lonchar thomas argued december decided april petitioner lonchar sentenced death murder nine years ago years following affirmance conviction sentence sister brother filed next friend state habeas petitions lonchar opposed lonchar filed dismissed state habeas petition shortly scheduled execution filed another state habeas petition denied filed eleventh hour federal petition first reasoning federal habeas corpus rule generalized equitable authority dismiss governed case district held lonchar conduct waiting almost six years file federal petition constitute independent basis rejecting petition granted stay permit time consideration grounds dismissal raised state appeals vacated stay held equitable doctrines independent rule applied relying chiefly per curiam order gomez dist northern dist setting aside rules traditional habeas doctrines concluded lonchar merit equitable relief held principle barefoot estelle applies district faced request stay first federal habeas case district dismiss petition merits scheduled execution obligated address merits must issue stay prevent case becoming moot lacks authority directly dispose petition merits abuse discretion attempting achieve result indirectly denying stay since lonchar claims certainly seem substantial enough prevent page ii dismissal habeas corpus rule state argue contrary courts correctly assumed denied stay unless petition properly subject dismissal gomez order displaced barefoot rationale one permitting denial stay first federal habeas cases even district lacks authority dismiss petition merits gomez involve denial stay case lower authority dismiss petition first habeas petition neither discussed cited barefoot much less repudiated rationale pp appeals erred dismissing lonchar first federal petition special ad hoc equitable reasons encompassed within relevant statutes federal habeas corpus rules prior precedents first history great writ reveals individual judges dismissing writs ad hoc reasons rather gradual evolution formal judicial statutory doctrines law regularize thereby narrow discretion individual judges freely exercise see mccleskey zant second fact writ called equitable remedy see gomez supra authorize ignore body statutes rules precedents rather courts equity must governed rules precedents less courts law missouri jenkins thomas concurring arguments ad hoc departure settled rules seem particularly strong dismissal first habeas petition issue since dismissal denies petitioner protections great writ entirely see ex parte yerger wall third rule permits courts dismiss habeas petition appears state prejudiced ability respond delay petition filing specifically directly addresses delay factor led appeals dismiss lonchar petition district asked make finding prejudice case whereas rule history makes plain prejudice requirement represents critical element balancing interests undertaken congress rule framers courts may undermine exercise background equitable powers see bank nova scotia fourth contrary appeals view gomez supra authorize ad hoc equitable departures habeas corpus rules purport work significant change law applicable dismissal first habeas petitions fifth fact lonchar filed petition eleventh hour lead different page iii conclusion gomez supra sawyer whitley distinguished complexity inherent developing fair effective rules minimize harms created petitions capital cases offers practical caution judicial attempt outside framework habeas rules fashion reforms concerning first federal habeas petitions sixth different result warranted special circumstances case including next friend petitions filed lonchar siblings filing later withdrawal state habeas petition fact motive filing federal habeas petition part delay execution expresses view proper outcome rules application case pp breyer delivered opinion stevens souter ginsburg joined rehnquist filed opinion concurring judgment scalia kennedy thomas joined lonchar thomas justice breyer delivered opinion case asks us decide whether federal may dismiss first federal habeas petition general equitable reasons beyond embodied relevant statutes federal habeas corpus rules prior precedents decide appeals erred case primary equitable consideration favoring dismissal eleventh hour petition us serious delay federal habeas corpus rule deals specifically delay see rule permitting courts dismiss habeas petition appears state prejudiced ability respond delay filing view rule general equitable power create exceptions rule determined whether petition dismissal appropriate petitioner larry lonchar sentenced death murder nine years ago filed eleventh hour petition habeas corpus first federal habeas corpus petition june day scheduled execution understand procedural significance petition lonchar thomas nature delay issue relevant special features case must consider petition context earlier proceedings ease exposition divide five stages stage one trial appeal execution date lonchar convicted state murdering three people sentenced death electrocution mandatory state appeal led affirmance conviction sentence trial judge issued death warrant week march throughout proceedings lonchar said wanted die refused cooperate lawyer attend trial also attempted unsuccessfully waive mandatory appeal declined authorize collateral attacks conviction sentence wrote trial judge asking execution