Wilson v. Parker ( 2008 )

RECOMMENDED FOR FULL-TEXT PUBLICATION
Pursuant to Sixth Circuit Rule 206
File Name: 08a0052p.06
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT
_________________
X
Petitioner-Appellant, -
GREGORY WILSON,
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-
No. 05-5191
v.
,
>
PHIL PARKER, Warden, -
Respondent-Appellee. -
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Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Eastern District of Kentucky at Covington.
No. 99-00078—David L. Bunning, District Judge.
Argued: September 11, 2007
Decided and Filed: January 29, 2008
Before: BOGGS, Chief Judge; and GIBBONS and COOK, Circuit Judges.
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COUNSEL
ARGUED: Bruce P. Hackett, OFFICE OF JEFFERSON DISTRICT PUBLIC DEFENDER,
Louisville, Kentucky, for Appellant. David A. Smith, OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL,
Frankfort, Kentucky, for Appellee. ON BRIEF: Bruce P. Hackett, Daniel T. Goyette, Leo G.
Smith, OFFICE OF JEFFERSON DISTRICT PUBLIC DEFENDER, Louisville, Kentucky, for
Appellant. David A. Smith, OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, Frankfort, Kentucky, for
Appellee.
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OPINION
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BOGGS, Chief Judge. Gregory Wilson appeals a district court order denying his petition
for a writ of habeas corpus. Wilson raised twenty-four claims in his petition, the district court
granted him a certificate of appealability as to eight claims, and this court later expanded the
certificate to include a portion of one other claim. In brief, the claims before this court are: invalid
waiver of Wilson’s right to counsel, ineffective assistance of trial counsel, Brady violations, failure
to grant Wilson a separate trial from his co-defendant, due process violation due to admission of
hair-matching evidence, ineffective assistance of appellate counsel, denial of a state-court forum in
which to raise the ineffective assistance of appellate counsel claim, and failure to disclose
information relating to an affair between Wilson’s co-defendant and a judge (not the trial judge) of
the state court in which his trial was conducted. In expanding the certificate of appealability, we
also agreed to hear Wilson’s claim that his state trial judge should have recused himself, to the
1
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extent that claim relates to Wilson’s claim that his state trial was prejudiced because of an alleged
affair between his co-defendant and a different judge.
After reviewing all of Wilson’s claims, we hold that none of them meets the standard
required for a grant of the writ. Accordingly, we affirm the district court’s denial of the writ.
I
A. Factual History
The Kentucky Supreme Court summarized the facts of the case as follows:
The victim was a restaurant employee in Newport. On Friday, May 29, 1987[,] at
11:45 p.m., she left her best friend's house and said she was going straight home. The
prosecution presented evidence that she had just parked her car outside of her
apartment in Covington when she was abducted by Wilson and co-defendant
Humphrey at knife point.
Testimony at trial from various sources, including Humphrey, indicated that the
victim was forced into the back seat of her own car. Humphrey drove the car to the
flood wall in Covington. Wilson took the victim out of the car and took her up on the
flood wall and made her lie down with her eyes closed while Humphrey went to put
gas in the car. After Humphrey returned from the gas station, Wilson again forced
the victim into the back seat of the car.
Wilson made the victim unbutton her blouse. Wilson finished undressing the victim
and raped her. He then tied her hands with a lamp cord, and the victim began
begging for her life. Wilson told her she would have to die. Humphrey said, “You
have seen us. You know who we are, and you have to die.” The victim kept begging,
“Please don't kill me. I don't want to die.” Wilson robbed her and strangled her to
death before they crossed the state line into Indiana.
Wilson and Humphrey disposed of the victim's naked corpse in a wooded thicket in
rural Hendrix [sic] County, Indiana. Later that same morning, Saturday, May 30,
Wilson and Humphrey stopped at a Holiday Inn in Crawfordsville, Indiana.
According to a registration card, Humphrey and a guest checked into the hotel at
4:19 a.m. Two of the maids there identified the pair as Wilson and Humphrey.
Wilson and Humphrey proceeded to a Payless Shoe Store in Danville, Illinois where
the victim's credit card was used to purchase two pairs of women's shoes and some
hosiery. Later that same day, May 30, 1987, Wilson and Humphrey went to a K-Mart
in Danville where the victim's credit card was used to make purchases totalling
$227.46. Included in these purchases were a man's Seiko watch and a woman's Gruen
watch for $68.00 each. Wilson and Humphrey also paid cash for a number of
cosmetic items and some clothing. Later that day, the victim's credit card was used
to make a $24.50 purchase at an Amoco gas station in Urbana-Champaign, Illinois.
On Sunday, May 31, Wilson and Humphrey returned to the home of Humphrey's best
friend, Beverly Finkenstead. Finkenstead testified that Humphrey had a K-Mart bag
with a blouse in it. They both had a watch on and were each wearing a necklace. On
Sunday, June 7, Humphrey visited Finkenstead and told her details of the crimes in
which she and Wilson had participated the previous weekend. Eight days later, on
June 15, Finkenstead reported to the police what Humphrey had told her. Also on
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June 15, the Hendrix [sic] County, Indiana Sheriff's Department was summoned to
a wooded thicket where a corpse had been discovered.
Authorities were able to determine the identity of the corpse only by comparing its
remaining teeth with the victim's dental X-rays. The cause of death could not be
determined due to the absence of internal organs. A forensic entomologist testified
that, based on the extent of blowfly maggot development in and on the corpse, the
estimated time of death had occurred 15 to 19 days prior to his June 16 examination
of the corpse.
Wilson told cell mate Willis Maloney details of the crimes including that the initial
intent had been to “snatch” the victim and rob her; that the victim was still alive
when her money was taken from her; that the victim was killed before they crossed
the state line into Indiana; that the corpse would be so badly decomposed that no
sperm would show up; and that they had used the victim's credit card to purchase,
among other things, a watch Wilson was wearing at the time of his arrest which
Humphrey later obtained by signing it out from one of the jailers. Wilson also told
Maloney, “I bet they can't find what I used to strangle her with.”
Maloney’s and Humphrey’s account of the rape was corroborated by the presence
of semen on the back seat of the victim's car. Head hairs similar to those belonging
to Humphrey were found inside the victim's car. Pubic and head hairs similar to those
belonging to Wilson were also found inside the victim's car. A handwriting expert
established that Humphrey had authored the forged credit card receipts. A search of
the hotel room where Wilson and Humphrey were arrested produced various items
of clothing, all bearing K-Mart price tags.
Humphrey was the only defense witness during the guilt/innocence phase of the trial.
Wilson gave his own closing argument in which he told the jury he was not guilty,
he “never met nor knew the victim” and that Humphrey told her sister that she killed
the victim. The jury returned guilty verdicts against both defendants. After the
penalty phase, Wilson was sentenced to death for kidnapping and murder. He was
sentenced to consecutive prison terms of 20, 20 and 10 years respectively for
first-degree rape, first-degree robbery and criminal conspiracy to commit robbery.
Wilson v. Commonwealth, 836 S.W.2d 872, 876-77 (Ky. 1992), cert. denied, 507 U.S. 1034 (1993).
B. Procedural History
The Kentucky Supreme Court affirmed Wilson’s convictions and sentences for murder, rape,
robbery, and conspiracy, but set aside the jury’s death sentence for kidnaping and remanded the case
for resentencing on that charge. Id. at 890-91, overruled by St. Clair v. Roark, 10 S.W.3d 482, 498
(Ky. 1999) (overruling Wilson’s holding that a double jeopardy violation occurs in convicting a
defendant of both the murder and the capital kidnaping of the same victim and imposing separate
death sentences for each conviction). In January 1995, the trial court imposed a sentence of life
imprisonment for kidnaping. Wilson appealed, and the Kentucky Supreme Court reversed the
sentence and remanded with the requirement that Wilson be resentenced by a jury unless the trial
court imposed the minimum sentence. In March 1996, the trial court sentenced Wilson to twenty
years of imprisonment for kidnaping. The Kentucky Supreme Court affirmed the sentence in
January 1997.
While Wilson’s appeal was pending, the Governor of Kentucky signed a warrant requiring
that Wilson be executed on February 1, 1996. The Kentucky Supreme Court granted a motion to
stay the execution for sixty days to allow Wilson to file a post-conviction motion pursuant to
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Kentucky Rule of Criminal Procedure 11.42. See Bowling v. Commonwealth, 926 S.W.2d 667 (Ky.
