No. 25-5749

Victor Saldano v. Texas

Lower Court: Texas
Docketed: 2025-09-29
Status: Pending
Type: IFP
IFP
Tags: atkins-claim due-process eighth-amendment intellectual-disability procedural-bar state-court-review
Key Terms:
DueProcess Punishment HabeasCorpus Securities Jurisdiction
Latest Conference: N/A
Question Presented (from Petition)

1. Does the TCCA's creation of a novel and unforeseeable procedural bar in its interpretation of Article 11.071 Section 5 preclude review of Mr. Saldaño's Atkins claim under federal law?

2. May a state-created procedural rule bar review of an Atkins claim consistent with due process where the State has conceded, as here, that the individual meets the criteria for intellectually disability and the procedural gateway necessary to allow for a merits review?

Question Presented (AI Summary)

Does the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals' novel procedural interpretation preclude federal review of an Atkins claim where experts unanimously agree on intellectual disability?

Docket Entries

2026-02-18
Reply of petitioner Victor Saldaño filed.
2026-02-18
2026-01-28
Brief of respondent Texas in opposition filed.
2026-01-28
Brief of Texas in opposition submitted.
2025-12-17
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is further extended to and including January 28, 2026.
2025-12-15
Motion to extend the time to file a response from December 29, 2025 to January 28, 2026, submitted to The Clerk.
2025-12-15
Motion of Texas for an extension of time submitted.
2025-11-25
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is further extended to and including December 29, 2025.
2025-11-24
Motion to extend the time to file a response from November 28, 2025 to December 29, 2025, submitted to The Clerk.
2025-11-24
Motion of Texas for an extension of time submitted.
2025-10-29
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including November 28, 2025.
2025-10-27
Motion to extend the time to file a response from October 29, 2025 to November 28, 2025, submitted to The Clerk.
2025-10-27
Motion of Texas for an extension of time submitted.
2025-09-15
Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due October 29, 2025)
2025-08-06
Application (25A53) granted by Justice Alito extending the time to file until September 13, 2025.
2025-07-31
Application (25A53) to extend further the time from August 14, 2025 to September 13, 2025, submitted to Justice Alito.
2025-07-15
Application (25A53) granted by Justice Alito extending the time to file until August 14, 2025.
2025-07-02
Application (25A53) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from July 15, 2025 to August 14, 2025, submitted to Justice Alito.

Attorneys

Texas
Lisa Braxton SmithCollin County District Attorney's Office, Respondent
Victor Saldaño
Benjamin Barrett WolffOffice of Capital and Forensic Writs, Petitioner