date stage two sister next friend habeas march two days scheduled execution lonchar sister chris kellog filed next friend habeas petition state claiming lonchar incompetent lonchar opposed action eventually state federal courts trial appellate levels held lonchar competent dismissed petition state courts issued death warrant time week february stage three lonchar state habeas february lonchar lawyer told brother milan threatening kill lonchar execution lonchar authorized habeas petition state obtained stay execution subsequently changed mind told judge want proceed although lawyers objected lonchar incompetent make decision judge dismissed petition without prejudice death warrant issued week june lonchar thomas stage four brother next friend habeas june three days scheduled execution lonchar brother milan filed another next friend habeas petition state lonchar opposed within three days milan petition met fate sister earlier petition say federal state courts trial appellate levels found lonchar competent denied petition stage five lonchar current habeas june immediately thereafter discussions lawyers lonchar filed another state habeas petition containing claims including one challenged method execution told state judge wished pursue claims litigating delay execution hope state change execution method lethal injection donate organs state courts stayed execution briefly two days later denied petition lonchar immediately filed first federal habeas petition set forth claims state asked lonchar federal petition dismissed stressing called lonchar inequitable conduct waiting almost six years last minute file federal habeas petition district held constitute independent basis rejecting petition view habeas corpus rule generalized equitable authority dismiss governed case held rule authority dismiss abuse writ applied second successive habeas petitions first petition lonchar see habeas corpus rule second successive petition may dismissed judge finds failure petitioner assert grounds prior petition constituted abuse writ emphasis added district therefore granted stay permit time consideration state grounds lonchar thomas motion dismiss next day appeals eleventh circuit vacated stay pointed district based holding exclusively rule held equitable doctrines independent rule applied relying chiefly per curiam order gomez dist northern dist setting aside rules traditional habeas doctrines concluded circumstances case lonchar merit equitable relief ibid mentioned granted certiorari order consider whether federal may circumstances dismiss valid first habeas petition equitable reasons reasons listed federal statutes rules well established precedents ii first discuss preliminary matter us appeals order vacates stay order dismiss habeas petition believe however fact makes difference appeals order vacating stay lawful dismissal petition lawful bringing lonchar execution vacating stay prevent courts considering petition merits dismissal previously considered slightly different context whether may allow first federal habeas petition mooted execution even though lacked authority dispose petition merits barefoot estelle considered proper standard granting denying stay pending consideration appeal dismissal first federal lonchar thomas habeas petition stated certificate probable cause issued district case later appeals petitioner must afforded opportunity address merits appeals obligated decide merits appeal accordingly appeals necessary prevent case becoming moot petitioner execution grant stay execution pending disposition appeal condemned prisoner obtains certificate probable cause initial habeas appeal case lonchar claims certainly seem substantial enough prevent dismissal rule state argue contrary believe district lonchar thomas appeals correct assume lonchar denied stay unless petition properly subject dismissal see app concurrence argues decision gomez dist northern dist displaced rationale barefoot relying particularly statement may consider nature application stay execution deciding whether grant equitable relief concurrence understands statement authorize denial stay generalized equitable reasons first federal habeas cases even district lacks authority dismiss petition merits believe sentence rest order gomez supports conclusion first gomez involve denial stay case lower authority dismiss petition instead concurrence concedes post case dismissed abuse writ see second gomez involved fifth attempt secure collateral review first habeas petition barefoot indicated stays econd successive federal habeas corpus petitions present different issue since cases likely condemned inmate might attempt use repeated petitions appeals mere delaying tactic danger specially recognized addressed habeas corpus rules barefoot supra finally concurrence reading gomez seriously conflicts barefoot treatment first habeas petitions decline adopt interpretation per curiam order especially since gomez concern first habeas petition since gomez order discuss even cite barefoot much less lonchar thomas explicitly repudiate rationale iii turn main question appeals properly dismiss first habeas petition special ad hoc equitable reasons encompassed within framework rule conclude first history great writ habeas corpus reveals individual judges dismissing writs ad hoc reasons rather gradual evolution formal