Michael Ortega v. Ryan Woods — 7th Cir. (Oct 26, 2026)

No. 22-2929 Argued October 26, 2026 Published October 27, 2026

The Seventh Circuit hears Michael Ortega's challenge to his murder conviction. Two eyewitnesses identified him as the shooter, and he is serving a forty-six-year sentence. His mother and sister say he was at home, but his trial lawyer did not call them as alibi witnesses. Ortega contends the lawyer failed to investigate their account; the state treats that choice as reasonable trial strategy. The state courts rejected his claim, and a federal district court denied habeas corpus relief: a way to challenge imprisonment on federal legal grounds. The appeal turns on the difference between choosing not to use a defense and failing to investigate it. This is not a new trial. Federal law requires deference to a state court's reasonable decision, not just a fresh judgment about the trial lawyer's work.

Michael Ortega v. Ryan Woods (No. 22-2929) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, argued October 26, 2026.

Sources

Argument audio — official Seventh Circuit original:https://media.ca7.uscourts.gov/sound/external/dab.22-2929.22-2929_10_26_2026.mp3

Argument date and case — official Seventh Circuit monthly recording list:https://media.ca7.uscourts.gov/oralArguments/oar.jsp?amonth=10%2F2026&aMonth=List+case%28s%29

Conviction, proposed alibi and prior habeas ruling — September 27, 2022 district court order (court-text mirror):https://cases.justia.com/federal/district-courts/illinois/ilndce/1%3A2018cv03631/352775/51/0.pdf?ts=1664370142

Federal habeas and state-court deference — 28 U.S.C. § 2254(a), (d):https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/28/2254

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