John Francis Fry v. Cheryl K. Pliler, Warden

• If constitutional error in a state trial is not recognized by the judiciary until the case ends up in federal court under 28 U.S.C. section 2254, is the prejudicial impact of the error assessed under the standard set forth in Chapman v. California, 386 U.S. 18 (1967), or that enunciated in Brecht v. Abrahamson, 507 U.S. 619 (1993)? Does it matter which harmless error standard is employed? And, if the Brecht standard applies, does the petitioner or the State bear the burden of persuasion on the question of prejudice?
  
  

• United States Supreme Court, Cert. Granted: December 7, 2006

Resources:

• Docket Sheet From the U.S. Supreme Court.
• Northwestern University - Medill School of Journalism: On the Docket