CAPITAL CASE No. 19-_____ In the Supreme Court of the United States RODNEY REED, Petitioner, v. Texas, Respondent. On Petition for a Writ of Certiorari to the Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas PETITION FOR A WRIT OF CERTIORARI BARRY C. SCHECK BRYCE BENJET Counsel of Record CLIFF C. GARDNER
[email protected] ROBERT A. WEBER
[email protected] MICHELLE L. DAVIS THE INNOCENCE PROJECT NICOLE A. DISALVO 40 Worth St., Ste. 701 JULIANA R. VAN HOEVEN New York, NY 10013 SKADDEN, ARPS, SLATE, (212) 364-5980 MEAGHER & FLOM LLP 920 N. King St. ANDREW F. MACRAE Wilmington, DE 19801 LEVATINO|PACE PLLC (302) 651-3000 1101 S. Capital of Texas Hwy. Building K, Ste. 125 Austin, TX 78746 (512) 637-8565 i CAPITAL CASE QUESTIONS PRESENTED Question Presented No. 1 At Rodney Reed’s capital murder trial, the victim’s fiancé, Jimmy Fennell, was a key witness for the prosecution. Years later, Reed discovered that Fennell (a prime suspect in the murder) made a prior inconsistent statement to a sheriff’s officer about his activities the night of the murder. Fennell was subpoenaed to testify at a state habeas hearing on Reed’s claim that the inconsistent statement was suppressed in violation of Brady v. Maryland. At the hearing, Fennell invoked his Fifth Amendment privilege and refused to testify, preventing Reed from confronting a key trial witness about the suppressed exculpatory evidence. In denying Reed’s Brady claim, the Texas courts made no mention of Fennell’s appearance at the hearing or his invocation of his Fifth Amendment privilege and refusal to testify.