Earlier this week, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a decision granting habeas relief to Omar Pouncy, an inmate at the Michigan Department of Corrections. This decision overturns an earlier ruling by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced the reversal.
“Habeas petitions are meant to address egregious and profound violations of federal constitutional rights,” Nessel stated. “I am pleased the Sixth Circuit reversed this decision to ensure these petitions are not abused, to uphold the rule of law, and to ensure finality for the victims of Pouncy’s criminal conduct.”
Pouncy faced initial charges in 2005 related to carjackings and armed robberies in Genesee County. He opted to represent himself during the trial and was convicted in 2006 on multiple counts, including carjacking, armed robbery, and firearms-related offenses. Pouncy was sentenced to a lengthy prison term as a habitual offender. In 2013, he pursued federal habeas corpus relief, leading to a 2016 ruling by the U.S. District Court granting him relief in the form of a new trial. This decision was based on Pouncy having to choose between going to trial with ineffective counsel or representing himself. The Michigan Department of Attorney General contested this ruling, leading to the Sixth Circuit Court reversing the decision in 2017.
In 2021, the U.S. District Court again granted habeas relief on different grounds, asserting Pouncy’s initial trial counsel had failed to secure a better plea deal. Attorney General Nessel appealed this decision, which the Sixth Circuit Court reversed earlier this week.