skinner switzer district attorney judicial district texas argued october decided march district attorney office third judicial dist osborne left unresolved question whether convicted state prisoner seeking dna testing evidence may assert claim civil rights action may assert claim federal petition writ habeas corpus texas jury convicted petitioner skinner sentenced death murdering girlfriend sons claimed potent alcohol drug mix rendered physically unable commit brutal murders identified girlfriend uncle likely perpetrator preparation trial state tested physical evidence left untested several items including knives found premises axe handle vaginal swabs fingernail clippings certain hair samples six years later texas enacted article allows prisoners gain postconviction dna testing limited circumstances invoking article skinner twice moved state dna testing untested biological evidence motions denied texas criminal appeals cca affirmed first denial relief ground skinner shown required article convicted exculpatory results obtained dna testing cca affirmed second denial relief ground skinner shown required article evidence previously tested fault part skinner next filed instant federal action injunctive relief naming defendant respondent switzer district attorney custody evidence skinner like tested skinner alleged texas violated fourteenth amendment right due process refusing provide dna testing requested magistrate judge recommended dismissal complaint failure state claim reasoning postconviction requests dna evidence cognizable habeas corpus adopting recommendation district dismissed skinner suit fifth circuit affirmed held jurisdiction skinner complaint claim presses cognizable pp federal rule civil procedure generally requires plausible short plain statement plaintiff claim exposition legal argument skinner stated due process claim paragraph alleging state refusal release biological evidence testing deprived liberty interests utilizing state procedures obtain reversal conviction obtain pardon reduction sentence counsel clarified skinner challenge prosecutor conduct cca decisions instead challenges texas postconviction dna statute construed texas courts pp doctrine bar skinner suit applied doctrine two cases takes name rooker fidelity trust district columbia appeals feldman see exxon mobil saudi basic industries given narrow ground doctrine occupies confined cases brought losers inviting district review rejection state judgments ibid skinner complaint encounters shoal federal plaintiff independent claim impediment exercise federal jurisdiction related question earlier aired parties state decision reviewable lower federal courts statute rule governing decision may challenged federal action see feldman skinner federal case challenges adverse decisions texas statute authoritatively construed falls within latter category lack jurisdiction federal suit pp measured prior holdings skinner properly invoked several times considered state prisoner complaining unconstitutional state action may pursue civil rights claim habeas corpus prisoner sole remedy pathmarking decision heck humphrey concerned state prisoner brought action damages alleging unlawfully investigated arrested tried convicted held available remedy award plaintiff favor necessarily imply invalidity conviction see contrast wilkinson dotson held prisoners challenged constitutionality administrative decisions denying parole eligibility proceed sought injunction ordering immediate speedier release community favorable judgment imply invalidity conviction sentence ibid success skinner suit dna testing necessarily imply invalidity conviction test results might prove exculpatory outcome hardly inevitable results also prove inconclusive incriminating switzer argues although skinner immediate aim dna testing ultimate aim use test results platform attacking conviction found case recognized habeas sole remedy relief sought terminate custody accelerate date release reduce custody level contrary fears switzer amici circuits currently allow claims dna testing flood litigation seeking postconviction discovery evidence associated questions guilt punishment projected toll federal courts implausible regarding dna testing claims osborne rejected substantive due process basis claims generally prison litigation reform act congress placed constraints prisoner suits order prevent sportive filings cause concern instant ruling spill claims relying brady maryland brady announced constitutional requirement addressed prosecution conduct pretrial proscribes withholding evidence favorable accused material guilt punishment cone bell unlike dna testing may yield exculpatory incriminating inconclusive results successful brady claim necessarily yields evidence undermining conviction brady claims therefore rank within traditional core habeas corpus outside province pp switzer several arguments skinner complaint fail lack merit unaddressed courts ripe consideration remand fed appx reversed remanded ginsburg delivered opinion roberts scalia breyer sotomayor kagan joined thomas filed dissenting opinion kennedy alito joined henry skinner petitioner lynn switzer district attorney judicial district texas writ certiorari appeals fifth circuit march justice ginsburg delivered opinion granted review case decide question presented left unresolved district attorney office third judicial dist osborne slip may convicted state prisoner seeking dna testing evidence assert claim civil rights action claim cognizable federal asserted petition writ habeas corpus courts appeals returned diverse responses compare mckithen brown claim seeking dna testing cognizable savory lyons bradley pryor harvey horan claim cognizable kutzner montgomery county per curiam wilkinson dotson comprehensively surveyed decisions respective provinces civil rights actions federal habeas petitions habeas exclusive remedy reaffirmed prisoner seeks immediate speedier release confinement prisoner claim necessarily spell speedier release however suit may brought ibid adhering opinion dotson hold postconviction claim dna testing properly pursued action success suit gains prisoner access dna evidence may prove exculpatory inculpatory inconclusive event judgment simply orders dna tests necessarily impl unlawfulness state custody note however decision osborne severely limits federal action state prisoner may bring dna testing osborne rejected extension substantive due process area slip left slim room prisoner show governing state law denies procedural due process see slip texas jury convicted petitioner henry skinner sentenced death murdering girlfriend twila busby two sons busby bludgeoned choked axe handle sons stabbed death murders committed house busby shared skinner skinner never denied presence house killings occurred claimed however incapacitated large quantities alcohol codeine potent alcohol drug mix skinner maintained trial rendered physically unable commit brutal murders charged skinner identified likely perpetrator busby uncle robert donnell deceased history physical sexual direct appeal texas criminal appeals cca affirmed skinner conviction sentence skinner state cca opinion described evidence detail approached house police noticed trail blood spots ground running front porch fence line blood smear glass storm door knife front porch upon entering residence police found twila dead body living room floor ax handle stained blood hair leaning couch near body black plastic trash bag containing knife towel wet brownish stains laying couch coffee table one officer proceeded bedroom busby two sons usually slept bunk beds officer found one dead body laying face upper bunk covered blood spotted blanket door leading bedroom utility room yielded evidence noticed bloody handprint located inches floor frame door also noted bloody handprint door knob door leading kitchen utility room handprint knob door exiting utility room backyard police arrested skinner hey found standing closet wearing socks blue jeans investigators also retained vaginal swabs taken busby preparation trial state tested blood skinner clothing blood hair blanket partially covered one victims hairs one victim back cheeks skinner state tex crim app state also tested fingerprint evidence evidence including bloody palm prints room one victim killed implicated skinner fingerprints bag containing one knives ibid items left untested included knives found premises axe handle vaginal swabs fingernail clippings additional hair samples see decade following conviction skinner unsuccessfully sought state federal postconviction relief see skinner quarterman cert denied also pursued informal efforts gain access untested biological evidence police collected scene six years skinner conviction texas enacted article statute allowing prisoners gain postconviction dna testing limited circumstances tex code crim proc art vernon supp obtain dna testing article prisoner must meet one two threshold criteria may show trial testing either available available technologically capable providing probative results art alternatively may show evidence previously tested fault part interests justice require postconviction order testing art grant motion postconviction testing must make findings prime among movant convicted exculpatory results obtained dna testing article request made unreasonably delay execution sentence administration justice art invoking article skinner twice moved state first dna testing yet untested biological evidence see supra motions denied affirming denial skinner first motion cca held failed demonstrate reasonable probability convicted dna test results exculpatory skinner state skinner second motion bolstered discovery obtained cca affirmed denial relief article time ground skinner failed meet fault requirement see skinner state postconviction proceedings cca noted trial counsel testified ask ed testing afraid dna turn skinner decision cca concluded constituted reasonable trial strategy cause skinner next filed instant federal action injunctive relief naming defendant respondent lynn switzer district attorney whose office prosecuted skinner custody evidence skinner like dna tested skinner complaint alleged texas violated fourteenth amendment right due process refusing provide dna testing requested complaint app magistrate judge recommended dismissal complaint failure state claim upon relief granted app governing circuit