisoners seeking state postconviction relief sixth fourteenth amendments constitution assure right indigent defendant counsel trial stage criminal proceeding gideon wainwright indigent defendant similarly entitled matter right counsel initial appeal judgment sentence trial douglas california griffin illinois held ross moffitt supra right counsel earlier stages criminal procedure carry discretionary appeal provided north carolina law intermediate appellate north carolina contrasted trial stage criminal proceeding state presenting witnesses arguing jury attempts strip defendant presumption innocence convict crime appellate stage proceeding defendant needs attorney shield protect haled state stripped presumption innocence rather sword upset prior determination guilt held finley logic ross moffitt required conclusion federal constitutional right counsel indigent prisoners seeking state postconviction relief postconviction relief even removed criminal trial discretionary direct review part criminal proceeding fact considered civil nature see fay noia obligation provide avenue relief cf maccollom plurality opinion fundamental fairness mandated due process clause require state supply lawyer well recognized one occasion constitution places special constraints procedures used convict accused capital offense sentence death see beck alabama trial judge must give jury option convict lesser offense lockett ohio jury must allowed consider capital defendant mitigating character evidence eddings oklahoma finality death penalty requires greater degree reliability imposed lockett supra holdings however dealt trial stage capital offense adjudication jury hear testimony receive evidence decide questions guilt punishment pulley harris declined hold eighth amendment required appellate courts perform proportionality review death sentences satterwhite texas applied traditional appellate standard review set chapman california reviewing claim constitutional error capital case similarly refused hold fact death sentence imposed requires different standard review federal habeas corpus smith murray case involving federal habeas corpus unequivocally rejected suggestion principles governing procedural fault wainwright sykes apply differently depending nature penalty state imposes violation criminal laws similarly discarded idea anything fundamentally unfair enforcing procedural default rules barefoot estelle observed direct appeal primary avenue review conviction sentence death penalty cases exception finally ford wainwright held eighth amendment prohibited state executing validly convicted sentenced prisoner insane time scheduled execution five justices however rejected proposition ascertainment prisoner sanity predicate lawful execution calls less stringent standards demanded aspect capital proceeding justice powell recognized prisoner sanity time execution comparable antecedent question whether petitioner executed follows decisions imposing heightened procedural requirements capital trials sentencing proceedings apply context ibid citations omitted joined white dissenting part concurring result part due process requirements minimal rehnquist joined burger dissenting wholly executive procedures sufficient think cases require conclusion rule pennsylvania finley apply differently capital cases noncapital cases state collateral proceedings constitutionally required adjunct state criminal proceedings serve different limited purpose either trial appeal additional safeguards imposed eighth amendment trial stage capital case think sufficient assure reliability process death penalty imposed therefore decline read either eighth amendment due process clause require yet another distinction rights capital case defendants noncapital cases dissent opines rule constitutionally mandate result net benefit virginia post mother knows best approach play part traditional constitutional adjudication even matter policy correctness dissent view means said barefoot estelle supra direct appeal primary avenue review capital cases well sentences virginia may quite sensibly decide concentrate resources devotes providing attorneys capital defendants trial appellate stages capital proceeding capable lawyering mean fewer colorable claims ineffective assistance counsel litigated collateral attack appeals additional basis holding relied perceived tension rule finley implication decision bounds smith find tension whether right access issue bounds primarily one due process equal protection either case rests constitutional theory considered finley held bounds prisoner right access courts required state furnish access adequate law libraries order prisoners might prepare petitions judicial relief bounds supra strange jurisprudence permitted extension holding partially overrule subsequently decided case finley held prisoners seeking judicial relief sentence state proceedings entitled counsel even stranger jurisprudence allow dissent right access involved bounds smith supra partially overrule pennsylvania finley based factual findings particular district regarding matters perceived difficulty capital sentencing law general psychology death row inmates treating matters factual findings presumably subject review standard permit different constitutional rule apply different state district judge hearing claim reached different conclusions cases involving right counsel never taken tack categorical holdings constitution requires respect particular stage criminal proceeding general see powell alabama griffin illinois gideon wainwright douglas california ross moffitt pennsylvania finley indeed dissent points post dissatisfaction approach betts brady led adoption categorical rule requiring appointed counsel