judicial statutory doctrines law see mccleskey zant barefoot supra kuhlmann wilson plurality opinion sanders townsend sain earlier times courts followed comparatively simple rules even occasionally disregarding complex procedural doctrines res judicata see mccleskey supra exercised writ light basic purpose avoiding serious abuses power government say king imprisonment individual without referring matter see yackle postconviction remedies pp duker constitutional history habeas corpus church treatise writ habeas corpus pp ed writ evolved instrument demands conviction competent jurisdiction see coy also application basic constitutional doctrines fairness see jones cunningham congress rule writers courts developed complex procedural principles regularize thereby narrow discretion individual judges freely exercise principles seek maintain courts freedom lonchar thomas issue writ aptly described highest safeguard liberty smith bennett time avoiding serious improper delay expense complexity interference state interest finality legal processes withrow williams concurring part dissenting part mccleskey supra reed ross legal principles embodied statutes rules precedents practices control writ exercise within constitutional constraints reflect balancing objectives sometimes controversial normally congress make courts make congress resolved question see brecht abrahamson second fact writ called equitable remedy see gomez supra authorize ignore body statutes rules precedents thing law writs grace favour issuing judges opinion writ habeas corpus wilm eng wilmot rather courts equity must governed rules precedents less courts law missouri jenkins slip thomas concurring see also albemarle paper moody federalist cooke ed selden pointed many years ago alternative use equity chancellor conscience measure equity alternative arbitrary uncertain measuring distance length chancellor foot see story commentaries equity jurisprudence ed mccleskey said concern habeas petition abuses led complex evolving body equitable lonchar thomas principles informed controlled historical usage statutory developments judicial decisions emphasis added mccleskey also reaffirmed importance order preclude individualized enforcement constitution different parts nation lay ing specifically nature problem permits standards directions govern district judges disposition applications habeas corpus prisoners sentence state courts quoting brown allen opinion frankfurter equitable rules guide lower courts reduce uncertainty avoid unfair surprise minimize disparate treatment similar cases thereby help litigants including state whose interests finality rules often see barefoot kuhlmann supra townsend supra see also coleman thompson barring consideration claims procedurally defaulted state absent cause prejudice fundamental miscarriage justice teague lane plurality opinion barring habeas proceedings federal claims based certain new rules constitutional law rose lundy district must dismiss habeas petitions containing unexhausted exhausted claims arguments ad hoc departure settled rules seem particularly strong dismissal first habeas petition issue dismissal first federal habeas petition particularly serious matter dismissal denies petitioner protections great writ entirely risking injury important interest human liberty see ex parte yerger wall writ lonchar thomas centuries esteemed best sufficient defence personal freedom withrow supra concurring part dissenting part decisions involving limitation habeas relief warrant restraint even context second successive petitions pose greater threat state interests finality less likely lead discovery unconstitutional punishments created careful rules dismissal petitions abuse writ see mccleskey supra say district discretion dealing first federal habeas petitions habeas corpus rules provide district courts ample discretionary authority tailor proceedings dispose quickly efficiently fairly first habeas petitions lack substantial merit preserving extensive proceedings petitions raising serious questions instance noted rules permit district dismiss summarily first petition without waiting state response plainly appears face petition exhibits annexed petitioner entitled relief habeas corpus rule moreover even petition dismissed standard district still authorized take action judge deems appropriate ibid advisory committee note makes clear provision designed afford judge flexibility case either dismissal order answer may inappropriate example judge may want authorize respondent make motion dismiss based upon information furnished respondent may show petitioner claims already decided merits federal petitioner failed exhaust state remedies lonchar thomas petitioner custody within meaning decision matter pending state situations dismissal may called procedural grounds may avoid burdening respondent necessity filing answer substantive merits petition situations judge may want consider motion respondent make petition certain judge may want dismiss allegations petition requiring respondent answer claims appear arguable merit third specific federal habeas corpus rule rule directly addresses primary factor delay led appeals dismiss petition equitable reasons rule says delayed petitions petition may dismissed lonchar thomas appears state respondent officer prejudiced ability respond petition