precedent kutzner montgomery county magistrate judge observed postconviction requests dna evidence cognizable habeas corpus app adopting magistrate judge recommendation district dismissed skinner suit appeal appeals fifth circuit affirmed fed appx per curiam reiterating action prisoner dna testing cognizable must instead brought petition writ habeas corpus skinner granted certiorari reverse fifth circuit judgment ii case resolved motion dismiss failure state claim question whether skinner ultimately prevail procedural due process claim see scheuer rhodes whether complaint sufficient cross federal threshold see swierkiewicz sorema skinner complaint model careful drafter art federal rules civil procedure complaint need pin plaintiff claim relief precise legal theory rule federal rules civil procedure generally requires plausible short plain statement plaintiff claim exposition legal argument see wright miller federal practice procedure pp ed supp skinner stated due process claim paragraph alleging state refusal release biological evidence testing deprived liberty interests utilizing state procedures obtain reversal conviction obtain pardon reduction sentence complaint app earlier recounted see supra skinner twice requested failed obtain dna testing procedure available see complaint app oral argument skinner counsel clarified gist skinner due process claim challenge prosecutor conduct decisions reached cca applying article motions instead challenges denying procedural due process texas postconviction dna statute construed texas courts tr oral arg see also texas courts skinner counsel argued construed statute completely foreclose prisoner sought dna testing prior trial seeking testing postconviction merits skinner complaint assailing texas statute authoritatively construed particularly vitality claim light osborne see supra unaddressed district fifth circuit ripe review take questions whether jurisdiction skinner complaint whether claim presses cognizable respondent switzer asserts skinner challenge urisdictionally arred come known doctrine brief respondent boldface deleted line courts conclude bar skinner suit explained exxon mobil saudi basic industries doctrine applied twice two cases doctrine takes name first rooker fidelity trust years later district columbia appeals feldman cases fit pattern losing party state filed suit district state proceedings ended complaining injury caused judgment seeking review rejection judgment alleging jurisdiction plaintiffs rooker feldman asked district overturn injurious judgment held cases district courts lacked jurisdiction claims vests authority review state judgment solely see exxon observed exxon doctrine construed federal courts extend far beyond contours rooker feldman cases emphasizing narrow ground occupied doctrine clarified exxon confined cases kind doctrine acquired name cases brought losers inviting district review rejection state judgments ibid skinner litigation light exxon encounters shoal federal plaintiff independent claim impediment exercise federal jurisdiction related question earlier aired parties state quoting gash assocs rosemont first alteration original see smith fed appx sutton concurring part dissenting part defendant federal challenge adequacy procedures postconviction dna testing within limited grasp earlier noted see supra skinner challenge adverse cca decisions instead targets unconstitutional texas statute authoritatively construed explained feldman reiterated exxon decision reviewable lower federal courts statute rule governing decision may challenged federal skinner federal case falls within latter category therefore lack jurisdiction skinner federal may state prisoner complaining unconstitutional state action pursue civil rights claim habeas corpus prisoner sole remedy several times considered question pathmarking heck humphrey plaintiff litigation state prisoner serving time manslaughter brought action damages alleging unlawfully investigated arrested tried convicted although complaint heck sought monetary damages release confinement ruled plaintiff proceed award favor observed necessarily imply invalidity conviction see judgment favor plaintiff necessarily imply invalidity conviction sentence held available remedy ibid plaintiff action even successful demonstrate invalidity conviction sentence action allowed proceed ibid summarized relevant case law recently wilkinson dotson case involved prisoners challenged constitutionality administrative decisions denying parole eligibility proceed held sought injunction ordering immediate speedier release community favorable judgment imply invalidity conviction sentence ibid quoting heck first alteration added measured prior holdings skinner properly invoked success suit dna testing necessarily imply invalidity conviction test results might prove exculpatory outcome hardly inevitable earlier observed see supra results might prove inconclusive might incriminate skinner see nelson campbell careful heck stress importance term respondent switzer nevertheless argues line fifth circuit precedent see kutzner skinner request dna testing must pursued application habeas corpus action dissent echoes switzer argument see post although