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Head Injury
At age 2, Scott was playing in the driveway when his mother backed the car into him. He lost part of an ear and spent weeks in the hospital for his head injury.
Retrieved on September 7, 2012 from articles.latimes.com/2010/nov/14/nation/la-na-court-death-20101114 -
Camarillo State Mental Hospital
At age 11, Scott was sent to the Camarillo State Mental Hospital for five months.
Retrieved on September 7, 2012 from articles.latimes.com/2010/nov/14/nation/la-na-court-death-20101114 -
Tapar's House
Went to Lisa Tapar's house, when she refused to talk to him, Scott put his buck knife through her front door and scratched a swastika into her car,
Retrieved on September 5, 2012 from ://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/10pdf/09-1088.pdf -
Kumar's House
Scott broke into Kumar's house, a local drug dealer.
He began ransacking thehome, where he came across a small amount of marijuana. Kumar's friends, Johnson and Beckett arrived and said they would call the police. When trying to escape, Johnson blocked his way. Scott then stabbed him multiple times, while demanding money and drugs.
Retrieved on September 5, 2012 from www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/10pdf/09-1088.pdf -
Trial
Scott's guilt trial began, and Pinholster testified on his own behalf and presented an alibi defense. Scott claimed that he had broken into Kumar’s house alone at around 8 p.m. on January 8, 1982,and stole marijuana,but he denied killing anyone.
Retrieved on September 6, 2012 from www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/10pdf/09-1088.pdf -
Representing himself
Pinholster rejected other attorneys andinsisted on representing himself.
Retrieved on September 5, 2012 from www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/10pdf/09-1088.pdf -
Federal District Court
The Federal District Court found Scott guilty of the murders and sentencede him to death. -
state habeas petition
Scott filled for his first state habeas petition claming that his attorney’s deficient performance at trial violated his Sixth Amendment right to fair representation
Retrieved on September 5, 2012 from
www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/10pdf/09-1088.pdf -
state habeas petition
Scott filled for his second state habeas petition
Retrieved on September 5, 2012 from
www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/10pdf/09-1088.pdf -
The Federal Court
The federal district court agreed to conduct an evidentiary hearing on new facts regarding Pinholster’s medical and family history that were available but not presented during the sentencing phase of Pinholster’s state trial.
Retrieved on September 5, 2012 from http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/cert/09-1088 -
The Federal Appeals court
The Federal Appeals court overtunred his death sentence in 2003, saying that Scott lacked competent legal representation.
Retrieved on September 6, 2012 from
www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/10pdf/09-1088.pdf -
Supreme Court
the U.S. Supreme Court reversed the opinions of two lower federal courts that had granted a new sentencing hearing to Scott Pinholster.
Retrieved on September 9, 2012 from http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/united-states-supreme-court-decisions-2010-2011-term -
US Supreme Court
The US supreme Court denied a rehearing of Scott's case
Retrieved on September 6, 2012 from
www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/10pdf/09-1088.pdf -
The Supreme Court
The Supreme Court, in a 5-4 decision authored by Justice Clarence Thomas, reversed, holding that the lower court did not exhibit sufficient deference to the state court, which upheld the representation Pinholster received.
Retrieved on September 9, 2012 from http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/united-states-supreme-court-decisions-2010-2011-term
