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SAWYER v. SMITH

No. 89-5809.

497 U.S. 227 (1990)

SAWYER v. SMITH, INTERIM WARDEN.

Supreme Court of the United States.

Decided June 21, 1990.

Attorney(s) appearing for the Case

Catherine Hancock argued the cause for petitioner. With her on the briefs was Elizabeth W. Cole.

Dorothy A. Pendergast argued the cause for respondent. With her on the brief were John M. Mamoulides and Terry M. Boudreaux.*

JUSTICE KENNEDY delivered the opinion of the Court.

We must decide in this case whether a prisoner whose murder conviction became final before our decision in Caldwell v. Mississippi, 472 U.S. 320 (1985), is entitled to use that decision to challenge his capital sentence in a federal habeas corpus action. We hold that he cannot, for Caldwell announced a new rule as defined by Teague v. Lane,

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