skinner immediate plea simply order requiring dna testing ultimate aim switzer urges use test results platform attacking conviction suffices point switzer found case dissent recognized habeas sole remedy even available one relief sought neither terminat custody accelerat future date release custody reduc level custody dotson scalia concurring respondent switzer amici forecast vast expansion federal jurisdiction ensue hold skinner complaint initiated see brief national district attorneys association amicus curiae particular predict proliferation federal civil actions seeking postconviction discovery evidence relief inescapably associated central questions guilt punishment fears shared dissent post circuits currently allow claims dna testing see supra evidence tendered switzer shows litigation flood even rainfall projected toll federal courts implausible regarding dna testing claims osborne rejected substantive due process basis claims see supra generally prison litigation reform act plra stat congress placed series controls prisoner suits constraints designed prevent sportive filings federal see plra adding create new procedures penalties prisoner lawsuits plra adding require prisoner proceeding forma pauperis pay full filing fee percentage prison trust account plra adding require prisoners pay full amount cost assessed prison trust account plra adding revoke limited exception forma pauperis privileges prisoner filed three lawsuits fail state claim malicious frivolous see also britton plra aims discourage prisoners filing claims unlikely succeed statistics suggest act intended effect see cause concern today ruling spill claims relying brady maryland indeed switzer makes assertion brady announced constitutional requirement addressed first foremost prosecution conduct pretrial brady proscribes withholding evidence favorable accused material guilt punishment cone bell slip establish brady violation undermines conviction convicted defendant must make three showings evidence issue favorable accused either exculpatory impeaching state suppressed evidence either willfully inadvertently prejudice ensued strickler greene see banks dretke unlike dna testing may yield exculpatory incriminating inconclusive results brady claim successful postconviction necessarily yields evidence undermining conviction brady evidence definition always favorable defendant material guilt punishment see strickler parties asserting brady violations postconviction generally seek judgment qualifying immediate speedier release imprisonment see dotson accordingly brady claims ranked within traditional core habeas corpus outside province see heck claim prosecutors investigator destroyed evidence exculpatory nature proved petitioner maintained amaker weiner claim sounds brady maryland indeed call question validity conviction beck muskogee police iii finally switzer presents several reasons skinner complaint fail lack merit arguments unaddressed courts ripe consideration remand indful review first view cutter wilkinson confine opinion matter granted certiorari express opinion ultimate disposition skinner federal action reasons stated judgment appeals fifth circuit reversed case remanded proceedings consistent opinion ordered henry skinner petitioner lynn switzer district attorney judicial district texas writ certiorari appeals fifth circuit march justice thomas justice kennedy justice alito join dissenting holds skinner may bring procedural due process claim challenging texas postconviction dna statute ante accept majority characterization issue question left open district attorney office third judicial dist osborne ante prisoner challenged constitutional adequacy access dna evidence provided alaska general postconviction relief statute slip like osborne skinner seeks challenge state collateral review hold claims cognizable recognized reach full extent broad language preiser rodriguez see heck humphrey expand opportunities collateral attack never purported fully circumscribe boundaries cf rather evaluated claim come us reasoning first principles prior decisions preiser rodriguez began undisputed proposition state prisoner may use challeng underlying conviction sentence federal constitutional grounds included attacks trial procedures see den ial constitutional rights trial reasoned immediate release physical confinement shortening duration also sought see also wolff mcdonnell refusing allow suit restoration credits edwards balisok refusing allow procedural challenge process used revoke credits heck humphrey addressed actions seeking damages determining actions covered preiser returned hoary principle civil tort actions appropriate vehicles challenging validity outstanding criminal judgments concluded complaint must dismissed judgment favor plaintiff necessarily imply invalidity conviction sentence recently wilkinson dotson applied principles prior decisions found cognizable claim sought render invalid state procedures used deny parole eligibility parole suitability ii previously addressed whether due process challenges state collateral review procedures may brought hold may challenges state procedures reviewing validity conviction treated challenges state trial