1996). In his Rule 11.42 hearing, Wilson alleged, among other things, that he did not knowingly
and voluntarily waive his right to counsel and that he received ineffective assistance of trial and
appellate counsel. The trial court held a nine-day evidentiary hearing in September and October
1996 and denied the motion in March 1997. The Kentucky Supreme Court affirmed that decision
in May 1998. See Wilson v. Commonwealth, 975 S.W.2d 901 (Ky. 1998). The United States
Supreme Court denied certiorari in March 1999. See Wilson v. Kentucky, 526 U.S. 1023 (1999).
On April 14, 1999, the Governor of Kentucky signed a warrant requiring that Wilson be executed
on May 14, 1999.
On May 10, 1999, the United States district court granted Wilson a stay of execution and
ordered that his habeas corpus petition be filed within thirty days. Wilson filed his federal habeas
petition on June 7, 1999. He raised twenty-three claims in his petition and added a twenty-fourth
in a later pleading. The district court granted Wilson’s motion for an evidentiary hearing on his
twenty-first claim, alleging ineffective assistance of appellate counsel, and held the hearing in
August 2001. The district court also permitted Wilson to file transcripts of co-defendant
Humphrey’s post-conviction proceedings from 2002 and 2003. In a roughly 150-page opinion, the
district court denied Wilson’s petition for habeas relief and issued a certificate of appealability for
eight of his claims. We expanded the certificate to include Wilson’s claim that his state trial judge
should have recused himself, but only to the extent that claim relates to Wilson’s separate claim that
his state trial was prejudiced because of an alleged affair between his co-defendant and a different
judge.
As summarized by the district court, the following claims are now before us: Wilson did not
knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily waive the right to counsel (Claim Two); the performance
of Wilson’s attorney denied Wilson the right to effective assistance of trial counsel (Claim Three);
the prosecution’s failure to disclose exculpatory and other relevant evidence violated Brady (Claim
Nine); Wilson’s rights were violated by failure to grant him a separate trial from the co-defendant
(Claim Fourteen); Wilson’s rights to a fair trial and due process were violated by the admission of
hair-matching evidence (Claim Sixteen); Wilson was denied effective assistance of counsel on the
direct appeal of his convictions to the Kentucky Supreme Court (Claim Twenty-One); Wilson’s
rights were violated because he was denied a state-court forum in which to raise a claim that he
received ineffective assistance of appellate counsel (Claim Twenty-Two); Wilson was denied a fair
trial, due process of law, the right to present a defense, and the right to cross-examine and confront
witnesses against him when information relating to an alleged relationship between his co-defendant
and another trial judge in the court in which his trial was conducted was not disclosed to him (Claim
Twenty-Four); and, to the extent it involved this last claim, Wilson’s rights to a fair trial and due
process were violated by the trial judge’s failure to recuse himself (Claim Five).
II
Wilson filed his habeas corpus petition in June 1999, well after the 1996 effective date of the
Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 (AEDPA), Pub. L. No. 104-132, 110 Stat.
1214; therefore, the provisions of that Act apply to this case. See Lindh v. Murphy, 521 U.S. 320,
336 (1997); Frazier v. Huffman, 343 F.3d 780, 787 (6th Cir. 2003), opinion altered on denial of
reh’g, 348 F.3d 174 (2003), cert. denied, 541 U.S. 1095 (2004). Under AEDPA, the habeas
petitioner has the burden of rebutting, by clear and convincing evidence, the presumption that the
state court’s factual findings were correct. See 28 U.S.C. § 2254(e)(1); McAdoo v. Elo, 365 F.3d
487, 494 (6th Cir. 2004). Furthermore, if the state court decided a claim, a writ of habeas corpus
must be denied unless the state court decision (1) “was contrary to, or involved an unreasonable
application of, clearly established Federal law, as determined by the Supreme Court of the United
States;” or (2) “was based on an unreasonable determination of the facts in light of the evidence
presented in the State court proceedings.” 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d)(1)-(2).
No. 05-5191 Wilson v. Parker Page 5
Under the “contrary to” clause, a federal court may grant habeas relief if the state court
arrives at a conclusion opposite to that reached by the Supreme Court on a question of law or if the
state court decides a case differently than the Supreme Court has decided on a set of materially
indistinguishable facts. Williams v. Taylor, 529 U.S. 362, 405-06 (2000); Bugh v. Mitchell, 329 F.3d
496, 501 (6th Cir. 2003). “‘[C]learly established Federal law, as determined by the Supreme Court
of the United States,’ refers to ‘the holdings, as opposed to the dicta, of [the Supreme] Court’s
decisions as of the time of the relevant state-court decision.’” Williams v. Bagley, 380 F.3d 932, 942
(6th Cir. 2004) (quoting Williams, 529 U.S. at 412).
Under the “unreasonable application” clause, a federal court may grant habeas relief if the
state court identifies the correct governing legal principle from the Supreme Court's decisions but
unreasonably applies that principle to the facts. Williams, 529 U.S. at 407-08; Bugh, 329 F.3d at
501. Relief is also available under this clause if the state court decision either unreasonably extends
or unreasonably refuses to extend a legal principle from the Supreme Court precedent to a new
context. Lancaster v. Adams, 324 F.3d 423, 429 (6th Cir.), cert. denied, 540 U.S. 1004 (2003). The
proper inquiry for the “unreasonable application” analysis is whether the state court decision was
objectively unreasonable and not simply erroneous or incorrect. Williams, 529 U.S. at 409-11;
Mitchell v. Mason, 325 F.3d 732, 738 (6th Cir. 2003), cert. denied, 543 U.S. 1080 (2005).
We review de novo a district court’s legal conclusions denying habeas relief. See Armstrong
v. Morgan, 372 F.3d 778, 781 (6th Cir. 2004). We review the district court’s factual findings for
clear error. See Lucas v. O’Dea, 179 F.3d 412, 416 (6th Cir. 1999).
III
A. Invalid Waiver of Right to Counsel (Claim Two)
Wilson argues that he did not voluntarily waive his right to counsel and elect to proceed pro
se because the trial court effectively forced him to choose between representing himself or being
represented by allegedly unprepared and incompetent counsel. Wilson maintains that he repeatedly
told the trial court that he did not want to represent himself and did not know how to do so and
repeatedly expressed his dissatisfaction with the attorneys who had volunteered to represent him.
After briefly recounting the convoluted history of Wilson’s relationship with his counsel, we turn
to the relevant federal law, as determined by the Supreme Court, and conclude that Wilson’s claim
fails.
1. Pre-Trial and Trial Proceedings
Wilson’s defense team changed several times during the pre-trial period. In July 1987, the
state trial court appointed two attorneys to represent Wilson, Clyde Richardson and Steve Megerle.
In October 1987, Wilson filed a motion to act as co-counsel, invoking his “right to participate fully
in his own defense including acting as counsel.” (citing Faretta v. California, 422 U.S. 806 (1975)).
Around that time, Megerle withdrew, and the court appointed Kevin McNally from the Kentucky
Department of Public Advocacy (KDPA) in November 1987. In February 1988, McNally secured
a continuance, shifting the trial date from March to September of that year. In May 1988, McNally
requested permission to withdraw from the case, stating that he had already tendered his resignation
from the KDPA in January 1988, had been pushing back his termination date because of Wilson’s
case, and was exhausted. Richardson remained as counsel, but had told the judge that he was simply
not able to lead a capital defense. At this point, Judge Lape, the state trial judge, posted a notice
outside his courtroom seeking volunteer counsel to represent Wilson. Sharon Sullivan responded
to the notice and volunteered to act as a research assistant. Around the same time, John Foote
volunteered to work on the case doing “leg work,” but not to act as lead attorney, and William
Hagedorn volunteered and was appointed as lead counsel.
No. 05-5191 Wilson v. Parker Page 6
Almost immediately, issues arose between McNally and Hagedorn. Once McNally had
withdrawn and Hagedorn had volunteered to take on Wilson’s case, the two attorneys met in early
June 1988. After that meeting, McNally apparently developed some concerns about Hagedorn’s
ability to handle Wilson’s case. McNally refused to turn over Wilson’s case file to Hagedorn
without explicit permission from Wilson. McNally’s colleagues at the KDPA undertook an
investigation of Hagedorn’s qualifications and past conduct in other cases. McNally shared the
information gathered with Wilson and told Wilson not to authorize the transfer of files until Judge
Lape had been apprised of the information regarding Hagedorn. On June 17, 1988, Wilson filed a
“Motion for Justice and Fairness” expressing his dissatisfaction with Hagedorn and Richardson and
requesting that Judge Lape dismiss all volunteer and appointed counsel and appoint lawyers
“experienced in handling ‘Capital Death Penalty’ cases.” Judge Lape granted Richardson’s motion
to withdraw on July 6, 1988. In response to McNally’s continued visits and communication with
Wilson, Judge Lape ordered that such visits stop. Around this same time, Hagedorn visited Wilson
in jail, but could not convince him to turn over the case file.
