DocketNumber： 3:08-mj-00735
Citation Numbers： 765 F. Supp. 2d 783
Judges： Fred Biery
Filed Date： 1/19/2011
Status： Precedential
Modified Date： 1/13/2023
United States District Court, W.D. Texas, San Antonio Division.
*790 Jay Robert Brandon, Law Office of Jay Brandon, Richard Emil Langlois, Langlois & Snyder, San Antonio, TX, for Petitioner.
*791 Thomas M. Jones, Assistant Attorney General, Austin, TX, for Respondent.
FRED BIERY, Chief Judge.
Petitioner Ray Jasper, III, filed this federal habeas corpus action pursuant to Title 28 U.S.C. Section 2254 collaterally attacking his January, 2000, Bexar County conviction for capital murder and sentence of death. For the reasons set forth below, petitioner is not entitled to federal habeas corpus relief from this Court but is entitled to a Certificate of Appealability on his Batson claim herein.
There is no genuine dispute as to the operative facts of petitioner's offense. Petitioner signed a detailed written statement confessing his role in the robbery and murder of music producer David Alejandro on the night of November 29, 1998.[1] Petitioner corroborated the inculpatory aspects of his written statement in testimony he gave during both the punishment phase of his capital murder trial and the evidentiary hearing held in petitioner's state habeas corpus proceeding.[2]
The undisputed facts are: (1) petitioner informed his girlfriend Christina Breton that he and some friends planned to rob David Alejandro,[3] (2) when Ms. Breton pointed out David Alejandro knew and would be able to identify petitioner, the petitioner responded "That's why we're going to have to kill him,"[4] (3) petitioner solicited the assistance of two friends, i.e., petitioner's musical collaborator Doug Williams and another friend named Steven *792 Russell, to rob David Alejandro of electronic equipment located at David Alejandro's recording studio,[5] (4) on the evening in question, petitioner, Doug Williams, and Steven Russell drove multiple vehicles to David Alejandro's recording studio and spent some time doing recording work with David Alejandro for petitioner's and Doug Williams' rap group "TRUE PLAYERS LIVIN SICK,"[6] (5) petitioner approached David Alejandro from behind, grabbed David Alejandro's hair and sliced across the front of David Alejandro's neck from ear to ear with a knife petitioner had brought with him,[7] (6) Steven Russell then stabbed David Alejandro many times with both a knife Steven Russell had brought with him, as well as petitioner's knife,[8] (7) petitioner covered David Alejandro's body with a bed sheet petitioner had brought from his home,[9] (8) petitioner then washed the blood off his hands and assisted Steven Russell in placing many items of David Alejandro's property into a pair of black bags petitioner had purchased for this purpose and loaded the bags and many other items of electronic equipment from David Alejandro's studio into the vehicles they had driven to the scene that evening,[10] (11) petitioner and Steven Russell made so much noise moving David Alejandro's equipment to their vans parked outside the recording studio they drew the attention of several residents of a nearby apartment complex, who telephoned the police,[11] and (12) when police arrived at the scene, petitioner and his two accomplices all successfully fled the scene on foot, leaving behind their vehicles loaded with David Alejandro's equipment.[12]
On June 1, 1999, a Bexar County grand jury indicted petitioner in cause no. 1999-CR-2645-A on a charge of capital murder: intentionally causing the death of David Alejandro by stabbing him with a deadly weapon, i.e., a knife, while in the course of committing and attempting to commit the offense of robbing David Alejandro.[13]
The guilt innocence phase of petitioner's capital murder trial began on January 11, 2000.
In addition to the facts summarized above, the jury heard evidence from the prosecution which established: (1) the many items of electronic equipment and other property found by police inside the vehicles driven to the crime scene by petitioner and his accomplices belonged to David Alejandro,[14] (2) the two minivans police found parked outside David Alejandro's recording studio loaded with David Alejandro's equipment were registered to petitioner's parents and Steven Russell's parents,[15] (3) a few days before the murder, petitioner purchased the pair of large duffel bags police found filled with David Alejandro's property inside the minivans,[16] (4) the steering columns of the two minivans were in tact and there was no sign either vehicle had been stolen,[17] (5) petitioner's fingerprints were found on items of electronic equipment found inside the minivans, on the exterior of one of the minivans, and on a soft drink can found near David Alejandro's body,[18] (6) petitioner could not be excluded as a possible source of the DNA found in a sample of saliva found on the parking lot adjacent to *794 one of the minivans and on blood stains found on various items found in the minivans and inside David Alejandro's studio,[19] and (7) David Alejandro died from exsanguination, i.e., bleeding to death, as a result of having suffered multiple stab wounds (totaling twenty-five in number), several of which could have proven fatal independently of the others.[20]
After the prosecution rested, the defense called one witness, a San Antonio Police officer who had previously mentioned in his trial testimony that he had sketched the exterior crime scene, i.e., the parking lot outside David Alejandro's studio, who now testified he could no longer locate his sketch of the exterior of the crime scene.[21] The defense then rested and both sides closed.
On January 18, 2000, after deliberating less than ninety minutes, the jury returned its verdict, finding petitioner guilty of capital murder beyond a reasonable doubt.[22]
The punishment phase of petitioner's capital murder trial began on the same day the jury returned its verdict at the guilt-innocence phase of trial.
The prosecution presented witnesses who testified: (1) petitioner had been found in possession of marijuana while on school property,[23] (2) petitioner was sent to an alternative campus and later expelled,[24] (3) on March 20, 1997, petitioner was observed driving 62 mph in a 45 mph zone and, when a police officer attempted to pull over the vehicle petitioner was driving without a driver's license, petitioner led the officer on a high speed chase which reached speeds exceeding ninety miles per hour and which did not end until petitioner crashed his vehicle on a set of railroad tracks,[25] (4) on November 23, 1998, just days before David Alejandro's murder, an off-duty San Antonio Police robbery detective spotted petitioner, who appeared to be serving as a lookout for a burglary, and when the officer approached and identified himself as a law enforcement officer, the petitioner charged, repeatedly struck and *795 assaulted the officer with sufficient ferocity the officer felt compelled to throw his handgun away until he could establish control over petitioner,[26] (5) petitioner's fingerprint was found on the exterior of a rear window, inside the backyard, of the residence where petitioner had been spotted by the officer petitioner assaulted,[27] and (6) David Alejandro was a music composer and singer who gave many other artists a chance when they were just beginning their careers.[28]
Petitioner's trial counsel called several character witnesses, including petitioner's parents and pastor and a Bexar County Adult Detention Center classification officer who testified: (1) petitioner was a very smart young man, a natural leader, who since his arrest had begun to listen to spiritual things, to align himself with Christ and make frequent contact with his family's congregation,[29] (2) petitioner's family had moved frequently during petitioner's childhood and petitioner's father, a recently retired member of the United States Air Force, had been away from the family during petitioner's formative years,[30] (3) an exceptionally talented student in California, upon moving to San Antonio in 1993, petitioner became depressed when he was placed in remedial classes,[31] (4) upon his arrival in San Antonio, petitioner was harassed at school for his style of clothing,[32] (5) petitioner was a caring person who had simply fallen in with the wrong group of individuals who led petitioner astray,[33] (6) since his arrest, petitioner had undergone a transformation, matured a lot, and gotten God into his heart,[34] (7) petitioner was the "baby" of his family, who loved him very much, (8) petitioner had not caused any problems at the BCADC, was always very respectful and soft-spoken, and could handle life in the general jail population,[35] (9) as a child, petitioner had been an exceptionally talented student who participated in football and basketball,[36] (10) petitioner's problems began when the family moved to San Antonio and petitioner was no longer challenged by his school work,[37] (11) God was now in petitioner's life,[38] (12) petitioner was closest to his father and, had his father not been away from home, petitioner would never have gotten into trouble,[39] and (13) petitioner came from a loving family.[40]
Dr. John C. Sparks testified: (1) he had evaluated petitioner for competence and *796 sanity, (2) petitioner was at least average intellectually and communicated clearly, (2) petitioner reported alcohol and marijuana use, (3) petitioner appeared to be a moderately immature young man, (4) nothing in petitioner's jail records indicated any problems with other inmates, (5) petitioner had become very religious while in jail, (6) petitioner reported having suicidal thoughts since age 14, which Dr. Sparks ascribed to petitioner's inability to handle stress, (7) petitioner did not appear to have engaged in aggressive behavior while in jail, (8) young adults are much more impulsive and aggressive toward others and less so when they reach their mid-twenties and later years, (9) generally, aggressiveness tends to decline as people grow older, and (10) other than petitioner's criminal offense, Dr. Sparks found no indication of aggressiveness in petitioner's background.[41]
Petitioner's trial counsel then called petitioner to testify and the following exchange occurred:
Q. Mr. Jasper, you're obviously Ray, you've been through this whole trial with the rest of us and you've seen the evidence, and I think you have something you want to tell the Alejandro family; is that right?
A. Yes. First, I want to make, first and foremost, the point: This is not a plea about my case or about the verdict that's been given already. I just want you to know personally that I did not kill David Alejandro. And that's all I wanted to say to you.
I'm very sorry. I knew David. I knew him for quite some time. He was probably one of the nicest people I ever met in my life. And I just wanted to let you know that I know you suffered a great loss, but that man did not die in my hands. He was brutally murdered; stabbed twenty-five times. I'm not a killer. And I didn't do it.
MR. COLLINS: I'm going to pass the witness at this time.
MR. MULLINER: I have no questions.[42]
After the defense rested and the prosecution closed, petitioner's trial counsel were permitted to recall petitioner to the stand, at which time the following transpired:
BY MR. REECE:
Q. Mr. Jasper, you had testified earlier. You spoke to the victim's family. What exactly did you mean by the fact that you didn't kill their son?
A. Means I didn't kill him. How simple can it be. I did not kill him.
Q. Would you tell the jury exactly what your involvement was.
A. I was there. I witnessed a brutal murder. I witnessed a man getting stabbed twenty-five times, a man that I knew.
Q. And who did you see stab him?
A. Steve Russell.
Q. Okay. And you made a statement to the effect that you basically sliced his throat; is that correct?
A. Yes.
Q. All right. Is that, in fact, what happened?
A. No.
Q. Why did you put that in your statement?
*797 A. Read the letter written from Steve Russell to me and you'll see why.
MR. MULLINER: Objection, nonresponsive.
THE COURT: Sustained.
Q. (By Mr. Reece) Tell usyou need to tell the jury in response to my question.
A. Are you my defense lawyer? What are you doing? Are you my defense lawyer?
THE COURT: Mr. Jasper, listen to me, sir. Your job up there is to answer questions with your lawyers, and those lawyers, and nothing more. You're not here to ask questions. Go ahead, Mr. Reece.
Q. (By Mr. Reece) I'll repeat the question, Mr. Jasper. What exactly was your role in this offense?
A. I told you. I was there.
MR. REECE: Pass the witness.
CROSS EXAMINATION
BY MR. MULLINER:
Q. Did you review the letter from Steven Russell to you in preparation for your testimony today?
A. No.
Q. When is the last time you read it?
A. I haven't read it since I got it.
Q. Where is it located.
A. With my lawyer.
Q. Where were you when you received it?
A. In jail.
MR. MULLINER: May I see the letter?
THE COURT: Show him the letter.
(Document proffered to counsel.)
Q. (By Mr. Mulliner) Christina Breton is the mother of your child, right?
A. Yes. she is.
Q. She visited you on Christmas Day, right?
A. She may have. She visits me often. I'm not sure. Which Christmas day are you talking about?
Q. If the records reflect that she visited you on Christmas day, you wouldn't dispute that, would you?
A. '98 or '99?
Q. '99.
A. I wouldn't doubt it. It may have happened. I'm not sure.
Q. She comes and sees you two or three times or more, week after week after week after week; doesn't she?
A. Yes, she does.
Q. She told this jury that you told her that you hurt David Alejandro with a knife.
A. Uh-huh.
Q. Why is she lying to this jury about the father of her child, who is up on capital murder charges facing death, that she visits every week, why is she trying to harm you with her testimony by saying something that's not true?
A. I believe that question should be directed towards her.
Q. Well, I'm directing it towards you.
A. I can't answer for her.
Q. You planned his death, didn't you?
A. Yes.
Q. If Steve Russell had never met you in his life, if your paths had never crossed, Steve Russell would have never caused these injuries to David Alejandro, would he?
A. That's hypothetical.
Q. Steve didn't record with David, did he?
A. Not to my knowledge. No.
Q. You're the one who knew David
A. Yes.
*798 Q. not Steve. You're the one who knew David had stuff that might be valuable
A. Uh-huh.
Q. not Steve, right?
A. True.
Q. And Doug's not the knife man?
A. No he's not. He had no part in it, no part in nothing.
Q. Let's talk morally. Taking that into consideration, you are the person that killed David Alejandro, regardless of what the Doctor said, aren't you, Mr. Jasper?
A. No, I'm not. Action and thought are two different things. If I think right now to run over there and grab the officer's gun and shoot everybody in here, that's thought. If I go over there and do it, that's an action. That's two different things.
Q. Let me ask you. Did you have the thought?
A. A thought of what?
Q. Did you think about grabbing the officer's gun and shooting everyone in here?
A. No, sir.
Q. How did you say it if you didn't think it first?
A. It just popped in my mind.
MR. MULLINER: Okay. I have no further questions.
REDIRECT EXAMINATION
BY MR. REECE:
Q. Ray, is there anything that you wanted to say to your parents?
A. Yes.
Q. What is that?
A. My mother is not here. But to my sister, I used to follow you around.
Take care of Chenelle. Make sure my daughter and her are close.
(Witness crying.)
A. To my father, you gave me your name. I'm sorry I brought this humiliation to your name, this embarrassment. And my mom, y'all are great parents. I love you with all my heart. Just know that everything will be all right. Everything will work out for the good.
Tell Christina that I'm sorry I let her down and I can't help her raise my daughter. And tell my brother to keep striving. Tell him I love him.
Regardless of what happens, y'all know me. These people in this courtroom don't know me. Y'all know me. And the Lord knows me. They don't. They read in the papers manipulating lies. My lawyers's not defending me, insufficient counsel on me. The D.A. has done a good job
THE COURT: Ask another question. Let's go.
MR. REECE: Pass the witness.
MR. MULLINER: I have no further questions.
THE COURT: Step down, Mr. Jasper.[43]
On January 20, 2000, after deliberating less than three hours, petitioner's jury returned its verdict at the punishment phase of trial finding: (1) beyond a reasonable doubt there was a probability the petitioner would commit criminal acts of violence that would constitute a continuing threat to society, (2) beyond a reasonable doubt the petitioner actually caused the death of the deceased or, if he did not cause the death of the deceased, petitioner intended to kill the deceased or another or anticipated that a human life would be taken, and (3) taking into consideration all of the evidence, including the circumstances of the offense, the petitioner's character, background, and personal moral culpability, there were insufficient mitigating circumstances *799 to warrant that a sentence of life imprisonment be imposed rather than a death sentence.[44]
Petitioner appealed.[45] The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals issued its opinion affirming petitioner's conviction and sentence on November 28, 2001. Jasper v. State, 61 S.W.3d 413 (Tex.Crim.App.2001). Petitioner did not thereafter seek certiorari review from the United States Supreme Court.
Petitioner filed an application for state habeas corpus relief on September 4, 2001, raising more than thirty claims, including a multi-faceted assertion of ineffective assistance by his trial counsel.[46]
The state habeas trial court held an evidentiary hearing on May 18, 2005. Petitioner's trial counsel testified during that hearing as follows: (1) they had not advised petitioner to testify at either phase of trial but, rather, had explained to petitioner his right to testify if he wished to do so, (2) petitioner's repeated denials of any responsibility for the death of David Alejandro came as a surprise to them because that was not what they had discussed with petitioner prior to petitioner taking the stand, (3) petitioner's punishment phase testimony hurt the petitioner's chances for obtaining a life, sentence, (4) they went over petitioner's written statement to police with petitioner and he never asserted to them there were any factual errors in said statement, (5) they discussed with petitioner his right to testify and counseled petitioner about the pitfalls of testifying on his own behalf, and (6) in hindsight, it would have been better if petitioner had not testified.[47]
*800 Petitioner testified during the same hearing, in pertinent part, that: (1) he learned about the Texas law of parties during voir dire, (2) he did not believe he was legally or morally-responsible for the death of David Alejandro because he did not deliver the fatal injury, (3) he sliced David Alejandro's neck during the course of a robbery, (4) David Alejandro was killed in the course of a robbery in which he participated, (5) his assault upon David Alejandro was intended to assist in the same robbery, (6) he was unhappy the prosecution had made it sound at trial as if he were the killer when Steven Russell actually delivered the fatal injury, and (7) he did not tell his trial counsel what he was going to say before he took the stand at trial and denied any responsibility for David Alejandro's murder.[48]
Petitioner's parents testified during the state habeas hearing that, had they been permitted to do so, they would have testified at the punishment phase of petitioner's capital murder trial that: (1) petitioner was not a murderer, (2) it was a teacher's fault petitioner dropped out of school, (3) petitioner was a "typical boy" who simply "got mixed up," and (4) their son was not guilty of murder because "he's not that type of person."[49]
In an Order issued October 11, 2007, the state habeas trial court concluded petitioner had not satisfied the standard for establishing ineffective assistance by petitioner's trial counsel and recommended denial of petitioner's state habeas corpus application.[50] In an unpublished Order issued August 20, 2008, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals denied petitioner's state habeas corpus application based on the trial court's findings and conclusions. Ex parte Jasper, WR-68,832-01, 2008 WL 3855114 (Tex.Crim.App. Aug. 20, 2008).
On July 31, 2009, petitioner filed his federal habeas corpus petition herein, asserting fourteen claims for relief. Docket entry no. 10. Respondent filed his answer on November 19, 2009. Docket entry no. 14. Petitioner filed a reply on February 12, 2010. Docket entry no. 18.
Because petitioner filed his federal habeas corpus action after the effective date of the AEDPA, this Court's review of petitioner's claims for federal habeas corpus relief is governed by the AEDPA. Penry v. Johnson, 532 U.S. 782, 792, 121 S. Ct. 1910, 1918, 150 L. Ed. 2d 9 (2001). Under the AEDPA standard of review, this Court cannot grant petitioner federal habeas corpus relief in this cause in connection with any claim that was adjudicated on the merits in state court proceedings, unless the adjudication of that claim either: (1) resulted in a decision that 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) resulted in a decision that was based on an unreasonable determination of the facts in light of *801 the evidence presented in the state court proceeding. Brown v. Payton, 544 U.S. 133, 141, 125 S. Ct. 1432, 1438, 161 L. Ed. 2d 334 (2005); Williams v. Taylor, 529 U.S. 362, 404-05, 120 S. Ct. 1495, 1519, 146 L. Ed. 2d 389 (2000); 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d).
The Supreme Court has concluded the "contrary to" and "unreasonable application" clauses of Title 28 U.S.C. Section 2254(d)(1) have independent meanings. Bell v. Cone, 535 U.S. 685, 694, 122 S. Ct. 1843, 1850, 152 L. Ed. 2d 914 (2002). Under the "contrary to" clause, a federal habeas court may grant relief if: (1) the state court arrives at a conclusion opposite to that reached by the Supreme Court on a question of law or (2) the state court decides a case differently than the Supreme Court on a set of materially indistinguishable facts. Brown v. Payton, 544 U.S. at 141, 125 S.Ct. at 1438; Mitchell v. Esparza, 540 U.S. 12, 15-16, 124 S. Ct. 7, 10, 157 L. Ed. 2d 263 (2003) ("A state court's decision is `contrary to' our clearly established law if it `applies a rule that contradicts the governing law set forth in our cases' or it `confronts a set of facts that are materially indistinguishable from a decision of this Court and nevertheless arrives at a result different from our precedent.'"). A state court's failure to cite governing Supreme Court authority does not, per se, establish the state court's decision is "contrary to" clearly established federal law: "the state court need not even be aware of our precedents, `so long as neither the reasoning nor the result of the state-court decisions contradicts them.'" Mitchell v. Esparza, 540 U.S. at 16, 124 S.Ct. at 10.
Under the "unreasonable application" clause, a federal habeas court may grant 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 of the petitioner's case. Brown v. Payton, 544 U.S. at 141, 125 S.Ct. at 1439; Wiggins v. Smith, 539 U.S. 510, 520, 123 S. Ct. 2527, 2534-35, 156 L. Ed. 2d 471 (2003). A federal court making the "unreasonable application" inquiry should ask whether the state court's application of clearly established federal law was "objectively unreasonable." McDaniel v. Brown, ___ U.S. ____, 130 S. Ct. 665, 673, 175 L. Ed. 2d 582 (2010) ("A federal habeas court can only set aside a state-court decision as `an unreasonable application of . . . clearly established Federal law,' § 2254(d)(1), if the state court's application of that law is `objectively unreasonable.'"); Wiggins v. Smith, 539 U.S. at 520-21, 123 S.Ct. at 2535. The focus of this inquiry is on whether the state court's application of clearly established federal law was objectively unreasonable; an "unreasonable" application is different from a merely "incorrect" one. Schriro v. Landrigan, 550 U.S. 465, 473, 127 S. Ct. 1933, 1939, 167 L. Ed. 2d 836 (2007) ("The question under the AEDPA is not whether a federal court believes the state court's determination was incorrect but whether that determination was unreasonable-a substantially higher threshold."); Wiggins v. Smith, 539 U.S. at 520, 123 S.Ct. at 2535; Price v. Vincent, 538 U.S. 634, 641, 123 S. Ct. 1848, 1853, 155 L. Ed. 2d 877 (2003) ("it is the habeas applicant's burden to show that the state court applied that case to the facts of his case in an objectively unreasonable manner").
Legal principles are "clearly established" for purposes of AEDPA review when the holdings, as opposed to the dicta, of Supreme Court decisions as of the time of the relevant state court decision establish those principles. Yarborough v. Alvarado, 541 U.S. 652, 660-61, 124 S. Ct. 2140, 2147, 158 L. Ed. 2d 938 (2004) ("We look for `the governing legal principle or principles set forth by the Supreme Court at the time the state court renders its decision.'"); *802 Lockyer v. Andrade, 538 U.S. 63, 71-72, 123 S. Ct. 1166, 1172, 155 L. Ed. 2d 144 (2003).
The AEDPA also significantly restricts the scope of federal habeas review of state court fact findings. Section 2254(d)(2) of Title 28, United States Code provides federal habeas relief may not be granted on any claim that was adjudicated on the merits in the state courts unless the state court's adjudication of the claim resulted in a decision based on an unreasonable determination of the facts in light of the evidence presented in the state court proceeding. Wood v. Allen, ___ U.S. ____, 130 S. Ct. 841, 849, 175 L. Ed. 2d 738 (2010) ("[A] state-court factual determination is not unreasonable merely because the federal habeas court would have reached a different conclusion in the first instance."); Williams v. Taylor, 529 U.S. at 410, 120 S.Ct. at 1522 ("[A]n unreasonable application, of federal law is different from an incorrect application of federal law."). Even if reasonable minds reviewing the record might disagree about the factual finding in question (or the implicit credibility determination underlying the factual finding), on habeas review, this does not suffice to supersede the trial court's factual determination. Wood v. Allen, ___ U.S. at ____, 130 S.Ct. at 849; Rice v. Collins, 546 U.S. 333, 341-42, 126 S. Ct. 969, 976, 163 L. Ed. 2d 824 (2006).
In addition, Section 2254(e)(1) provides a petitioner challenging state court factual findings must establish by clear and convincing evidence the state court's findings were erroneous. Schriro v. Landrigan, 550 U.S. at 473-74, 127 S.Ct. at 1939-40 ("AEDPA also requires federal habeas courts to presume the correctness of state courts' factual findings unless applicants rebut this presumption with `clear and convincing evidence.'"); Rice v. Collins, 546 U.S. 333, 338-39, 126 S. Ct. 969, 974, 163 L. Ed. 2d 824 (2006) ("State-court factual findings, moreover, are presumed correct; the petitioner has the burden of rebutting the presumption by `clear and convincing evidence.'"); Miller-El v. Dretke, 545 U.S. 231, 240, 125 S. Ct. 2317, 2325, 162 L. Ed. 2d 196 (2005) ("[W]e presume the Texas court's factual findings to be sound unless Miller-El rebuts the `presumption of correctness by clear and convincing evidence.'"); 28 U.S.C. § 2254(e)(1). It remains unclear at this time whether Section 2254(e)(1) applies in every case presenting a challenge to a state court's factual findings under Section 2254(d)(2). See Wood v. Allen, ___ U.S. at ____, 130 S.Ct. at 849 (choosing not to resolve the issue of Section 2254(e)(1)'s possible application to all challenges to a state court's factual findings); Rice v. Collins, 546 U.S. at 339, 126 S.Ct. at 974 (likewise refusing to resolve the Circuit split regarding the application of Section 2254(e)(1)).
