RAY DANSBY

DOB: March 3, 1960
Race: African American
Gender: Male

County of conviction: Union
Number of counts: 2
Race of victim: African American/African American
Gender of victim: Male/Female
Date of crime: August 24, 1992
Date of sentencing: June 11, 1993

Trial Counsel:

Jan Thornton

Current proceedings:

• Habeas petition pending in U.S. District Court, Western District of Arkansas, Case No. 1:03cv1146 (before Barnes, J), pending psychological evaluation.

Last judicial decision:

• Denial of post-conviction relief affirmed by Dansby v. State, 84 S.W.3d 857 (Ark. 2002).

Current counsel:

Jenniffer Morris Horan
Federal Public Defender Office
The Victory Building, Suite 490
1401 West Capitol Avenue
Little Rock, AR 72201
(501) 324-6113

E. Alvin Schay
523 So. Louisiana, Suite 550
Little Rock, AR 72201
(501) 376-7000

Sam T. Heuer
Thurman, Lawrence & Heuer
124 West Capitol, Suite 1650
Little Rock, AR 72201
(501) 372-0566

Reported Opinions:

• Denial of post-conviction relief affirmed by Dansby v. State, 84 S.W.3d 857 (Ark. 2002).
   
• Post-conviction appeal remanded for abstract of record. Dansby v. State,65 S.W.3d 448 (Ark. 2002).
   
• Conviction and sentence affirmed on direct appeal by Dansby v. State, 893 S.W.2d 331 (Ark. 1995).

Significant legal issues:

• trial counsel's failure to subpoena, or otherwise ensure the in-court appearance of, a guilt-phase witness who could have testified that Mr. Dansby carried a gun for protection and had an "on again, off again" relationship with one of the victims
   
• trial court's exclusion of prison snitch's criminal history and contemporaneous arrest records as irrelevant because such evidence did not demonstrate an express "deal" with the prosecution
   
• Batson and fair cross section issues

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