Bryan P. Stirling, Director, South Carolina Department of Corrections, et al. v. Sammie Louis Stokes
I. Did the Fourth Circuit violate basic principles of Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984) when it failed to reweigh the whole of the evidence in its prejudice analysis to determine if there was a reasonable probability of a different result?
II. Did the Fourth Circuit err in granting relief on a defaulted claim when trial counsel had reasonable strategic reasons not to pursue a "bad upbringing" mitigation defense, and collateral counsel had reasonable strategic reasons not to pursue an
III. Alternatively, should this case be held pending the outcome of Shinn v. Ramirez, No. 20-1009 (argued Dec. 8, 2021)?
Whether the Fourth Circuit violated Strickland v. Washington in its prejudice analysis