In response to Wilson’s motion to disqualify Hagedorn and Foote, Judge Lape held a hearing
on August 16, 1988. According to Judge Lape, the purpose of the hearing was to “put on
qualifications – as to what qualifications a party should have to handle a case such as this.” Mario
Conte, Chief Trial Attorney for the Federal Public Defenders Office in San Diego, California,
appeared to argue the motion on Wilson’s behalf. Wilson, Brenda Humphrey, Humphrey’s counsel,
and Hagedorn were also present. Hagedorn objected vehemently to the hearing, stating that Conte
was jeopardizing Wilson’s case and that the court had no authority to conduct such a hearing. Conte
began to outline the role of the capital defense attorney and then proposed to discuss Hagedorn’s
“unethical behavior regarding stolen property” and “regarding a malpractice suit.” Judge Lape
stated that he was not going to hear any evidence regarding Hagedorn’s background and would not
“do anything in the form of character assassination . . . .” Judge Lape then terminated the hearing.
No further inquiry or review into the qualifications of Hagedorn and Foote was undertaken.
At the beginning of trial on September 2, 1988, a series of colloquies took place in chambers
between Wilson, Judge Lape, Hagedorn, and Commonwealth Attorney Donald Buring, the
prosecutor. During these colloquies, Wilson gave conflicting statements about whether he wanted
to continue pro se. Wilson reiterated his belief that his appointed attorneys were incompetent to
represent him, that he had no confidence in his attorneys’ ability to represent him, and that Hagedorn
and Foote did not speak for him. Judge Lape then informed Wilson, “If you wish to represent
yourself, under the Constitutional Amendments you have indicated to me, sir, you certainly have that
right, and I will certainly let you do that.” “I do,” replied Wilson. Ibid. However, Wilson then
stated, “And I don’t want to proceed pro se. I can’t ‘cause I don’t know how to proceed pro se.”
The colloquy continued as follows:
JUDGE LAPE: That’s right, you don’t. So based upon that statement then, Mr.
Hagedorn and Mr. Foote then will continue because you say that you cannot pro se.
DEFENDANT WILSON: So you’re saying you’re forcing Mr. Hagedorn and Mr.
Foote upon me then as counsel.
JUDGE LAPE: I am appointing, sir, Mr. Hagedorn and Mr. Foote to represent you,
sir.
DEFENDANT WILSON: I oppose Mr. Hagedorn and Mr. Foote.
JUDGE LAPE: I know you do. That’s certainly evident.
DEFENDANT WILSON: They’re not competent.
No. 05-5191 Wilson v. Parker Page 7
***
JUDGE LAPE: Well, I don’t how you can say it any other way. You have said that.
Now these men are going to represent you. There is no other counsel to represent
you. You don’t have counsel to represent you, so that you are now represented by
them, and your motion is overruled.
MR. HAGEDORN: Your Honor, I would like to add something to that motion.
JUDGE LAPE: Certainly.
MR. HAGEDORN: As much of the motion that says that Mr. Wilson wants to try
this case himself, but says he’s not qualified to try the case himself, I think that the
Court should allow him to try it himself and I will sit there and advise him. I do not
intend to speak for Mr. Wilson.
JUDGE LAPE: Well, I have --
DEFENDANT WILSON: I’m speaking for myself.
JUDGE LAPE: – reviewed the case of Faretta v. California, and under it he has his
constitutional right to represent himself, and if he tells me though that he’s
incompetent to do so, then I have to be concerned about that. Everyone has the right
to represent themselves. . . .
***
MR. HAGEDORN: Judge, I think he should try the case himself.
JUDGE LAPE: Well, I can’t let him sit out there and say nothing. I’m going to –
***
DEFENDANT WILSON: Okay. I oppose my counsel.
JUDGE LAPE: You oppose your counsel.
DEFENDANT WILSON: They don’t represent me.
JUDGE LAPE: They don’t represent you. All right, sir, then you represent yourself.
Mr. Hagedorn and Mr. Foote, you will stay with him out there in the event that he
needs some help. Other than that, Mr. Wilson represents himself.
After a brief recess, Judge Lape confirmed with Wilson that he intended to proceed pro se. Wilson
replied, “Yeah. Like I said, I will proceed pro se, only to do so in the absence of competent, ethical,
experienced, capital defense attorneys.” Judge Lape, borrowing from Sixth Circuit instructions to
United States district courts on obtaining valid waivers of the right to counsel,1 then explained to
Wilson all of the hazards of proceeding pro se and concluded that Wilson was acting consciously
and voluntarily. The rest of the trial proceeded with Wilson occasionally directing Hagedorn to
conduct cross-examination of prosecution witnesses. Brenda Humphrey testified in her own
defense, and she was the only defense witness called. Wilson made his own closing statement, and
1
See United States v. McDowell, 814 F.2d 245 (6th Cir. 1987).
No. 05-5191 Wilson v. Parker Page 8
Hagedorn made a statement for the record out of the presence of the jury. Hagedorn also made
statements to the jury during the penalty phase of the trial.
2. Waiver of the Right to Counsel
Wilson claims that his waiver of the right to counsel was invalid because he was forced to
choose between continuing pro se or continuing with allegedly incompetent counsel.
A criminal defendant has the right to represent himself without counsel, provided that he
knowingly and intelligently forgoes the benefits of having counsel assist him. See Faretta v.
California, 422 U.S. 806, 835 (1975). A defendant “should be made aware of the dangers and
disadvantages of self-representation, so that the record will establish that ‘he knows what he is doing
and his choice is made with eyes open.’” Ibid. (quoting Adams v. United States ex rel. McCann, 317
U.S. 269, 279 (1942)); see also Johnson v. Zerbst, 304 U.S. 458, 468 (1938) (stating that waiver of
counsel must be “competently and intelligently” made). The Supreme Court has provided guidelines
for courts to consider when accepting a waiver of counsel:
To be valid such waiver must be made with an apprehension of the nature of the
charges, the statutory offenses included within them, the range of allowable
punishments thereunder, possible defenses to the charges and circumstances in
mitigation thereof, and all other facts essential to a broad understanding of the whole
matter.
Von Moltke v. Gillies, 332 U.S. 708, 724 (1948) (quoted in Fowler v. Collins, 253 F.3d 244, 249 (6th
Cir. 2001)). The extent to which a court must probe into these elements will vary from case to case,
but “the court’s obligation to maintain the integrity of the Sixth Amendment remains constant.”
Fowler, 253 F.3d at 249. “The record must show, or there must be an allegation and evidence which
show, that an accused was offered counsel but intelligently and understandingly rejected the offer.”
Carnley v. Cochran, 369 U.S. 506, 516 (1962). Accordingly, a trial court’s outright failure to
explain the risks and dangers in proceeding pro se or a failure to adequately examine the waiver will
justify issuing a writ of habeas corpus. See James v. Brigano, 470 F.3d 635, 643-44 (6th Cir. 2006);
Fowler, 253 F.3d at 249-50.
In the instant case, the Kentucky Supreme Court held that Wilson knowingly and voluntarily
waived his right to counsel. See Wilson, 836 S.W.2d at 880-81. The court recounted the extent to
which Judge Lape warned Wilson of the hazards of proceeding pro se, concluding “the trial judge
zealously made Wilson aware of the dangers of the path he had chosen.” Id. at 883. The Kentucky
Supreme Court held that it:
believe[d] that a fair reading of the record as a whole clearly indicates that Wilson
understood the dangers and disadvantages of self-representation. He knew he was
entitled to counsel, yet the record clearly establishes that he elected to proceed with
his eyes wide open. Wilson’s course of conduct during the trial . . . put the trial
judge between a rock and a hard place. We believe that the trial judge’s decision to
allow Wilson to proceed with standby counsel was under the circumstances fair and
reasonable.
Id. at 884. The state post-conviction hearings and the federal district court habeas proceedings also
held that Wilson had knowingly and intelligently waived his counsel and that no further pre-trial
inquiry into his appointed counsel’s competence was constitutionally required.