indigent felony defendants gideon inconsistency whatever holding bounds holding finley holding neither case squarely decides question presented case reasons previously stated opinion hold finley applies inmates sentence death well inmates holding necessarily imposes limits bounds petitioners respondents disagree practices currently effect virginia state prisons respect death row prisoners respondents contend prisoners denied adequate timely access law library final weeks date set execution respondents correct district remand may remedy situation without need enlarge holding bounds judgment appeals reversed footnotes persons future sentenced death virginia whose sentences subsequently affirmed virginia either afford retain attorneys represent connection proceedings afford retain attorneys represent connection particular proceeding app virginia houses death row inmates mecklenberg correctional center virginia state penitentiary powhatan correctional center three centers maintain law libraries inmates mecklenberg allowed two library periods per week inmates facilities may borrow materials prison library use cells time district decided case virginia courts authorized appoint counsel individual inmates follows person resident state continuous period six months account poverty unable pay fees costs may allowed sue defend suit therein without paying fees costs whereupon shall counsel may assign officers needful services process without fees therefore except may included costs recovered opposite party code respondents offer theory constitution requires cases involving death penalty treated differently postconviction cases basis affirmance addition reliance bounds smith discussed later dissent offers surveys show virginia one handful without system appointing counsel condemned prisoners postconviction petition filed post even surveys indicate make appointment automatic post overlap significant extent created resource centers assist counsel litigating capital cases post event thing requiring automatic appointment counsel filing petition consequently substantial balance accord right dissent require virginia grant matter constitutional law virginia courts presently authority appoint counsel represent inmate state habeas proceedings code supp attorney general represents appointments made upon request filing petition brief petitioners prisoner right access described consequence right due process law see procunier martinez aspect equal protection see pennsylvania finley many automatically provide counsel death row inmates state habeas corpus proceedings matter state law see rule crim proc stat okla tit supp rev stat abuse act attorneys appointed federal habeas corpus actions involving challenge death sentence see pub stat respondents suggest appointment counsel might even benefit virginia speeding least clarifying virginia postconviction process situation death row inmates may well basis state policy provide extra legal assistance lenient standards pro se pleading justice concurring join chief justice opinion opinion demonstrates nothing constitution precedents requires state provide counsel postconviction proceedings postconviction proceeding part criminal process instead civil action designed overturn presumptively valid criminal judgment nothing constitution requires provide proceedings see pennsylvania finley seem constitution requires follow particular federal model proceedings also join justice kennedy opinion concurring judgment since view inconsistent principles expressed justice kennedy observes decision bounds smith allows considerable discretion assuring imprisoned jails obtain meaningful access judicial process beyond requirements bounds matter one legislative choice based difficult policy considerations allocation scarce legal resources decision today rightly leaves issues resolution congress state legislatures justice kennedy justice joins concurring judgment denied collateral relief proceedings central part review process prisoners sentenced death justice stevens observes substantial proportion prisoners succeed death sentences vacated habeas corpus proceedings post complexity jurisprudence area moreover makes unlikely capital defendants able file successful petitions collateral relief without assistance persons learned law requirement meaningful access satisfied various ways however made explicit decision bounds smith intricacies range options sufficient complexity state legislatures prison administrators must given wide discretion select appropriate solutions indeed judicial imposition categorical remedy adopted might pretermit responsible solutions considered congress state legislatures assessments difficulties presented collateral litigation capital cases conducted committees american bar association judicial conference congress stated intention give matter serious consideration see cong rec providing expedited consideration proposals judicial conference committee unlike congress lacks capacity undertake searching comprehensive review called area decide case us virginia adopted procedures securing representation far reaching effective available prisoner death row virginia unable obtain counsel represent postconviction proceedings virginia prison system staffed institutional lawyers assist preparing petitions postconviction relief prepared say scheme violates constitution facts record case concur judgment justice stevens justice brennan justice marshall justice blackmun join dissenting two terms ago reaffirmed fourteenth amendment federal constitution obligates state assure indigent defendant adequate opportunity present claims fairly context state appellate process pennsylvania finley quoting ross moffitt narrow question