Supreme Court makes it more difficult for prisoners to argue they had ineffective counsel

The Supreme Court said Monday that state prisoners may not present new evidence in federal court in support of a claim that their post-conviction counsel in state court was ineffective in violation of the Constitution.

The ruling is a major defeat for two inmates on death row who said they had compelling claims that their state lawyers failed to pursue.

In addition, it will make it harder for inmates across the country to prevail on claims that they received ineffective counsel at the state court level in post-conviction proceedings.