The Kentucky Supreme Court’s reasoning is neither contrary to, nor an unreasonable
application of, Supreme Court precedent. Judge Lape’s repeated colloquies with the defendant
adequately probed Wilson’s understanding of the consequences of the waiver. Judge Lape
No. 05-5191 Wilson v. Parker Page 9
confirmed with Wilson that he intended to proceed pro se. Wilson replied, “Yeah. Like I said, I will
proceed pro se, only to do so in the absence of competent, ethical, experienced, capital defense
attorneys.” Judge Lape modeled his colloquy with Wilson on the standards for obtaining a waiver
that we have set for United States district courts. See United States v. McDowell, 814 F.2d 245 (6th
Cir. 1987). Exercising our supervisory powers over federal courts in this circuit, we introduced
those standards to ensure that federal criminal defendants’ waivers of counsel were knowing,
voluntary, and intelligent. See id. at 248-50.
Although there is no evidence that Wilson was acting to delay his trial, we have previously
held that it is not an unreasonable application of Faretta to find a waiver of counsel where a
defendant with a history of switching attorneys knew of his right to counsel, knew the charges and
potential penalties, and rejected appointed counsel while asserting he did not want to represent
himself. See King v. Bobby, 433 F.3d 483, 492-93 (6th Cir. 2006). Even when a defendant “did not
straightforwardly assert his right to self-representation, and even told the trial court twice that he did
not wish to represent himself,” we held that “by rejecting all of his options except self-
representation,” the defendant validly waives his right to counsel in state court. Id. at 492.
Wilson’s arguments that the trial court should have conducted further inquiry into his
appointed counsels’ competence and that their alleged incompetence invalidated his waiver of the
right to counsel are unpersuasive. In response to Wilson’s claims, the Kentucky Supreme Court
stated that it had not found any cases granting authority to a trial court to “allow an indigent
defendant to put his appointed counsel on trial for alleged past transgressions.” Wilson, 836 S.W.2d
at 880. Relying on Sixth Circuit case law, the Kentucky Supreme Court stated: “In order to warrant
a substitution of counsel during trial, a defendant must show good cause, such as a conflict of
interest, a complete breakdown of communication, or an irreconcilable conflict which leads to an
apparently unjust verdict, and demonstrate prejudice by the attorney's performance.” Ibid. (citing
Wilson v. Mintzes, 733 F.2d 424 (6th Cir. 1984)). The Kentucky Supreme Court applied those
standards to Wilson’s conflict with Hagedorn (which had been ongoing during the pre-trial period
and came to a head the day before trial was set to begin) and held that Wilson’s case did not require
substitution of counsel.
We agree. Indigent defendants do not have the right to counsel of their choice. See Caplin
& Drysdale, Chartered v. United States, 491 U.S. 617, 624 (1989); Morris v. Slappy, 461 U.S. 1,
14 (1983). In the present case, Judge Lape held a special hearing on Wilson’s motion for new
counsel. At that hearing, Mario Conte outlined the role of the capital defense attorney. Judge Lape
suspended the hearing when Conte began to address Hagedorn’s alleged incompetence. Since no
Supreme Court precedent compelled such a hearing, Judge Lape’s decision to suspend it was not
error. Although we have held, in reviewing a federal conviction, that a federal trial court has a duty
to determine the reasons for an indigent defendant's dissatisfaction with current counsel when he
requests that appointed counsel be discharged and new counsel appointed, United States v. Iles, 906
F.2d 1122, 1130 (6th Cir. 1990), because Iles is not “clearly established federal law, as determined
by the Supreme Court of the United States,” it cannot provide a basis for granting habeas relief
under AEDPA. 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d)(1); see James, 470 F.3d at 643.
B. Ineffective Assistance of Trial Counsel (Claim Three)
Since Wilson waived his right to counsel, his claim of ineffective assistance of trial counsel
necessarily fails. By exercising his constitutional right to present his own defense, a defendant
necessarily waives his constitutional right to be represented by counsel. See Faretta, 422 U.S. at
834. Logically, a defendant cannot waive his right to counsel and then complain about the quality
of his own defense. Id. at 834 n.46; Gall v. Parker, 231 F.3d 265, 320 (6th Cir. 2000).
No. 05-5191 Wilson v. Parker Page 10
Despite Wilson’s waiver, the Kentucky Supreme Court addressed his ineffective assistance
claim and held that Wilson had not met the standards for a grant of habeas relief established in
Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984). See Wilson, 836 S.W.2d at 878-80. The court found
that Wilson hampered counsels’ efforts to assist him by, for example, not allowing counsel to make
an opening statement or closing argument during the guilt phase and not testifying or calling any
defense witnesses to testify. The court held that, to the extent Wilson permitted Hagedorn to
participate, Hagedorn performed effectively. Id. at 879. “Wilson has failed to demonstrate in any
way that he was prejudiced by Hagedorn’s performance. Considering all the evidence of guilt, we
fail to see how the verdict would have been any different had Wilson been supplied with the best
criminal defense attorney in the nation.” Id. at 880.
We find no basis for overturning the Kentucky Supreme Court’s holding. Hagedorn and
Foote served as standby counsel, available if Wilson requested help. To the extent Hagedorn and
Foote failed to act during trial, Wilson merely suffered the consequences of his decision to proceed
pro se. Given this fact, we cannot say that the Kentucky Supreme Court’s analysis was contrary to,
or an unreasonable application of, Strickland.
In fact, the record refutes one of Wilson’s most serious charges of ineffective assistance.
Wilson asserts that Hagedorn and Foote refused his request that they cross-examine Willis Maloney,
a key prosecution witness who testified that Wilson, while they were both incarcerated, had
confessed the murder, rape, and kidnaping. On direct appeal, the Kentucky Supreme Court found
that “Wilson chose not to cross-examine Maloney.” Wilson, 836 S.W.2d at 885. Wilson has the
burden of rebutting, by clear and convincing evidence, the presumption that this factual finding is
correct. See 28 U.S.C. § 2254(e)(1). A review of the trial transcript supports the state court’s
finding and fails to support Wilson’s claim. Humphrey’s attorney cross-examined Maloney, after
which the trial court asked Wilson whether he wanted to cross-examine the witness. Wilson
renewed his objection to being represented by Hagedorn and Foote and replied that he did not know
how to cross-examine. When the trial court asked Wilson if he wanted Hagedorn or Foote to cross-
examine Maloney, Wilson replied, “If the Court wishes to.” The trial court told Wilson it was
Wilson’s decision, not the court’s. Wilson stated, “It is not my decision either.” Thus, when offered
the opportunity, Wilson declined to cross-examine Maloney and did not ask for Hagedorn or Foote
to cross-examine Maloney.
Wilson also argues that Hagedorn had a conflict of interest because Hagedorn allegedly
represented Maloney. Appellant’s Br. at 26, 44. The facts of this claim, however, are not clear. In
his state post-conviction proceedings, Wilson submitted an affidavit from Maloney as evidence of
Hagedorn’s incompetence. Maloney averred that Hagedorn had represented him in a criminal matter
in Campbell County, Kentucky, and that Hagedorn’s representation had been “totally incompetent.”
Maloney’s affidavit did not indicate the charges or the date of the proceedings during which
Hagedorn allegedly represented him. However, in response to Wilson’s request for impeaching
information about Maloney, the prosecution informed Wilson that Maloney had been jailed in
Campbell County on charges of theft in February 1988. Thus, there is circumstantial evidence in
the record for the proposition that Hagedorn represented Maloney earlier in 1988 on charges of theft
in Campbell County. The results of that representation (other than Maloney’s insistence that
Hagedorn performed badly) are unknown. Wilson cites United States v. Cronic for the proposition
that prejudice will be presumed if defense counsel suffers an actual conflict of interest. See 466 U.S.
648, 662 n.31 (1984).
However, even assuming that Hagedorn was Maloney’s attorney earlier in 1988 (and not
during some other previous time when Maloney was incarcerated), Wilson has not demonstrated that
Hagedorn “‘actively represented conflicting interests’ and that ‘an actual conflict of interest
adversely affected his lawyer’s performance.’” Strickland, 466 U.S. at 692 (quoting Cuyler v.
Sullivan, 446 U.S. 335, 348, 350 (1980)). Morever, unfortunately for Wilson, even if we were to
No. 05-5191 Wilson v. Parker Page 11
presume prejudice due to an actual conflict of interest, Hagedorn was not Wilson’s attorney when
the time came to cross-examine Maloney since Wilson had elected to proceed pro se. As discussed
above, Wilson forbade Hagedorn from cross-examining Maloney and chose not to cross-examine
Maloney himself. Therefore, the decision not to cross-examine cannot be attributed to any alleged
conflict of interest. Thus, we agree with the district court’s ultimate holding that, given Wilson’s
waiver, the alleged conflict here does not provide a basis for granting habeas under AEDPA.
