Williams v. Pennsylvania

Terrance Williams was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death after District Attorney Ronald Castille approved seeking the death penalty. Years later, a state court granted Williams habeas relief and stayed his execution. Pennsylvania appealed to the state supreme court, whose Chief Justice was now that same former DA, Castille. Williams moved to recuse Castille; Castille denied the motion, participated, and the court reinstated the death sentence on timeliness grounds. The United States Supreme Court granted certiorari.

Whether due process requires recusal where a judge previously had significant, personal involvement as a prosecutor in a critical decision in the same defendant's case.