However, the deference to which state-court factual findings are entitled under the AEDPA does not imply an abandonment or abdication of federal judicial review. See Miller-El v. Dretke, 545 U.S. at 240, 125 S.Ct. at 2325 (the standard is "demanding but not insatiable"); Miller-El v. Cockrell, 537 U.S. 322, 340, 123 S. Ct. 1029, 1041, 154 L. Ed. 2d 931 (2003) ("Even in the context of federal habeas, deference does not imply abandonment or abdication of judicial review. Deference does not by definition preclude relief.").
In this Circuit, a federal habeas court reviewing a state court's rejection on the merits of a claim for relief pursuant to the AEDPA must focus exclusively on the propriety of the ultimate decision reached by the state court and not evaluate the quality, or lack thereof, of the state court's written opinion supporting its decision. See St. Aubin v. Quarterman, 470 F.3d 1096, 1100 (5th Cir.2006) (holding Section 2254(d) permits a federal habeas court to *803 review only a state court's decision and not the written opinion explaining that decision), cert, denied, 550 U.S. 921, 127 S. Ct. 2133, 167 L. Ed. 2d 869 (2007); Amador v. Quarterman, 458 F.3d 397, 410 (5th Cir. 2006) (holding the same), cert, denied, 550 U.S. 920, 127 S. Ct. 2129, 167 L. Ed. 2d 869 (2007); Pondexter v. Dretke, 346 F.3d 142, 148 (5th Cir.2003) (holding the precise question before a federal habeas court in reviewing a state court's rejection on the merits of an ineffective assistance claim is whether the state court's ultimate conclusion was objectively reasonable), cert, denied, 541 U.S. 1045, 124 S. Ct. 2160, 158 L. Ed. 2d 736 (2004); Anderson v. Johnson, 338 F.3d 382, 390 (5th Cir.2003) (holding a federal habeas court reviews only a state court's decision and not the opinion explaining that decision); Neal v. Puckett, 286 F.3d 230, 246 (5th Cir.2002) (en banc) (holding a federal court is authorized by § 2254 (d) to review only a state court's decision and not the written opinion explaining that decision), cert, denied, 537 U.S. 1104, 123 S. Ct. 963, 154 L. Ed. 2d 772 (2003).
In his first claim, petitioner argues his constitutional rights recognized in the Supreme Court's holding in Batson v. Kentucky were violated when the prosecution used a peremptory challenge to strike an African-American venire member named Vernon Galloway.[51]
As is often the case in complex litigation, petitioner's venire members were each presented with a lengthy written questionnaire which they completed. Counsel for all parties and the state trial court reviewed the questionnaire answers with the venire members during the subsequent individual voir dire of the venire panel members. For unknown reasons, petitioner's state appellate counsel did not designate the venire members' questionnaires as part of the record on direct appeal.[52]
The individual voir dire of venire member Vernon Galloway took place on November 30, 1999.[53]
After offering a brief summary of the Texas capital sentencing special issues, the prosecutor began focusing on Mr. Galloway's questionnaire answers:
Q. Okay. And with that in mind, I'd like to first draw your attention todo you have a copy of your questionnaire?
A. Yes.
Q. To page three of your questionnaire. And the question reads: With reference to the death penalty, which of the following statements would best represent your feelings. And you indicated number six, which says: I believe the death penalty is appropriate in some cases, but I can never return a verdict which assesses the death penalty. Tell me a little bit about that question and your response to it and your feelings.
*804 A. Well, it's just that I can't play the role of God. I can't send nobody, you know, to death. But I understand that there's got to be some kind of law for it, but I don't think that I can be the one
Q. If I hear you correctly, what I hear you saying is that you understand society has the death penalty law in the books. You don't necessarily disagree with the need for such a law. If society has that law, you know, that may be something you could live with, but you personally could not be involved as one of twelve jurors who would ever answer those questions in such a way as a man's life would be taken. Is that correct?
A. I don't believe I can. But if I have to, I can make a decision. At this point in time I've never had toI don't knownot right now. But if I believe I had to, I could.
Q. Okay. And so you're saying would it be possible for you, if you were selected to sit as a juror in this case, could you answer those three punishment phase questions in such a way that you would know that the result of the way you answered those questions that a man would be sentenced to death? Would that be possible for you to answer them in that way?
A. Yes.
Q. And so, the way you responded to this question where you said I could never return a verdict which assess [sic] the death penalty, have your feelings changed or was this just a question that you didn't have an answer that really fit the way you feel?
A. Well, answer to that question there, during the time, I was nervous and I didn't fully understand some of it. And it was kind of a rush deal at the time.
Q. Okay. On page four of your questionnaire, there's a question. It's the second question from the top. It reads: Would you require the State to prove that a capital murder defendant had previously been in trouble with the law before you could assess the death penalty. And you indicated "yes." Tell me your thoughts on that question and your response.
A. Well, have [sic] he ever been in a lot of trouble before. What type of trouble. Are you constantly getting in trouble, like stabbing, shooting or something real violent.
Q. Okay.
A. Something like a petty theft, I don'tit all depends on what he was doing.
Q. Okay. Are you saying that unless somebody had a lot of those violent things in their past, that even if they were convicted of capital murder, if they had a clean past you could not assess the death penalty unless they had a bunch of violent stuff that came before it?
A. No, not necessarily. He wouldn't have to have nothing in the past, really. It all depends on the evidence and everything that comes out in the case there that whether it's intentionally [sic] or accidental.
Q. On page six, there's a couple of questions that say: Do you think the death penalty is ever misused. And you said "yes." And it says: Do you think the death penalty is used. And you put "too often." Could you tell me a little bit about what your thoughts were when you were answering those.
A. Well, in some occasions, cases that I have heard about, they didn't find out until later that the guy wascould have been innocent. They come up with this here new technique. And then the questions come in, could he or couldn't he. But it's too late.
*805 Q. Do you have a particular case in mind that you were thinking of or just in general?
A. Well, about a couple of months ago they were talking about a couple of cases on the job. And the guyit wasn'twell, I didn't know nothing about the cases, but they was [sic] explaining to me. The guy was supposed to be guilty, they found him guilty, but later on they had a deal that they come up with this DNA or something like that. They found out that it possibly wasn't him, couldn't have been the person.
Q. Okay. Page seven of your questionnaire, at the top. It says: What would be your greatest fear if you were selected to be a juror in a capital murder case. And you said "not having enough evidence." How much evidence would you require before you could find a defendant guilty of capital murder keep in mind
MR. REECE: Objection, Your Honor.
Q. (By Mr. Mulliner)that the burden of proof is beyond a reasonable doubt. What that means is that the standard of proof required means that you're never required to be one hundred percent certain of a defendant's guilt. You're never required to be absolutely certain or totally convinced, but simply that you don't have any doubts that are reasonable about a defendant's guilt before the law would give you the duty to find the defendant guilty. How do you feel about that burden of proof.
A. What I mean by that is that, I don't know how the case is going. If I can't ask what I want to ask, you know, I look to your side, look to his side, and if I don't get a chance to ask some questions, I don't thinkit's not enough evidence for me to anything [sic]. I mean, if I can't get my questions [sic].
Q. And what do you think would be the effect of it, if at the end of the case if you had some questions that you wanted one side or the other to ask, but nobody had asked them, what effect would that have?
A. If you asked me if I had any questions, I would respond. It means everything was really clear to me.
Q. And you understand, as a juror, you would not have the opportunity to ask any questions and you won't have an opportunity to tell either side what questions you would wish they might ask. If you had questions in your mind at the end of the case, nobody is going to know what they are. And so how do you think that would play out?
A. Well, I'd have to go and ask the rest of the jurors. I'd ask them what they think.
Q. Again on page seven, you were asked to agree or disagree with a statement. And I'm looking at the second one. It says capital murder is absolutely never justified. And you checked that you agreed with that, that capital murder is absolutely never justified. Do you think that capital murder with the death penalty being assessed is an unfair punishment, too harsh?
A. Well, in some cases I believe so.
Q. And when would it not be too harsh?
A. When you don't have enough evidence.
Q. Also on page seven, it says capital murder cannot be regarded as a sane method for dealing with crime. It's the one, two, three, fourfifth one down, and you checked that you agreed with that, that capital murder is not a sane way of dealing with crime.
A. Which one is it?
*806 Q. Let me show you. Right here. Capital punishment cannot be regarded as a sane method for dealing with crime. And you checked that you agreed with that. Can you tell me what your thoughts are on that.
A. First place. I really doesn't (sic) understand it.
Q. On page eight, it's the fifth one down. It says: Capital punishment is the most hideous practice of our time. And you were asked to agree or disagree with that. And you said that you agreed, that capital punishment is the most hideous practice of our time. Tell me your feelings about that.
A. That's the hardest crime there is, to me. I mean, it's either death or life. How much rougher can it be.
Q. You think that the State, having the ability to take a man's life, is a proper use of power by the State in a proper case?
A. Yeah.
Q. You indicated on page eleven that you do know somebody who has been in jail or prison or who is in jail or prison. What is the relationship between that person and you? Is it a neighbor or
A. A friend.
Q. It's a friend. Did you follow his case at the time that he was found guilty, whether it was a plea or a trial or whatever, were you
A. No.
Q. Do you know very much about the facts of the case or do you have an opinion as to whether his sentence was just or unjust.
A. Well, I believe it was just. He got caught stealing a car.
Q. Okay. And on page ten, if you go back one page, it says: If someone is accused of capital murder he should have to prove his innocence. And you said that you strongly agree.
Do you understand that people are presumed innocent by law and it is up to the State to prove that they're guilty. It is not up to a defendant to prove their innocence. Would you, nevertheless, require a defendant charged with capital murder to prove his innocence?
A. I believe people have to prove it strongly. I mean, that's just like if I walk out there and I start a fight, who are you going to believe? I mean, I've gotyou can say I hit this guy and I can say I didn't, you know, I'm innocent, that I know I didn't. But the guy said I did. So, I've got to prove that I didn't. I've got to strongly prove to you that I didn't.
Q. If you were a juror in this case, and the Judge will tell you that the defendant doesn't have any burden to prove his innocence. It is the State's burden to prove his guilt. But would you, nevertheless, expect a defendant charged with capital murder to take it upon himself or herself to prove to you, hey, I didn't do this?
A. Naw, that's up to the lawyers to do it. I mean, he won't be able to do it. It's up to his lawyers.
Q. But you would expect the defendant's lawyer to prove to you that he's not guilty?
A. Right.
Q. Even if the Judge says it's not their responsibility to give you that proof, it is our responsibility to give you the proof of his guilt?
A. He'd have to prove that's he's guilty, the same way.
Q. You were asked, I believe on page 24, 25 page 25, you were asked to respond to the question: My friends describe me as. And you put "crazy." Tell me in what way would your friends think that you're crazy.
A. I joke a lot.
*807 Q. If the defendant in a capital murder case was found guilty by the jury, and you were a member of that jury, and you were on the jury that now is considering the punishment phase, and you're to answer these three questions. And if you answered these three questions with a yes, and a yes, and a no, you're going to know that the result of that is going to be that the defendant is going to be sentenced to death. Could you, in a proper case, answer those three questions in such a way that a death penalty would be the result?
A. Yeah.[54]
After attempting to explain the State's burden of proving petitioner's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt,[55] petitioner's trial counsel continued his voir dire of Mr. Galloway as follows:
Q. Okay. And it is not beyond all doubt. It's just beyond a reasonable doubt.
A. I understand.
Q. They might bring you evidence a particular defendant has made a confession. That would be pretty good evidence, wouldn't you agree?
A. Right.
Q. Provided you think the confession was voluntary. The point is, in an appropriate case you could find the defendant guilty if the State met its burden and proved his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt; could you not?
A. Yes.
Q. And in an appropriate case you could answer the questions in such a way that would result in the death penalty being pronounced; could you not? I mean, if the evidence was there, you could answer the questions in such a way that the defendant would get the death penalty; could you not?
A. If I felt there was enough evidence.
Q. Okay. And do you think that you could give both the State and Defense both a fair trial?
A. Yes, I know I can.
Q. Now, I just happened to notice, and you probably noticed too, that the defendant in this case is Black. And you happen to be the only Black jury member in the entire panel. Would the fact that the defendant is Black cause you to treat him any differently
MR. MULLINER: I object to that as being untrue. He is not the only
THE COURT: Sustained. It has nothing to do with this case. Go ahead Mr. Reece.
Q. (By Mr. Reece) Would the fact that the defendant is Black, would that cause you to accord him any more bias or sympathy in his favor if he were White or Hispanic?
MR. MULLINER: I object to the question.
THE COURT: Sustained.
MR. MULLINER: I'd asked that the respective juror be instructed to disregard the question.
THE COURT: It's denied. Go ahead.
Q. (By Mr. Reece) You can think of no reason why, whatsoever that you could not be fair and impartial; is that correct?
A. Huh-Huh.
Q. You wouldn't let anything influence your decision other than the evidence in the case; is that correct?
*808 A. Right.
Q. Okay. And in an appropriate case you could return a verdict that would result in the death of the defendant, is that correct?
A. If we voted that way, yeah.
Q. I'm sorry?
A. If we voted that way, yeah.
Q. And you heard the State ask you in the questionnaire something to the effect, you made the statement that, you said, I agree that capital punishment is the most hideous practice of our time.
You indicated that you didn't understand some of the questions and you were in a hurry to answer them; is that correct?
A. Right.
Q. Okay. Just so the record is crystal clear on this point, you have no hesitation in assessing capital punishment in an appropriate case; is that correct? Whatever feelings you might have, you think sometimes it's justified; is that correct?
A. Right.
Q. It just depends on the evidence, doesn't it?
A. Depends on the evidence.
Q. And so in your questionnaire you're saying that you answered that because you didn't really understand the question; is that right?
A. (Moving head up and down).
Q. You also answered in your questionnaire that sometimes capital punishment gives the criminal what he deserves; is that correct? Sometimes he deserves it?
A. Right.
Q. And you do agree with that; is that correct?
A. Yes.
Q. And you also indicated in your questionnaire that we must have capital punishment for some crimes; is that correct?
A. True.
Q. And you agree with that, is that right? Now, you also said that capital punishment is wrong but it is necessary in our imperfect civilization. You said you agreed with that. But again, you also said you were confused when you made the answers; is that correct?
A. Right.
Q. So you would agree for the record then that sometimes capital punishment is not wrong. It is exactly what's needed. It just depends on the evidence; is that correct?
A. Right.
Q. Okay. And in your questionnaire the prosecutor asked you what you meant when you said that I agree with the statement that capital punishment cannot be regarded as a sane method for dealing with crime. Again, you indicated to him that you were in a hurry, you didn't really understand?
A. Didn't understand.
Q. You would agree then that capital punishment can be a sane method for dealing with crime. Once again, it depends on the evidence in the case; is that right?
A. I can'tI believe so, yes.
Q. And you said in your questionnaire, you said that you agreed that capital punishment is absolutely never justified. But, again, you indicated that you didn't understand, because you told both the prosecutor and me that sometimes capital punishment is justified. Is that correct?
A. Right.
Q. You don't have anything against the death penalty, do you?
A. No, not really.
*809 Q. Okay. And you also said that you agreed that capital punishment is sometimes the best preventative to crime; is that correct? If you killed somebody, they can't commit crime; is that correct?
A. Repeat that.
Q. That's on page seven of your questionnaire. I believe you stated that you agreed that capital punishment may be wrong but it is the best preventative to crime. You agree that sometimes it is the best preventative; is that right?
A. Right.
Q. So, as you look at the prosecutors and as you look at the defense lawyer, and as you look at the Judge, you can tell all of us that if you're selected to sit on the jury, if you take an oath to follow the law, that you would have no hesitation whatsoever in imposing the death penalty, if the State proved the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. And if they satisfied the burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt to the first two questions, and the third question you were convinced that there were no mitigating evidence, you could, in fact, vote for the imposition of the death penalty, if the evidence was there. Is that correct?
A. Right.
MR. REECE: I have no further questions.[56]
After the prosecutor asked Mr. Galloway a question about aircraft engines, counsel for both parties indicated they had no further questions.[57] Thereupon, the following occurred:
MR. MULLINER: Yes, Judge, we exercise the challenge.
THE COURT: Mr. Galloway, you are excused from jury duty. Thank you very much for your time, sir.
[Prospective juror excused.]
MR. REECE: Your Honor, I justat this portion I just want the record to reflect
MR. MULLINER: Just wait. (Pause.)
THE COURT: First of all, assuming you're going to do a Batson challenge. You're supposed to do that before I excuse the juror, but go ahead. The juror has already been excused, but go ahead, Mr. Reece.
MR. REECE:in regard to that, we can bring him back in. I just
THE COURT: I already excused the juror. I waited for you and you didn't I looked at you and you didn't say anything. I excused the juror, but go right ahead.
MR. REECE: I wanted the record to reflect, Your Honor, that the State has excused one hundred percent of the Blacks, from our personal list, array.
THE COURT: There's no evidence of that. I beg your pardon. Where's the evidence of that?
MR. REECE: When they brought the jury panel in
THE COURT: I'm sorry, but I don't have any evidence of that.
MR. REECE: Well, we can produce testimony.
THE COURT: Before you do so, you need to produce that, but go ahead. There's no evidence of that.
MR. REECE: Okay. I would ask the Court to notice that the
THE COURT: I will notice that Mr. Galloway was African American.
*810 MR. REECE: Okay.
THE COURT: Go ahead.
MR. REECE: And I would ask the Court to notice that thethat Mr. Galloway answered that he could impose the death penalty. He seemed like a very strong pro-State juror and I would ask the court to require the prosecutor to present some racially neutral reasons for
THE COURT: I think the proper thing is that you can question them, if you'd like. Would you like to question them?
MR. REECE: Sure.
THE COURT: Mr. Mulliner, would you raise your hand?
MR. MULLINER: I respectfully object to being questioned unless the proper predicate has been laid under Batson. And it has not.
THE COURT: Raise your hand, Mr. Mulliner.
(Counsel sworn in.)
THE COURT: Go ahead.
MR. REECE: Question him from here?
THE COURT: Yes, sir.
having being [sic] first duly sworn, testified as follows:
DIRECT EXAMINATION
Q. Mr. Mulliner, is it your testimony that there was some other Black venireperson on the jury other than Mr. Galloway?
A. At a minimum there's
THE COURT: Let's get to the issue of why he Struck him. That's the whole point of this. Whether there's fifty other Blacks or none, that's not the issue at this point, because you haven't proven anything along those lines.
Q. (By Mr. Reece) Okay. You heard the response to the questions propounded from you to Mr. Galloway and you heard the response to his questions propounded by the defense. Would you please state for the record exactly what it was that caused you to exercise your peremptory challenge with respect to Mr. Galloway.
A. It was, firstly, his responses to the questionnaire, which was, I put a great deal of weight on a person's first impression. And with regard to Mr. Galloway's first impression, I principally relied upon his response to the question on page three, where he answered to number six, which says: I believe the death penalty is appropriate.
And I believe Mr. Galloway believes that the death penalty is appropriate in some murder cases. "But I can never, return a verdict which addressed the death penalty."
Furthermore I relied on his response to the question on page four, which says that he would require the State to prove that a capital murder defendant previously had been in trouble with the law before he could assess the death penalty. He indicated, yes, that's how he felt.
Additionally, his responses to two questions on page six, where he indicated, yes, he does think the death penalty is misused, and he does think the death penalty is used too often.
To his response on page seven where he indicated he agrees that capital punishment is absolutely never justified. Where he agrees that capital punishment cannot be regarded as a sane method for dealing with crime. He agrees that capital punishment has never been effective in preventing crime.
On page eight, he agrees that capital punishment is the most hideous practice of our time.
On page nine, where he indicated that he's uncertain whether or not he trust *811 [sic] the criminal justice system in Bexar County, San Antonio, Texas.
Having heard his explanation about knowing someone who is in jail or prison, I did not place any emphasis on his response to the questions on page eleven. I was more than satisfied that that would not cause him to be bias [sic] the law that may favor the State in this case.
Q. Is that it?
A. No. On his response to the question on page twenty-five, where he. indicated that "his best friends describe me as crazy." I did not care for that response. It was somewhat tempered by his explanation, but it still left me feeling a little bit unsettled in terms of the decorum I would want to have on a jury in this case.
I took a note of his gold-hoop earring, which in and of itself, was not a determinant factor, but weighed into my decision. He's a fifty-two year old aged male, and wearing a gold-hoop earring, that's a little bita statistician would say that that's kind of an outline or an outlier. It's not the norm. I'm not interested in having jurors that are outliers of the norm, if it's possible.
Additionally, I took note of the fact that with regard to your questioning about him being the only Black juror, and your statement about himwhich for the record I believe is incorrect that he is the only prospective Black juror, and that your client is Black, I thought that was an inappropriate and objectionable comment. And the fact that it has been stated and it's out there, I didn't like that. In terms of the implied pressure that could bring to bear on him. Pressure that shouldn't be there, if questioning would have pursued [sic] appropriately and unobjectionably (sic).
And in your questioning of him, you were talking to him about the question that appears on page seven. You asked him about this question: Capital punishment cannot be regarded as a sane method for dealing with crime. You said, do you think that it is a sane method of dealing with crime. He said, "Oh, I can't"and then there was something at that moment in his mannerisms that suggested to me that he still does not believe that it is a sane way of dealing with crime. It was his demeanor at that moment that I'm referring to.
But I said the words that he stated, so that on the record, the reviewing court will know the point and time I'm referring to his mannerisms.
And then you asked him if he had anything against the death penalty. He said "no, not really."
And the "not really" part would receive the only line from me as, and implies thatwas something that I took note of.
I think that would be the factors that entered into my mind at the time that I made a decision to exercise a preempt.
MR. REECE: May I proceed?
THE COURT: Yes, sir. Still your witness.
Q. (By Mr. Reece) Now you said that you placed all of those [sic] reliance on the questionnaire, but you heard him answer a lot of the indications that you just said now may even be favorable to the State. You said that he didn't understand everything in the questionnaire and he was in a hurry of [sic] filling it out. Did you hear that?
A. I heard it and I also know to be the case that he was not made to be in a hurry to fill it out. If he felt hurried to fill it out, that was something that he the time constraint was artificial and he imposed it upon himself. And if he did not take the time to fully consider and give thoughtful reflectful (sic) answers *812 to these questions. That's just one more thing that enters into my mind. No one gave him a time limit.
In fact, I'm aware of the fact that one juror was here until well past 2:00 in the afternoon, having received the questionnaires early in the morning. No one said you have to have them turned in by a certain time.
Q. And you also heard him give very cogent responsive answers to the questions that were propounded by both yourself and myself; is that correct?
A. I heard him give answers.
Q. And he appeared to understand the questions, did he not?
THE COURT: What's that got to do with it?
MR. REECE: I guess, Your Honor
THE COURT: How are you getting to a racially or nonracial reason?
MR. REECE: I'll move along.
Q. (By Mr. Reece) Let me ask you this. Then if you're placing so much reliance on his questionnaire, why did you take 30 minutes to question him and then let me question him before exercising a peremptory challenge if you're saying your peremptory challenge was based upon his responses to the questionnaire?
A. I didn't.
Q. Or take twenty minutes, I'm sorry.
A. I took eighteen minutes and then you took your time. And that's really not any different than the way it will go throughout this entire process.
Q. And you did hear him state that if you prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt he would, without hesitation, impose a death sentence. Did you hear him say that?
A. I heard him say that. And the record will reflect exactly what the question was and what his answer was. But I think that's an inaccurate summary of what he stated to you.
Q. And you'll notice, will you not on the questionnaire, that he said that the most important objective of punishment is to punish those convicted, on page sixteen. Do you recall that?
A. Could you rephrase your question. I didn't hear the first part.
Q. Do you recall from looking at the questionnaire that, on page sixteen, that he rated the number one objective of punishment is to punish those convicted. Do you want to look at that?
MR. MULLINER: As both the witness and prosecutor, I would object to the question and ask this: That juror's questionnaire, for juror number seven, be admitted into evidence exhibit for the purpose of this Batson hearing?
THE COURT: I have no problem doing it. It'll be done.
MR. REECE: Can he answer the question?
THE COURT: How is it relevant?
MR. REECE: Because he answered it in the waythe reason it's relevant is because the prosecutor indicated that the first objective was to punish those convicted. That is a prosecution friendly objective. That makes him very likely to assess the death penalty based upon the answer to the question.
THE COURT: Was he questioned about that by Mr. Mulliner?
MR. REECE: It's in the questionnaire.
THE COURT: No, was he questioned about that by Mr. Mulliner?
The questionnaire is going up to the reviewing Court, assuming there is one. So, if he saw it or didn't see it, what does it have to do with it?
MR. REECE: Because Mr. Mulliner placed a lot of reliance on the questionnaire. *813 He's picking out selective portions to the questionnaire
THE COURT: You could ask him about every single question.
MR. REECE: But I don't plan to do that. I just want to
THE COURT: Mr. Dickson, is there an objection to that question?
MR. DICKSON: Well, judge, I guess we'd simply object to, because the exhibit, namely the questionnaire, is going to be in the record
THE COURT: Sustained. Next question?
MR. REECE: No other questions.
THE COURT: Do you have any questions of Mr. Mulliner, Mr. Dickson?
MR. DICKSON: No.