delay filing unless petitioner shows based grounds knowledge exercise reasonable diligence circumstances prejudicial state occurred habeas corpus rule emphasis added history rule makes plain prejudice requirement represents critical element balancing interests undertaken congress framers rule courts may undermine exercise background equitable powers see bank nova scotia balance struck rule societal costs rights accused may casually overlooked elected analyze question supervisory power quoting payner advisory committee note indicates maxim upon appeals relied authority acting outside rules equitable maxim petitioner conduct may disentitle relief taken account rule framers drafted rule included prejudice requirement see lonchar thomas advisory committee note habeas corpus rule moreover congress considering draft rule see directly focused upon prejudice requirement rejected removing draft rule provision eased burden prejudice requirement presuming prejudice delay five years compare rules procedure communication chief justice transmitting rules forms governing proceedings sections title doc pp act pub stat see also unsound policy require defendant overcome presumption prejudice cf mccarthy madigan even area exhaustion judges considerable discretionary authority appropriate deference congress power prescribe basic procedural scheme claim may heard federal requires fashioning exhaustion principles manner consistent congressional intent applicable statutory scheme recognize considerable debate whether present rule properly balances relevant competing interests see judicial conference ad hoc committee federal habeas corpus capital cases committee report proposal hereinafter powell report suggesting statute limitations habeas petitions american bar association toward effective system review state death penalty cases hereinafter aba report debate present rule effectiveness affirm deny applicability moreover debate focus upon congress also reveals institutional inappropriateness amending rule lonchar thomas effect ad hoc judicial exception rather congressional legislation formal rulemaking process see vasquez hillery espite many attempts recent years congress yet create statute limitations federal habeas corpus actions lightly create new judicial rule achieve end citation omitted appendix opinion listing bills proposed statute limitations federal habeas cases since vasquez none adopted fourth contrary appeals view believe gomez dist northern dist authorized ad hoc equitable departures habeas corpus rules appeals relied heavily statement even assume however harris avoid application mccleskey bar claim consider merits whether claim framed habeas petition action harris seeks equitable remedy lonchar thomas fifth fact lonchar filed petition eleventh hour lead different conclusion recognize gomez said may consider nature application stay execution deciding whether grant equitable relief made similar statements cases see sawyer whitley judge may resolve doubts petitioners delay filings last minute view obtaining stay district lack time give necessary consideration scheduled execution herrera collins concurring statements help state however involve second successive habeas petitions rules specifically authorize dismissal petitions abuse writ habeas corpus rule see also authorizing dismissal applicant deliberately withheld newly asserted ground otherwise abused writ emphasis added mccleskey gives content notion abuse writ cases mentioned statements therefore reflect effort follow apply habeas corpus rules effort develop law outside rules indeed try devise sensible way supplementing first federal habeas petition rules ad hoc equitable devices prove difficult lonchar thomas discussed supra interest permitting federal habeas review first petition quite strong given importance first federal habeas petition particularly important rule deprive inmates access writ clear fair two prominent bodies charged developing proposals habeas law reform pointed developing fair effective rules minimize harms created petitions capital cases quite complicated requiring consideration issues state control setting execution dates time needed exhaust state remedies common practice substituting specialized capital counsel habeas time needed habeas counsel investigate claims ineffective assistance counsel often raised direct appeal see aba report system review employs artificial execution dates catalyst many eleventh hours many last minutes petitioner seek stay execution virtually every level execution imminent powell report risoners often obtain qualified counsel execution imminent bodies consequently proposed comprehensive set interrelated changes see aba report powell report recent legislative proposals see sess sess sess sess sess sess complexity offers practical caution judicial attempt outside framework habeas corpus rules fashion similar reforms concerning first federal habeas petitions sixth special circumstances case delay lonchar thomas warrant different result earlier habeas petitions brought lonchar sister brother beside point lonchar assert claims proceedings conspire siblings delay execution contrary opposed petitions prevailed opposition see app next friend petitions neither aggravate mitigate lonchar delay filing petition six years lonchar filing later withdrawal state habeas petition