presented whether obligation includes appointment counsel indigent death row inmates wish pursue state postconviction relief viewing facts light precedents answer question affirmative parties us like appeals en banc district accorded controlling importance decision bounds smith case inmates alleged north carolina violated fourteenth amendment failing provide research facilities help prepare habeas corpus petitions federal civil rights complaints stressing meaningful access courts touchstone held fundamental constitutional right access courts requires prison authorities assist inmates preparation filing meaningful legal papers providing prisoners adequate law libraries adequate assistance persons trained law fountainhead body law powell alabama recognized ven intelligent educated layman requires guiding hand counsel every step proceedings reversed convictions death sentences seven black men charged rape two white women state failed designate counsel morning trial reasoning notice hearing guaranteed due process clause many cases little avail comprehend right heard counsel held capital case defendant unable employ counsel incapable adequately making defense ignorance feeble mindedness illiteracy like duty whether requested assign counsel necessary requisite due process law duty discharged assignment time circumstances preclude giving effective aid preparation trial case day held fourteenth amendment guaranteed indigent defendants assistance counsel trial gideon wainwright first appeal right douglas california applying sixth amendment express right counsel gideon departed special circumstances analysis favor categorical approach absence constitutional right appeal see mckane durston decided douglas assessing facts light fourteenth amendment reasons invalidating california appellate procedure appellate undertook ex parte examination barren record determine whether appeal merited appointment counsel echoed earlier statements griffin indigent forced run gantlet preliminary showing merit right appeal comport fair procedure discrimination possibly good obviously bad cases cases rich man require listen argument counsel deciding merits poor man indigent record unclear errors hidden right meaningless ritual rich man meaningful appeal douglas fourteenth amendment require state appellate system free unreasoned distinctions rinaldi yeager indigents adequate opportunity present claims fairly within adversary system griffin illinois supra draper washington state adopt procedures leave indigent defendant entirely cut appeal virtue indigency lane brown extend indigents merely meaningless ritual others better economic circumstances meaningful appeal douglas california supra question one absolutes one degrees ii precedents demonstrate appropriate question case whether absolute right counsel collateral proceedings whether due process requires respondents appointed counsel order pursue legal remedies three critical differences finley case demonstrate even permissible leave ordinary prisoner resources collateral proceedings fundamentally unfair require indigent death row inmate initiate collateral review without counsel guiding hand shall address differences turn first respondents like petitioners powell unlike respondent finley condemned die legislatures conferred greater access counsel capital defendants persons facing lesser punishment even colonial times first congress required assignment two attorneys capital defendant time initiated capital punishment nearly century passed congress provided appointment counsel contexts see mallard district interpreting act july ch stat codified similarly congress first limited federal right appeal capital cases see evitts lucey rehnquist dissenting last year enacted statute requiring provision counsel state federal prisoners seeking federal postconviction relief sentence death also expanded capital defendants ability secure counsel legal assistance long bestowing similar privileges persons accused less serious crimes furman georgia established constitution requires channeling decision various members recognized penalty death qualitatively different sentence imprisonment however long woodson north carolina plurality opinion unique nature death penalty necessitates additional protections pretrial guilt sentencing phases also enhances importance appellate process generally constitutional right appeal conviction see mckane durston eaningful appellate review capital cases however serves check random arbitrary imposition death penalty gregg georgia opinion stewart powell stevens therefore integral component state constitutional responsibility tailor apply law manner avoids arbitrary capricious infliction death penalty godfrey georgia ideally direct appeal primary avenue review conviction sentence death penalty cases exception process direct review comes end presumption finality legality attaches conviction sentence barefoot estelle however significant evidence capital cases ordinarily considered direct review sufficiently safeguard miscarriages justice warrant presumption finality federal habeas courts granted relief noncapital cases recent years striking contrast success rate capital cases ranged high incidence uncorrected error demonstrates meaningful appellate review necessary capital case extends beyond direct appellate process second contrast collateral process discussed finley virginia law contemplates claims ordinarily heard direct review relegated postconviction proceedings claims trial appellate counsel provided constitutionally ineffective assistance instance usually raised stage see frye commonwealth furthermore irregularities prosecutorial misconduct may surface direct review complete amadeo zant prosecutor