THE COURT: All right. I'm going to find that he gave racially neutral reasons and Mr. Galloway is excused as a juror.
Proper remedy, Misteris for me to seat the juror, assuming thatgive racially neutral reasons. Once I excuse him, I can't do that. It is too late if you make any objections after I excuse him, for what it's worth.
Bring in the next juror.
MR. REECE: Well, you said that you had already excused him, Judge.
THE COURT: I had already excused him. You could have said, wait a minute, I have a Batson challenge. There's nothing to stop you. I didn't prevent you from doing that. You need to do that.
MR. REECE: Okay.
THE COURT: Bring in the next juror.[58]
Petitioner raised a claim complaining about the state trial court's failure to sustain his Batson objection to the prosecution's peremptory strike of Mr. Galloway as point of error number four in petitioner's appellant's brief.[59] The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals rejected petitioner's fourth point of error on the merits:
During voir dire examination, the venireperson responded to questions from the prosecutor that he could not "play the role of God" or "send nobody [sic], you know, to death." When asked if he could answer the special issues in such a way as to dictate the death penalty, he replied, "I don't believe I can, but if I have to, I can make a decision." The prosecutor cited this response as one reason for his peremptory challenge. The fact that a venireperson vacillates as to whether or not he or she is capable of imposing the death penalty despite personal beliefs is a valid and neutral reason to strike that person. Furthermore, a number of answers to questions in the venireperson's written questionnaire indicated that he would require the State to prove a criminal history, and stated his belief that the death penalty is misused and used too often, is never justified, and is not an acceptable method for dealing with crime. Although appellant was able to rehabilitate him to some extent during voir dire examination, the venireperson continued to qualify his answers, and the prosecutor testified that he noticed mannerisms demonstrating uncertainty with some answers elicited by defense counsel. Numerous written answers in the pre-voir dire questionnaire indicating a bias against the imposition of the death penalty can constitute a valid reason to exercise a peremptory challenge. The trial court's determination is accorded great deference and will not be overturned on appeal unless it is clearly *814 erroneous. The record supports the prosecutor's reasons for exercising a peremptory challenge against the venireperson in question. After viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the trial court's ruling, we hold that the finding was not clearly erroneous. Point of error four is overruled.
Jasper v. State, 61 S.W.2d 413, 422 (Tex. Crim.App.2001) (citations omitted).
Petitioner re-urged his Batson claim regarding venire member Galloway as his eleventh ground for relief in petitioner's state habeas corpus application.[60] The state habeas trial court noted the same claim had been rejected on the merits in the course of petitioner's direct appeal and concluded, under state law, this claim could not form the basis for state habeas corpus relief.[61] The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals adopted the trial court's findings and conclusions. Ex parte Ray Jasper, WR-68, 832-01, 2008 WL 3855114 (Tex.Crim.App. Aug. 20, 2008).
It is well-settled that a State denies a black defendant equal protection of the laws when it puts him on trial before a jury from which members of his race have been purposefully excluded. See Strauder v. West Virginia, 10 U.S. 303, 100 U.S. 303, 306-08, 25 L. Ed. 664 (1880) (striking down as a violation of the Equal Protection Clause a state statute barring blacks from service on juries). In Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79, 106 S. Ct. 1712, 90 L. Ed. 2d 69 (1986), the United States Supreme Court extended this principle to the prosecution's use of peremptory challenges during petit jury selection. See Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. at 89, 106 S.Ct. at 1719 ("the Equal Protection Clause forbids the prosecutor to challenge potential jurors solely on account of their race or on the assumption that black jurors as a group will be unable impartially to consider the State's case against a black defendant.").
Batson provides a three-step process for a trial court to use in adjudicating a claim that a peremptory challenge was based on race: first, the defendant must make out a prima facie case of discriminatory jury selection by the totality of the relevant facts concerning a prosecutor's conduct during the defendant's own trial; second, once the defendant makes the prima facie showing, the burden shifts to the State to come forward with a neutral explanation for challenging jurors within the arguably targeted class; and finally, the trial court must determine if the defendant established purposeful discrimination by the prosecution. Snyder v. Louisiana, 552 U.S. 472, 476-77, 128 S. Ct. 1203, 1207, 170 L. Ed. 2d 175 (2008); Miller-El v. Dretke, 545 U.S. 231, 239, 125 S. Ct. 2317, 2324-25, 162 L. Ed. 2d 196 (2005); Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. at 94-98, 106 S.Ct. at 1721-24.
With regard to the first step, i.e., establishing a prima facie case, the Supreme Court has described that process as follows:
a defendant may establish a prima facie case of purposeful discrimination in selection of the petit jury solely on evidence concerning the prosecutor's exercise of peremptory challenges at the defendant's trial. To establish such a case, the defendant first must show *815 that he is a member of a cognizable racial group, and that the prosecutor has exercised peremptory challenges to remove from the venire members of the defendant's race. Second, the defendant is entitled to rely on the fact, as to which there can be no dispute, that peremptory challenges constitute a jury selection practice that permits "those to discriminate who are of a mind to discriminate."
Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. at 96, 106 S.Ct. at 1723 (citations omitted).
With regard to the second step, i.e., the prosecution's burden of presenting a neutral reason for the peremptory challenge, the Supreme Court has noted that, while there are any number of bases on which a prosecutor reasonably might believe it is desirable to strike a venire member who is not excused for cause, the prosecutor must give a clear and reasonably specific explanation of his legitimate reasons for exercising the peremptory challenge. Miller-El v. Dretke, 545 U.S. at 239, 125 S.Ct. at 2324; Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. at 98 n. 20, 106 S.Ct. at 1724 n. 20.
It is true that peremptories are often the subjects of instinct, and it can sometimes be hard to say what the reason is. But when illegitimate grounds like race are in issue, a prosecutor simply has got to state his reasons as best he can and stand or fall on the plausibility of the reasons he gives. A Batson challenge does not call for a mere exercise in thinking up any rational basis. If the stated reason does not hold up, its pretextual significance does not fade because a trial judge, or an appeals court, can imagine a reason that might not have been shown up as false.
Miller-El v. Dretke, 545 U.S. at 252, 125 S.Ct. at 2332.
With regard to the third and final step in the Batson process, the Supreme Court has emphasized the critical role of the trial court in evaluating the prosecutor's credibility. Snyder v. Louisiana, 552 U.S. at 477, 128 S.Ct. at 1208.
[T]he critical question in determining whether a prisoner has proved purposeful discrimination at step three is the persuasiveness of the prosecutor's justification for his peremptory strike. At this stage, "implausible or fantastic justifications may (and probably will) be found to be pretexts for purposeful discrimination." In that instance the issue comes down to whether the trial court finds the prosecutor's race-neutral explanations to be credible. Credibility can be measured by, among other factors, the prosecutor's demeanor; by how reasonable, or how improbable, the explanations are; and by whether the proffered rationale has some basis in accepted trial strategy.
Miller-El v. Cockrell, 537 U.S. 322, 338-339, 123 S. Ct. 1029, 1040, 154 L. Ed. 2d 931 (2003).
In considering a Batson objection, or in reviewing a ruling claimed to be Batson error, all of the circumstances that bear upon the issue of racial animosity must be consulted and considered. Snyder v. Louisiana, 552 U.S. at 478, 128 S.Ct. at 1208. In several recent opinions, the Supreme Court has examined a wide array of factors in resolving Batson claims. See, e.g., Snyder v. Louisiana, 552 U.S. at 480-85, 128 S.Ct. at 1209-1212 (holding a prosecutor's proffer of a pretextual explanation regarding the struck venire member's scheduling conflicts, which were significantly less imposing than those of a white venire member whom the prosecutor accepted, permitted an inference of discriminatory intent); Miller-El v. Dretke, 545 U.S. at 240-66, 125 S.Ct. at 2325-40 (citing the prosecutor's differential questioning of black and white venire members *816 throughout the entire voir dire, the prosecution's "remarkable" use of ten of its fourteen peremptories to strike ten of the eleven black venire members who were not removed for cause or by agreement, the prosecutor's failure to strike white venire members who offered voir dire testimony similar to black venire members whom the prosecutor did strike, and the prosecution's selective requests for a jury shuffle only when black venire members were near the front of the list as evidence warranting a finding of purposeful discrimination).
In an attempt to apply his Batson claim regarding venire member Galloway into the reasoning employed by the United States Supreme Court in its recent Miller-El and Snyder decisions, petitioner argues the prosecution employed a different standard with regard to white venire members and Mr. Galloway. More specifically, petitioner complains: (1) Vernon Galloway gave some answers that were favorable to the prosecution, (2) Vernon Galloway retracted most of his questionable questionnaire answers during the individual voir dire, (3) the state trial court made no express credibility findings regarding the prosecution's reliance on Vernon Galloway's demeanor, (4) the prosecution also struck the only other Black venire member, and (5) various non-Black venire members were accepted by the prosecution despite the fact they gave an answer on their juror questionnaires that was the same as, or similar to, one given by Mr. Galloway on his questionnaire.[62]
Contrary to the insistence of petitioner's trial counsel, Mr. Galloway was not the only Black member of the jury venire. According to the state trial court, venire member Natasha Hagans was also Black.[63] Ms. Hagans testified during her voir dire, in pertinent part: (1) she had a number of teenage friends (four or five) who had been murdered when she lived in Virginia and she felt the police in Virginia had failed-to properly investigate those crimes and bring the perpetrators to justice, (2) in her experience, police officers were intimidating, (3) she had a younger brother who was in jail for violating parole and writing bad checks, (4) her daughter's father sold crack and marijuana while they were together and had served time in jail for his drug dealing but resumed drug dealing once he got out of jail, and (5) she believed a person who committed murder should get life in prison.[64] At that point, the prosecution exercised a peremptory challenge and petitioner's defense counsel raised a Batson objection.[65]
*817 The prosecutor was sworn and testified he made his peremptory strike based on Ms. Hagans' hostility toward police officers generally, whom she described as "intimidators", her romantic relationship with a person she knew was a crack dealer, her belief her brother deserved a second chance despite his lengthy criminal record, and her oral representations that she believed persons convicted of murder should receive life in prison.[66] Despite the fact Ms. Hagans had answered questions on her questionnaire to the effect that she believed persons who killed should themselves be killed and she believed a person accused of capital murder should have to prove their innocence, the state trial court overruled petitioner's Batson objection, pointing out Ms. Hagans' oral testimony contradicted some of her questionnaire answers.[67]
Ms. Hagans' potential bias against the prosecution was open and obvious. She had been involved romantically with a person she knew was dealing drugs. She candidly admitted to having strong suspicions and negative feelings toward police officers. Because this case involved petitioner giving a written confession to a police officer which petitioner later recanted, the state trial court could have reasonably concluded the prosecution had legitimate, non-racial reasons for concluding Ms. Hagans' suspicions about police officers might make her a poor juror from the prosecution's perspective. Thus, the state trial court could reasonably have believed Ms. Hagans' strike by the prosecution did not evidence a pattern of discriminatory use of peremptory challenges during petitioner's voir dire and did not render the strike of Mr. Galloway a violation of the principles announced in Batson.
This Court has independently reviewed the voir dire examination of venire members Felipe Flores, Gloria Salazar, Jimmy Lazarin, Debra Uecker, Diane Laramie, and Teresa Sauceda and finds none of these venire members furnished the same or a similarly wide array of questionnaire answers or oral testimony during individual voir dire as antithetical to the death penalty as did Mr. Galloway in his questionnaire answers.
Mr. Flores was asked only one question during individual voir dire about his questionnaire answers, to which he replied he had been confused by the wording of the particular question and did not understand same, which answer the prosecutor accepted.[68] Petitioner presents this Court with no evidence suggesting, unlike Mr. Galloway, Mr. Flores gave a pattern of questionnaire answers which questioned the efficacy of the death penalty or which reflected personal reservations about his own ability to serve on a jury called upon to determine whether the death penalty should be imposed. Ultimately, both parties accepted him as a juror.[69]
Venire member Gloria Salazar testified so persistently about her reluctance to impose the death penalty the prosecution moved to strike her for cause.[70] After *818 extensive questioning by the defense counsel and the trial judge, however, Ms. Salazar testified she could answer each of the three Texas capital sentencing special issues in the manner warranted by the evidence, albeit reluctantly, and the state trial court denied the prosecution's challenge for cause.[71] When questioned further by the prosecution, Ms. Salazar testified she could vote for the death penalty if the murder were malicious.[72] Ultimately, both parties accepted her.[73]
Venire member Jimmy Lazarin did answer one question on his juror questionnaire similar to Mr. Gallowaythey each indicated a belief the death penalty is occasionally imposed wrongly or unfairly.[74] When questioned about that particular view, both Mr. Galloway and Mr. Lazarin pointed to cases in which persons convicted and sentenced to death were later exonerated.[75] Unlike Mr. Galloway, however, Mr. Lazarin was not questioned by either party about a host of additional questionnaire answers which expressed skepticism about his own ability to vote to impose the death penalty or which questioned the efficacy of capital punishment generally. In fact, there was nothing in Mr. Lazarin's voir dire examination which suggested he possessed any reservations about answering the Texas capital sentencing special issues in a manner which resulted in the imposition of the death penalty. There is no fact specific allegation or any evidence before this Court showing Mr. Lazarin gave answers on his questionnaire which coincided with more than one or two of the answers about which Mr. Galloway was questioned extensively during individual voir dire examination. Thus, there is no evidence before this Court suggesting Mr. Lazarin and Mr. Galloway were "similarly situated" for purposes of Batson equal protection analysis. The juror questionnaire employed in petitioner's case was at least twenty-five pages long and consisted of many questions. That one or more jurors who were accepted by both parties may have answered one or two questions similarly to Mr. Galloway is not unusual and does not give, rise to a presumption of invidious discrimination.
Like Mr. Galloway, Debra Uecker did answer one questionnaire answer to the effect that, while she believed the death penalty was appropriate in some cases, she could not vote to impose it herself.[76] When questioned by the prosecution, she testified she preferred not to be asked to render a capital verdict determining a defendant's fate, but after further questioning, did acknowledge she could answer each of the Texas capital sentencing special issues in the manner compelled by the evidence.[77] Both parties accepted her as a juror.[78] There is nothing in the record establishing Ms. Uecker gave any of the extreme anti-death penalty questionnaire answers given by Mr. Galloway.
Like Mr. Galloway, Diane Laramie gave one questionnaire answer to the effect that, while she believed the death penalty was appropriate in some cases, she could not vote to impose it herself.[79] When *819 questioned about that particular answer, however, Ms. Laramie testified she had been mistaken in her answer.[80] Significantly, there is no evidence before the Court establishing Ms. Laramie gave any other answers to the juror questionnaire which revealed any hesitation on her part to vote to impose the death penalty nor any doubts as to the efficacy of the death penalty generally.
Neither party questioned venire member Teresa Sauceda during voir dire about her questionnaire answers specifically.[81] The prosecution did ask her, as it did with almost all venire members, to explain her views on the death penalty. While Ms. Sauceda sua sponte expressed religious objections to the death penalty, she immediately qualified her testimony by indicating in response to questions by the prosecutor that she would render a verdict based on the evidence and could answer the Texas capital sentencing special issues in such a manner as to cause the defendant to receive the death penalty.[82] When she then expressed reservations about actually voting in a manner resulting in the imposition of the death penalty, the state trial court intervened and questioned her on this subject. Ms. Sauceda expressed a willingness to follow the law and render a verdict consistent with the evidence.[83] Further questioning by the prosecution established her willingness to render a verdict consistent with the evidence as to all issues at both phases of trial.[84] There is no evidence before the Court establishing Ms. Sauceda gave any questionnaire answers similar or identical to Mr. Galloway.
This Court's independent review of the voir dire of all the venire members reveals no instances in which Black venire members were questioned in a manner dramatically different from the questioning of venire members of other ethnic groups. Unlike the situation in Miller-El, there does not appear to have been an blatant use of graphic voir dire questions about the process of carrying out an execution in Texas at the commencement of voir dire for Black venire members. Nor did this Court identify anything else that was different about the way the prosecution chose to conduct voir dire of Black venire members, as opposed to non-Black venire members. The state trial court could reasonably have concluded there was nothing about the prosecution's questioning of the jury venire as a whole which supported a finding the strike of Mr. Galloway was racially motivated.
As a review of Vernon Galloway's voir dire examination detailed above reflects, Mr. Galloway gave a number of answers on his juror questionnaire which raised red flags in the mind of the prosecution. Among those questionnaire answers were statements indicating a suspicion about the efficacy of the death penalty, as well as Mr. Galloway's own doubts as to his ability to vote to impose the death penalty. Mr. Galloway also furnished an array of inconsistent responses to voir dire questions from both the prosecution and defense counsel about the relevant burden of proof *820 at trial. When questioned by both counsel about the vast disparity between his questionnaire answers and his oral voir dire answers, Mr. Galloway claimed he had felt pressured and hurried when he was filling out his questionnaire and, as a result, had not fully understood many of the questions to which he gave rather extreme answers regarding his views on the death penalty.
The prosecution focused its voir dire examination of Mr. Galloway on a host of questionnaire answers that appeared to reflect a rather significant bias against the death penalty on Mr. Galloway's part. When Mr. Galloway gave oral voir dire answers different from his questionnaire answers, the prosecutor expressed skepticism about the validity of Mr. Galloway's expressed explanation for those differences. Specifically, the prosecutor pointed out to the trial judge, and the defense counsel made no effort to refute, that there was no time constraint placed on the venire members' completion of their juror questionnaires. The prosecutor also expressed concern over Mr. Galloway's statement in his questionnaire answers that friends might describe Mr. Galloway as "crazy." The prosecutor took little solace in Mr. Galloway's explanation that this meant he (Galloway) was a jokester. In so doing, the state trial court could have reasonably believed the prosecution identified a number of legitimate, race-neutral reasons for exercising a peremptory challenge against Mr. Galloway.
The prosecutor also identified two factors relating to Mr. Galloway's demeanor as race-neutral justifications for striking Mr. Galloway: the gold-hoop earring worn by the male, fifty-something venire member and Mr. Galloway's hesitation in answering when responding to a defense counsel question inquiring whether Mr. Galloway had any problems with the death penalty.[85] While the state trial court did not make any express factual finding regarding Mr. Galloway's demeanor while responding to the defense counsel's question, no one present during the Batson hearing sought to challenge the prosecutor's testimony establishing Mr. Galloway was, in fact, a gentleman in his fifties who wore a gold-hoop earring to attend a state judicial proceeding. Thus, the state trial court could have reasonably found the prosecution had an additional, race-neutral reason for striking Mr. Galloway.
By identifying a member of an identified ethnic group whom petitioner claimed the prosecution was seeking to exclude on racial grounds, the petitioner made a prima facie case sufficient to satisfy the first prong of Batson analysis. See Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79, 96, 106 S. Ct. 1712, 1723, 90 L. Ed. 2d 69 (1986) (the defendant first must show he is a member of a cognizable racial group, and the prosecutor has exercised peremptory challenges to remove from the venire members of the defendant's race).
The prosecution gave a clear and reasonably specific explanation of his legitimate reasons for exercising the peremptory challenge against Mr. Galloway. Thus, the burden shifted back to the defendant to establish purposeful discrimination by the prosecution. Unlike the situations in Snyder and Miller-El, there was nothing implausible about the prosecution's proffered reasons for striking Mr. Galloway. There is no genuine dispute over the fact Mr. Galloway's questionnaire answers did express reservations about the efficacy of the death penalty, as well as Mr. Galloway's own ability to vote to impose a death *821 sentence. Mr. Galloway gave very different views on those same subjects during his oral voir dire examination. When he was asked to explain the different opinions he had expressed in his written and oral answers, Mr. Galloway testified he had felt rushed when answering his juror questionnaire. However, there was no evidence in the record establishing that any time constraint had been imposed on the venire members externally when they were given their questionnaires to answer. Under such circumstances, the state trial court could have reasonably credited the prosecutor's expression of concern over Mr. Galloway's proffered justification for having given so many different opinions regarding the death penalty on his questionnaire and during oral voir dire. While others on petitioner's jury venire may also have expressed reservations about their own ability to vote to impose the death penalty, there is no evidence before this Court showing any of them gave questionnaire answers as extreme in their opinions on that subject as did Mr. Galloway.
Furthermore, there does not appear to be any dispute Mr. Galloway gave a number of opinions regarding the efficacy of the death penalty which were not shared by the vast majority of the venire members whom the prosecution found acceptable to serve on petitioner's jury. Unlike in Miller-El, the prosecution did not appear to engage in differential voir dire questioning of petitioner's venire members along racial or ethnic lines. The prosecution appeared to question every member of the jury venire who gave any questionable answers on their juror questionnaires regarding their views on the efficacy of the death penalty in a similar, open-ended manner.
Almost at the outset of his individual voir dire, Mr. Galloway sua sponte observed he did not feel comfortable playing "the role of God." Given his many questionnaire answers reflecting a bias against the death penalty and his explanation for his widely divergent voir dire answers, the state trial court could reasonably have found credible the prosecutor's expressions of fear Mr. Galloway was concealing a bias against the death penalty sufficient to warrant a peremptory strike. As this Court has noted on prior occasions, selecting a jury is more art than science. Martinez v. Dretke, 426 F. Supp. 2d 403, 461 (W.D.Tex. 2006), CoA denied, 270 Fed.Appx. 277 (5th Cir.2008); Salazar v. Dretke, 393 F. Supp. 2d 451, 495 (W.D.Tex.2005), aff'd, 260 Fed.Appx. 643 (5th Cir.2007), cert. denied, 554 U.S. 922, 128 S. Ct. 2963, 171 L. Ed. 2d 893 (2008).
In addition, Mr. Galloway's appearance apparently did include one race-neutral aspect the defense did not challenge during the relevant Batson hearingthe fact Mr. Galloway wore a gold-hoop earring to a state judicial proceeding. While not all expressions of individuality in terms of personal appearance rise to the level of a legitimate justification for exercising a peremptory strike, given Mr. Galloway's many written reservations about the efficacy of the death penalty and his less than convincing explanation of the reasons for his vastly different oral voir dire opinions on the same subjects, the state court could have reasonably concluded the prosecutor's strike of Mr. Galloway was race-neutral. See Romero v. Lynaugh 884 F.2d 871, 878 (5th Cir.1989) ("The selection of a jury is inevitably a call upon experience and intuition. The trial lawyer must draw upon his own insights and empathetic abilities."), cert. denied, 494 U.S. 1012, 110 S. Ct. 1311, 108 L. Ed. 2d 487 (1990).
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals' rejection on the merits, in the course of petitioner's direct appeal of petitioner's *822 Batson claim arising from the prosecution's use of a peremptory strike against venire member Vernon Galloway was neither contrary to, nor involved an unreasonable application of, clearly established federal law, as determined by the Supreme Court of the United States, nor an unreasonable determination of the facts in light of the evidence presented in the petitioner's trial and direct appeal. On the contrary, the state trial court's implicit factual finding regarding the credibility of the prosecution's numerous race-neutral reasons for striking venire member Galloway is fully supported by the record from the voir dire portion of petitioner's capital murder trial. The prosecution recited a litany of written answers given by Mr. Galloway on his juror questionnaire which reasonably raised concerns in the mind of the prosecution about Mr. Galloway's potential ability to vote to impose the death penalty.
In addition, the prosecutor testified during the relevant Batson hearing he found Mr. Galloway's oral explanations for the vast discrepancy between Mr. Galloway's written questionnaire answers regarding Mr. Galloway's opinions on the death penalty and Mr. Galloway's oral answers during voir dire to raise concern. This Court does not disagree with the prosecutor's skepticism regarding the legitimacy of Mr. Galloway's claims that he felt "rushed" or "hurried" when completing his written questionnaire. Likewise, the prosecutor's reference to Mr. Galloway's gold-hoop earring furnished a race-neutral basis for the prosecution's suspicions about this particular venire member's fitness to serve as a juror in a capital murder trial. Even disregarding the prosecutor's reliance on Mr. Galloway's demeanor, a subject the state trial court chose not to specifically address in its findings, there was ample evidentiary basis before the state trial court to believe the prosecutor's race-neutral justifications for striking Mr. Galloway were sincere and fully credible.
Furthermore, unlike the situations in Snyder and Miller-El, petitioner herein has not identified any other venire members who gave a plethora of questionnaire answers similar to Mr. Galloway's (which doubted the efficacy of the death penalty) who were accepted by the prosecution. Simply put, there is no evidence before this Court (possibly because petitioner failed to present this Court with the venire members' juror questionnaires) suggesting the prosecution accepted any other venire members who were truly similarly situated with Mr. Galloway. Answering a single questionnaire question in the same manner as Mr. Galloway did not place other members of the venire in the same posture as did Mr. Galloway's numerous answers questioning the efficacy of the death penalty. As the state trial court noted during the voir dire examination of many venire members, no one wants to be placed in the posture of having to determine the fate of a fellow human being. None of the other venire members, however, expressed their reluctance to serve on petitioner's petit jury in quite the same way as did Mr. Galloway, who volunteered that he did not wish to play God.