procedures already recognized may brought moreover allowing challenges undermine congress strict limitations federal review state habeas decisions cognizable skinner claim sounds habeas corpus first purposes due process clause process law deprivation liberty comprises procedures including collateral review procedures establish review validity conviction long recognized direct appellate review fourteenth amendment require state shall provide appellate review criminal cases perfectly obvious appeal provided prisoner benefit proceedings appellate tribunal regarded part process law held custody state considered determining question alleged deprivation life liberty contrary fourteenth amendment frank mangum citations omitted similarly although state required provide procedures postconviction review seems clear state collateral review procedures provided part process law prisoner held custody state ibid explained considering whether state provided process due depriving individual life liberty property must look process see cleveland bd ed loudermill existence procedures relevant necessary scope pretermination procedures see also national private truck council oklahoma tax mathews eldridge principled reason refuse allow suits challenge part process trial proceedings bless use challenge parts collateral review procedures course part criminal proceeding pennsylvania finley like trial direct appellate procedures concern validity conviction trial procedures used initially convict prisoner appellate procedures review validity conviction becomes final collateral review procedures permit challenge conviction final purposes deciding claims fall within bounds think makes sense treat similarly constitutional challenges procedures concerning validity conviction see heck supra thomas concurring proper devise limitations aimed ameliorating conflict habeas provided principled fashion second principles federalism comity stake federal courts review state collateral review procedures review state trial procedures osborne alito concurring slip attack federal state judicial action concerning state conviction must proceed proper respect state functions federal courts asked tr regularity proceedings courts coordinate jurisdiction preiser internal quotation marks emphasis omitted concerns comity congress strictly limited procedures federal habeas challenges state convictions state habeas decisions congress requires state prisoner may seek relief federal must exhaus remedies available courts state state habeas determinations receive significant deference subsequent federal habeas proceedings requirements ensure state courts first opportunity correct error state conviction rulings receive due respect subsequent federal challenges bringing procedural challenge skinner undermines restrictions example skinner never presented current challenge texas procedures postconviction relief texas courts allowing skinner artfully plead attack state habeas procedures instead attack state habeas results undercuts restrictions congress placed federal review state convictions see osborne supra alito concurring slip allege texas courts erred denying relief collateral review skinner file federal habeas petition accompanying procedural restrictions deferential review successful challenge texas collateral review procedures impeach result collateral review without complying restrictions relief federal habeas majority contends decision spill claims relying brady maryland ante cf osborne supra alito concurring slip truth majority provides roadmap unsuccessful state habeas petitioner relitigate claim state habeas denied file suit challenging state habeas process rather result prisoner avail additional bite apple iii majority relies dotson reach conclusion case plaintiffs alleged due process violations state parole adjudications sought injunctive relief new parole hearing conducted constitutionally proper procedures found claims cognizable dotson control case unlike state collateral review parole evaluate validity underlying state conviction sentence collateral review permits prisoners attack final convictions osborne supra alito concurring slip contrast parole may provide release whether prisoner paroled way relates validity underlying conviction sentence whatever correctness dotson parole procedures review validity conviction sentence reason permitting review parole procedures similarly risk transforming vehicle challenging validity outstanding criminal judgments heck contrary majority contention dotson reduce question whether claim cognizable single inquiry whether prisoner claim necessarily spell speedier release see ante internal quotation marks omitted recognized heck evaluating boundaries narrow mechanical inquiry even relief sought speedier release inquired returned first principles determine case cognizable see dotson suggest heck approach continue follow incorrect struggled limit prevent intruding boundaries habeas corpus crafting limits recognized suits seeking immediate speedier release confinement fall outside scope dotson supra found another limit faced civil action judgment favor plaintiff necessarily imply invalidity conviction sentence heck supra case calls yet another