Kevin Johnson

Current Proceedings: Federal habeas appeal denied by the 8th Circuit

Case Number: 4:13-cv-02046-CEJ (EDMO); 18-2513 (8th Circuit)

Judge: Unknown

Defendant’s Demographic Information: Black Male

Current Counsel:

Rebecca Woodman Death Penalty Litigation Clinic 6155 Oak Street, Suite C Kansas City, MO 64113 816.363.2795 (tel.) email: rwoodman@dplclinic.com

Joseph W. Luby Eastern District of Pennsylvania Capital Habeas Corpus Unit The Curtis Center 601 Walnut Street, Suite 545 West Philadelphia, PA 19106 215.928.0520 (tel.) email: jluby@dplclinic.com

 

Legal Status: 8th Cir denied COA but motion to recuse district judge may proceed 06/06/2019; Opening brief filed 11/26/2019; Reply filed 06/02/2020. Oral arguments heard 12/17/2020, link to recording on Westlaw. Judge denied the petition enbanc rehearing and the petition for panel rehearing on 7/14/2021; Mandate Issued on 07/21/2021

Significant Legal Issues:

  • Batson claim concerning prosecution’s striking of black veniremembers and history of such exclusion in St. Louis County

  • Counsels’ ineffectiveness in failing to investigate, discover, and develop evidence that Mr. Johnson was under a diminished capacity at the time of the crime

  • Counsels’ ineffectiveness in failing to investigate, discover, and present mitigating evidence concerning Mr. Johnson’s history of physical abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect

  • Judicial bias issue in light of trial court's reported unwillingness to find racial prejudice on the part of the prosecutor in evaluating a Batson claim.

Last Judicial Decision Related to Conviction or Sentence: Johnson v. Steele, 999 F.3d 584 (8th Cir. 2021) (affirming denial of habeas relief)

Reported Opinions:

  • 2254 petition denied. See Johnson v. Steele, No. 4:13-CV-2046-SNLJ, 2018 U.S. Dist. (E.D. Mo. Feb. 28, 2018)

  • Denial of post-conviction relief affirmed by Johnson v. State, 406 S.W.3d 892 (Mo.2013), cert. denied, 134 S. CT. 1495 (2014)

  • Conviction and sentence affirmed on direct appeal by State v. Johnson, 284 S.W.3d 561 (Mo.), cert. denied, 558 U.S. 1054 (2009)

Prior Counsel:

  • Jeannie Marie Willibey

  • Valerie Sue Leftwich

Conviction County: St. Louis County

Counts: 1

Victim Demographic: White Male (police officer)

Crime Date: 07/05/2005

Sentencing Date: 02/01/2008

Trial Counsel:

  • Karen Kraft

  • Robert Steele

Trial Judge: Melvyn Wiseman

Trial Prosecutor: Robert McCulloch