Will a state court's rejection of a federal claim be presumed to have been on the merits?

MultiRegion, United States of America

The following excerpt is from Hernandez v. Swarthout, No. 2:12-cv-2706 AC P (E.D. Cal. 2015):

(2011). State court rejection of a federal claim will be presumed to have been on the merits absent any indication or state-law procedural principles to the contrary. Id. at 784-85 (citing Harris v. Reed, 489 U.S. 255, 265 (1989) (presumption of a merits determination when it is unclear whether a decision appearing to rest on federal grounds was decided on another basis)). "The presumption may be overcome when there is reason to think some other explanation for the state court's decision is more likely." Id. at 785.

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