Ex Parte Cesar Robert Fierro A.k.a. Cesar Roberto Reyna

Summary

The Court held that the State’s knowingly perjured testimony at the pre‑trial suppression hearing constituted a due‑process violation but, applying the Texas harmless‑error standard, found the error harmless because the applicant failed to show by a preponderance of the evidence that it contributed to his conviction; therefore the writ of habeas corpus was denied. The dissenting judges argued that the perjured testimony was material and that the applicant met his burden, and would have granted relief.