Petitioner's complaint about the striking of venire member Ms. Hagans lends no support to petitioner's assertion Mr. Galloway's strike was racially motivated. Ms. Hagans' bias against law enforcement was amply demonstrated during her voir dire examination. Ms. Hagans expressed open distrust of law enforcement resulting from what she felt was the unjust jailing of her younger brother and the failure of the police to solve the murders of several of her friends when she was a teenager, and testified she had borne a child to a man she knew to be an unrepentant crack dealer. It would not be reasonable for a prosecutor *823 to allow Ms. Hagans to serve on a criminal jury in a case, such as petitioner's, in which the credibility of the defendant's confession was at issue.
This Court has also found no evidence the prosecution employed differential questioning of venire members along racial or ethnic lines during the voir dire process in petitioner's trial. On the contrary, the prosecution consistently used open-ended questions to elicit the venire members' feelings about the death penalty without resorting to the selective use of graphic descriptions of the actual execution process in Texas found significant in Miller-El.
For the foregoing reasons, petitioner's Batson claim does not warrant relief under the AEDPA.
In his sixth claim, petitioner argues there was insufficient evidence to support the jury's affirmative answer to the first Texas capital sentencing special issue, i.e., the jury's finding there was a probability the petitioner "would commit criminal acts of violence that would constitute a continuing threat to society."[86]
Petitioner's jury answered the first capital sentencing special issue affirmatively.[87]
Petitioner raised the same claim as point of error three in his direct appeal.[88] The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals rejected this claim on the merits, concluding as follows:
The facts of this crime were brutal and demonstrated calculated deliberation. Appellant planned well in advance the stabbing murder of someone he would later describe as "one of the nicest people [he] ever met in [his] life." He allowed Alejandro to assist him with recording for two hours, Knowing he was about to kill him. As Alejandro sat unaware at the soundboard mixing a track for appellant, appellant pulled his head back and, taking a kitchen knife from his jacket, slit his throat from ear to ear. When that wound did not kill him, one of appellant's accomplices joined the attack until Alejandro was dead. Alejandro suffered twenty-five stab wounds. Appellant quickly loaded equipment into the vans and instructed one stunned accomplice to hurry up and help.
In addition to the facts of the crime itself, evidence adduced at trial of prior criminal history and lack of remorse support the jury's finding. Appellant's criminal history included incidents beginning at the age of fifteen, when he stole a bicycle. He was expelled from school for possession of marijuana and expelled from alternative school. More recently, he attempted a residential burglary and attacked the off-duty police officer who attempted to detain him and also attempted to evade police at a traffic stop, leading them on a high-speed chase. The evidence introduced by the State at trial shows a pattern of escalating criminal activity and an increasing proclivity to break laws posing threats to the safety of others. Furthermore, the evidence showed a lack of remorse. Immediately after killing Alejandro, appellant began loading the vans. At the punishment phase of the trial, when asked if he had anything to say to Alejandro's family, appellant replied that he wanted the family to know that he did *824 not kill Alejandro because, according to the autopsy, the only wound he claims to have been inflicted by his hand (slicing the victim's throat, as opposed to the twenty-five stab wounds), was not enough to kill him.
Based on the facts of the offense and other evidence of escalating criminal activity and lack of remorse, a rational jury could have found beyond a reasonable doubt that appellant would continue to be a threat to society. Accordingly, we hold the evidence legally sufficient to support the jury's affirmative answer to the future dangerousness special issue. Point of error three is overruled.
Jasper v. State, 61 S.W.3d 413, 418 (Tex. Crim.App.2001)
For more than a generation, the United States Supreme Court has consistently applied a single standard for evaluating the sufficiency of the evidence to support a state criminal jury verdict. "In Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 99 S. Ct. 2781, 61 L. Ed. 2d 560 (1979), we held that a state prisoner is entitled to habeas corpus relief if a federal judge finds that `upon the record evidence adduced at the trial no rational trier of fact could have found proof of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.'" McDaniel v. Brown, ___ U.S. ___, 130 S. Ct. 665, 666, 175 L. Ed. 2d 582 (2010) (citation omitted). "[T]he relevant question is whether, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt." Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. at 319, 99 S.Ct. at 2789; Perez v. Cain, 529 F.3d 588, 594 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 129 S. Ct. 496, 172 L. Ed. 2d 358 (2008).
Petitioner argues he presented evidence showing he had a clean or non-violent record, i.e., he was a "model prisoner," during his pre-trial incarceration.[89] Petitioner presented evidence showing his youth and immaturity, as well as expert opinion testimony suggesting people tend to become less violent as they age and mature.[90] Petitioner also argues he had become "religious" while in jail, "making him even less of a potential threat."[91]
Viewed in the light most favorable to the jury's verdict, however, the evidence presented during petitioner's trial established, in pertinent part, as follows: (1) as a teenager, petitioner led police on a high speed chase which exceeded ninety miles per hour and which ended only when petitioner wrecked his vehicle on a set of railroad tracks[92]; (2) days before the murder of *825 David Alejandro, petitioner aggressively assaulted an approaching police officer who was investigating petitioner's suspicious behavior[93]; (3) in the days prior to David Alejandro's murder, petitioner informed his girlfriend of his plan to rob and kill David Alejandro and purchased a pair of duffle bags which petitioner later filled with David Alejandro's property and carried to the vehicles driven to David Alejandro's studio by petitioner and his accomplices[94]; (4) during the assault upon David Alejandro, petitioner used a knife he had brought with him to slice completely across the front of David Alejandro's neck[95]; and (5) immediately after the murder, petitioner covered David Alejandro's body with a bed sheet petitioner had brought with him from home.[96]
In addition to the facts of the offense, petitioner refused to accept responsibility for his role in David Alejandro's murder when petitioner took the stand at trial and repeatedly denied he had caused David Alejandro's death.[97]
The state appellate court reasonably concluded petitioner's demonstrated lack of remorse for his role in David Alejandro's murder combined with the facts of the offense itself to fully support the jury's affirmative finding on the future dangerousness special issue. Moreover, this Court agrees the evidence at the punishment phase of petitioner's capital murder trial establishes petitioner engaged in an escalating pattern of violence culminating in David Alejandro's murder. Petitioner was sanctioned by school authorities for possession of marijuana.[98] He later "graduated" to unauthorized use of a motor vehicle (which he operated without a license at dangerous speeds), burglary, and a robbery-murder which petitioner planned and initiated against an unarmed, unsuspecting victim. Petitioner's relatively non-violent pretrial detention did not wipe clean his history of violent criminal acts. There was ample evidence before the jury to support its verdict with regard to petitioner's future dangerousness.
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals' rejection on the merits, in the course of petitioner's direct appeal, of petitioner's insufficient evidence claim relating to the *826 future dangerousness special issue was neither contrary to, nor involved an unreasonable application of, clearly established federal law, as determined by the Supreme Court of the United States, nor an unreasonable determination of the facts in light of the evidence presented in the petitioner's trial and direct appeal. The state appellate court's rejection of petitioner's insufficient evidence claim was an objectively reasonable, straight forward application of the familiar Jackson v. Virginia standard. Petitioner's sixth claim does not warrant federal habeas relief under the AEDPA.
In his eighth claim, petitioner argues the Texas capital sentencing statute's definition of "mitigating evidence" unconstitutionally narrows the capital sentencing jury's focus because it limits that term to evidence relevant to the defendant's moral blameworthiness.[99]
In the course of instructing petitioner's jury at the punishment phase of trial, the state trial court gave the following directives:
In deliberating upon the first two issues, you shall consider all the evidence admitted at the guilt or innocence stage and the punishment stage, including evidence of the Defendant's background or character or the circumstances of the offense that mitigates for or mitigates against the imposition of the death penalty. However, in this punishment phase of trial you should not consider the instructions given you in the first phase (the guilt-innocence phase) of trial that relate to the law of parties and the responsibility of parties for the acts of others in determining what your answers to the Special issues shall be.[100]
* * * * * *
The third Issue is:
State whether, taking into consideration all the evidence, including the circumstances of the offense, the defendant's character and background, and the personal moral culpability of the Defendant, there is a sufficient mitigating circumstance or are sufficient mitigating circumstances to warrant that a sentence of life imprisonment rather than a death sentence be imposed.[101]
* * * * *
You are instructed that, in answering this third question, you shall consider "mitigating evidence" to be evidence that a juror might regard as reducing the Defendant's moral blameworthiness.[102]
Petitioner did not raise a timely objection to his punishment phase jury instructions on the same ground urged in his eighth claim.[103] Petitioner did not include any challenge to his punishment phase jury charge in his direct appeal.
Petitioner did raise this same claim for the first time as his twenty-fourth ground for relief in his state habeas corpus application.[104] The state habeas trial court concluded petitioner defaulted on this complaint by failing to make a timely objection before the trial court, and the claim had no merit.[105]
Respondent correctly points out petitioner procedurally defaulted on this claim by failing to raise a timely objection at the trial court level to the punishment phase jury charge.
Procedural default occurs where a state court clearly and expressly bases its dismissal of a claim on a state procedural rule, and that procedural rule provides an independent and adequate ground for the dismissal, or the petitioner fails to exhaust all available state remedies, and the state court to which he would be required to petition would now find the claims procedurally barred. Coleman v. Thompson, 501 U.S. 722, 735 n. 1, 111 S. Ct. 2546, 2557 n. 1, 115 L. Ed. 2d 640 (1991). In either instance, the petitioner is deemed to have forfeited his federal habeas claim. O'Sullivan v. Boerckel, 526 U.S. 838, 848, 119 S. Ct. 1728, 1734, 144 L. Ed. 2d 1 (1999). Procedural defaults only bar federal habeas review when the state procedural rule which forms the basis for the procedural default was "firmly established and regularly followed" by the time it was applied to preclude state judicial review of the merits of a federal constitutional claim. Ford v. Georgia, 498 U.S. 411, 424, 111 S. Ct. 850, 857-58, 112 L. Ed. 2d 935 (1991).
The Supreme Court has recognized exceptions to the doctrine of procedural default where a federal habeas corpus petitioner can show either "cause and actual prejudice" for his default or that failure to address the merits of his procedurally defaulted claim will work a "fundamental miscarriage of justice." Coleman v. Thompson, 501 U.S. at 750, 111 S.Ct. at 2565; Harris v. Reed, 489 U.S. 255, 262, 109 S. Ct. 1038, 1043, 103 L. Ed. 2d 308 (1989).
To establish "cause," a petitioner must show either that some objective external factor impeded the defense counsel's ability to comply with the state's procedural rules or that petitioner's trial or appellate counsel rendered ineffective assistance. Coleman v. Thompson, 501 U.S. at 753, 111 S.Ct. at 2566; Murray v. Carrier, 477 U.S. 478, 488, 106 S. Ct. 2639, 2645, 91 L. Ed. 2d 397 (1986) (holding that proof of ineffective assistance by counsel satisfies the "cause" prong of the exception to the procedural default doctrine).
In order to satisfy the "miscarriage of justice" test, the petitioner must supplement his constitutional claim with a colorable showing of factual innocence. Sawyer v. Whitley, 505 U.S. 333, 335-36, 112 S. Ct. 2514, 2519, 120 L. Ed. 2d 269 (1992). In the context of the punishment phase of a capital trial, the Supreme Court has held that a showing of "actual innocence" is made when a petitioner shows by clear and convincing evidence that, but for constitutional error, no reasonable juror would have found petitioner eligible for the death penalty under applicable state law. Sawyer v. Whitley, 505 U.S. at 346-48, 112 S.Ct. at 2523. The Supreme Court explained in Sawyer v. Whitley this "actual innocence" requirement focuses on those elements which render a defendant eligible for the death penalty and not on additional mitigating evidence that was prevented from being introduced as a result of a claimed constitutional error. Sawyer v. Whitley, 505 U.S. at 347, 112 S.Ct. at 2523.
The Fifth Circuit has repeatedly held a procedural default premised upon a federal habeas corpus petitioner's failure to comply with the Texas contemporaneous objection rule constitutes an adequate and independent barrier to federal habeas review *828 of a claim. See Scheanette v. Quarterman, 482 F.3d 815, 823 (5th Cir.2007) ("We have recognized a federal petitioner's failure to comply with the Texas contemporaneous objection rule as an adequate and independent state procedural barrier to federal habeas review."), stay denied, ___ U.S. ___, 129 S. Ct. 1305, 173 L. Ed. 2d 482 (2009); Turner v. Quarterman, 481 F.3d 292, 301 (5th Cir.2007) ("Where a prisoner procedurally defaults his federal claim in the state habeas court, federal habeas review is barred unless he can demonstrate cause and prejudice."), cert. denied, 551 U.S. 1193, 128 S. Ct. 34, 168 L. Ed. 2d 810 (2007); Parr v. Quarterman, 472 F.3d 245, 253 (5th Cir.2006) (holding the Texas contemporaneous objection rule is strictly or regularly applied evenhandedly to the vast majority of similar claims and is, therefore, an adequate procedural bar), cert. denied, 551 U.S. 1133, 127 S. Ct. 2974, 168 L. Ed. 2d 707 (2007); Wright v. Quarterman, 470 F.3d 581, 586-89 (5th Cir.2006) (holding a Texas petitioner's hearsay objection was inadequate under the Texas contemporaneous objection rule to preserve a Confrontation Clause objection to the admission of evidence), cert. denied, 551 U.S. 1134, 127 S. Ct. 2996, 168 L. Ed. 2d 707 (2007); Cardenas v. Dretke, 405 F.3d 244, 249 (5th Cir.2005) (holding a Teas petitioner's failure to contemporaneously object to a venire member's exclusion barred federal habeas review of a Batson claim), cert, denied, 548 U.S. 925, 126 S. Ct. 2986, 165 L. Ed. 2d 987 (2006); Rowell v. Dretke, 398 F.3d 370, 374-75 (5th Cir.) (holding a defendant's failure to timely object to alleged errors in a jury charge determined by a Texas appellate court to be a violation of the Texas contemporaneous objection rule barred federal habeas relief of the alleged erroneous jury charge under the procedural default doctrine), cert, denied, 546 U.S. 848, 126 S. Ct. 103, 163 L. Ed. 2d 117 (2005).
The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has also recognized the efficacy of the Texas contemporaneous objection rule as a barrier to federal habeas review was "firmly established" for federal procedural default purposes long before the date petitioner filed his brief on direct appeal. See Scheanette v. Quarterman, 482 F.3d at 823 ("We have recognized a federal petitioner's failure to comply with the Texas contemporaneous objection rule as an adequate and independent state procedural bar to federal habeas review."); Turner v. Quarterman, 481 F.3d at 301 ("The Texas contemporaneous objection rule is strictly or regularly applied evenhandedly to the vast majority of similar claims, and is therefore an adequate procedural bar."); Dowthitt v. Johnson, 230 F.3d 733, 752 (5th Cir.2000) (holding the same), cert, denied, 532 U.S. 915, 121 S. Ct. 1250, 149 L. Ed. 2d 156 (2001); Hogue v. Johnson, 131 F.3d 466, 487 (5th Cir. 1997) (holding the Texas contemporaneous objection rule was already well established 35 years ago and recognized as an adequate state procedural barrier to federal habeas review at least twenty years ago), cert. denied, 523 U.S. 1014, 118 S. Ct. 1297, 140 L. Ed. 2d 334 (1998); Rogers v. Scott, 70 F.3d 340, 342 (5th Cir. 1995) (recognizing the Texas contemporaneous objection rule foreclosed federal habeas review), cert. denied, 517 U.S. 1235, 116 S. Ct. 1881, 135 L. Ed. 2d 176 (1996); Amos v. Scott, 61 F.3d 333, 343-44 (5th Cir.) (holding Texas appellate courts consistently apply the contemporaneous objection rule in the vast majority of cases and, thereby, strictly and regularly apply same), cert. denied, 516 U.S. 1005, 116 S. Ct. 557, 133 L. Ed. 2d 458 (1995).
Petitioner's failure to make a timely objection to the statutory definition of "mitigating evidence" contained in the state trial court's punishment phase jury instructions bars federal habeas review of petitioner's constitutional challenge to that definition unless petitioner can satisfy one of the two exceptions to the procedural *829 default doctrine. The fact the state habeas court alternatively concluded petitioner's complaint about the statutory definition in his punishment phase jury charge also lacked substantive merit does not nullify the preclusive effect of the state court's procedural ruling. See Harris v. Reed, 489 U.S. 255, 264 n. 10, 109 S. Ct. 1038, 1044 n. 10, 103 L. Ed. 2d 308 (1989) ("a state court need not fear reaching the merits of a federal claim in an alternative holding. By its very definition, the adequate and independent state ground doctrine requires the federal court to honor a state holding that is a sufficient basis for the state court's judgment, even when the state court also relies on federal law."); Hughes v. Dretke, 412 F.3d 582, 592-93 (5th Cir.2005) (state court's alternate holding on the merits did not circumvent preclusive effect of bar on federal habeas review arising from petitioner's failure to contemporaneously object on federal constitutional grounds), cert. denied, 546 U.S. 1177, 126 S. Ct. 1347, 164 L. Ed. 2d 60 (2006); Cardenas v. Dretke, 405 F.3d at 249 ("The state habeas court's discussion of the merits as an alternative reason for its holding does not nullify its procedural ruling."); Thacker v. Dretke, 396 F.3d 607, 614 (5th Cir.) (holding procedural bar resulting from petitioner's failure to properly preserve federal constitutional complaint via a contemporaneous objection was not precluded by the state court's alternate holding that constitutional claim lacked merit), cert. denied, 546 U.S. 840, 126 S. Ct. 80, 163 L. Ed. 2d 100 (2005); Busby v. Dretke, 359 F.3d 708, 718 (5th Cir.) (holding a state court's alternative ruling on the merits did not undermine the preclusive effect of its procedural default holding on the same claim), cert. denied, 541 U.S. 1087, 124 S. Ct. 2812, 159 L. Ed. 2d 249 (2004).
Petitioner has not alleged any facts sufficient to satisfy either exception to the procedural default doctrine. For the reasons set forth hereinafter, the failure of petitioner's trial counsel to raise this objection to petitioner's punishment phase jury charge does not satisfy either prong of the Strickland v. Washington test for ineffective assistance. Likewise, petitioner has alleged no facts sufficient to establish his "actual innocence" of the death penalty. See Sawyer v. Whitley, 505 U.S. 333, 346-48, 112 S. Ct. 2514, 2523, 120 L. Ed. 2d 269 (1992) (holding that a showing of "actual innocence" is made in connection with the punishment phase of a capital murder trial when a petitioner shows by clear and convincing evidence that, but for constitutional error, no reasonable juror would have found petitioner eligible for the death penalty under applicable state law). The Supreme Court has explained this "actual innocence" requirement focuses on those elements which render a defendant eligible for the death penalty and not on additional mitigating evidence that was prevented from being introduced as a result of a claimed constitutional error. Sawyer v. Whitley, 505 U.S. at 347, 112 S.Ct. at 2523. Petitioner has alleged no facts and has not presented this Court with clear and convincing evidence, establishing that, but for presence of the statutory definition of "mitigating evidence" contained in his punishment phase jury charge, no reasonable juror would have ruled favorably to petitioner on any of the Texas capital sentencing special issues actually submitted to the jury at the punishment phase of trial. As is explained in Section XII, Subpart F, petitioner's complaint about his trial counsels' failure to object to the punishment phase jury charge on the same ground urged in claim eight herein lacks merit.
Petitioner's failure to contemporaneously object to the allegedly improper statutory definition of "mitigating evidence" in his punishment phase jury charge constitutes an impermeable barrier to federal habeas *830 review of the merits of petitioner's eighth claim.
Alternatively, petitioner's eighth claim lacks merit. See Bartee v. Quarterman, 574 F. Supp. 2d 624, 707-11 (W.D.Tex.2008) (rejecting an identical claim), CoA denied, 339 Fed.Appx. 429 (5th Cir.2009), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 130 S. Ct. 1882, 176 L. Ed. 2d 370 (2010); Martinez v. Dretke, 426 F. Supp. 2d 403, 538-41 (W.D.Tex.2006) (rejecting an identical claim as lacking merit), CoA denied, 270 Fed.Appx. 277 (5th Cir.2008).
The Supreme Court has established the constitutional standard for evaluating the propriety of a jury instruction at the punishment phase of a capital murder trial as "whether there is a reasonable likelihood that the jury has applied the challenged instruction in a way that prevents the consideration of constitutionally relevant evidence." Boyde v. California, 494 U.S. 370, 380, 110 S. Ct. 1190, 1198, 108 L. Ed. 2d 316 (1990). The Supreme Court has consistently applied this standard to evaluate challenges to punishment phase jury instructions. See Abdul-Kabir v. Quarterman, 550 U.S. 233, 262-63, 127 S. Ct. 1654, 1674, 167 L. Ed. 2d 585 (2007) (holding proper test is whether there is a reasonable likelihood the jury applied the challenged instruction in a way that prevented its consideration of constitutionally relevant evidence); Ayers v. Belmontes, 549 U.S. 7, 13, 127 S. Ct. 469, 473-74, 166 L. Ed. 2d 334 (2006) (holding the same); Weeks v. Angelone, 528 U.S. 225, 226, 120 S. Ct. 727, 729, 145 L. Ed. 2d 727 (2000) (emphasizing the Boyde test requires a showing of a reasonable likelihood, as opposed to a mere possibility, the jury construed the jury instructions to preclude its consideration of relevant mitigating evidence); Jones v. United States, 527 U.S. 373, 390 & n. 9, 119 S. Ct. 2090, 2102-03 & n. 9, 144 L. Ed. 2d 370 (1999) (holding the same); Calderon v. Coleman, 525 U.S. 141, 146, 119 S. Ct. 500, 503, 142 L. Ed. 2d 521 (1998) (holding the same); Buchanan v. Angelone, 522 U.S. 269, 276, 118 S. Ct. 757, 761, 139 L. Ed. 2d 702 (1998) (holding the same); Johnson v. Texas, 509 U.S. 350, 367, 113 S. Ct. 2658, 2669, 125 L. Ed. 2d 290 (1993) (holding Boyde requires a showing of a reasonable likelihood the jury interpreted the jury instructions so as to preclude it from considering relevant mitigating evidence).
Thus, the Supreme Court has clearly established the principle that "sentencing juries must be able to give meaningful consideration and effect to all mitigating evidence that might provide a basis for refusing to impose the death penalty on a particular individual, notwithstanding the severity of his crime or his potential to commit similar offenses in the future." Abdul-Kabir v. Quarterman, 550 U.S. at 246, 127 S.Ct. at 1664.
This "reasonable likelihood" standard does not require the petitioner to prove the jury "more likely than not" interpreted the challenged instruction in an impermissible way; however, the petitioner must demonstrate more than "only a possibility" of an impermissible interpretation. Johnson v. Texas, 509 U.S. at 367, 113 S.Ct. at 2669; Boyde v. California, 494 U.S. at 380, 110 S.Ct. at 1198. This Court must analyze the challenged language included in the jury charge within the context of the overall jury charge. Cupp v. Naughten, 414 U.S. 141, 146-47, 94 S. Ct. 396, 400, 38 L. Ed. 2d 368 (1973). "In evaluating the instructions, we do not engage in a technical parsing of this language of the instructions, but instead approach the instructions in the same way that the jury wouldwith a `commonsense understanding of the instructions in the light of all that has taken place at the trial.'" Johnson *831 v. Texas, 509 U.S. at 368, 113 S.Ct. at 2669; Boyde v. California, 494 U.S. at 381, 110 S.Ct. at 1198.
Petitioner's arguments in support of his eighth claim misconstrue the appropriate constitutional standard for evaluating the propriety of jury instructions at the punishment phase of a capital trial. The Supreme Court identified the proper inquiry as whether there is a reasonable likelihood the jury applied the challenged instructions in a way that prevented the consideration of constitutionally relevant evidence. Boyde v. California, 494 U.S. at 380, 110 S.Ct. at 1198. Thus, the federal constitutional issue properly before this Court in connection with petitioner's challenge to the statutory definition of "mitigating evidence" contained in Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 37.071, § 2(f)(4) is not whether the statutory language in question satisfies some abstract definition of the term "mitigating evidence" but, rather, whether the jury instructions actually given during the punishment phase of petitioner's trial could reasonably be construed as precluding the jury from giving mitigating effect to any of the evidence properly before the jury at the punishment phase of petitioner's capital trial. Id.
Petitioner argues he presented evidence which showed he: (1) was young and immature at the time of his offense, (2) was a model prisoner during his pretrial detention, (3) had the potential to improve his character and grow out of his youthful aggressiveness, (4) had become a spiritual, religious person during his pretrial incarceration, and (5) had matured during his pretrial detention. Setting aside the issue of whether this evidence addresses petitioner's "moral blameworthiness," this Court concludes all of the foregoing evidence could have been adequately considered and given mitigating effect by petitioner's capital sentencing jury when it addressed the first special issue, i.e., the future dangerousness special issue.
