PROCEDURAL-DEFAULT DOCTRINE

By SovConn | December 17, 2014

procedural-default doctrine. The principle that a federal court lacks jurisdiction to review the merits of a habeas corpus petition if a state court has refused to review the complaint because the petitioner failed to follow reasonable state-court procedures. [Cases: Habeas Corpus 312–385.]

[Blacks Law 8th]

Posted in Law Dictionary Definitions