seem similarly beside point assertion withdrawal petition create potential ground procedural bar second state petition certain circumstances might also prevent litigation similar claims federal see coleman state despite apparent agreement lonchar withdrawal state petition without prejudice see app asserted bar free litigate matter remand believe lonchar motive filing federal habeas petition make critical difference lonchar say filed petition delay execution hope state change execution method lonchar petition also requested traditional habeas relief new trial resentencing app told district specifically considered every claim wanted hear normally courts look behind action valid legal claim face order try determine comparative weight litigant places various subjective reasons bringing claim valid antitrust complaint environmental action example suddenly become invalid simply litigant subjectively indifferent receiving requested equitable relief instead primarily wants please lonchar thomas family obtain revenge importantly litigation petitioner subjective motivations risks adding complexity habeas litigation asking subjective question petitioner true motives often unanswerable asking may encourage reward disingenuous see murray carrier rejecting subjective test determining cause procedural default part rule federal habeas courts routinely required hold evidentiary hearings determine prompted counsel failure raise claim question sum believe case examined within framework habeas corpus rules settled precedents according generalized equitable considerations outside framework course express view proper outcome application rules judgment appeals vacated case remanded proceedings consistent opinion ordered lonchar thomas last years bills proposing statute limitations federal habeas corpus petitions introduced every year congress bills see sess sess sess sess sess sess sess sess sess sess sess sess sess sess sess sess sess sess sess sess sess sess sess sess sess sess sess sess sess sess sess sess sess sess sess sess cong sess sess sess sess sess sess sess sess sess sess lonchar thomas sess sess sess sess sess sess sess sess sess sess sess sess sess sess sess sess sess sess sess sess sess sess sess sess sess sess sess lonchar thomas chief justice rehnquist justice scalia justice kennedy justice thomas join concurring judgment agree judgment appeals reversed sufficient disagreement reasoning write separately disagree statement appeals order vacating stay lawful dismissal petition lawful ante statement believe misreads opinion barefoot estelle ignores reasoning gomez dist northern dist order review dispose petition writ habeas corpus vacates stay execution dismisses distinction preliminary matter makes difference appeals order vacating stay lawful dismissal petition lawful ante view fact reviewing order vacating stay anything preliminary correct inasmuch underlying petition likelihood success one factor considered determining whether stay entered see hilton braunskill lonchar thomas rule rules governing cases sets forth grounds upon habeas petition may dismissed merits rule petition may dismissed found successive abusive rule may also dismissed appears state respondent officer prejudiced ability respond petition delay filing unless petitioner shows based grounds knowledge exercise reasonable diligence circumstances prejudicial state occurred rule however applicant likelihood success consideration determining whether entitled stay see hilton supra habeas rules say little anything determination understandably must remembered statutes governing habeas corpus enacted writ developed vehicle federal courts reexamine lonchar thomas federal constitutional issues even trial review state brown allen long declined declare death penalty unconstitutional gregg georgia proffitt florida jurek texas difficult congress anticipated issues arise system state death sentences presumptively valid reexamined federal execution consider constitutional challenges manner imposed typical noncapital habeas case relatively easy rule application stay execution state sentence consulting ordinary principles governing stays rarely ever noncapital petitioner seek stay sentence district passed merits petition petitioner make request usually little chance success merits since confined pursuant presumptively valid final judgment conviction rendered state see entertaining petition district awards writ stay equities shift favor petitioner enlarged unless state demonstrate equities counsel otherwise hilton supra easily managed system adapted govern capital habeas cases long capital petitioner files habeas petition sufficiently advance execution date files timely fashion district may consider petition due course without way disturbing sentence execution date ruling petition merits case petitioner instead files eleventh hour federal habeas petition customary principles must revised accordingly district lonchar thomas may feel simply time date execution adequately consider merits petitioner claims naturally disposed district enter stay enable district sets aside scheduled state execution sentence imposed presumptively valid final state judgment conviction basis tentative assessment judgment violates federal constitutional right unless nature petition taken account late filing may induce federal disregard