As explained in Section IV, subpart C, item 2 above, petitioner presents this Court with the same factual arguments he claims his capital sentencing jury was somehow precluded from considering. All of the potentially mitigating evidence petitioner has identified as allegedly outside the scope of his capital sentencing jury's consideration in connection with the Penry or "mitigation" special issue was well within the proper scope of petitioner's jury in connection with its determination and resolution of the first capital sentencing special issue. In sum, evidence which tended to show the petitioner was a young, immature man when he committed his offense but had grown, matured, and become a more spiritually cognizant or religious person while in custody could have been adequately considered by petitioner's sentencing jury when it answered the future dangerousness special issue.
Furthermore, this Court disagrees with petitioner's construction of the Texas statutory definition of "mitigating evidence" contained in petitioner's punishment phase jury charge. This Court concludes petitioner's jury, employing "a commonsense understanding of the instructions in the light of all that [had] taken place at the trial," would not have felt precluded by that definition from considering petitioner's youth and relative immaturity at the time of his offense as potentially mitigating factors when answering the "mitigation" capital sentencing special issue. Johnson v. Texas, 509 U.S. at 368, 113 S.Ct. at 2669. Petitioner's trial counsel urged the jury, without objection from the prosecution, throughout closing argument at the punishment phase of trial to consider petitioner's youth and immaturity at the time of his offense, his non-violent record during pretrial *832 detention, his religious growth during pretrial detention, and his potential for further growth as factors warranting a life sentence.[106] Moreover, given the broad scope of petitioner's punishment phase jury instructions, especially the express directive in the third special issue to consider "all the evidence, including the circumstances of the offense, the defendant's character and background, and the personal moral culpability of the Defendant,"[107] this Court concludes there is no reasonable likelihood petitioner's capital sentencing jury considered itself precluded from giving mitigating effect to petitioner's evidence showing he was young and immature at the time of his offense, a model prisoner during his pretrial detention, had the potential to improve his character and grow out of his youthful aggressiveness, had become a spiritual, religious person during his pretrial incarceration, and had matured during his pretrial detention. Thus, this Court concludes petitioner's eighth claim fails to satisfy the Boyde standard.
Had petitioner's jury construed the punishment phase jury charge in the manner urged by petitioner in his eighth claim, the jury would have been perplexed over how it could exercise its express duty to consider "all the evidence of petitioner's character and background" before it in answering the first and third capital sentencing special issues. There was considerable evidence before petitioner's capital sentencing jury of petitioner's character and background, including petitioner's recent religious development and maturation shown by his non-violent jail record. Petitioner's trial counsel repeatedly argued this same evidence warranted a life sentence for petitioner. The narrow construction of the punishment phase jury charge urged by petitioner in his eighth claim is unreasonable under the facts and circumstances of petitioner's trial.
There is no clearly established federal law in the form of Supreme Court precedent mandating a definition of "mitigating evidence" broader than the one set forth in the Texas statute. On the contrary, the Supreme Court has twice approved the following state court definition: "Relevant mitigating evidence is evidence which tends logically to prove or disprove some fact or circumstance which a fact-finder could reasonably deem to have mitigating value." Tennard v. Dretke, 542 U.S. 274, 284, 124 S. Ct. 2562, 2570, 159 L. Ed. 2d 384 (2004); McKoy v. North Carolina, 494 U.S. 433, 440, 110 S. Ct. 1227, 1232, 108 L. Ed. 2d 369 (1990).
The Texas statutory definition is fully consistent with the evolving notion of "mitigating evidence" contained in Supreme Court and Fifth Circuit precedent. See Scheanette v. Quarterman, 482 F.3d 815, 825-26 (5th Cir.2007) (rejecting the same arguments attacking the Texas capital sentencing scheme's definition of "mitigating evidence" raised by petitioner herein), stay denied, ___ U.S. ___, 129 S. Ct. 1305, 173 L. Ed. 2d 482 (2009); Beazley v. Johnson, 242 F.3d 248, 260 (5th Cir.) (holding the same Texas statutory definition of "mitigating evidence" challenged by petitioner herein did not unconstitutionally preclude jury consideration of the mitigating aspects of any evidence of the defendant's character or background or the circumstances of the offense which the defendant presented at trial), cert. denied, 534 U.S. 945, 122 S. Ct. 329, 151 L. Ed. 2d 243 (2001); Cordova v. Johnson, 993 F. Supp. 473, 489-98 (W.D.Tex.1998) (discussing the Supreme Court's analysis of mitigating evidence), Martinez v. Dretke, 426 F.Supp.2d *833 403, 538-41 (W.D.Tex.2006), CoA denied, 270 Fed.Appx. 277 (5th Cir.2008).
The Supreme Court has expressly held States are not limited to submitting narrow special issues to the jury when the sentencing jury reaches the selection phase of a capital sentencing proceeding. More specifically, the Supreme Court has held at the selection stage, the States are not confined to submitting to the jury specific propositional questions but, rather, may direct the jury to consider a wide range of broadly-defined factors, such as "the circumstances of the crime," "the defendant's prior criminal record," and "all facts and circumstances presented in extenuation, mitigation, and aggravation of punishment." Tuilaepa v. California, 512 U.S. 967, 978, 114 S. Ct. 2630, 2638, 129 L. Ed. 2d 750 (1994). The Supreme Court has made it clear States are permitted to guide the discretion exercised by capital sentencing juries so long as the jury is not precluded from giving mitigating effect to evidence that does lessen the defendant's moral culpability or blameworthiness for his crime. See Johnson v. Texas, 509 U.S. 350, 362, 113 S. Ct. 2658, 2666, 125 L. Ed. 2d 290 (1993) (holding there is no constitutional requirement of unfettered sentencing discretion in the jury, and States are free to "structure and shape consideration of mitigating evidence in an effort to achieve a more rational and equitable administration of the death penalty."); Boyde v. California, 494 U.S. 370, 377, 110 S. Ct. 1190, 1196, 108 L. Ed. 2d 316 (1990) (holding the same). The Texas capital sentencing scheme's definition of "mitigating evidence" is a proper method of guiding the discretion exercised by a capital sentencing jury. Bartee v. Quarterman, 574 F. Supp. 2d 624, 711 (W.D.Tex.2008), CoA denied, 339 Fed.Appx. 429 (5th Cir. 2009), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 130 S. Ct. 1882, 176 L. Ed. 2d 370 (2010); Martinez v. Dretke, 426 F. Supp. 2d 403, 538-41 (W.D.Tex.2006), CoA denied, 270 Fed. Appx. 277 (5th Cir.2008).
Petitioner's evidence showing he was a good person and a model prisoner during his pretrial detention and had matured and become a religious person could all have been adequately considered by petitioner's jury in answering the future dangerousness special issue. This evidence is indistinguishable from the type of "good character" evidence which can be given adequate consideration in connection with the future dangerousness special issue. See Scheanette v. Quarterman, 482 F.3d at 826 n. 64 (furnishing a long list of Supreme Court and Fifth Circuit opinions recognizing evidence of good character can be assessed adequately within the context of the future dangerousness special issue); Cordova v. Johnson, 993 F.Supp. at 496-98 & n. 122 (furnishing a longer list of Fifth Circuit opinions holding evidence of good character can be adequately considered under the future dangerousness special issue). If the jury determined petitioner had matured into a fundamentally "good person" during his pretrial detention who would likely continue to be a "model prisoner" during a term of life imprisonment, the jury could have answered the future dangerousness special issue negatively.
This Court concludes there is no reasonable likelihood petitioner's capital sentencing jury considered itself precluded by petitioner's punishment phase jury instructions from giving mitigating effect to any of petitioner's proffered mitigating evidence showing he was young and immature at the time of his offense, was a model prisoner during his pretrial detention, had the potential to improve his character and grow out of his youthful aggressiveness, had become a spiritual, religious, person during his pretrial incarceration, and had matured during his pretrial detention.
Petitioner procedurally defaulted on his eighth claim, i.e., his challenge to the Texas capital sentencing scheme's definition of "mitigating evidence," by failing to timely object to the definition of that term in petitioner's punishment phase jury charge. Moreover, petitioner's eighth claim lacks merit. Both this Court and the Fifth Circuit have rejected this same claim on numerous occasions in the past, and petitioner has not distinguished any of those cases from his own. See, e.g., Scheanette v. Quarterman, 482 F.3d at 826 n. 64; Bartee v. Quarterman, 574 F.Supp.2d at 709-10.
Petitioner's eighth claim does not warrant relief under the AEDPA. Petitioner's jury had an adequate opportunity when addressing the future dangerousness special issue to give "mitigating" effect to all of petitioner's evidence showing his relative immaturity at the time of his offense, non-violent record during pretrial detention, potential for growth and increasing maturity, and actual maturation and spiritual development during pretrial detention. Furthermore, given the broad language contained in petitioner's punishment phase jury instructions, the extensive jury argument petitioner's trial counsel presented emphasizing petitioner's relative youth and immaturity at the time of his offense, and petitioner's punishment phase trial testimony (which amply demonstrated how immature petitioner remained), there was no reasonable likelihood petitioner's capital sentencing jury believed itself precluded from considering petitioner's youth and immaturity, as well as petitioner's other proffered mitigating evidence concerning his background and character, when answering the "mitigation" special issue.
The alternative rejection by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals on the merits, during petitioner's state habeas corpus proceeding, of petitioner's complaint about the statutory definition of "mitigating evidence" included in the Texas capital sentencing special issues was neither contrary to, nor involved an unreasonable application of, clearly established federal law, as determined by the Supreme Court of the United States, nor an unreasonable determination of the facts in light of the evidence presented in the petitioner's state habeas corpus proceeding. Petitioner's eighth claim does not warrant relief under the AEDPA.
In his ninth claim, petitioner argues his Eighth Amendment rights were violated by virtue of the state trial court's failure to define several key terms included in petitioner's punishment phase jury instructions.[108] Specifically, petitioner argues the following terms should have been defined for his capital sentencing jury: "probability," "criminal acts of violence," "society."
Petitioner did not timely object to the absence from his punishment phase jury charge of the definitions in question. Moreover, petitioner did not complain on direct appeal about any-alleged error in his punishment phase jury instructions. When petitioner raised this complaint for the first time as his twentieth ground for state habeas relief,[109] the state habeas trial court concluded petitioner defaulted on this complaint by failing to either request definitions of the terms in question or make a timely objection before the trial court, and the claim had no merit.[110]
For the reasons set forth in Section V subpart C above, respondent correctly points out petitioner procedurally defaulted on his ninth claim by failing to either timely object to the absence of definitions of the terms in question from his punishment phase jury instructions or submit proposed definitions of those same terms for inclusion in his punishment phase jury charge.
Both this Court and the Fifth Circuit have previously rejected this same argument regarding the purported necessity for definitions of the terms in question as lacking in merit. See Paredes v. Quarterman, 574 F.3d 281, 294 (5th Cir.2009) (holding the terms "probability," "criminal acts of violence," and "continuing threat to society" "have a plain meaning of sufficient content that the discretion left to the jury is no more than that inherent in the jury system itself"); Turner v. Quarterman, 481 F.3d 292, 299-300 (5th Cir.2007) (rejecting claims the terms "probability," "criminal acts of violence," and "continuing threat to society" were so vague as to preclude a capital sentencing jury's consideration of mitigating evidence); Leal v. Dretke, 428 F.3d 543, 552-53 (5th Cir.2005) (listing numerous Fifth Circuit opinions rejecting complaints about the failure of Texas courts to define the terms "probability," "criminal acts of violence," and "continuing threat to society"), cert. denied, 547 U.S. 1073, 126 S. Ct. 1771, 164 L. Ed. 2d 522 (2006); Bartee v. Quarterman, 574 F.Supp.2d at 694-94 (citing numerous Fifth Circuit opinions and opinions of this Court rejecting the same arguments contained in petitioner Jaspers's ninth claim); see Moore v. Quarterman, 526 F. Supp. 2d 654, 720-21 (W.D.Tex.2007) (Judge Furgeson discussing the long line of Fifth Circuit opinions, as well as numerous opinions from district courts in the Western District of Texas, rejecting the same arguments raised by petitioner Jasper's ninth claim), CoA denied, 534 F.3d 454 (5th Cir. 2008).
Petitioner procedurally defaulted on his ninth claim by failing to either timely object to the absence of definitions of the terms in question from his punishment phase jury charge or submit requested definitions of those same terms. Moreover, within the context of the Texas capital sentencing scheme's special issues, the terms in question possess a common sense core of meaning which eliminates any constitutional requirement that they be defined further. Paredes v. Quarterman, 574 F.3d at 294.
The alternative rejection by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals on the merits, during the course of petitioner's state habeas corpus proceeding, of petitioner's complaints about the absence of definitions of key terms employed in the first Texas capital sentencing special issue was neither contrary to, nor involved an unreasonable application of, clearly established federal law, as determined by the Supreme Court of the United States, nor an unreasonable determination of the facts in light of the evidence presented in the petitioner's state habeas corpus proceeding. Thus, petitioner's ninth claim does not warrant relief under the AEDPA.
In his tenth claim, petitioner argues the Texas capital sentencing scheme unconstitutionally fails to provide "meaningful appellate review" of a death sentence because there is no means for a state appellate court to second guess a jury's *836 negative finding on the Penry or "mitigation" special issue.[111]
As explained above, petitioner did not raise any complaint about his punishment phase jury instructions at trial or on direct appeal. When petitioner first raised this complaint, as his twenty-second claim for state habeas relief,[112] the state habeas trial court concluded the claim had no merit.[113]
This claim lacks merit. See Rowell v. Dretke, 398 F.3d 370, 378 (5th Cir.) ("Circuit precedent has specifically rejected the argument that there is a constitutional requirement that mitigation special issue evidence be subject to appellate review by the state."), cert. denied, 546 U.S. 848, 126 S. Ct. 103, 163 L. Ed. 2d 117 (2005); Woods v. Cockrell, 307 F.3d 353, 359-60 (5th Cir. 2002) (holding Texas Court of Criminal Appeals' refusal to review the sufficiency of the evidence supporting negative answers to the Texas capital sentencing scheme's "mitigation" special issue, i.e., the Penry issue, did not violate due process principles); Johnson v. Cockrell, 306 F.3d 249, 256 (5th Cir.2002) (denying CoA on claim that Texas Court of Criminal Appeals' refusal to review whether sufficient mitigating evidence existed to support a life sentence violated Eighth Amendment), cert. denied, 538 U.S. 926, 123 S. Ct. 1573, 155 L. Ed. 2d 319 (2003); Beazley v. Johnson, 242 F.3d 248, 261 (5th Cir.) (holding petitioner was afforded meaningful state appellate review of death sentence when state appellate court reviewed sufficiency of evidence supporting future dangerousness special issue), cert. denied, 534 U.S. 945, 122 S. Ct. 329, 151 L. Ed. 2d 243 (2001); Bartee v. Quarterman, 574 F.Supp.2d at 696-97 (listing numerous Fifth Circuit opinions, opinions of this Court and district courts in the Western District of Texas rejecting the argument that "meaningful appellate review" of a jury's findings on the Texas capital sentencing special issues is constitutionally necessary above and beyond that permitted under the Jackson v. Virginia standard).
The rejection on the merits by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, in the course of petitioner's state habeas corpus proceeding, of petitioner's complaint about the absence of "meaningful appellate review" of a jury's answers to the Texas capital sentencing special issues was neither contrary to, nor involved an unreasonable application of, clearly established federal law, as determined by the Supreme Court of the United States, nor an unreasonable determination of the facts in light of the evidence presented in the petitioner's state habeas corpus proceeding. Petitioner's tenth claim does not warrant relief under the AEDPA.
In his eleventh claim, petitioner argues the Texas capital sentencing scheme deprives petitioner of his constitutional right to proportionality review of his capital sentence.[114]
Petitioner did not complain about this alleged defect in the Texas capital sentencing scheme at trial or on direct appeal. When he raised this claim for the first time as his twenty-third claim for state habeas relief,[115] the state habeas trial court *837 concluded there was no merit to this complaint.[116]
This claim lacks merit. The United States Supreme Court has expressly rejected the argument that a state appellate court is required to independently re-weigh aggravating and mitigating evidence. See Pulley v. Harris, 465 U.S. 37, 50-51, 104 S. Ct. 871, 879, 79 L. Ed. 2d 29 (1984) ("There is thus no basis in our cases for holding that comparative proportionality review by an appellate court is required in every case in which the death sentence is imposed and the defendant requests it."). Both before and after the Supreme Court mandated judicial proportionality review of punitive damage awards in civil cases, the Fifth Circuit has consistently held no such "proportionality review" of a capital sentence is constitutionally mandated. See Martinez v. Johnson, 255 F.3d 229, 241 n. 17 (5th Cir.2001) (recognizing there is no constitutional right to proportionality review), cert. denied, 534 U.S. 1163, 122 S. Ct. 1175, 152 L. Ed. 2d 118 (2002); Hughes v. Johnson, 191 F.3d 607, 622 (5th Cir.1999) (holding a state appellate court was not required to conduct proportionality review of a capital sentence), cert, denied, 528 U.S. 1145, 120 S. Ct. 1003, 145 L. Ed. 2d 945 (2000); United States v. Webster, 162 F.3d 308, 354 (5th Cir. 1998) (holding the Constitution does not require a comparison of the penalties imposed in similar criminal cases), cert, denied, 528 U.S. 829, 120 S. Ct. 83, 145 L. Ed. 2d 70 (1999); Evans v. McCotter, 790 F.2d 1232, 1243 (5th Cir.) (holding there is no federal constitutional right to any type of proportionality review, so long as the state's capital punishment scheme protects against arbitrary and capricious imposition of the death penalty), cert, denied, 479 U.S. 922, 107 S. Ct. 327, 93 L. Ed. 2d 300 (1986).
This Court has rejected the same argument urged by petitioner in his eleventh claimthe Supreme Court's holding mandating proportionality review of punitive damage awards in civil cases necessarily requires similar judicial scrutiny of capital sentences. See Bartee v. Quarterman, 574 F.Supp.2d at 695-98 (rejecting contention that due process concerns mandate proportionality review in capital criminal cases); Martinez v. Dretke, 426 F. Supp. 2d 403, 530-32 (W.D.Tex.2006) (holding the Supreme Court's opinion in Tuilaepa permits states to adopt capital sentencing schemes which vest the sentencing jury with virtually unfettered discretion at the selection phase of a capital trial), CoA denied, 270 Fed.Appx. 277 (5th Cir.2008); see Cordova v. Johnson, 993 F. Supp. 473, 509 (W.D.Tex.1998) (then District Judge Prado wrote, "Insofar as proportionality analysis is constitutionally necessary with regard to the Texas capital sentencing scheme, that analysis is incorporated in the `eligibility decision' described in Tuilaepa and Buchanan and is accomplished in the Texas capital sentencing scheme at the guilt-innocence phase of a trial because the Texas capital murder statute itself performs the constitutionally-mandated narrowing function.").
An analysis of comparing punitive damage awards in civil cases with one another has never been applied by the Supreme Court in the context of criminal sentencing. Thus, there is no clearly established federal case law requiring proportionality review of a state capital sentence. Furthermore, as demonstrated by the Federal Sentencing Guidelines' focus on the specific aspects of an offender and his particular offense, criminal sentencing requires careful consideration of a host of individual *838 characteristics relevant to a particular defendant and a particular criminal offense. Contrary to the assumption underlying petitioner's eleventh claim, neither all capital murders nor all capital murderers can easily be grouped into a single category for purposes of "proportionality review." The arguments underlying petitioner's eleventh claim would override the long-standing principle of individualized sentencing which supports the Supreme Court's entire Fifth Amendment and Eighth Amendment jurisprudence. See Cordova v. Johnson, 993 F.Supp. at 508 ("Petitioner's proposed rule would stand the principle of individualized sentencing on its head.").
The rejection on the merits by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals in the course of petitioner's state habeas corpus proceeding of petitioner's demand for proportionality review of his capital sentence was neither contrary to, nor involved an unreasonable application of, clearly established federal law, as determined by the Supreme Court of the United States, nor an unreasonable determination of the facts in light of the evidence presented in the petitioner's state habeas corpus proceeding. Petitioner's eleventh claim does not warrant relief under the AEDPA.
In his twelfth claim, petitioner argues the Texas capital sentencing scheme violates Eighth and Fourteenth Amendment principles because it fails to inform capital sentencing jurors of the effect of a single hold-out juror.[117]
Petitioner neither requested a jury instruction at the punishment phase of his capital murder trial advising the jury regarding the impact of a single hold-out juror nor raised the absence of such an instruction as a point of error on direct appeal. When petitioner raised this complaint for the first time as his twenty-sixth claim for state habeas corpus relief,[118] the state habeas trial court concluded the complaint was without merit.[119]
This claim is without merit. The United States Supreme Court rejected the argument underlying petitioner's twelfth claim in Jones v. United States, 527 U.S. 373, 382, 119 S. Ct. 2090, 2099, 144 L. Ed. 2d 370 (1999) (the Eighth Amendment does not require a capital sentencing jury be instructed as the effect of a "breakdown in the deliberative process," because the refusal to give such an instruction does not affirmatively mislead the jury regarding the effect of its verdict and such an instruction might well undermine the strong governmental interest in having the jury express the conscience of the community on the ultimate question of life or death). The Supreme Court has never held the Constitution mandates a jury instruction of the type requested by petitioner in this claim.
The Fifth Circuit, this Court and other district courts in the Western District of Texas, have rejected efforts identical to petitioner's to apply the Supreme Court's holding in Caldwell v. Mississippi, 472 U.S. 320, 105 S. Ct. 2633, 86 L. Ed. 2d 231 (1985), into the dissimilar context of a Texas capital trial. See, e.g., Turner v. Quarterman, 481 F.3d 292 300 (5th Cir.2007) *839 (recognizing Fifth Circuit precedent foreclosed arguments the Eighth Amendment and Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment mandated jury instructions regarding the effect of a capital sentencing jury's failure to reach a unanimous verdict); Barrientes v. Johnson, 221 F.3d 741, 776-78 (5th Cir.2000) (holding trial court's voir dire instructions informing jury the court would impose sentence, not the jury, but specifically explaining how the jury's answers to the capital sentencing special issues would require the court to impose either a sentence of life or death did not result in a Caldwell violation), cert. denied, 531 U.S. 1134, 121 S. Ct. 902, 148 L. Ed. 2d 948 (2001); Hughes v. Johnson, 191 F.3d at 618 (holding voir dire explanations to potential jurors of the impact of affirmative answers to the Texas capital sentencing special issues were sufficient to avoid any possibility the jurors misunderstood their role or the effect of their punishment phase verdict); Alexander v. Johnson, 211 F.3d 895, 897 n. 5 (5th Cir.2000) (holding the same); Bartee v. Quarterman, 574 F.Supp.2d at 702-03 (holding there is no constitutional right to have a capital sentencing jury informed of the effect of a hung jury); Moore v. Quarterman, 526 F.Supp.2d at 729-30 (holding there is no constitutional requirement that a capital sentencing jury be informed of the consequences of a hung jury or of a single hold-out juror); Blanton v. Quarterman, 489 F. Supp. 2d 621, 644-45 (W.D.Tex.2007) (holding the same), aff'd 543 F.3d 230 (5th Cir.2008), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 129 S. Ct. 2383, 173 L. Ed. 2d 1301 (2009); Martinez v. Dretke, 426 F.Supp.2d at 534-36 (holding the same).
No Caldwell error results merely because a Texas capital sentencing jury is not informed of the effect of a single hold-out juror. Bartee v. Quarterman, 574 F.Supp.2d at 701-03.
The rejection by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals rejection on the merits in the course of petitioner's state habeas corpus proceeding of petitioner's demand for a jury instruction informing the jurors of the effect of a single hold-out juror at the punishment phase of a Texas capital murder trial was neither contrary to, nor involved an unreasonable application of, clearly established federal law, as determined by the Supreme Court of the United States, nor an unreasonable determination of the facts in light of the evidence presented in the petitioner's state habeas corpus proceeding. Petitioner's twelfth claim does not warrant relief under the AEDPA.
Petitioner argues in his thirteenth claim that the "open-ended discretion" afforded a Texas capital sentencing jury in answering the Penry or "mitigation" special issue violates the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments.[120]
Petitioner raised no timely objection to his punishment phase jury charge and raised no point of error on direct appeal complaining about the "mitigation" special issue. In his twenty-seventh claim for state habeas corpus relief, however, petitioner presented the same argument as in his thirteenth claim before this Court.[121] The state habeas trial court rejected this claim on the merits.[122]
This claim lacks merit. The current Texas mitigation or Penry capital sentencing special issue conforms to the Supreme Court's holdings in Buchanan v. Angelone and Tuilaepa v. California, both of which recognize the Eighth Amendment authorizes a state to permit a capital sentencing jury to exercise virtually unfettered discretion at the selection phase, i.e., when it determines whether to impose or withhold a death sentence on a criminal defendant whom it has properly determined is eligible to receive same.
