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On October 3, 2012, the Supreme Court heard oral argument in Johnson v. Williams.  The question in this case concerns federal habeas review,  which requires federal deference to a state court’s “adjudication on the merits.”  At issue is whether a habeas petitioner's constitutional claim was in fact decided on the merits when the state court did not appear to address the issue in its otherwise lengthy decision.

To discuss the case, we have Katherine Burnett, who is a Senior Assistant Attorney General with the Office of the Attorney General of Virginia.

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