deliberately underrepresented black people women jury pools brady maryland occasionally new evidence even may suggest defendant innocent ex parte adams tex cr mar available lexis mcdowell dixon cert denied given irreversibility capital punishment information deserves searching adversarial scrutiny even discovered close direct review postconviction procedure virginia may present first opportunity attorney detached past proceedings examine defense raise claims barred direct review prior counsel ineffective assistance fresh look may reveal example prior conviction used enhance defendant sentence invalid johnson mississippi defendant mental illness lack prior record abusive childhood introduced evidence mitigation sentencing hearing curry zant defense counsel failure object assert claims precludes direct appellate review postconviction proceeding gives inmates another chance rectify defaults virginia therefore postconviction proceedings key meaningful appellate review capital cases state postconviction proceedings also cornerstone subsequent attempts obtain collateral relief virginia determines claim procedurally barred federal may review unless defendant make one two difficult showings cause default resultant prejudice failure review cause fundamental miscarriage justice murray carrier wainwright sykes asserted claim tested evidentiary hearing state postconviction factual findings may control scope federal review subsequent petition writ habeas corpus pursuant may defendant circumvent state postconviction process filing federal habeas petition rose lundy held order comply exhaustion provision federal courts dismiss petitions containing claims fairly presented state courts picard connor direct postconviction review castille peoples given stringency adheres procedural default rules great importance prisoner substantial claims presented fully professionally first state collateral proceeding third district findings reflect plight death row inmate constrains ability wage collateral attacks far lot ordinary inmate considered finley district found death row inmate extremely limited period prepare present postconviction petition necessary applications stays execution supp ed unlike ordinary inmate presumably ample time use reuse prison library seek guidance prisoners experienced preparing pro se petitions cf johnson avery grim deadline imposes finite limit condemned person capacity useful research capital litigation district observed extremely complex without regard special characteristics virginia statutory procedures death penalty jurisprudence unquestionably difficult even trained lawyer master judgment unfair require ordinary inmate rely resources prepare petition postconviction relief see finley justify conclusion death row inmate must acquire understanding specialized area law prepare application stay execution well petition collateral relief especially true district concluded evidence gives rise fair inference inmate preparing family impending death incapable performing mental functions necessary adequately pursue claims three critical factors demonstrate profound difference capital postconviction litigation ordinary postconviction litigation virginia district findings unequivocally support conclusion obtain adequate opportunity present postconviction claims fairly death row inmates need greater assistance counsel virginia affords cf meaningful access meaningful judicial review effected case counsel appointed request time enable examination case record factual investigation preparation petition containing meritorious claims attorney litigate conclusion iii although circumstances governmental interests may justify infringements fourteenth amendment rights cf mathews eldridge virginia failed assert interest outweighs respondents right legal assistance state already appoints counsel death row inmates succeed filing postconviction petitions asserting least one nonfrivolous claim therefore additional cost providing death row inmates competent counsel prepare petitions minimal see furthermore multiple filings delay conclusion capital litigation exacerbate already serious burden cases impose state judicial system legal department seems obvious professional preparation first postconviction petition reducing successive petitions result net benefit virginia authorizing capital punishment least automatically provide indigent death row inmates counsel help initiate state collateral proceedings thirteen created governmentally funded resource centers assist counsel litigating capital cases virginia among five fall neither group system appointing counsel condemned prisoners postconviction petition filed griffin proscribed illinois discriminatory barrier appellate review part many already rejected barrier cf gideon noting supported right trial counsel similarly trend expand legal assistance death row inmates dilutes virginia weak justifications refusing lends convincing support conclusion courts respondents fundamental right relief seek see powell iv basic question case whether virginia procedure collateral review capital convictions sentences assures indigent death row inmates adequate opportunity present claims fairly district appeals en banc found neither state majority provides reasoned basis disagreeing conclusion simple fairness requires judgment affirmed respectfully dissent compare brief petitioners notion access right measured assistance might provided inmate personal lawyer support bounds indeed idea entirely inconsistent limited nature right brief respondents district findings conclusion remedy comprise conventional application bounds extraordinary context although appeals en banc district placed singular reliance bounds indicated