Wansley v. MS Dept. of Corrections, et al.

Respondents appealed the district court's grant of habeas relief to petitioner. Petitioner argued that his sentence was not enhanced, and that the denial of a hearing violated state law and therefore deprived him of a liberty interest protected by the Due Process Clause. Respondents argued that the discretionary nature of Mississippi's parole regime means that there is no liberty interest that gives rise to a federal constitutional issue. The court reversed the judgment of the district court and dismissed the petition, concluding that, any relief petitioner is entitled to under Mississippi law must be obtained in the courts of that state. Whether or not petitioner is entitled to a parole hearing as a matter of Mississippi law, the discretionary nature of the state's parole system ends the federal due process inquiry. View "Wansley v. MS Dept. of Corrections, et al." on Justia Law