In Tuilaepa, the Supreme Court held States may adopt capital sentencing procedures which rely upon the jury, in its sound judgment, to exercise wide discretion. Tuilaepa v. California, 512 U.S. 967, 974, 114 S. Ct. 2630, 2636, 129 L. Ed. 2d 750 (1994). The Supreme Court held further, at the selection stage, States are not confined to submitting to the jury specific propositional questions but, rather, may direct the jury to consider a wide range of broadly-defined factors, such as "the circumstances of the crime," "the defendant's prior criminal record," and "all facts and circumstances presented in extenuation, mitigation, and aggravation of punishment." Tuilaepa, 512 U.S. at 978, 114 S.Ct. at 2638. The mitigation or Penry special issue submitted at the punishment phase of a Texas capital trial focuses exclusively on the selection decision, which the Supreme Court has held may involve a capital sentencing jury exercising unfettered discretion to withhold a death sentence from a defendant otherwise eligible to receive same. See Buchanan v. Angelone, 522 U.S. 269, 276, 118 S. Ct. 757, 761-62, 139 L. Ed. 2d 702 (1998) (at the selection phase of a capital sentencing proceeding, "our decisions suggest that complete jury discretion is constitutionally permissible."); Tuilaepa v. California, 512 U.S. at 978-80, 114 S.Ct. at 2638-39 (at the selection phase, the States are not confined to submitting specific propositional questions; a capital sentencer need not be instructed how to weigh any particular fact; discretion to evaluate and weigh the circumstances relevant to the particular defendant and the crime he committed is not impermissible).
The discretion exercised by a Texas capital sentencing jury to withhold the death penalty from defendants who have been determined eligible to receive same is fully consistent with the Eighth Amendment principles set forth in Tuilaepa and Buchanan. See Turner v. Quarterman, 481 F.3d at 299 (holding Tuilaepa permits capital sentencing juries to exercise "unbridled discretion"); Bartee v. Quarterman, 574 F. Supp. 2d 624, 704-05 (W.D.Tex.2008) (holding the same), CoA denied, 339 Fed. Appx. 429 (5th Cir.2009), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 130 S. Ct. 1882, 176 L. Ed. 2d 370 (2010); Moore v. Quarterman, 526 F. Supp. 2d 654, 731 (W.D.Tex.2007) (holding the same); Martinez v. Dretke, 426 F. Supp. 2d 403 (W.D.Tex.2006) (holding the same), CoA denied, 270 Fed.Appx. 277 (5th Cir.2008); Salazar v. Dretke, 393 F. Supp. 2d 451, 488-91 (W.D.Tex.2005) (holding the same), aff'd 260 Fed.Appx. 643 (5th Cir.2007), cert. denied, 554 U.S. 922, 128 S. Ct. 2963, 171 L. Ed. 2d 893 (2008).
The rejection on the merits by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals in the course of petitioner's state habeas corpus proceeding of petitioner's complaint about the "open-ended discretion" exercised by Texas capital sentencing juries answering the "mitigation" special issue was neither contrary to, nor involved an unreasonable application of, clearly established federal law, as determined by the Supreme Court of the United States, nor an unreasonable determination *841 of the facts in light of the evidence presented in the petitioner's state habeas corpus proceeding. Petitioner's thirteenth claim does not warrant relief under the AEDPA.
In his fourteenth and final claim, petitioner argues the Texas capital sentencing scheme's "mitigation" or Penry special issue violates the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments because the State is not required to disprove the existence of "mitigating evidence" beyond a reasonable doubt.[123]
Petitioner raised no timely objection to his punishment phase jury charge and included no point of error in his direct appeal complaining about the absence of an explicit burden of proof instruction regarding the "mitigation" special issue. Petitioner did raise the same complaint as that set forth here in his fourteenth claim as his thirty-second ground for state habeas relief.[124] The state habeas trial court rejected this claim on the merits.[125]
This claim lacks merit. The Supreme Court has implicitly rejected the legal arguments underlying petitioner's final claim herein. See Kansas v. Marsh, 548 U.S. 163, 175, 126 S. Ct. 2516, 2525, 165 L. Ed. 2d 429 (2006) ("In aggregate, our precedents confer upon defendants the right to present sentencers with information relevant to the sentencing decision and oblige sentencers to consider that information in determining the appropriate sentence. The thrust of our mitigation jurisprudence ends here. `[W]e have never held that a specific method for balancing mitigating and aggravating factors in a capital sentencing proceeding is constitutionally required.'").
The Fifth Circuit has rejected the arguments underlying petitioner's fourteenth claim, concluding the federal Constitution does not mandate assignment of a burden of proof on the Texas capital sentencing scheme's mitigation special issue. See Ortiz v. Quarterman, 504 F.3d 492, 504-05 (5th Cir.2007) (the Texas death penalty scheme does not violate Apprendi or Ring by failing to require the State to prove beyond a reasonable doubt the absence of mitigating circumstances), cert. denied, 553 U.S. 1035, 128 S. Ct. 2428, 171 L. Ed. 2d 234 (2008); Scheanette v. Quarterman, 482 F.3d 815, 828 (5th Cir.2007) (Texas death penalty scheme did not violate either Apprendi or Ring by failing to require the state to prove beyond a reasonable doubt the absence of mitigating circumstances), stay of execution denied, ___ U.S. ___, 129 S. Ct. 1305, 173 L. Ed. 2d 482 (2009); Granados v. Quarterman, 455 F.3d 529, 536 (5th Cir.) (holding no burden of proof requirement applies because the jury's answer to the Texas capital sentencing scheme's mitigation special issue does not enhance the sentence to death but, rather, reduces same from death to life), cert. denied, 549 U.S. 1081, 127 S. Ct. 732, 166 L. Ed. 2d 568 (2006).
On several occasions, this Court has rejected the same arguments petitioner presents here in his fourteenth claim, reasoning as follows:
the procedural requirements applicable to the eligibility decision in weighing jurisdictions such as Arizona (where specific findings of aggravating factors are *842 made during a separate post-conviction proceeding and then weighed against any "mitigating" factors also found by the sentencing authority) are inapplicable to a Texas capital sentencing jury's selection decision, i.e., its determination as to whether the mitigating evidence in a particular case warrants a sentence of less than death for a criminal defendant who has already been convicted beyond a reasonable doubt of capital murder and already determined beyond a reasonable doubt to pose a risk of future dangerousness. See Turner v. Quarterman, 481 F.3d at 300 ("Ring is inapposite to any discussion of the constitutional requirements of the selection phase."); Scheanette v. Quarterman, 482 F.3d at 828 ("a finding of mitigating circumstances reduces a sentence from death, rather than increasing it to death."); Sonnier v. Quarterman, 476 F.3d at 363-67 (holding the deletion of the former special issue inquiring into whether the defendant acted "deliberately" in connection with the capital murder from the Texas capital sentencing scheme did not render same vulnerable to attack on Eighth Amendment grounds); Granados v. Quarterman, 455 F.3d 529, 537 (5th Cir.2006) (distinguishing Ring and Apprendi on the ground a jury's affirmative answer to the Texas capital sentencing scheme's Penry or "mitigation" special issue reduces a sentence from death rather than increasing it to death, as was the case with the factual findings made by the trial judges in Apprendi and Ring), cert. denied, 549 U.S. 1081, 127 S. Ct. 732, 166 L. Ed. 2d 568 (2006).
Bartee v. Quarterman, 574 F.Supp.2d at 698-99 (quoting Moore v. Quarterman, 526 F.Supp.2d at 737).
Petitioner has identified no "clearly established" Supreme Court precedent recognizing a constitutional requirement for an express assignment of the burden of proof in connection with the Texas capital sentencing scheme's mitigation special issue. This is likely because the unique aspects of the Texas capital sentencing scheme make the Texas scheme's mitigation special issue readily distinguishable from the capital sentencing schemes in the weighing jurisdictions addressed in the opinions relied upon by the petitioner.
The rejection on the merits by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals during the course of petitioner's state habeas corpus proceeding of petitioner's complaint about the absence of an express burden of proof assignment in the Texas capital sentencing scheme's mitigation special issue was neither contrary to, nor involved an unreasonable application of, clearly established federal law, as determined by the Supreme Court of the United States, nor an unreasonable determination of the facts in light of the evidence presented in the petitioner's state trial and state habeas corpus proceedings. Petitioner's fourteenth claim does not warrant relief under the AEDPA.
In his fourth claim, petitioner argues the state trial court violated due process when it failed to inquire into "the obvious conflict between Mr. Jasper and his attorneys."[126]
As respondent correctly points out, petitioner never presented this argument to the state courts in the course of either his direct appeal or his state habeas corpus proceeding. Accordingly, petitioner has procedurally defaulted on this unexhausted claim.
Before seeking federal habeas corpus relief, a state prisoner must exhaust available state remedies, thereby giving the State the opportunity to pass upon and correct alleged violations of its prisoners' federal rights. Baldwin v. Reese, 541 U.S. 27, 29, 124 S. Ct. 1347, 1349, 158 L. Ed. 2d 64 (2004); O'Sullivan v. Boerckel, 526 U.S. 838, 842, 119 S. Ct. 1728, 1731, 144 L. Ed. 2d 1 (1999); Duncan v. Henry, 513 U.S. 364, 365, 115 S. Ct. 887, 888, 130 L. Ed. 2d 865 (1995); Picard v. Connor, 404 U.S. 270, 275, 92 S. Ct. 509, 512, 30 L. Ed. 2d 438 (1971); 28 U.S.C. § 2254(b)(1). To provide the State with this necessary "opportunity," the prisoner must "fairly present" his claim to the appropriate state court in a manner that alerts that court to the federal nature of the claim. See Baldwin v. Reese, 541 U.S. at 29-32, 124 S.Ct. at 1349-51 (rejecting the argument that a petitioner "fairly presents" a federal claim, despite failing to give any indication in his appellate brief of the federal nature of the claim through reference to any federal source of law, when the state appellate court could have discerned the federal nature of the claim through review of the lower state court opinion); O'Sullivan v. Boerckel, 526 U.S. at 844-45, 119 S.Ct. at 1732-33 (holding comity requires a state prisoner present the state courts with the first opportunity to review a federal claim by invoking one complete round of that State's established appellate review process); Gray v. Netherland, 518 U.S. 152, 162-63, 116 S. Ct. 2074, 2081, 135 L. Ed. 2d 457 (1996) (holding that, for purposes of exhausting state remedies, a claim for federal relief must include reference to a specific constitutional guarantee, as well as a statement of facts that entitle the petitioner to relief and rejecting the contention that the exhaustion requirement is satisfied by presenting the state courts only with the facts necessary to state a claim for relief).
The exhaustion doctrine is designed to give the state courts a full and fair opportunity to resolve federal constitutional claims before those claims are presented to the federal courts and, thereby, to protect the state courts' role in the enforcement of federal law and prevent disruption of state judicial proceedings. Carey v. Saffold, 536 U.S. 214, 220, 122 S. Ct. 2134, 2138, 153 L. Ed. 2d 260 (2002); Duncan v. Walker, 533 U.S. 167, 179, 121 S. Ct. 2120, 2128, 150 L. Ed. 2d 251 (2001); O'Sullivan v. Boerckel, 526 U.S. at 845, 119 S.Ct. at 1732; Rose v. Lundy, 455 U.S. 509, 518-19, 102 S. Ct. 1198, 1203, 71 L. Ed. 2d 379 (1982).
Under the AEDPA, federal courts lack the power to grant habeas corpus relief on unexhausted claims. Kunkle v. Dretke, 352 F.3d 980, 988 (5th Cir.2003) ("28 U.S.C. § 2254(b)(1) requires that federal habeas petitioners fully exhaust remedies available in state court before proceeding in federal court."), cert. denied, 543 U.S. 835, 125 S. Ct. 250, 160 L. Ed. 2d 56 (2004); Riley v. Cockrell, 339 F.3d 308, 318 (5th Cir.2003); Anderson v. Johnson, 338 F.3d 382, 386 (5th Cir.2003); Henry v. Cockrell, 327 F.3d 429, 432 (5th Cir.) ("Absent special circumstances, a federal habeas petitioner must exhaust his state remedies by pressing his claims in state court before he may seek federal habeas relief."), cert. denied, 540 U.S. 956, 124 S. Ct. 408, 157 L. Ed. 2d 293 (2003); Mercadel v. Cain, 179 F.3d 271, 276-77 (5th Cir.1999); Alexander v. Johnson, 163 F.3d 906, 908 (5th Cir. 1998); Jones v. Jones, 163 F.3d 285, 299 (5th Cir.1998), cert. denied, 528 U.S. 895, 120 S. Ct. 224, 145 L. Ed. 2d 188 (1999). However, Title 28 U.S.C. § 2254(b)(2) empowers a federal habeas court to deny an exhausted claim on the merits. Smith v. Cockrell, 311 F.3d 661, 684 (5th Cir.2002), cert. dism'd, 541 U.S. *844 913, 124 S. Ct. 1652, 158 L. Ed. 2d 263 (2004); Daniel v. Cockrell, 283 F.3d 697, 701-02 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 537 U.S. 874, 123 S. Ct. 286, 154 L. Ed. 2d 126 (2002). The exhaustion of all federal claims in state court is a fundamental prerequisite to requesting federal collateral relief under Title 28 U.S.C. Section 2254. Wilder v. Cockrell, 274 F.3d 255, 259 (5th Cir.2001); Sterling v. Scott, 57 F.3d 451, 453 (5th Cir.1995), cert. denied, 516 U.S. 1050, 116 S. Ct. 715, 133 L. Ed. 2d 669 (1996); 28 U.S.C. § 2254(b)(1)(A).
In order to "exhaust" available state remedies, a petitioner must "fairly present" all of his claims to the state courts. Duncan v. Henry, 513 U.S. 364, 365, 115 S. Ct. 887, 888, 130 L. Ed. 2d 865 (1995); Picard v. Connor, 404 U.S. at 270, 275-76, 92 S. Ct. 509, at 512-13 (1971); Kunkle v. Dretke, 352 F.3d at 988; Riley v. Cockrell, 339 F.3d at 318; Anderson v. Johnson, 338 F.3d at 386; Jones v. Jones, 163 F.3d at 296; Shute v. State, 117 F.3d 233, 237 (5th Cir.1997) ("a habeas petitioner `must fairly apprise the highest court of his state of the federal rights which were allegedly violated.'"). In Texas, the highest state court with jurisdiction to review the validity of a state criminal conviction is the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. Richardson v. Procunier, 762 F.2d 429, 431-32 (5th Cir.1985).
The exhaustion doctrine requires the petitioner present his federal claim in a manner reasonably designed to afford the state courts a meaningful opportunity to address same. The exhaustion requirement is satisfied when the substance of the federal habeas claim has been "fairly presented" to the highest state court, i.e., the petitioner presents his claims before the state courts in a procedurally proper manner according to the rules of the state courts. Baldwin v. Reese, 541 U.S. at 29-32, 124 S.Ct. at 1349-51 (holding a petitioner failed to "fairly present" a claim of ineffective assistance by his state appellate counsel merely by labeling the performance of said counsel "ineffective," without accompanying that label with either a reference to federal law or a citation to an opinion applying federal law to such a claim); Moore v. Cain, 298 F.3d 361, 364 (5th Cir.2002), cert. denied, 537 U.S. 1236, 123 S. Ct. 1360, 155 L. Ed. 2d 202 (2003); Mercadel v. Cain, 179 F.3d at 275. However, the petitioner need not spell out each syllable of the claim before the state court for the claim to have been "fairly presented" and thereby fulfill the exhaustion requirement. Riley v. Cockrell, 339 F.3d at 318; Fisher v. Texas, 169 F.3d 295, 303 (5th Cir.1999).
The exhaustion requirement is not met if the petitioner presents new legal theories or factual claims in his federal habeas petition. Anderson v. Harless, 459 U.S. 4, 6-7, 103 S. Ct. 276 277-78, 74 L. Ed. 2d 3 (1982); Riley v. Cockrell, 339 F.3d at 318 ("It is not enough that the facts applicable to the federal claims were all before the State court, or that the petitioner made a similar state-law based claim. The federal claim must be the `substantial equivalent' of the claim brought before the State court."); Wilder v. Cockrell, 274 F.3d at 259 ("where petitioner advances in federal court an argument based on a legal theory distinct from that relied upon in the state court, he fails to satisfy the exhaustion requirement"); Finley v. Johnson, 243 F.3d 215, 219 (5th Cir.2001). Likewise, to have "fairly presented" his federal claim, the petitioner must have reasonably alerted the state courts to the federal nature of his claim. Baldwin v. Reese, 541 U.S. at 29-32, 124 S.Ct. at 1349-51 (holding a petitioner failed to "fairly present" a claim of ineffective assistance by his state appellate counsel merely by labeling the performance of said counsel "ineffective," without accompanying that label with either a reference to federal law or a citation to an opinion applying federal law to such a *845 claim); Wilder v. Cockrell, 274 F.3d at 260 ("A fleeting reference to the federal constitution, tacked onto the end of a lengthy, purely state-law evidentiary argument, does not sufficiently alert and afford a state court the opportunity to address an alleged violation of federal rights.").
The Fifth Circuit has consistently held that federal habeas review on unexhausted claims presented by a convicted Texas criminal defendant is barred under the procedural default doctrine. See, e.g., Hughes v. Quarterman, 530 F.3d 336, 342 (5th Cir.2008) ("This court has held that, since 1994, the Texas abuse of the writ doctrine has been consistently applied as a procedural bar, and that it is an independent and adequate state ground for the purpose of imposing a procedural bar."), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 129 S. Ct. 2378, 173 L. Ed. 2d 1299 (2009); Aguilar v. Dretke, 428 F.3d 526, 533 (5th Cir.2005) (holding the Texas abuse of the writ rule ordinarily is an adequate and independent procedural ground on which to base a procedural default ruling), cert. denied, 547 U.S. 1136, 126 S. Ct. 2059, 164 L. Ed. 2d 793 (2006); Matchett v. Dretke, 380 F.3d 844, 848 (5th Cir.2004) (holding the violation of the Texas writ-abuse rule ordinarily furnishes an adequate and independent procedural ground which bars federal habeas review of a claim), cert. denied, 543 U.S. 1124, 125 S. Ct. 1067, 160 L. Ed. 2d 1074 (2005); Bagwell v. Dretke, 372 F.3d 748, 755-56 (5th Cir.) (holding a petitioner procedurally defaulted by failing to "fairly present" a claim to the state courts in his state habeas corpus application), cert. denied, 543 U.S. 989, 125 S. Ct. 498, 160 L. Ed. 2d 374 (2004); Cotton v. Cockrell, 343 F.3d 746, 755 (5th Cir.2003) (holding the Texas writ abuse doctrine is an adequate and independent barrier to federal habeas review of unexhausted claims), cert. denied, 540 U.S. 1186, 124 S. Ct. 1417, 158 L. Ed. 2d 92 (2004); Henderson v. Cockrell, 333 F.3d 592, 605 (5th Cir.2003) (recognizing the Texas writ-abuse doctrine has been strictly and regularly applied since before August, 1997), cert. denied, 540 U.S. 1163, 124 S. Ct. 1170, 157 L. Ed. 2d 1208 (2004); Smith v. Cockrell, 311 F.3d 661, 684 (5th Cir.2002) (holding unexhausted claims were procedurally barred), cert. dism'd, 541 U.S. 913, 124 S. Ct. 1652, 158 L. Ed. 2d 263 (2004); Jones v. Johnson, 171 F.3d 270, 276-77 (5th Cir.) (holding unexhausted ineffective assistance claim procedurally barred from federal habeas review), cert. denied, 527 U.S. 1059, 120 S. Ct. 29, 144 L. Ed. 2d 832 (1999); Muniz v. Johnson, 132 F.3d 214, 221 (5th Cir.) (holding unexhausted claims procedurally barred), cert. denied, 523 U.S. 1113, 118 S. Ct. 1793, 140 L. Ed. 2d 933 (1998); Nobles v. Johnson, 127 F.3d 409, 423 (5th Cir. 1997) (holding the Texas writ-abuse rule an adequate and independent barrier to federal habeas review of unexhausted claims), cert. denied, 523 U.S. 1139, 118 S. Ct. 1845, 140 L. Ed. 2d 1094 (1998).
Section 5 of Article 11.071 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure prohibits a successive state habeas corpus application except in limited circumstances which do not apply to petitioner's complaint about the violation of the presumption of innocence arising from the alleged vagueness of the first Texas capital sentencing special issue. See Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 11.071, § 5 (Vernon Supp. 2006) (barring consideration on the merits of new claims contained in a subsequent state habeas corpus application unless either the new claims could not have been presented in a previous application because the legal or factual basis for the new claims were unavailable at the time the previous application was filed; by a preponderance of the evidence, but for a violation of the United States Constitution, no rational juror could have found the applicant guilty *846 beyond a reasonable doubt; or by clear and convincing evidence, but for a violation of the United States Constitution, no rational juror would have answered in the state's favor one or more of the capital sentencing special issues). "The TCCA has grafted an additional requirement on the first prong of 11.071 § 5(a): `to satisfy Art. 11.071, § 5(a), 1) the factual or legal basis for an applicant's current claims must have been unavailable as to all of his previous applications; and 2) the specific facts alleged, if established, would constitute a constitutional violation that would likely require relief from either the conviction or sentence.' Ex parte Campbell, 226 S.W.3d 418, 421 (Tex.Crim.App.2007) (internal footnotes omitted)." Williams v. Thaler, 602 F.3d 291, 306 (5th Cir.2010), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 131 S. Ct. 506, 178 L. Ed. 2d 376 (2010).
Nothing prevented petitioner from asserting the same federal constitutional complaint raised here in his fourth claim in the course of his direct appeal or state habeas corpus proceeding. The factual basis for that claim existed as of the date petitioner filed his appellant's brief. Likewise, petitioner alleges no facts in this Court and presented the state habeas court with no evidence which satisfies either of the final two exceptions to the Texas writ-abuse barrier erected by Section 5 of Article 11.071. On the contrary, the evidence of petitioner's guilt was overwhelming as was the evidence supporting the jury's answers to the petitioner's capital sentencing special issues.
Nothing in petitioner's appellant's brief or state habeas corpus application "fairly presented" the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals with the same federal constitutional arguments contained in petitioner's fourth claim for relief. In short, nothing in petitioner's pleadings in any of his state court proceeding to date "fairly presented" any state court with the federal constitutional arguments underlying petitioner's fourth claim.
If petitioner were to attempt at this time to return to state court and assert these new federal constitutional arguments underlying his fourth claim in a successive state habeas application, the applicable provisions of the Texas writ-abuse statute would preclude him from doing so. Thus, petitioner failed to exhaust available state remedies on his fourth claim and, thereby, procedurally defaulted on same. See Ries v. Quarterman, 522 F.3d 517, 526 (5th Cir.) (affirming dismissal of unexhausted ineffective assistance claim as procedurally defaulted), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 129 S. Ct. 485, 172 L. Ed. 2d 351 (2008); Hughes v. Dretke, 412 F.3d 582, 594-95 (5th Cir. 2005) (holding petitioner procedurally defaulted on a jury misconduct claim by presenting the state courts with purely state-law arguments supporting same and waiting until he reached federal court to first urge federal constitutional arguments), cert. denied, 546 U.S. 1177, 126 S. Ct. 1347, 164 L. Ed. 2d 60 (2006); Beazley v. Johnson, 242 F.3d 248, 264-68 (5th Cir.) (holding petitioner procedurally defaulted on a claim by failing to present same to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals either on direct appeal or in a state habeas corpus application where claim was readily available at the time petitioner filed his state habeas application), cert. denied, 534 U.S. 945, 122 S. Ct. 329, 151 L. Ed. 2d 243 (2001); Hicks v. Johnson, 186 F.3d 634, 637-38 (5th Cir. 1999) (petitioner procedurally defaulted on an unexhausted claim for relief), cert. denied, 528 U.S. 1132, 120 S. Ct. 976, 145 L. Ed. 2d 844 (2000).
The Supreme Court has recognized exceptions to the doctrine of procedural default where a federal habeas corpus petitioner can show "cause and actual prejudice" for his default or that failure to address the merits of his procedurally *847 defaulted claim will work a "fundamental miscarriage of justice." Coleman v. Thompson, 501 U.S. 722, 750, 111 S. Ct. 2546, 2565, 115 L. Ed. 2d 640 (1991); Harris v. Reed, 489 U.S. 255, 262, 109 S. Ct. 1038, 1043, 103 L. Ed. 2d 308 (1989). To establish "cause," a petitioner must show either that some objective external factor impeded the defense counsel's ability to comply with the state's procedural rules or that petitioner's trial or appellate counsel rendered ineffective assistance. Coleman v. Thompson, 501 U.S. at 753, 111 S.Ct. at 2566; Murray v. Carrier, 477 U.S. 478, 488, 106 S. Ct. 2639, 2645, 91 L. Ed. 2d 397 (1986) (holding that proof of ineffective assistance by counsel satisfies the "cause" prong of the exception to the procedural default doctrine). While a showing of ineffective assistance can satisfy the "cause" prong of the "cause and actual prejudice" exception to the procedural default doctrine, petitioner does not argue or allege any specific facts suggesting his state appellate counsel's failure to present the same federal constitutional complaint about the state trial court's failure to intervene during petitioner's trial testimony constituted ineffective assistance by petitioner's appellate counsel. Thus, petitioner has failed to allege any facts satisfying the "cause and actual prejudice" exception to the procedural default doctrine.