reached result legal theories well peculiar nature death penalty find difficult envision situation appointed counsel required state proceedings prisoner sentence death afford attorney supp ed hanging theory relief sought alter analysis see gideon justice harlan made explicit gideon abandonment special circumstances rule context right counsel serious criminal prosecutions concurring opinion see clark concurring result linking gideon griffin illinois ferguson georgia also fourteenth amendment case consistently adhered justice sutherland observation powell alabama assistance counsel required assistance must effective rather pro forma see evitts lucey strickland washington wainwright torna per curiam cf penson ohio need forceful advocacy come abrupt halt legal proceeding moves trial appellate stage stages prosecution although perhaps involving unique legal skills require careful advocacy ensure rights forgone substantial legal factual arguments inadvertently passed en banc majority instance distinguished pennsylvania finley part ground meaningful access case address rule enunciated bounds smith colonies pennsylvania south carolina virginia made counsel available capital defendants persons accused offenses see powell act apr ch stat authorizing death sentence willful murder treason crimes stat amended requiring appointment counsel capital defendants abuse act pub stat codified ed provides pertinent part post conviction proceeding section title code seeking vacate set aside death sentence defendant becomes financially unable obtain adequate representation investigative expert reasonably necessary services shall entitled appointment one attorneys furnishing services accordance paragrap unless replaced similarly qualified counsel upon attorney motion upon motion defendant attorney appointed shall represent defendant throughout every subsequent stage available judicial proceedings including pretrial proceedings trial sentencing motions new trial appeals applications writ certiorari available process together applications stays execution appropriate motions procedures shall also represent defendant competency proceedings proceedings executive clemency may available defendant powell alabama instance established right appointment counsel capital defendants three decades right extended felony defendants facing imprisonment gideon wainwright overruling betts brady see hamilton alabama reversing state denial postconviction relief petitioner represented counsel arraignment capital charge bute illinois held state required query defendant noncapital case regarding desire counsel hand justice burton pointed majority opinion repeatedly held failure appoint counsel assist defendant give fair opportunity defendant counsel assist defense charged capital crime violation due process law fourteenth amendment citing cases among making point furman justice frankfurter andres concurring opinion statute reflects movement active nineteenth century death sentence movement impelled ethical humanitarian arguments capital punishment well practical consideration jurors reluctant bring verdicts inevitably called infliction leland oregon dissenting opinion even though person immediate occasion another death deodand forfeited like thing medieval law justice reed andres supra opinion death cases doubts presented resolved favor accused years furman decided justice observed majority opinion well separate opinions majority individual justices recognized qualitative difference death punishments requires correspondingly greater degree scrutiny capital sentencing determination california ramos see citing cases see also ford wainwright marshall plurality opinion capital proceedings generally demanded factfinding procedures aspire heightened standard reliability especial concern natural consequence knowledge execution irremediable unfathomable penalties death different ake oklahoma burger concurring judgment capital cases finality sentence imposed warrants protections may may required cases gardner florida stevens plurality opinion point view defendant different severity finality point view society action sovereign taking life one citizens also differs dramatically legitimate state action vital importance defendant community decision impose death sentence appear based reason rather caprice emotion satterwhite texas booth maryland caldwell mississippi spaziano florida beck alabama lockett ohio plurality opinion accord ante accord woodson north carolina plurality opinion proffitt florida opinion stewart powell stevens jj jurek texas opinion stewart powell stevens jj gregg georgia opinion stewart powell stevens cf ramos zant stephens griffin frankfurter concurring judgment since capital offenses sui generis state may take account irrevocability death allowing appeals capital cases others overlook experience capital litigation proceeds apace affirmance conviction vigorous opposition state legal departments capital defendants seek review state federal judicial decisions also relief state governors parole boards see powell capital punishment harv rev thus conviction sentence capital case final undisturbed sentence either executed set aside cf barefoot estelle cases half nation inmates yet move collateral proceedings wilson spangenberg state representation defendants sentenced death judicature need orderly sequence review pellucid chief justice remarked judges right insist matters proceed leisurely pace even ordinary pace think claim explored possibility imposing reasonable regulations situation disjointed chaotic remarks national conference chief justices quoted powell supra mello facing death alone attorney crisis death row rev former chief judge eleventh circuit greatest volume