The question of whether Wilson may nevertheless assert ineffective assistance of counsel
arising from Hagedorn’s actions before Wilson elected to proceed pro se is closer. At oral argument,
Wilson’s counsel suggested that Hagedorn’s failure to conduct any mitigation investigation during
the time when he was still Wilson’s counsel is sufficient to sustain an ineffective assistance of
counsel claim. This argument apparently was not raised before the state courts, and the Kentucky
Supreme Court’s application of Strickland only addressed Hagedorn’s conduct after Wilson’s
waiver. See Wilson, 836 S.W.2d at 877-79. Because this conduct occurred pre-waiver, the logic
above that exercising the Faretta right to represent oneself necessarily eliminates claims of
ineffective assistance does not apply. However, because we hold that the failure to begin a
mitigation investigation before Wilson’s waiver was not prejudicial, we do not alter our conclusion
above that Wilson’s claim of ineffective assistance fails.
Under Strickland, a successful ineffective assistance of counsel claim must demonstrate both
the objective unreasonableness of defense counsel’s conduct and its prejudicial effect. See
Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687-88. It could be objectively unreasonable, under some circumstances,
for defense counsel to fail to investigate and prepare mitigating evidence for the penalty phase of
a capital trial. See Wiggins v. Smith, 539 U.S. 510, 523-29 (2003) (finding that counsels’ decision
to cease investigating after receiving the pre-sentencing report fell short of prevailing professional
standards). It is also correct, as the Kentucky Supreme Court noted, that reviewing courts “must
judge the reasonableness of counsel's challenged conduct on the facts of the particular case, viewed
as of the time of counsel's conduct.” Wilson, 836 S.W2d at 878; see Rompilla v. Beard, 545 U.S.
374, 385 (2005) (stating that courts should make “every effort to view the facts as a defense lawyer
would have done at the time”). Thus, applying the first prong of Strickland requires looking at
defense counsel’s conduct at the time of its occurrence (or when it should have occurred in the case
of omissions). All else being equal, the failure to begin a mitigation investigation until a week
before a capital trial could be a basis for claiming deficient conduct by defense counsel. See
Wiggins, 539 U.S. at 523-29; Williams, 529 U.S. at 395-96.
The second prong of Strickland requires demonstration of prejudice. In particular, “[t]o
establish prejudice [the defendant] ‘must show that there is a reasonable probability that, but for
counsel's unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different. A reasonable
probability is a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome.’” Williams, 529 U.S.
at 391 (quoting Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694). In this case, Wilson’s decision to proceed pro se
substantially affects our analysis of whether Hagedorn’s pre-waiver conduct was prejudicial. As
noted above, Wilson waived his right to counsel on the first day of trial and thereafter controlled his
defense, including deciding whether he or Hagedorn would cross-examine witnesses and make
opening or closing statements to the jury. Even assuming Hagedorn’s pre-waiver conduct was
deficient, the fact of the waiver makes it virtually impossible to assess whether such conduct was
prejudicial. Although there may be cases in which the facts indicate that pre-waiver defense conduct
sufficiently prejudiced the defendant to sustain an ineffective assistance claim, this is not such a
case.
In this case, Wilson had indicated throughout the pre-trial period that he did not want
Hagedorn and Foote to represent him. On September 2, 1988, before the trial began, Wilson
confirmed during his colloquy with Judge Lape that he intended to proceed pro se. Thus, Wilson
elected to proceed pro se and preempted any of Hagedorn’s efforts well before any penalty phase
No. 05-5191 Wilson v. Parker Page 12
would begin (assuming Wilson were found guilty). Judge Lape appointed Hagedorn and Foote to
act as standby counsel, but Wilson clearly exercised control over the conduct of his trial. During
the actual penalty phase, Wilson made a statement to the jury denying his guilt. The failure to
present mitigation evidence cannot be attributed to Hagedorn. Finally, the evidence of Wilson’s role
in raping and killing the victim was overwhelming, including testimony from Maloney and
Humphrey. This evidence leads us to conclude that Wilson cannot demonstrate prejudice from
Hagedorn’s pre-waiver conduct. Therefore, Wilson’s claim of ineffective assistance based on pre-
waiver conduct also fails.
C. Failure to Disclose Relationship Between Humphrey and Judge Gilliece (Claims Five and
Twenty-Four)
In claim five of his habeas petition, Wilson alleged that he was denied a fair trial because the
trial judge, Judge Lape, refused to recuse himself. In claim twenty-four, Wilson alleged that he was
deprived of his constitutional rights at trial because a sexual relationship between his co-defendant,
Brenda Humphrey, and another state trial court judge, Judge Gilliece, was not disclosed to him. The
district court granted a certificate of appealability on claim twenty-four, and we granted Wilson’s
application for a certificate on claim five, but only to the extent it involves claim twenty-four.
Because the Humphrey-Gilliece relationship was undisclosed until well after Wilson’s state court
proceedings had concluded, the Kentucky courts did not assess the merits of that claim.
Accordingly, the federal habeas court may review the claim de novo. See Lyell v. Renico, 470 F.3d
1177, 1181-82 (6th Cir. 2006); McAdoo, 365 F.3d at 498. We hold that Wilson’s claim has no merit.
Wilson filed a pre-trial motion on July 29, 1988, for Judge Lape to recuse himself on grounds
having nothing to do with the Humphrey-Gilliece relationship. The trial court forwarded the motion
to the Chief Justice of the Kentucky Supreme Court for consideration. See Ky. Rev. Stat.
§ 26A.020(1). The Chief Justice denied the motion. After the trial, on direct appeal, Wilson raised
the issue again. In addition to his original arguments, Wilson argued that Judge Lape exhibited bias
and hostility toward him by allegedly calling him bad names, noting that Wilson did not trust any
lawyer, expressing a belief that Wilson was engaging in obstructionist tactics, and speaking to
Wilson in an angry tone of voice before the jury. See Wilson, 836 S.W.2d at 885. The Kentucky
Supreme Court found that Wilson had failed to support his allegations with citations to the record
and that the record as a whole did not support Wilson’s claim. Id. at 885-86. The court concluded
that “entire record indicates that the trial court treated Wilson with respect . . . .” Id. at 886.
At the time of Wilson’s trial, Judge Gilliece was also a Kenton County Circuit Judge. Judge
Gilliece’s relationship with Brenda Humphrey came to light in 2001, after Wilson had exhausted his
state court remedies and filed his petition for a federal writ of habeas corpus. In May 2001, after
she had exhausted her direct appeals and state post-conviction relief, Brenda Humphrey sought a
new hearing on the fairness of her trial because of her relationship with Judge Gilliece. Her motion
for a hearing was granted, and evidence was admitted. In July 2002, during Brenda Humphrey’s
state post-conviction evidentiary hearing, testimony regarding her relationship with Judge Gilliece
was introduced. Wilson attempted to intervene in that hearing, but the state trial court denied that
motion. The Kentucky Supreme Court affirmed the denial. See Humphrey v. Commonwealth, No.
2003-SC-0671-TG, 2005 WL 924188, at *3 (Ky. Apr. 21, 2005). The district court permitted Wilson
to supplement the federal habeas record with transcripts, exhibits, and the trial court’s findings of
fact and conclusions of law from Humphrey’s post-conviction hearing.
At her July 2002 hearing, Humphrey testified that she first met Judge Gilliece in 1985, when
he performed a marriage ceremony for Humphrey and her third husband. Judge Gilliece later
contacted Humphrey, who had previously been arrested for prostitution, and they began a sexual
relationship. Humphrey estimated that she saw Judge Gilliece at least once a week from 1985 to
1987. She called Judge Gilliece after her arrest for the crimes she committed with Wilson, and he
No. 05-5191 Wilson v. Parker Page 13
expressed support for her, but did not see her until he learned her case had been assigned to Judge
Lape. Humphrey continued to see Gilliece during her trial. According to Humphrey, Judge Gilliece
believed in her innocence and told her not to worry about the charges against her. She testified that
no plea deal was ever offered and that Judge Gilliece did not intervene on her behalf. Humphrey
and Wilson were tried together, and Humphrey was also convicted and sentenced to life in prison
without the possibility of parole for twenty-five years for capital kidnaping, and a total of fifty years
in prison for facilitation of murder, first-degree robbery, facilitation of first-degree rape, and
criminal conspiracy. See Humphrey v. Commonwealth, 836 S.W.2d 865, 867 (Ky. 1992).
