Opinions Jan. 11, 2018
7th Circuit Court of Appeals
Frederick Michael Baer v. Ron Neal
15-1933
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Indianapolis Division. Judge Sarah Evans Barker.
Civil. Reverses the district court’s denial of Frederick Michael Baer’s petition for writ of habeas corpus with regard to the penalty phase of his trial. Affirms Baer’s convictions of robbery, theft, attempted rape and two counts of murder. Finds Baer’s trial counsel failed to challenge crucial misleading jury instructions and a pattern of prosecutorial misconduct. Also finds the state court unreasonably applied Strickland v. Washington, in denying Baer relief.