comity frustrate sovereign power punish offenders engle isaac interference might avoided timely filing customary principles must also revised account attempt petitioner manipulate district granting relief relief clearly precluded gomez dist northern dist demonstrated manipulative uses stay power constitute equitable grounds justify denial application stay state order execution vacated stay execution issued behalf robert alton harris lonchar thomas california prisoner pending consideration action alleging method execution violated eighth amendment see harris raised eighth amendment claim four federal habeas corpus petitions filed years considered claim obvious attempt avoid application mccleskey zant bar successive claim relief ibid vacated stay basis bar alone explicitly even assume however harris avoid application mccleskey bar claim consider merits whether claim framed habeas petition action harris seeks equitable remedy equity must take consideration state strong interest proceeding judgment harris obvious attempt manipulation claim brought decade ago good reason abusive delay compounded attempts manipulate judicial process may consider nature application stay execution deciding whether grant equitable relief citations omitted lonchar thomas gomez also confirms habeas petitioner misconduct applying stay may disentitle stay even petition first inequitable conduct gomez criticized abusive delay manipulation may present stay application gomez equivocate said equity must take consideration obvious attempt manipulation may consider nature application stay execution deciding whether grant equitable relief citations omitted may admitted stronger presumption favor deciding merits petition successive petition successive nature petition gives rise additional concern counseling review merits petitioner frustrating state attempts execute judgment exploiting fact ordinary principles res judicata apply habeas corpus mccleskey zant follow however petitioner abuse writ rule may never found engaged misconduct criticized gomez means misconduct petitioner less likely result refusal grant stay order consider merits petition majority attempts distinguish gomez matter lonchar thomas case first habeas petition ante reading wholly implausible first paragraph order already discussed fact harris petitioner paragraph harris misconduct relation application quoted legal significance petition successive superfluous support view stay must granted first federal habeas petition dismissed relies decision barefoot estelle barefoot present case arose different contexts question presented decided barefoot addressed merits habeas petition may determine whether petitioner obtains stay announcing considering appropriate standard granting denying stay execution pending disposition appeal federal appeals federal habeas corpus petitioner affirming denial stay appeals ruled merits barefoot appeal issue present case quite different whether petitioner course conduct seeking writ may considered district deciding whether grant stay extent reading barefoot depends belief decision first federal habeas petition somehow necessary validate state conviction ignores barefoot assertion contrary role federal habeas proceedings secondary limited federal courts forums relitigate state trials procedures adopted facilitate orderly consideration disposition habeas petitions legal entitlements defendant right pursue irrespective contribution procedures make toward uncovering constitutional error lonchar thomas nonetheless agree appeals erred vacating stay granted case district district consider whether petitioner conduct constituted misconduct abusive disentitled stay focused solely likelihood petitioner habeas petition might dismissed although determined petitioner abused writ rely finding deny stay correctly concluding first habeas petition may dismissed basis abuse writ app determination petitioner habeas petition dismissed rule ground dismiss first petition merits appeals erred concluding otherwise although findings supporting district determination petitioner abused writ go long way toward supporting affirmance ground petitioner misconduct disentitled stay reversal still order agree petitioner conduct proceedings neither aggravate mitigate lonchar delay filing ante petitioner may blamed asserted competence control habeas claims case law required district establish much see whitmore arkansas blamed brother sister desire protect although lonchar thomas different case record established relatives colluding stay execution avoid putting claims keep options open future district erred concluding petitioner culpable course proceedings paradigmatic abuse discretion base judgment erroneous view law schlup delo slip concurring citing cooter gell hartmarx district necessarily abused discretion determining abuse writ reconsideration determination equities petitioner stay application order therefore concur judgment reversal footnotes course may cases nature petition attributable state scheduling execution date petitioner may appeal denial postconviction relief timely manner petitioner deliberate refusal seek relief certain district courts capable distinguishing two situations action suit harris one member note claim declined consider merits enough merit class plaintiffs prevailed district appeals fierro gomez lonchar thomas