Donald Buring, the prosecutor who tried the case against Wilson and Humphrey, also
testified at Humphrey’s evidentiary hearing. He stated that the jail staff brought him a letter that
Judge Gilliece sent to Humphrey after her arrest but before her indictment. According to Buring,
he could not recall the contents of the letter beyond recalling that it generally stated that “things will
work out.” Buring thought the correspondence unusual, but it did not lead him to suspect an
intimate relationship between Humphrey and Judge Gilliece. Buring testified that he did not pursue
the matter once the case was assigned to Judge Lape and that the relationship had no effect on the
case. Buring did not discuss any possible relationship with Judge Gilliece, Judge Lape, or
Humphrey’s counsel. Buring sought the death penalty against Humphrey and did not engage in any
plea negotiations with her.
Because the state courts had not adjudicated Wilson’s claim, the district court analyzed the
claim under 28 U.S.C. § 2254(e)(2) to determine if an evidentiary hearing was required. The district
court properly found that Wilson was excused for not developing the factual record in state court
since the Humphrey-Gilliece relationship only came to light after Wilson had exhausted his state
remedies. The district court analyzed Wilson’s claim that the failure to disclose the relationship
between Judge Gilliece and Humphrey denied him a fair trial under Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S.
83, 87 (1963). The court found that, although the evidence of the Humphrey-Gilliece relationship
was clearly not available to Wilson during his trial, there was no basis for determining that the
outcome of the trial would have been different if the relationship between Humphrey and Gilliece
had been disclosed at the time of the trial because it was not relevant to Wilson’s case. In particular,
the district court noted that there was no evidence that Judge Gilliece approached Judge Lape or the
prosecutor on Humphrey’s behalf. The district court concluded that the alleged facts underlying
Wilson’s claim were not sufficient to establish by clear and convincing evidence that, but for the
alleged constitutional error, no reasonable finder of fact could have found him guilty.
We granted Wilson a certificate of appealability for his claim that Judge Lape should have
recused himself, but only as that claim relates to the possible impact of the relationship between
Humphrey and Gilliece. We assess claims of judicial bias against state court judges under the
standard announced by the Supreme Court in Liteky v. United States, 510 U.S. 540 (1994), a case
involving statutory recusal standards for federal judges. See Lyell v. Renico, 470 F.3d 1177, 1186
(6th Cir. 2006). In Liteky, the Supreme Court held that “judicial rulings alone almost never
constitute a valid basis for a bias or partiality motion.” 510 U.S. at 555. To show improper
prejudice, a judge’s comments must “display a deep-seated favoritism or antagonism that would
make fair judgment impossible.” Ibid.
Wilson’s claim fails under Liteky because he has not identified any comment or action by
Judge Lape that demonstrates the degree of antagonism necessary for him to succeed in a claim of
judicial bias. Moreover, there was no evidence from Humphrey’s hearing or elsewhere that Judge
Lape was influenced by, or even knew of, the relationship between Humphrey and Gilliece. There
is nothing in the state trial record indicating that Judge Lape favored Humphrey or disfavored
Wilson. Thus, Wilson’s claim that Judge Lape should have recused himself fails.
No. 05-5191 Wilson v. Parker Page 14
Regarding the Humphrey-Gilliece relationship, Brady requires that the prosecution disclose
evidence that may impeach the credibility of a witness. See Giglio v. United States, 405 U.S. 150,
153-54 (1972). The evidence must be turned over if it is both favorable to the accused and material
to guilt or punishment. See United States v. Jones, 399 F.3d 640, 647 (6th Cir.), cert. denied, 126
S. Ct. 148 (2005). Evidence is material if there is a reasonable probability that, had the evidence
been disclosed to the defense, the outcome of the case would have been different. See Kyles v.
Whitley, 514 U.S. 419, 433-34 (1995); Zuern v. Tate, 336 F.3d 478, 484 (6th Cir. 2003). A
reasonable probability is a “probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome.” United
States v. Bagley, 473 U.S. 667, 682 (1985).
In this case, even though Buring knew that Gilliece and Humphrey were corresponding,
Wilson’s claim fails under Brady because there is not a reasonable probability that, had the evidence
been disclosed to him, the outcome of the case would have been different. See Zuern, 336 F.3d at
484. Humphrey was not the only witness to testify against Wilson. Much of the prosecution’s case
derived from his confession to his cell-mate Maloney and circumstantial evidence linking him to the
crime. Wilson’s proposed impeachment of Humphrey, even if allowed under the rules of evidence,
would not have detracted from this proof. Wilson argues that he could have used evidence of the
Humphrey-Gilliece affair to impeach Humphrey. Appellant Br. at 96-107. However, evidence of
the Humphrey-Gilliece affair would likely not have been proper grounds to impeach Humphrey.
There is no proof Gilliece intervened on Humphrey’s behalf or that Humphrey used the relationship
to win favorable treatment from the prosecutor or Judge Lape. Therefore, the Humphrey-Gilliece
relationship was irrelevant to any bias Humphrey may have had in her testimony that Wilson had
been the one who killed the victim. While cross-examination to reveal possible biases is a protected
right, see Davis v. Alaska, 415 U.S. 308, 316 (1974), raising irrelevant theories of bias is not. Trial
courts retain discretion to impose limits on cross-examination based on concerns about harassment,
prejudice, confusion of issues, “or interrogation that is repetitive or only marginally relevant.”
Boggs v. Collins, 226 F.3d 728, 736 (6th Cir. 2000); see Delaware v. Van Arsdall, 475 U.S. 673, 679
(1986). Moreover, the impact of undisclosed evidence on Wilson’s trial preparations is irrelevant
to materiality under Brady; only the effect on the trial’s outcome matters. See United States v.
Presser, 844 F.2d 1275, 1282 (6th Cir. 1988) (discussing United States v. Agurs, 427 U.S. 97, 112
n.20 (1976)). Wilson had ample opportunity and motive to cross-examine Humphrey without
knowing about the affair. Humphrey was facing the death penalty and attempted to minimize her
role in the crimes by shifting blame for the murder to Wilson. Given the opportunity to cross-
examine Humphrey, Wilson declined. Finally, we note that, to the extent it is relevant to a
credibility determination, Humphrey admitted on direct examination that she had been a prostitute.
Thus, Wilson’s claims stemming from the Humphrey-Gilliece relationship fail. For similar
reasons, the district court did not err in denying Wilson an evidentiary hearing regarding the
Humphrey-Gilliece relationship. Wilson cannot be held to the stringent standards of 28 U.S.C.
§ 2254(e)(2), because the Humphrey-Gilliece relationship came to light well after Wilson’s state
post-conviction proceedings had concluded. See Williams v. Taylor, 529 U.S. 420, 434-35 (2000).
However “the fact that a petitioner is not disqualified from receiving an evidentiary hearing under
§ 2254(e)(2) does not entitle him to one.” Ivory v. Jackson, 509 F.3d 284 (6th Cir. 2007). In this
case, Wilson is not entitled to an evidentiary hearing because, as discussed above, he has not alleged
sufficient grounds for release.
D. Brady Violations (Claim Nine)
Wilson alleges that the prosecution failed to disclose evidence concerning Maloney, the
jailhouse informant who testified against Wilson at trial. Wilson moved to declare Maloney an
indispensable witness, meaning that Maloney would have to submit to an interview with defense
counsel, and Wilson argues that the prosecution’s objections to those motions denied him his right
to develop impeaching evidence about Maloney. Wilson also claims that the prosecution should
No. 05-5191 Wilson v. Parker Page 15
have turned over potentially exculpatory evidence gathered by the FBI. We hold that these claims
are meritless.
Wilson raised his claim that the prosection failed to disclose evidence about Maloney on
direct appeal. The Kentucky Supreme Court noted that Wilson had requested a long list of
information to attack Maloney’s credibility, including:
all correctional institution files of the witness; any organizations to which Maloney
had ever belonged; any information Maloney may have provided to any
governmental authority in any jurisdiction in any case; any prior instances of
Maloney ever lying or exaggerating; any inmates the Commonwealth may have
interviewed at the jail to determine whether they spoke with Wilson; and every case
in which the Commonwealth used informants.
