The case of Cory Maples, which has for years represented every big law firm’s worst nightmare, is now before the U.S. Supreme Court. It asks whether the Alabama death row inmate can be executed without serious federal review because he missed an appeal deadline in 2003 when his pro bono law firm in New York screwed up.
The nightmare for Sullivan & Cromwell deepened last week, when The New York Times reported the mistake began when the law firm’s mailroom returned unopened copies of an Alabama ruling that should have triggered the appeal, but Maples’ lawyers had left the firm. The court clerk did not make any subsequent effort to contact the firm, and the deadline passed.
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