capital litigation recently estimated circuit capital defendants success rate collateral proceedings may high cases godbold pro bono representation death sentenced inmates record cf barefoot marshall dissenting virginia requires contemporaneous objection consider asserted trial error direct review sup rule likewise review entire case record questions clearly assigned errors appeal see ibid code see also quintana commonwealth cert denied abides applications rules precluding direct review procedurally defaulted claims see caldwell sometimes confidence obvious error corrected collateral review watkins virginia opinion stevens respecting denial petition certiorari virginia consider previously defaulted claims postconviction review petitioner shows counsel ineffective failing assert claim object error see slayton parrigan cert denied failure may forever bar review virginia allow claim raised first postconviction petition asserted successive petition code see whitley bair cert denied indeed petitioner represented counsel hearing factual findings attain presumption correctness may bar factual review federal see sumner mata see dugger adams declining review claim jury instructed inaccurately regarding role capital sentencing process teague lane holding procedurally barred claim asserted petitioner serving life term murder jury selected biased manner violation swain alabama see also supra availability appointed counsel federal habeas see supra thus presents specter petitioner filing federal habeas corpus attaining counsel petition dismissed unexhausted remanded state haphazard procedure scarcely serve interest finality raise questions regarding obligations appointed counsel effect exhaustion state level also federal treasury pay efforts cf ex parte hull state officers may abridge impair petitioner right apply federal writ habeas corpus loss plurality today prefers label district findings fact based upon trial testimony submissions considerations see ante execution may scheduled time days date sentencing code see study commissioned american bar association found attorneys spent average hours capital postconviction proceeding virginia brief american bar association amicus curiae hereinafter aba brief district commented virginia capital trial bifurcated entailing separate proceedings determine guilt set appropriate punishment aside analyzing voluminous transcript guilt determination phase infrequently lasts several days great deal time must devoted analyzing issues mitigation aggravation characteristic sentencing phase capital case apparent recognition fact congress required appoints counsel capital postconviction proceedings least one attorney must member bar least five years least three years felony litigation experience abuse act pub stat codified compounding matters typically low educational attainment prisoners half florida general inmate population found functionally illiterate state death row inmates possessed mean educational level aba brief virginia death row inmates apparently similar educational backgrounds see brief american civil liberties union et al amici curiae see also brief maryland state bar association et al amici curiae state bar brief citing similar statistics inmate populations example one lawyer testified lots clients last day time periods forced prepare mentally spiritually emotionally deal family children see die full time job think even emotional resources talk meaningfully point case much less take app representative virginia attorney general office testified regarding office policy oppose death row inmate motion appointment postconviction counsel follows well basically want see inmate attorney state habeas reasons economy efficiency death case recognize going prolonged litigation want see matters inmate petitioner wants raise raised one proceeding deal efficiently attorney prefer economy one proceeding app rule crim proc cal govt code ann west cal penal code ann west super rules criminal cases stat stat idaho code ind rule proc remedies md ann code art supp mo rules crim proc rules governing criminal practice stat ann west supp stat supp okla tit supp rev stat rule crim proc codified laws sup rule utah rule civ proc stat tit interpreted morse super crim rule addition montana nevada wyoming definitive case statutory law point listed study commissioned american bar association practice mandatory appointment counsel request wilson spangenberg judicature table alabama arizona california florida georgia kentucky louisiana mississippi north carolina oklahoma south carolina tennessee texas state bar brief see mello discussing development florida resource center cf godbold record state federal efforts provide legal assistance result several studies commissioned concerning significance providing counsel capital postconviction proceedings american bar association recognized feasible way provide death row inmates meaningful access courts implementation state imposes capital punishment system qualified compensated attorneys represent death row inmates state proceedings aba brief responded survey virginia nebraska pennsylvania nevada reported system monitor assure counsel provided prior filing petition wilson spangenberg supra virginia nevada executed prisoners since decided furman georgia naacp legal defense education fund death row march death row pennsylvania perhaps nevada appoint counsel automatically upon request see supra death penalty statutes part survey arkansas colorado new hampshire neither rules automatic appointment counsel resource centers none conducted execution new hampshire fact prisoner sentence death colorado none whose case reached state postconviction stage death row supra wilson spangenberg supra