Wilson, 836 S.W.2d at 885. The Kentucky Supreme Court held that Wilson’s request was “clearly
excessive,” that the prosecutor had followed Kentucky disclosure law, and that Wilson had failed
to show how the information could have affected the outcome of his case. Ibid. (citing Agurs, 427
U.S. at 97. The district court concluded that the Kentucky Supreme Court’s decision was neither
contrary to nor an unreasonable application of Supreme Court precedent under Brady.
We agree and affirm. A Brady violation occurs when the evidence at issue is favorable to
the accused, the evidence was suppressed by the State, and prejudice resulted. See Strickland v.
Greene, 527 U.S. 263, 281-82 (1999). The Kentucky Supreme Court’s analysis comported with
Supreme Court precedent. The prosecutor provided the criminal charges that were pending against
Maloney, the prosecutor’s communications with the Ohio prosecutor’s office concerning Maloney,
the fact that Maloney was on federal parole, Maloney’s disclosures to the prosecutor, and the fact
that Maloney provided Wilson with money and cigarettes while they were incarcerated. At trial, the
prosecutor established in direct examination that Maloney was a convicted felon and reviewed the
criminal charges pending against Maloney in Kentucky and Ohio. The prosecutor also inquired as
to whether Maloney had received any favorable treatment in return for his testimony. In light of the
information the prosecutor disclosed and the conduct of the trial, we hold that Wilson has not shown
a reasonable probability that the his trial was prejudiced because the prosecutor did not comply with
the entirety of Wilson’s exceptionally broad discovery request.
Wilson raised the second part of his claim, that the prosecution should have turned over
exculpatory information gathered by the FBI, in his state post-conviction action. The trial court
denied the petition, and the Kentucky Supreme Court affirmed the decision without mentioning the
FBI claim. The district court determined that Wilson knew or should have known about the FBI’s
involvement in the case because FBI agents testified at trial. The court found that Wilson had
procedurally defaulted this portion of his claim because he did not raise it on direct appeal, that he
could no longer bring the claim in state court under Kentucky res judicata principles, and that he
could not meet the “cause and prejudice” standard to excuse his default. The district court also
concluded that Wilson was not entitled to an evidentiary hearing.
We agree and affirm. Regarding the FBI information, Wilson procedurally defaulted because
he failed to present the grounds of his claim to the state courts. See 28 U.S.C. § 2254(b); Gray v.
Netherland, 518 U.S. 152, 161-62 (1996). Unless Wilson can show cause to excuse his default and
actual prejudice to his case at trial or on appeal, he may obtain habeas review only in the
extraordinary case that he can show a fundamental miscarriage of justice has occurred, for example,
by showing a constitutional violation has resulted in conviction of one who is actually innocent. See
Coleman v. Thompson, 501 U.S. 722, 750 (1991); Murray v. Carrier, 477 U.S. 478, 495-96 (1986).
Wilson failed to raise his claim on direct appeal and is barred under Kentucky Rule of Criminal
Procedure 11.42 from raising it in post-conviction proceedings. In addition, a three-year statute of
No. 05-5191 Wilson v. Parker Page 16
limitations bars Wilson from raising the claim. See Ky. Rule Crim. P. 11.42(10). The time limit
applies here, and Wilson does not qualify for any of the statutory exceptions. Although ineffective
assistance of appellate counsel may constitute cause for procedural default, see Murray, 477 U.S.
at 492, the ineffective assistance claim itself can be procedurally defaulted, see Edwards v.
Carpenter, 529 U.S. 446, 453 (2000). Here, Wilson never raised his claim of ineffective assistance
of appellate counsel in state court. He raised the claim in his federal habeas petition but did not
include it as grounds for his appellate counsel’s failure to raise the Brady claim. Accordingly,
Wilson’s claim is barred.
E. Denial of Separate Trials (Claim Fourteen)
Wilson alleges that the trial court denied him a fair trial and due process rights by failing to
grant him a separate trial from his co-defendant Brenda Humphrey. He argues that their defenses
were antagonistic, that there was a stark difference between Humphrey’s allegedly vigorous defense
and his allegedly deficient defense, and that Humphrey’s statements to prosecution witnesses were
unduly prejudicial to him. He also argues that evidence of Humphrey’s purchases using the victim’s
credit card was admissible against her but unduly prejudicial as to him.
The Kentucky Supreme Court held on direct appeal that, under Kentucky law, a defendant
is not entitled to severance unless he shows prior to trial that joinder would be prejudicial. See
Wilson, 836 S.W.2d at 886-87. A Kentucky court will not “reverse a conviction for failure to grant
separate trials unless it is clearly convinced that prejudice occurred and that the likelihood of
prejudice was so clearly demonstrated to the trial judge as to make his failure to grant severance an
abuse of discretion.” Id. at 887. Accordingly, a “defendant must show that antagonism prevented
a jury from being able to separate and treat distinctively evidence that is relevant to each particular
defendant at trial and that the antagonism between codefendants will mislead or confuse the jury.”
Ibid. The court noted that Wilson and Humphrey had both admitted their crimes to others, and that
the evidence presented against Wilson during the guilt phase was largely the same as the evidence
against Humphrey. Ibid. The court also observed that Humphrey’s presence at trial may have
reminded the jurors that Wilson was not solely responsible for the crime. Ibid.
We agree with the district court that the Kentucky Supreme Court decision is neither contrary
to nor an unreasonable application of United States Supreme Court precedent. The Supreme Court
has recognized that states have significant interests in conducting joint trials. See Buchanan v.
Kentucky, 483 U.S. 402, 417-19 (1987). The Supreme Court has also held that “an error involving
misjoinder ‘affects substantial rights’ and requires reversal only if the misjoinder results in actual
prejudice because it ‘had substantial and injurious effect or influence in determining the jury’s
verdict.’” United States v. Lane, 474 U.S. 438, 449 (1986) (quoting Kotteakos v. United States, 328
U.S. 750, 776 (1946)). Since much of the damaging testimony introduced at trial would have been
admissible even if Wilson had been tried alone, he cannot meet that standard. Moreover, Wilson
declined to cross-examine Humphrey to minimize the impact of her testimony blaming him for the
murder. We hold that the Kentucky Supreme Court’s analysis comported with Supreme Court
precedent and affirm the district court.
F. Admission of Hair-Matching Evidence (Claim Sixteen)
At trial, an expert witness testified that hairs found in the victim’s car were similar to
samples of Wilson’s head and pubic hairs. Wilson argues that the state court’s admission of hair-
matching evidence constitutes constitutional error because the evidence was unduly prejudicial
because of its unreliability and the danger that the jury would erroneously give it more weight than
it deserved. Appellant’s Br. at 135. Wilson sought to compel DNA testing of the hairs that were
found in the victim’s car, and the district court granted that motion. However, the Commonwealth
could not find the hairs, and no DNA testing occurred. Wilson raised the claim on direct appeal, and
No. 05-5191 Wilson v. Parker Page 17
the Kentucky Supreme Court found that Wilson’s argument went to the weight of the evidence, not
its admissibility, and concluded that the testimony was properly introduced. See Wilson, 836 S.W.2d
at 890. The district court held that no Supreme Court precedent showed a constitutional violation
based on use of hair-matching evidence and Wilson was not entitled to an evidentiary hearing,
especially in light of the other evidence of guilt.
We affirm. A federal court cannot issue a writ of habeas corpus “on the basis of a perceived
error of state law.” Pulley v. Harris, 465 U.S. 37, 41 (1984). More specifically, a trial judge’s
decision concerning the admission of evidence is a state law matter generally not subject to habeas
review. See Marshall v. Lonberger, 459 U.S. 422, 438 n.6 (1983) (“[T]he Due Process Clause does
not permit the federal courts to engage in a finely tuned review of the wisdom of state evidentiary
rules.”). Wilson has not shown that the admission of the expert testimony denied him a fair trial.
The witness testified that head hairs similar to Wilson’s were found on the back of the passenger
side front seat of the victim’s car. He also stated that pubic hairs similar to hair from Wilson were
found in the area of the passenger front seat, on the floorboard of the front seat, and in the hatch-
back area behind the rear seat. Hagedorn cross-examined the witness on Wilson’s behalf, and the
witness conceded that the hairs could have come from somebody else. Absent Supreme Court
precedent showing a constitutional violation based on the use of hair-matching evidence, we hold
that Wilson has not demonstrated that the admission of the evidence denied him a fair trial. Cf. Buie
v. McAdory, 341 F.3d 623, 624-25 (7th Cir. 2003) (holding that no constitutional error resulted from
an expert’s testimony that “within a reasonable degree of scientific certainty” hair-matching
evidence inculpated the defendant and noting that the Constitution guarantees only the right to test
evidence and does not guarantee that experts “must be right”). Even if the hair-matching evidence
is unreliable as Wilson alleges and was excluded, the outcome of the trial would have been
unaffected.