In order to satisfy the "miscarriage of justice" test, the petitioner must supplement his constitutional claim with a colorable showing of factual innocence. Sawyer v. Whitley, 505 U.S. 333, 335-36, 112 S. Ct. 2514, 2519, 120 L. Ed. 2d 269 (1992). In the context of the punishment phase of a capital trial, the Supreme Court has held that a showing of "actual innocence" is made when a petitioner shows by clear and convincing evidence that, but for constitutional error, no reasonable juror would have found petitioner eligible for the death penalty under applicable state law. Sawyer v. Whitley, 505 U.S. at 346-48, 112 S.Ct. at 2523. The Supreme Court explained in Sawyer v. Whitley this "actual innocence" requirement focuses on those elements which render a defendant eligible for the death penalty and not on additional mitigating evidence that was prevented from being introduced as a result of a claimed constitutional error. Sawyer v. Whitley, 505 U.S. at 347, 112 S.Ct. at 2523. Petitioner has alleged no specific facts satisfying this "factual innocence" standard. Because petitioner has failed to satisfy the "actual innocence" test, he is not entitled to relief from his procedural default on his fourth claim under the fundamental miscarriage of justice exception to the procedural default doctrine.
Alternatively, the record before the state habeas court establishes there was no legal or factual basis supporting petitioner's "due process" complaint about the state trial court's failure to intervene during petitioner's punishment phase trial testimony.
Petitioner testified during the evidentiary hearing in his state habeas corpus proceeding that he concealed from his trial counsel his intention to deny under oath any responsibility for David Alejandro's murder. More specifically, petitioner testified during his state habeas hearing he did not want to testify during the guilt-innocence phase of his trial and chose not to do so,[127] he wanted to testify during the *848 punishment phase of trial "to clarify that I didn't kill this guy,"[128] and during his discussions with his trial counsel at the punishment phase of trial, "I told them `I want to take the stand.' I didn't tell them what I was going to say or anything. That's why I kind of surprised them."[129]
Petitioner argues the hostility he exhibited toward his trial co-counsel (attorney William Reece) when he was recalled to testify during the punishment phase of trial,[130] rose to a "conflict of interest" which mandated trial court intervention. However, petitioner and both his trial counsel were in agreement during their testimony in petitioner's state habeas corpus proceeding on one undisputed, salient fact: petitioner concealed from both his trial counsel his intention to deny before the jury any responsibility for David Alejandro's murder.[131] When petitioner made that denial, petitioner's trial counsel recalled petitioner for the purpose of permitting petitioner to explain his earlier denial. Petitioner then became upset and made several statements critical of his trial counsel's performance.[132] The evidence introduced during petitioner's state habeas corpus proceeding established that petitioner made the decision to take the stand during the punishment phase of his trial after consulting with his trial counsel, but petitioner concealed from said counsel his intention to deny any responsibility for David Alejandro's murder. Moreover, petitioner identifies only one authority to support his contention that due process concerns mandate trial court intervention whenever a criminal defendant expresses generalized dissatisfaction with the performance of his trial counsel.
In United States v. Cronic, 466 U.S. 648, 104 S. Ct. 2039, 80 L. Ed. 2d 657 (1984), decided the same day as Strickland, the Supreme Court held a presumption of prejudice similar to that recognized in Cuyler v. Sullivan, 446 U.S. 335, 348, 100 S. Ct. 1708, 1718, 64 L. Ed. 2d 333 (1980), arises in three narrow circumstances: first, when a criminal defendant is completely denied the assistance of counsel; second, when counsel entirely fails to subject the prosecution's case to meaningful adversarial testing; and third, where the circumstances are such that even competent counsel likely could not render effective assistance. United States v. Cronic, 466 U.S. at 659, 104 S.Ct. at 2047. As examples of the latter two situations, respectively, the Supreme Court cited the denial of effective cross-examination in Davis v. Alaska, 415 U.S. 308, 318, 94 S. Ct. 1105, 1111, 39 L. Ed. 2d 347 (1974) (defendant was denied the opportunity to cross-examine the prosecution's key witness for bias), and the circumstances surrounding the trial of the "Scottsboro Boys" addressed in Powell v. Alabama, 287 U.S. 45, 53 S. Ct. 55, 77 L. Ed. 158 (1932) (no individual attorney was appointed to represent the defendants and trial proceeded after a volunteer attorney from another state appeared on the first day of trial but *849 confessed he had not had an opportunity to prepare for trial). United States v. Cronic, 466 U.S. at 659-61, 104 S.Ct. at 2047-48. In a footnote, the Supreme Court recognized the continuing efficacy of its earlier holding in Cuyler, presuming prejudice where a defendant establishes an actual conflict of interest adversely affected his counsel's performance. United States v. Cronic, 466 U.S. at 661 n. 31, 104 S.Ct. at 2048 n. 31.
In Bell v. Cone, 535 U.S. 685, 695-96, 122 S. Ct. 1843, 1851, 152 L. Ed. 2d 914 (2002), the Supreme Court reiterated that the second exception to the requirement of Strickland "prejudice" it had envisioned in Cronic was limited to situations in which defense counsel completely failed to subject the prosecution's case to meaningful adversarial testing. See Bell v. Cone, 535 U.S. at 697-98, 122 S.Ct. at 1851-52 (holding complaints about trial counsel's waiver of closing argument at the punishment phase of trial and failure to adduce mitigating evidence insufficient to create a presumption of prejudice absent a showing trial counsel completely failed to challenge the prosecution's case throughout the sentencing proceeding).
The presumption of prejudice recognized in Cronic does not apply where the defendant complains of merely shoddy or poor performance by his trial counsel; for a defendant to be entitled to such a presumption, his attorney's failure must be complete. See Bell v. Cone, 535 U.S. at 697, 122 S.Ct. at 1851 (holding the presumption applicable only when counsel entirely failed to subject the prosecution's case to meaningful adversarial testing); United States v. Griffin, 324 F.3d 330, 364 (5th Cir.2003) ("When the defendant complains of errors, omissions, or strategic blunders, prejudice is not presumed; bad lawyering, regardless of how bad, does not support the per se presumption of prejudice."); Riddle v. Cockrell, 288 F.3d 713, 718 (5th Cir.) (holding "constructive denial of counsel" sufficient to support a presumption of prejudice arises only when counsel was absent from the courtroom, there was an actual conflict of interest, or there was official interference with the defense), cert. denied, 537 U.S. 953, 123 S. Ct. 420, 154 L. Ed. 2d 300 (2002); Mayo v. Cockrell, 287 F.3d 336, 340 n. 3 (5th Cir.) (holding the same), cert. denied, 537 U.S. 975, 123 S. Ct. 443, 154 L. Ed. 2d 332 (2002); Burdine v. Johnson, 262 F.3d 336, 344 n. 4 (5th Cir.2001) (holding the same), cert. denied, 535 U.S. 1120, 122 S. Ct. 2347, 153 L. Ed. 2d 174 (2002); Gochicoa v. Johnson, 238 F.3d 278, 284 (5th Cir.2000) ("`A constructive denial of counsel occurs in only a very narrow spectrum of cases where the circumstances leading to counsel's ineffectiveness are so egregious that the defendant was in effect denied any meaningful assistance at all.' We have found constructive denial in cases involving the absence of counsel from the courtroom, conflicts of interest between defense counsel and the defendant, and official interference with the defense; and have stated that constructive denial will be found when counsel fails to subject the prosecution's case to any meaningful adversarial testing." (Citations and footnote omitted)).
There is no legal authority supporting petitioner's contention he possessed a constitutional right to trial court intervention when petitioner expressed generalized dissatisfaction with the performance of his trial counsel. As explained above, such dissatisfaction does not rise to the level of a "conflict of interest" as envisioned by the Supreme Court's holding in Cronic.
There is no legal authority supporting petitioner's contention that a presumption of prejudice arises whenever a *850 criminal defendant expresses generalized dissatisfaction with the performance of his trial counsel. The non-retroactivity doctrine of Teague v. Lane, 489 U.S. 288, 310, 109 S. Ct. 1060, 1075, 103 L. Ed. 2d 334 (1989), forecloses adoption of the new principles advocated by petitioner in his fourth claim. Under the holding in Teague, federal courts are generally barred from applying new constitutional rules of criminal procedure retroactively on collateral review. Caspari v. Bohlen, 510 U.S. 383, 389-90, 114 S. Ct. 948, 953, 127 L. Ed. 2d 236 (1994). A "new rule" for Teague purposes is one which was not dictated by precedent existing at the time the defendant's conviction became final. See O'Dell v. Netherland, 521 U.S. 151, 156, 117 S. Ct. 1969, 1973, 138 L. Ed. 2d 351 (1997) (holding a "new rule" either "breaks new ground," "imposes a new obligation on the States or the Federal Government," or was not "dictated by precedent existing at the time the defendant's conviction became final"). Under this doctrine, unless reasonable jurists hearing the defendant's claim at the time his conviction became final would have felt compelled by existing precedent to rule in his favor, a federal habeas court is barred from doing so on collateral review. Id.
Petitioner's denial of responsibility for David Alejandro's murder undercut any argument petitioner's trial counsel could have hoped to make to establish that petitioner was sincerely remorseful or contrite over his crime and was truly repentant therefor.[133] Confronted with petitioner's damaging testimony, petitioner's trial counsel attempted to elicit at least some testimony helpful to their efforts to obtain a life sentence for petitioner. Petitioner continued to refuse to accept responsibility for David Alejandro's murder.[134] The fact petitioner grew hostile toward his own trial counsel when recalled to the stand did not, standing alone, require the state trial court to intervene and inquire on the record as to matters certainly within the realm of the attorney-client privilege, i.e., the genesis for the hostility. See Moreno v. Estelle, 717 F.2d 171, 175 n. 6 (5th Cir.1983) ("Where, as here, the defendant refers to no particular instances of disagreement over the presentation of his defense, but only expresses a general dissatisfaction with counsel, we cannot find the absence of further inquiry by the trial court to be error."), cert. denied, 466 U.S. 975, 104 S. Ct. 2353, 80 L. Ed. 2d 826 (1984).
Given petitioner's refusal to accept responsibility for David Alejandro's murder during his first appearance on the stand, there was nothing objectively unreasonable with the attempt by petitioner's trial counsel to recall petitioner and attempt to limit the damage done by petitioner's initial appearance. Under such circumstances, the trial court was not obligated to intrude into the strategic decision making of petitioner and his trial counsel.
There is no dispute the petitioner chose to exercise his right to testify after conferring with counsel. Petitioner does not allege any facts showing he was coerced to testify during his trial. It is likewise clear from petitioner's testimony during his state habeas corpus hearing the petitioner chose not to disclose to his trial counsel his intention to deny any responsibility for David Alejandro's murder (which essentially nullified the effort by petitioner's trial counsel to portray petitioner as a maturing, spiritually awakening, "changed man" who would not be violent in the future). Petitioner's trial counsel were surprised by petitioner's denial of responsibility and sought, by recalling petitioner, *851 to mitigate the damage done by petitioner's initial refusal to accept any responsibility for David Alejandro's murder. Petitioner does not allege any specific facts showing his testimony at trial was involuntary or the result of anything other than his own, fully informed decision to take the stand. Petitioner's generalized complaints about the performance of his trial counsel do not establish the type of "conflict of interest" addressed by the Supreme Court in Cronic or Cuyler.
Petitioner has alleged no specific facts or presented any admissible evidence establishing there was a complete breakdown in communications between himself and his trial counsel. Nor has petitioner alleged any specific facts showing either a betrayal of petitioner's confidence by his trial counsel or an irreconcilable conflict between petitioner and his trial counsel actually arose before or during trial. See United States v. Dilworth, 524 F.2d 470, 473 n. 3 (5th Cir.1975) ("the appellant must do more than allege dissatisfaction with trial counsel before the court will impose on the government the burden of disproving any inference of inadequate representation."). It was apparent to everyone but petitioner why his trial counsel recalled petitioner to testify after petitioner initially denied any responsibility for David Alejandro's murder. There was no reason for the state trial court to intervene when, after being recalled to the stand, petitioner expressed impatience with his trial counsel's questions, which were clearly designed to afford petitioner an opportunity to express at least some degree of remorse or contrition over David Alejandro's murder and his role in that crime. See Moreno v. Estelle, 717 F.2d at 175 (a criminal defendant's generalized dissatisfaction with his trial counsel did not require the trial court to advise the defendant of his right to self-representation). Petitioner's refusal to accept any responsibility for David Alejandro's murder, while admitting he planned the robbery and murder and recruited others to assist him in carrying out the offense, cannot be laid at the feet of petitioner's trial counsel or the state trial court. Petitioner counter-acted his own trial counsel's efforts to obtain a life sentence for petitioner. The state trial court was not required to intervene when petitioner's refusal to accept any responsibility for his offense became a generalized statement of dissatisfaction with the performance of petitioner's trial counsel.
Petitioner procedurally defaulted on his fourth claim by failing to present same to the state courts either on direct appeal or in the course of petitioner's state habeas corpus proceeding. Petitioner's fourth claim is unexhausted and cannot form the basis for federal habeas corpus relief. Kunkle v. Dretke, 352 F.3d 980, 988 (5th Cir.2003), cert. denied, 543 U.S. 835, 125 S. Ct. 250, 160 L. Ed. 2d 56 (2004); 28 U.S.C. § 2254(b)(1).
Petitioner's fourth claim is foreclosed by the non-retroactivity doctrine of Teague v. Lane.
Alternatively, there is no merit to petitioner's fourth claim. A criminal defendant's generalized statement of dissatisfaction with the performance of his trial counsel does not, standing alone, necessitate intervention by a trial court to inquire into the reasons for that dissatisfaction. Moreno v. Estelle, 717 F.2d at 175. Moreover, under the facts of petitioner's case, it was evident to the state trial court why petitioner was expressing impatience and even hostility toward his own trial counselsaid trial counsel were attempting to help petitioner obtain a life sentence despite petitioner's refusal to accept any responsibility for David Alejandro's murder. The testimony of petitioner and his trial counsel before the state habeas trial court *852 established beyond any doubt the sole cause of petitioner's statements toward his trial counsel during petitioner's trial testimony were the product of petitioner's own refusal to accept responsibility for his offense and not indicative of a complete breakdown in communications between petitioner and his trial counsel. Nor were those communications indicative of a true "conflict of interest" within the meaning of Cuyler and Cronic. Under such circumstances, the state trial court was not obligated to intervene when petitioner made generalized expressions of dissatisfaction with the performance of his trial counsel.
Accordingly, petitioner's fourth claim does not warrant federal habeas corpus relief.
In his second, third, fifth, and seventh claims, petitioner argues his trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance by failing to: (1) raise petitioner's immaturity as a defense at the punishment phase of trial, (2) adequately prepare petitioner prior to his testimony at trial, (3) adequately prepare for the punishment phase of trial and present available mitigating evidence, and (4) request a "vehicle" for the jury to give effect to petitioner's mitigating evidence showing petitioner was an immature young man who had found religion while in jail, was now a "model prisoner," and was likely to become less aggressive as he continued to mature.
The Sixth Amendment entitles criminal defendants to "the effective assistance of counsel," i.e., legal representation that does not fall below an objective standard of reasonableness in light of prevailing professional norms and the circumstances of the defendant's case, Wong v. Belmontes, ___ U.S. ___, 130 S. Ct. 383, 384, 175 L. Ed. 2d 328 (2009); Bobby v. Van Hook, ___ U.S. ___, 130 S. Ct. 13, 16, 175 L. Ed. 2d 255 (2009); and (2) give rise to a reasonable probability that, but for counsel's unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different, Porter v. McCollum, ___ U.S. ___, 130 S. Ct. 447, 452-53, 175 L. Ed. 2d 398 (2009); Wong v. Belmontes, 130 S.Ct. at 386.
The constitutional standard for determining whether a criminal defendant has been denied the effective assistance of trial counsel, as guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment, was announced by the Supreme Court in Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687, 104 S. Ct. 2052, 2064, 80 L. Ed. 2d 674 (1984):
A convicted defendant's claim that counsel's assistance was so defective as to require reversal of a conviction or death sentence has two components. First, the defendant must show that counsel's performance was deficient. This requires showing that counsel made errors so serious that counsel was not functioning as the "counsel" guaranteed the defendant by the Sixth Amendment. Second, the defendant must show that the deficient performance prejudiced the defense. This requires showing that counsel's errors were so serious as to deprive the defendant of a fair trial, a trial whose result is reliable.
To satisfy the first prong of Strickland, i.e., establish that his counsel's performance was constitutionally deficient, a convicted defendant must show that counsel's representation "fell below an objective standard of reasonableness." Wiggins v. Smith, 539 U.S. 510, 521, 123 S. Ct. 2527, 2535, 156 L. Ed. 2d 471 (2003); Williams v. Taylor, 529 U.S. 362, 390-91, 120 S. Ct. 1495, 1511, 146 L. Ed. 2d 389 (2000). In so doing, a convicted defendant must carry the burden of proof and overcome a strong presumption the conduct of his trial counsel falls within a wide range of reasonable *853 professional assistance. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. at 687-91, 104 S.Ct. at 2064-66. Courts are extremely deferential in scrutinizing the performance of counsel and make every effort to eliminate the distorting effects of hindsight. See Wiggins v. Smith, 539 U.S. at 523, 123 S.Ct. at 2536 (holding the proper analysis under the first prong of Strickland is an objective review of the reasonableness of counsel's performance under prevailing professional norms which includes a context-dependent consideration of the challenged conduct as seen from the perspective of counsel at the time). "No particular set of detailed rules for counsel's conduct can satisfactorily take account of the variety of circumstances faced by defense counsel or the range of legitimate decisions regarding how best to represent a criminal defendant." Bobby v. Van Hook, ___ U.S. at ___, 130 S.Ct. at 16; Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. at 688-89, 104 S.Ct. at 2065. It is strongly presumed counsel rendered adequate assistance and made all significant decisions in the exercise of reasonable professional judgment. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. at 690, 104 S.Ct. at 2066.
To satisfy the "prejudice" prong, a convicted defendant must establish a reasonable probability that, but for the objectively unreasonable misconduct of his counsel, the result of the proceeding would have been different. Wiggins v. Smith, 539 U.S. at 534, 123 S.Ct. at 2542; Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. at 694, 104 S.Ct. at 2068. A reasonable probability is a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome of the proceeding. Wiggins v. Smith, 539 U.S. at 534, 123 S.Ct. at 2542; Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. at 694, 104 S.Ct. at 2068.
In evaluating prejudice in the context of the punishment phase of a capital trial, a federal habeas court must re-weigh all the aggravating evidence against the totality of available mitigating evidence (had the petitioner's trial counsel chosen a different course). Wong v. Belmontes, ___ U.S. at ___, 130 S.Ct. at 386; Wiggins v. Smith, 539 U.S. at 534, 123 S.Ct. at 2542. Strickland does not require the State to "rule out" or negate a sentence of life in prison to prevail; rather, it places the burden on the defendant to show a "reasonable probability" that the result of the punishment phase of a capital murder trial would have been different. Wong v. Belmontes, ___ U.S. at ___, 130 S.Ct. at 390-91.
In evaluating petitioner's complaints about the performance of his counsel under the AEDPA, the issue before this Court is whether the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals could reasonably have concluded petitioner's complaints about his trial counsel's performance failed to satisfy either prong of the Strickland analysis. Schaetzle v. Cockrell, 343 F.3d 440, 444 (5th Cir.2003), cert. denied, 540 U.S. 1154, 124 S. Ct. 1156, 157 L. Ed. 2d 1050 (2004). In making this determination, this Court must consider the underlying Strickland standard. Id. In those instances in which the state courts failed to adjudicate either prong of the Strickland test, this Court's review of the un-adjudicated prong is de novo. See Porter v. McCollum, ___ U.S. at ___, 130 S.Ct. at 452 (holding de novo review of the allegedly deficient performance of petitioner's trial counsel was necessary because the state courts had failed to address this prong of Strickland analysis); Rompilla v. Beard, 545 U.S. 374, 390, 125 S. Ct. 2456, 2467, 162 L. Ed. 2d 360 (2005) (holding de novo review of the prejudice prong of Strickland was required where the state courts rested their rejection of an ineffective assistance claim on the deficient performance prong and never addressed the issue of prejudice); Wiggins v. Smith, 539 U.S. at 534, 123 S.Ct. at 2542 (holding the same).
*854 A habeas petitioner has the burden to prove both prongs of the Strickland ineffective assistance standard by a preponderance of the evidence. Montoya v. Johnson, 226 F.3d 399, 408 (5th Cir.2000), cert. denied, 532 U.S. 1067, 121 S. Ct. 2220, 150 L. Ed. 2d 212 (2001).
Under the well-settled Strickland standard, the Supreme Court recognizes a strong presumption that counsel rendered adequate assistance and made all significant decisions in the exercise of reasonable professional judgment. Bell v. Cone, 535 U.S. at 698, 122 S.Ct. at 1852; Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. at 690, 104 S.Ct. at 2066; Scheanette v. Quarterman, 482 F.3d at 820; Sonnier v. Quarterman, 476 F.3d 349, 356 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 552 U.S. 948, 128 S. Ct. 374, 169 L. Ed. 2d 259 (2007); Amador v. Quarterman, 458 F.3d 397, 410 (5th Cir.2006), cert. denied, 550 U.S. 920, 127 S. Ct. 2129, 167 L. Ed. 2d 866 (2007); Gonzales v. Quarterman, 458 F.3d 384, 390 (5th Cir.2006), cert. denied, 549 U.S. 1323, 127 S. Ct. 1909, 167 L. Ed. 2d 568 (2007).
Furthermore, under the AEDPA, in order to obtain federal habeas relief on an ineffective assistance claim rejected on the merits by a state court, the petitioner must do more than convince the federal court the state court applied Strickland incorrectlythe petitioner must show the state court applied Strickland to the facts of his case in an objectively unreasonable manner. Bell v. Cone, 535 U.S. at 699, 122 S.Ct. at 1852.
In his second claim, petitioner argues his trial counsel failed to present evidence and argue at the punishment phase of his capital trial that petitioner's immaturity mitigated in favor of a life sentence.[135]
Petitioner presented this same complaint about the performance of his trial counsel as petitioner's fourth assertion of ineffective assistance in petitioner's second claim for state habeas corpus relief.[136] The state habeas trial court found: (1) the jury was made aware of petitioner's age during the guilt-innocence phase of trial, (2) petitioner's "youth" was established during the punishment phase of trial by testimony of a member of petitioner's family, and (3) petitioner's trial counsel argued petitioner's youth and immaturity at the time of his offense were mitigating factors warranting a life sentence for petitioner.[137] The state habeas trial court concluded petitioner's complaint failed to satisfy either prong of Strickland analysis.
As explained in Section I, subpart D, item 2 above, during the punishment phase of petitioner's capital murder trial, petitioner's counsel presented testimony from: (1) the pastor of the church petitioner attended *855 who explained petitioner was a highly intelligent young man, a natural leader, who was beginning to listen to spiritual things and to align himself with Christ, (2) a BCADC classification officer that petitioner was a very soft-spoken, respectful inmate who had not engaged in any misbehavior while in detention awaiting trial and would likely not be dangerous if confined under close supervision, (3) from petitioner's mother and father that petitioner had grown up in a loving family environment and was basically a good person and student who became depressed and dropped out of school after his family moved to San Antonio and he was placed in remedial classes, and (4) from Dr. Sparks that petitioner had a history of daily marijuana use, depression, and suicidal ideation; was an impulsive, moderately immature young man who would likely become less impulsive and aggressive as he matured; had become very religious while in jail, and had shown no aggressiveness while in custody awaiting trial.[138]
During closing argument at the punishment phase of petitioner's trial, petitioner's counsel repeatedly emphasized petitioner's youth and immaturity, pointing out petitioner: (1) "committed this crime when he was 18 years old,"[139] (2) was too young to drink alcohol but could still be executed,[140] (3) weighed 140 pounds and was five feet, eight inches tall,[141] and (4) was "a scared little kid."[142] Petitioner's trial counsel also reminded the jury "this is a boy who came from a good family."[143]
Petitioner presented the state habeas court with no additional evidence addressing petitioner's immaturity or youth which petitioner's trial counsel failed to present to petitioner's capital sentencing jury. Petitioner does not identify for this Court any additional evidence, available at the time of petitioner's trial, which would have established or highlighted petitioner's youth and immaturity to any greater extent than did the witnesses actually called by petitioner's trial counsel. Petitioner did not present the state habeas court with any additional jury arguments he claimed his trial counsel should have made at the punishment phase of trial to further emphasize petitioner's youth and immaturity as mitigating factors. Likewise, petitioner has identified to this Court no additional arguments his trial counsel could have made at trial which would have made clarified further their contention that petitioner was a young, immature man, still in his teens, who was becoming religious, had demonstrated he could behave while incarcerated, and did not warrant imposition of the death penalty. Petitioner presented the state habeas court with no evidence showing there was anything else his trial counsel could reasonably have done to make petitioner's youth and immaturity any more plain to petitioner's capital sentencing jury than they did.