due process challenges state procedures used review validity conviction sentence rule skinner claim cognizable judgment appeals affirmed respectfully dissent footnotes trial defense witness testified evening killings busby spurned donnell rude sexual advances skinner state tex crim app neighbor related federal postconviction hearing observed donnell day two murders thoroughly cleaning carpets inside pickup truck see skinner quarterman skinner conviction state performed dna tests certain additional materials skinner took part selection materials testing skinner maintains ex parte tests inconclusive see complaint app testing raised questions answered see skinner state tex crim app findings inculpatory skinner trial counsel although aware biological evidence remained untested request testing postconviction skinner sought dna testing vaginal swabs finger nail clippings taken busby blood hairs jacket found next busby body biological material knives dish towel recovered crime scene complaint app basis discovery federal postconviction proceeding expert retained skinner concluded skinner busby two sons excluded sources hair collected busby right hand killings see record see also complaint app district attorney response skinner second motion informed texas district best state information knowledge belief items sought tested still available testing chain custody intact items condition tested although state sought expert opinion regard record see also complaint app state texas scheduled skinner execution march granted skinner application stay execution action also persistently sought state voluntary testing materials identified see complaint app unlike petitioner district attorney office third judicial dist osborne attempt ed sidestep state process federal lawsuit slip skinner first resorted state see supra respect skinner better positioned urge federal inadequacy procedures available state postconviction relief osborne slip judgment assailed feldman rendered district columbia appeals equivalent purpose state highest observed exxon mobil saudi basic industries hen parallel state federal litigation state preclusion law may become decisive reclusion jurisdictional matter switzer asserts skinner raised federal claim article proceeding see tr oral arg even simply preclusion another name lance dennis per curiam questions preclusion unresolved best left full airing decision remand ginsburg concurring dissent muddle clear line heck dotson drew instead instruct district courts resort first principles time state prisoner files claim federal post unlike parole determinations issue wilkinson dotson switzer urges claims like skinner require inquiry state proof trial therefore lie core criminal proceeding tr oral see dotson declared however uncertain terms prisoner claim necessarily spell speedier release claim lie core habeas corpus may brought majority opinion internal quotation marks omitted see scalia concurring whatever might said switzer argument recast doctrine switzer position reconciled line precedent currently draws dissent advocacy retur first principles post given importance providing clear guidance lower courts see reason moving line cases draw dotson footnotes adopt majority view skinner alleged violation procedural due process despite fact complaint naturally read alleging violation substantive due process also ignore questionable premise requested relief dna testing available procedural due process challenge compare wilkinson dotson seeking new parole hearing conducted constitutionally proper procedures osborne alito concurring slip distinguishing dotson osborne sought evidence skinner challenges texas article tex code crim proc art et seq vernon supp provides postconviction discovery dna evidence used state habeas proceeding challenge validity conviction see ard state tex app article provide vehicle obtaining relief ex parte tuley tex crim app rather design nature part texas collateral review procedures see reply brief petitioner article give convicting authority overturn conviction prisoner still must bring habeas proceeding challenge conviction although article purposes skinner due process challenge part state collateral review process suggest motion article application collateral review see wall kholi post noting application review must provide state authority order relief judgment texas divided postconviction discovery dna evidence application state habeas separate proceedings remain parts state collateral review process reason believe holding cabined collateral review procedures discuss whether state direct review process may subject challenge suggests principled distinction direct collateral review risks transforming vehicle direct criminal appeals cf heck humphrey unsuccessful state habeas petitioner resort challenge state collateral review procedures unsuccessful appellants turn challenge state appellate procedures parole procedures unrelated validity necessarily spell speedier release test may sufficiently summarize analysis challenges parole procedures necessarily spell speedier release limit prisoner challenges procedures used review validity underlying conviction respondent argued existing formulations end test tr oral arg