G. Ineffective Assistance of Appellate Counsel (Claims Twenty-One and Twenty-Two)
Wilson alleges that he received ineffective assistance of counsel on direct appeal because
his appellate attorneys had a conflict of interest that prevented them from scrutinizing the actions
of his KDPA trial attorneys and other attorneys who were not counsel of record. Appellant’s Br.
at 68-70. He also complains that, because his direct appeal counsel raised the issue of his trial
counsels’ ineffectiveness, the law of the case doctrine barred him from raising that claim in his state
post-conviction motion to vacate. Appellant’s Br. at 64-66. In a related claim, Wilson alleges that
he had no state-court forum in which to raise a claim of ineffective assistance of appellate counsel.
Appellant’s Br. at 70-71. We affirm the district court’s denial of these claims.
These claims were first raised in the district court, which held an evidentiary hearing. Gail
Robinson is an attorney who worked for KDPA for many years and is married to Kevin McNally,
who was Wilson’s counsel of record until he withdrew and Hagedorn was appointed. At the
evidentiary hearing, she testified that, although she was not Wilson’s counsel of record on direct
appeal, she wrote a majority of Wilson’s appellate brief. Robinson stated that, in retrospect, it was
a mistake for her to have raised the ineffective assistance of trial counsel claim on direct appeal
because it operated to bar Wilson from raising the claim “in a better and more full manner in a later
[state post-conviction] proceeding.” Ira Mickenberg also testified at the evidentiary hearing. After
reviewing the case file and opinions, Mickenberg stated that it could never be effective assistance
of appellate counsel to raise an ineffective assistance of trial counsel claim on direct appeal in
Kentucky. Mickenberg stated that it was always necessary to develop facts outside the trial record
in an ineffective assistance of trial counsel claim.
Mickenberg also stated that Wilson’s appellate counsel should have raised Hagedorn’s
alleged conflict of interest arising from Hagedorn’s prior representation of Maloney, the
prosecution’s main witness. Mickenberg also testified that Wilson’s appellate counsel should have
No. 05-5191 Wilson v. Parker Page 18
raised McNally’s interference with the trial as grounds for appeal. Thus, Wilson argues that his
appellate counsel failed to raise specific issues on appeal.
To prevail on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, petitioner must show both that his
counsel’s performance was deficient and that the deficiency resulted in prejudice. See Strickland,
466 U.S. at 687. The district court’s findings of fact are reviewed for clear error. Combs v. Coyle,
205 F.3d 269, 277 (6th Cir. 2000). The performance and prejudice components of Strickland present
mixed questions of law and fact and are reviewed de novo. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 698. As noted
above, counsel’s conduct is deficient if it falls below an objective standard of reasonableness. To
evaluate a claim of ineffective assistance of appellate counsel, we assess the strength of the claim
appellate counsel failed to raise. “Counsel’s failure to raise an issue on appeal could only be
ineffective assistance if there is a reasonable probability that inclusion of the issue would have
changed the result of the appeal.” McFarland v. Yukins, 356 F.3d 688, 699 (6th Cir. 2004). “If there
is a reasonable probability that [the defendant] would have prevailed on appeal had the claim been
raised, we can then consider whether the claim’s merit was so compelling that appellate counsel’s
failure to raise it amounted to ineffective assistance of appellate counsel.” Id. at 700.
The district court properly denied Wilson’s claim of ineffective assistance of appellate
counsel. As the district court noted, Wilson’s claim that his appellate counsel failed to raise
meritorious issues must fail. The failure to raise issues regarding Hagedorn’s alleged incompetence
(absences, failure to cross-examine witnesses, etc.) cannot constitute ineffective assistance of
appellate counsel because, as discussed previously, see supra Part III.A-B, these issues would not
have changed the outcome. As discussed above, the state courts found, and we agree, that Wilson
elected to proceed pro se. Therefore, any claims regarding deficient trial counsel performance are
without merit, including claims alleging conflict of interest because of Hagedorn’s prior
representation of Maloney on theft charges. Wilson’s decision to proceed pro se also means that
Wilson could not later claim that his decision to follow McNally’s advice after McNally ceased to
be counsel of record constitutes a ground for appeal.
Wilson’s claim about Robinson’s decision to include the ineffective assistance of trial
counsel in his direct appeal also fails. As the district court noted, Wilson repeatedly questioned his
trial counsel’s performance during the trial. Having made their performance an issue, Wilson might
have been prevented from raising the issue in post-conviction proceedings if he had not raised it on
direct appeal. See Gross v. Commonwealth, 648 S.W.2d 853, 857 (Ky. 1983) (holding “that the
proper procedure for a defendant aggrieved by a judgment in a criminal case is to directly appeal
that judgment, stating every ground of error which it is reasonable to expect that he or his counsel
is aware of when the appeal is taken”). Moreover, Robinson’s decision to raise the claim on direct
appeal did not prejudice Wilson because the claim would not have been successful if raised in an
11.42 post-conviction motion. As discussed above, Wilson’s ineffective assistance of trial counsel
claim would have failed because he had chosen to proceed pro se.
Wilson’s claim that Robinson was conflicted because her husband, McNally, had represented
Wilson before Hagedorn’s appointment also fails. Logically, Wilson cannot show ineffective
assistance by Robinson because she did not represent him. The attorneys of record in Wilson’s
direct appeal were David Bruck, Mario Conte, and Robert Carran. See Wilson, 836 S.W.2d at 876.
Even assuming arguendo that Robinson represented Wilson (in so far as the attorneys of record
outsourced the work of writing Wilson’s brief to Robinson), we agree with the district court that
Wilson has not shown that the alleged conflict rendered Robinson’s performance objectively
unreasonable. The district court found no factual basis for concluding that the alleged conflict
affected Robinson’s work as ghost writer on the brief, and we agree. Indeed, since Wilson had
proceeded pro se, Wilson’s appellate counsel likely did not raise the issue of McNally’s alleged
interference with Hagedorn because there was no attorney-client relationship between Wilson, on
the one hand, and Hagedorn and Foote, on the other, with which McNally could have interfered.
No. 05-5191 Wilson v. Parker Page 19
Although Wilson did not argue the point, we also hold that the decision of Bruck, Conte, and Carran
to outsource the brief-writing work to Robinson was not deficient. Robinson was an experienced
capital defender, and the decision to let her write the brief clearly meets the objective standard of
reasonableness required under Strickland.
In a separate claim, Wilson argues that he was denied a constitutional right to a state-court
forum in which to bring his claim of ineffective assistance of appellate counsel. We agree with the
district court’s dismissal of this claim. The United States Supreme Court held that if a dismissal of
an appeal by right occurs because of the ineffectiveness of appellate counsel, the defendant is
entitled to a reinstatement of his appeal. See Evitts v. Lucy, 469 U.S. 387 (1985). However, while
such ineffective assistance of appellate counsel is a constitutional violation, the Supreme Court has
not required the states to provide a forum to litigate such a claim. Rather, in Evitts, the Court
remanded with a direction to allow the appeal to proceed. Evitts ensures that a defendant is not
denied a hearing of his appeal of right due to ineffective assistance; it does not state that defendants
have a constitutional right to pursue ineffective assistance of appellate counsel claims in other
circumstances.
In Kentucky, a claimant is barred from asserting ineffective assistance of appellate counsel
in an 11.42 post-conviction motion and should instead seek to reopen the original appeal. See Hicks
v. Commonwealth, 825 S.W.2d 280 (Ky. 1992); Commonwealth v. Wine, 694 S.W.2d 689, 694-95
(Ky. 1985). Thus, when an appeal is dismissed or defaulted due to ineffective assistance of appellate
counsel, a defendant may move to reinstate the appeal in the original court of appeal. See, e.g.,
Wine, 694 S.W.2d at 695. But where, as in the instant case, the appeal has already been heard by
the proper court, the case will not be reexamined by the appellate court, and the ineffective
assistance claim may not be reviewed under an 11.42 motion. Hicks, 825 S.W.2d at 281. Evitts does
not compel a different result. Since no other Supreme Court precedent has expanded the Evitts rule
to require a forum for ineffective assistance of appellate counsel claims when the appellant’s case
was actually heard and decided, Wilson’s claim must fail.
IV
Therefore, for the reasons set out above, we AFFIRM the district court’s denial of the writ
of habeas corpus.