Holding: (1) The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit exceeded the limited scope of analysis for a certificate of appealability, which, by statute, follows a two-step process: an initial determination whether a claim is reasonably debatable, and, if so, an appeal in the normal course; and (2) petitioner Duane Buck has demonstrated ineffective assistance of counsel under Strickland v. Washington; and (3) the district court’s denial of Buck’s motion under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 60(b)(6) was an abuse of discretion.
Judgment: Reversed and remanded, 6-2, in an opinion by Chief Justice Roberts on February 22, 2017. Justice Thomas filed a dissenting opinion, in which Justice Alito joined.
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