This Court has independently reviewed the record from petitioner's trial and state habeas corpus proceeding and has carefully considered the arguments urged by petitioner in his second claim for federal habeas relief. This Court finds petitioner's trial counsel did everything possible to place petitioner's youth and immaturity at the forefront of petitioner's jury when it retired to deliberate petitioner's fate. This Court independently concludes there was nothing objectively unreasonable *856 about the performance of petitioner's trial counsel with regard to their presentation of evidence and arguments concerning the mitigating nature of petitioner's youth and immaturity. Petitioner's trial counsel acted in a professional, objectively reasonable manner when they presented evidence regarding petitioner's youth and immaturity and argued that fact as a mitigating factor during the punishment phase of petitioner's trial.
The state habeas trial court acted in an objectively reasonable manner when it concluded petitioner's complaint about his trial counsel's alleged failure to present evidence and argue petitioner's youth and immaturity as a mitigating factor failed to satisfy the deficient performance prong of Strickland analysis.
Petitioner's trial counsel presented evidence during the punishment phase of trial establishing petitioner was barely eighteen years of age at the time of his offense, was moderately immature, had matured spiritually during his pretrial detention, had behaved in an non-aggressive manner throughout his pretrial detention, and could reasonably be expected to become less impulsive and aggressive as he aged and matured. Petitioner's trial counsel also argued petitioner's youth and immaturity as mitigating factors and pointed out petitioner's relatively limited criminal record prior to the murder of David Alejandro. Petitioner has not identified any additional evidence or arguments concerning petitioner's youth and immaturity available at the time of petitioner's trial which his trial counsel failed to present to petitioner's capital sentencing jury. Petitioner's capital sentencing jury was well aware of petitioner's youth and immaturity and all of the mitigating arguments which could reasonably be derived from those facts when it undertook its deliberations at the punishment phase of petitioner's capital murder trial.
This Court independently concludes there is no reasonable probability that, but for any failure by petitioner's trial counsel to further argue or present evidence concerning petitioner's youth and immaturity, the outcome of the punishment phase of petitioner's capital murder trial would have been any different. Petitioner's trial counsel did everything possible to make the jury aware of petitioner's youth and immaturity and to urge the jury to consider those factors in mitigation of petitioner's sentence, with regard to both the future dangerousness and mitigation special issues. There was nothing objectively unreasonable with the state habeas court's conclusion that this particular ineffective assistance claim failed to satisfy the prejudice prong of Strickland.
The rejection on the merits by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, in the course of petitioner's state habeas corpus proceeding, of petitioner's claim of ineffective assistance regarding petitioner's trial counsels' presentation of mitigating evidence and arguments regarding petitioner's youth and immaturity was neither contrary to, nor involved an unreasonable application of, clearly established federal law, as determined by the Supreme Court of the United States, nor an unreasonable determination of the facts in light of the evidence presented in the petitioner's state trial and state habeas corpus proceedings. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals' conclusion this particular complaint of ineffective assistance failed to satisfy either prong of the Strickland standard was the product of a reasonable application of that legal standard. Petitioner's second claim does not warrant relief under the AEDPA.
In his third claim for relief, petitioner argues his trial counsel failed to adequately prepare petitioner to testify and failed to anticipate the damaging nature of petitioner's punishment phase testimony.[144]
Petitioner presented a significantly different ineffective assistance claim as his third assertion of ineffective assistance in his state habeas corpus application; more specifically, petitioner argued in his state habeas application his trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance by recalling petitioner to testify during the punishment phase of trial and, thereby, "interjecting" prejudicial testimony from petitioner.[145] The state habeas trial court found petitioner's trial testimony had surprised both of petitioner's trial counsel because petitioner had given no indication to either of his trial counsel petitioner intended to deny any and all responsibility for David Alejandro's murder, and petitioner's trial testimony differed dramatically from what petitioner told his trial counsel during trial preparations.[146] Significantly, petitioner's complaint in his state habeas corpus proceeding focused on his trial counsels' action in recalling petitioner to testify, not on any alleged deficiency in counsels' preparations for petitioner's trial testimony. Thus, the petitioner's third claim is factually distinct from the somewhat similar complaint of ineffective assistance petitioner presented to the state habeas court.
Petitioner failed to present his third claim for relief to the state habeas court. The allegation of ineffective assistance urged by petitioner in his state habeas corpus application focused on his trial counsels' tactical decision to recall petitioner to testify after petitioner's first trip to the witness stand had neutralized the efforts of petitioner's trial counsel to gain petitioner a life sentence. The state habeas trial court concluded petitioner had effectively painted his own trial counsel into a strategic corner which mandated recalling petitioner to testify in what turned out to be an unsuccessful attempt to get petitioner to express sincere remorse for his role in David Alejandro's robbery and murder. Therefore, the state habeas court concluded petitioner's trial counsel could not be faulted for attempting to cure some of the harm done by petitioner during his first trip to the witness stand.[147]
In contrast to his complaint in state habeas court, petitioner's third claim presents this Court with a complaint about his trial counsels' alleged failure to adequately prepare petitioner to testify at trial. The state habeas trial court was never presented with this factual theory of ineffective assistance and, therefore, made no factual findings or legal conclusions regarding same. Rather, the state habeas court limited its focus to the question whether petitioner's trial counsel had rendered ineffective assistance in recalling petitioner to testify after petitioner's first trip to the witness stand. Thus, the third claim petitioner presents to this Court is factually distinct from the somewhat analogous ineffective *858 assistance claim petitioner presented to the state habeas court. Ordinarily, under such circumstances, this Court would dismiss petitioner's third claim as procedurally defaulted for the same reasons set forth in Section XII, subpart B above. However, respondent has not requested dismissal of petitioner's third claim on procedural default grounds.[148]
Because petitioner failed to present the state courts with his third claim, i.e., his complaint about his trial counsels' alleged failure to adequately prepare petitioner to testify, this Court's review of that claim is necessarily de novo. See Porter v. McCollum, ___ U.S. ___, 130 S. Ct. 447, 452, 175 L. Ed. 2d 398 (2009) (holding de novo review of the allegedly deficient performance of petitioner's trial counsel was necessary because the state courts had failed to address this prong of Strickland analysis); Rompilla v. Beard, 545 U.S. 374, 390, 125 S. Ct. 2456, 2467, 162 L. Ed. 2d 360 (2005) (holding de novo review of the prejudice prong of Strickland was required where the state courts rested their rejection of an ineffective assistance claim on the deficient performance prong and never addressed the issue of prejudice); Wiggins v. Smith, 539 U.S. 510, 534, 123 S. Ct. 2527, 2542, 156 L. Ed. 2d 471 (2003) (holding the same).
This Court has carefully reviewed the testimony from petitioner's state habeas corpus proceeding. Both of petitioner's trial counsel testified they advised petitioner of his right to testify and discussed with petitioner the potential pitfalls to be anticipated should petitioner choose to exercise his right to testify.[149] Petitioner's trial counsel both also testified: (1) petitioner insisted on testifying, (2) they did not encourage petitioner to testify, and (3) they were surprised by petitioner's trial testimony because it was inconsistent with what the petitioner had told them during their pretrial discussions of the facts of the case, including their discussions with petitioner about his statement to police.[150] One of petitioner's trial counsel testified, without contradiction from petitioner, that: (1) petitioner's trial testimony was "totally different" from what they had discussed with petitioner beforehand, as they prepared him for trial,[151] (2) petitioner never gave any indication to his trial counsel he planned to take the stand and testify he had thought about taking the bailiff's gun and killing people in the courtroom, and (3) petitioner's punishment phase testimony hurt the defense.[152] Petitioner's other trial counsel testified, in pertinent part: (1) the *859 only trial testimony that surprised him was petitioner's assertion he had not killed David Alejandro, (2) he went over the facts of the case and petitioner's statement with petitioner prior to trial and petitioner never indicated there was anything inaccurate in the statement, and (3) petitioner's punishment phase testimony hurt the defense team's efforts to obtain a life sentence for petitioner.[153]
Petitioner testified extensively during his state habeas corpus proceeding but did not controvert the assertions of his trial counsel that: (1) they discussed petitioner's statement and the facts of the case extensively with petitioner prior to trial, (2) they advised petitioner of his right to testify, (3) they discussed the potential pitfalls of testifying with petitioner, and (4) petitioner made the decision to testify on both occasions at the punishment phase of his capital murder trial against the advice of counsel. Petitioner also furnished no testimony to the state habeas court suggesting there was anything his trial counsel could have said or done to alter or change petitioner's decision to testify in the manner petitioner did during the punishment phase of trial. Likewise, petitioner alleges no specific facts in this Court suggesting there was anything his trial counsel could have done to prevent petitioner from taking the stand during the punishment phase of trial and eviscerating his trial counsel's efforts to convince the jury to give petitioner a life sentence.
On the contrary, petitioner testified during his state habeas hearing, in pertinent part, as follows:
Q. (By Mr. Langlois) Is there anything else you would like to present to the Court?
A. Well, the fact that when Ias soon as they said they were going to rest, they didn't want to put on any defense, they were going to make my appeal weak, I gave up on the case. I told them, I said, "I want to testify. I want to get on the stand because I want to clarify that I didn't kill this guy."
Well, me and Collins sit there and talked, and we talked about his questioning me. I said I do not want Reece to question me. I had already fell out with Reece. I was not pleased with what he did during the trial. So, when I go to testify, Reece comes back in Court and he ends up being the one questioning me instead of Collins.
Q. That was at the punishment phase?
A. Yeah.
Q. Now, did you tell your attorneys you wanted to testify at the guilt/innocence phase?
A. Naw.
Q. Okay. And did you want to testify at the guilt/innocence phase?
A. Naw.
Q. Other than what you just discussed already, is there anything else that you want to put on the record concerning
A. Well, the fact that
MR. SHAUGHNESSY: Your Honor, I'm going to object to the nature of that question. He can't put anything on the record he wants.
THE COURT: Sustained.
Q. (By Mr. Langlois) Do you feel like there's anything that your attorneys omitted in your defense other than what we discussed?
A. Well, right before I went to testify, Reece, he asked me "could I cry." That basically put me, again, at odds with Reece, because he was doing things *860 to me that just were ridiculous. They didn't want to fight the case.
I turn around and they want me to cry to the jury, I said, "Im not going to cry."
So, he gets up here and he's asking me, what I mean I didn't kill the dude, stuff like that. To me, that was incriminating questions.
When you had the autopsy report thatCollins established the fact of what was fatal and what was nonfatal you had twenty-plus-odd wounds made by somebody else.
So, Reece should have never even asked me, "What do you mean you didn't kill him."
I said, "What do you mean? It's as simple as it can be. I did not kill him.
He said, "Well, didn't you make a statement that you basically sliced his throat."
I said, "Well, didn't Collins establish the fact that that was nonfatal. What else do you have."
That's a nonfatal wound, and he's asking me, had I killed this dude. And this is my own attorney.
MR. LANGLOIS: All right, Mr. Jasper. I'll go ahead and pass the witness.
CROSS EXAMINATION
BY MR. SHAUGHNESSY:
Q. Mr. Jasper, you testified at the punishment phase of the trial that you used a knife to slice the throat of David Alejandro. Is that correct? Is that what you testified to?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Is that, in fact, true?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. So, you were present when this individual was killed; is that correct?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. And he was killed in the course of a robbery, was he not?
A. Yes, he was.
Q. And you were a participant in that robbery, were you not?
A. Yes, I was.
Q. It was your idea to rob that man, was it not?
A. Well, I can't say that it was my idea. Naw, I can't say that.
Q. Whose idea was it?
A. Well, the whole idea came from Steven Russell. I mean, it washe was homeless at the time. I was trying to look out for him. I took him to look for jobs, he kept telling me, he was about to get a gun, he wanted to commit a robbery. Okay.
Q. Let's go through this slowly and not have a storytelling. Who was the individual who knew David Alejandro?
A. I did.
Q. And you knew he had that recording equipment; right?
A. Yes.
Q. And you took your father's van over there and ultimately robbed that man of his stereo equipment or recording equipment; right?
A. True.
Q. And he was killed while that proceeding occurred; right?
A. True.
Q. And he was killed because two different people assaulted him with knives; right?
A. Yes.
Q. And one of those people was you yourself; right?
A. Yes.
Q. So, the things that you told Detective Rutland, in State's Exhibit 123, that was admitted at trial, are true; right?
A. Well, it should never even had [sic] been admitted.
*861 Q. Well, let's get away from whether it should or should not have been admitted.
A. You're telling me basically that what I said is true. Well, I'm telling you, okay, what you see in the statement, not everything in the statement is true. There's things in the statement that I didn't put there. They had two other statements before. A lot of it is theoretical.
Q. All right. Mr. Jasper, let me ask the questions and you can give me the answers. I don't need you giving me a lecture.
I want to know, the parts in your statement about why this individual was killed and who was using the weapons on him to kill him, those are true, are they not?
A. I would say, yes, they're true.
Q. And one of those individuals is, in fact, you; right?
A. Yes.
Q. All right. And when you testified in front of the jury at the punishment phase that you were there and you sliced the man's throat, that was true; right?
A. Yeah.
Q. And it remains true today?
A. Okay. I never denied it.[154]
* * * * * *
Q. And did you talk to Mr. Reece and Mr. Collins about your testimony before you gave it?
A. No.
Q. You didn't talk to them at all? You just said "I want on" and then you got on and said what you said?
A. They said they wasn't [sic] going to put on any defense, that they were going to rest and to make my appeal weak. So, I said "I want to take the stand."
Q. We're beyond that. We're talking about the punishment phase.
A. That's what I said, I told them "I want to take the stand." I didn't tell them what I was going to say or anything. That's why I kind of surprised them.
Q. So you didn't tell them what you were going to testify to. You just surprised your own lawyers?
A. The first time I just told himhe said that, you, "You need to say something to the victim's family." I said okay. I didn't know what I was going to say. The second time Reece brought me back in to question me, and that's when he came in here with these off-the-wall questions that, to me, would incriminate me.
Q. And you surprised Mr. Reece with your answers, is that it?
A. Naw, I wouldn't think so. I think he more surprised me with his questions, because I told Collins to question me. I didn't even want Reece to question me. So, when he questioned me, he threw me off, because me and Collins had a strategy.
Q. What strategy was that? I thought you said you didn't discuss it with him.
A. The first time I said "I want to take the stand," I didn't discuss it. I didn't tell them what I was going to say. The second time he said, "You know the D.A. is going to ask you about his throat." I said, "Well, let the D.A. ask me. You don't have to ask me about that." But Reece came in and did the *862 very opposite, and that's what threw me off.
Q. But what you said was the truth, anyway; right?
A. I mean, what part?
Q. The part about "slicing the dude's throat."
A. I've said it a hundred times already.
Q. So, the fact that Mr. Reece may not have understood your desires as to what the jury wanted to hear, ultimately the truth came out; right?
A. Well, it was messed up because Reece put me basically as the killer. He said, "What do you mean you didn't kill him." But Collins established the fact of what was fatal during autopsy; so, Reece shouldn't even have asked the questions. To me, he was just ignorant of the situation.
Q. But how could he know what the situation was if you wouldn't tell him what you wanted to testify to?
A. He wanted me to testify the second time. I wanted to testify the first time. The second time he said, "You know you got to get back up there." I said, "All right, I'll get back up there." But he started throwing questions at me I didn't expect. He was trying to knock off the D.A. and cut them off, and that was not the strategy that me and Collins had. * * *[155]
This Court finds: (1) petitioner's trial counsel interviewed petitioner prior to trial and fully discussed the facts set forth in petitioner's written statement to police, which facts petitioner did not deny during his conversations with his trial counsel,[156] (2) petitioner's trial counsel fully advised petitioner of his right to testify at trial and of the potential pitfalls of doing so,[157] (3) petitioner made an informed decision not to testify during the guilt-innocence phase of his trial,[158] (4) petitioner made an informed decision to testify during the punishment phase of his capital murder trial,[159] (5) the strategy of petitioner's counsel at the punishment phase of trial was to portray petitioner as a young, immature person who had no criminal record to speak of prior to David Alejandro's murder,[160] (6) petitioner's initial testimony at the punishment phase of trial undermined this strategy by portraying petitioner as unwilling to accept any responsibility for his role in David Alejandro's murder,[161] an unwillingness petitioner continued to demonstrate during his state habeas corpus proceeding,[162] (7) petitioner's trial counsel recalled petitioner to the stand in an attempt to ameliorate the damage done by *863 petitioner's initial refusal to accept any responsibility for Alejandro's murder but petitioner only exacerbated an already bad situation by continuing to deny any personal responsibility for David Alejandro's murder despite petitioner's candid admissions he had helped plan and execute the robbery and murder of David Alejandro,[163] and (8) at no time prior to taking the stand did petitioner indicate to his trial counsel he intended to either deny responsibility for David Alejandro's murder or admit he had thought about taking the bailiff's gun and shooting people in the courtroom.[164]
There is no evidence currently before this Court establishing there was any information reasonably available to petitioner's trial counsel prior to petitioner taking the stand to testify at the punishment phase of trial suggesting petitioner planned to either deny responsibility for David Alejandro's murder or admit he had thought about taking the bailiff's gun and shooting people in the courtroom. Petitioner's trial counsel cannot be faulted for failing to anticipate petitioner would engage in such a course of conduct. See United States v. Fields, 565 F.3d 290, 294 (5th Cir.) (clairvoyance is not a required attribute of effective representation), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 130 S. Ct. 298, 175 L. Ed. 2d 199 (2009); Sharp v. Johnson, 107 F.3d 282, 289 n. 28 (5th Cir. 1997) (holding the same).
In view of the foregoing factual findings, based primarily on the record from petitioner's trial and the testimony from petitioner's state habeas corpus hearing, this Court independently concludes there was nothing objectively unreasonable with petitioner's trial counsels' preparation of petitioner to testify at trial, the initial decision by petitioner's trial counsel to call petitioner to testify during the punishment phase of trial initially (in an attempt to portray petitioner as repentant), or the decision by petitioner's trial counsel to recall petitioner in an effort to mitigate the damage done by petitioner's unforeseeable refusal to accept any responsibility for David Alejandro's murder during petitioner's initial appearance on the witnesses stand. Under these circumstances, the performance of petitioner's trial counsel did not fall below an objective level of reasonableness. Petitioner's third claim does not satisfy the first prong of Strickland analysis.
"In assessing prejudice, we reweigh the evidence in aggravation against the totality of available mitigating evidence." Wiggins v. Smith, 539 U.S. at 534, 123 S.Ct. at 2542.
There is no evidence before this Court establishing there was anything petitioner's trial counsel could have done to prevent petitioner from exercising his constitutional right to testify during the punishment phase of his capital murder trial and refusing to accept any responsibility for David Alejandro's murder. Petitioner's continued refusal to accept any responsibility for David Alejandro's murder effectively assisted the prosecution at the punishment phase of trial. Petitioner's argument he did not deliver the fatal injury and is absolved of being held legally responsible for David Alejandro's murder[165] is contradicted by the medical examiner who testified at trial the incised wound petitioner admitted he delivered *864 to the front of David Alejandro's neck was a "very significant," "potentially fatal," wound which might have caused David Alejandro's death but for the many stab wounds which did lead to exsanguination.[166] Moreover, petitioner admitted during cross-examination at trial he had helped plan and carry out the robbery and murder of David Alejandro.
While petitioner's trial counsel attempted to portray petitioner as a young, immature person who had found religion while awaiting trial and had behaved during his pretrial detention, the undisputed evidence presented to the jury also showed: (1) petitioner was removed from public school and eventually expelled for repeated violations of the rules, (2) less than two years before David Alejandro's murder, petitioner, an unlicensed driver, led police on a high-speed chase in a vehicle which did not end until petitioner crashed his vehicle, and (3) only days before David Alejandro's murder, petitioner attacked a police officer who observed petitioner engaged in an attempted burglary of a residence and the officer was so challenged by the ferocity of the petitioner's assault he felt it necessary to discard his police handgun during the struggle until he could secure petitioner. Thus, there was evidence before the jury showing the petitioner, while still young, had a lengthy history of anti-social behavior dating back to his early teen years which escalated into a violent assault upon a police officer only days before David Alejandro's murder.
Petitioner's refusal to accept any responsibility for David Alejandro's murder and petitioner's admission he had thought about taking the bailiff's gun and shooting people in the courtroom appears to have had a devastating impact upon the capital sentencing jury. But that was not the only aggravating evidence before the jury at the punishment phase of petitioner's trial.
There is no evidence before this Court establishing there was anything petitioner's trial counsel could have done to prevent petitioner from testifying in the manner petitioner chose to do so at the punishment phase of his capital murder trial. Petitioner has presented this Court with no fact specific allegations or any evidence establishing petitioner would have heeded the advice or recommendation of his trial counsel not to testify during the punishment phase of trial in the manner petitioner chose to do. On the contrary, one of petitioner's trial counsel, attorney Kevin Collins, testified without contradiction during petitioner's state habeas hearing that he advised petitioner against testifying at the punishment phase of trial but the petitioner chose to do so nonetheless.[167]
The facts of petitioner's offense detailed in petitioner's written statement to police, largely uncontested throughout the guilt-innocence phase of trial, established petitioner planned and prepared for some time to rob and murder David Alejandro, a person petitioner himself described at trial as a very nice person. Petitioner secured the assistance of two others to complete the robbery and murder and himself undertook significant preparations before arriving at David Alejandro's studio on the night in question. Petitioner and his accomplices worked for several hours in David Alejandro's studio before petitioner initiated the fatal assault on their host. Once David Alejandro was dead, petitioner covered the body with a sheet petitioner had brought with him. Thus, petitioner's offense involved a high degree of planning *865 and preparation: petitioner planned David Alejandro's murder for some time before carrying it out, during which time petitioner: (1) discussed with his girlfriend the need to murder David Alejandro, (2) purchased duffel bags used to carry items out of David Alejandro's recording studio to the waiting vehicles, (3) recruited Steven Russell and Doug Williams to assist in the crime, (4) obtained a bed sheet he later used to cover David Alejandro's dead body, and (5) took a knife with him for the purpose of robbing and killing David Alejandro. Petitioner also displayed a high degree of callousness in his decision to murder and rob a person whom petitioner admitted had never done anything to harm petitioner.
In addition, there was uncontested evidence introduced during the punishment phase of trial establishing David Alejandro's murder robbed the community of an individual who routinely helped those, such as petitioner and Doug Williams, just getting started in the music business.
Petitioner's mitigating evidence consisted primarily of testimony: (1) from petitioner's parents which sought to establish (a) petitioner was a young man who was not to blame for his antisocial behavior but, rather, the victim of unsympathetic school officials, and (b) petitioner suffered because of his father's overseas military assignment during petitioner's formative early teen years; (2) from Dr. Sparks and a BCADC officer which sought to establish petitioner had a non-violent record during his pretrial detention, (3) from Reverend Patterson which sought to establish petitioner had become religious during his pretrial detention and was on his way toward becoming a follower of Christ, and (4) from Dr. Sparks which sought to establish petitioner was an immature young man who could be expected to grow less impulsive and aggressive as he aged and matured.
After reweighing the aggravating and mitigating evidence presented during petitioner's trial and state habeas corpus proceeding, this Court finds there is no reasonable probability that, but for the failure of petitioner's trial counsel to "adequately prepare" petitioner to testify at the punishment phase of trial, the outcome of that phase of petitioner's capital murder trial would have been any different.
Despite the advice of his trial counsel not to testify, petitioner chose to take the stand and try to convince the jury he was not responsible for David Alejandro's murder. Petitioner also chose not to reveal his intentions to his trial counsel. Moreover, even if petitioner had not testified as he did at the punishment phase of trial, this Court is convinced the facts of petitioner's offense and the meager mitigating evidence available to be presented would not have altered the jury's answers to the Texas capital sentencing special issues. The degree of planning and preparation involved in petitioner's offense, combined with the extremely violent nature of petitioner's assault upon David Alejandro and the petitioner's escalating record of violent conduct would likely have convinced petitioner's capital sentencing jury to answer the future dangerousness special issue affirmatively even if petitioner had not taken the stand and refused to accept any responsibility for David Alejandro's murder. The petitioner's parents offered little more in their trial testimony (and testimony during petitioner's state habeas corpus proceeding) than excuses for petitioner's increasingly violent criminal conduct, blaming educators and themselves but never acknowledging the petitioner's demonstrated propensity for violence.
There is no reasonable probability the petitioner's capital sentencing jury would have answered the mitigation special issue differently, even if petitioner had not taken *866 the stand and refused to accept any responsibility for David Alejandro's murder. Petitioner's written statement detailing his offense reflected his deviousness and callousness toward his victim. After planning for days to rob and murder David Alejandro, petitioner and his accomplices worked for hours in David Alejandro's studio before petitioner launched an unprovoked, brutal, assault upon David Alejandro.[168] As soon as the murder was complete, petitioner washed the blood off his hands and covered David Alejandro's body with a sheet petitioner had brought with him for that very purpose.[169] In the face of such a heinous offense, even without petitioner's punishment phase testimony refusing to accept any responsibility for David Alejandro's murder, petitioner's parental excuses and Dr. Sparks' testimony suggesting petitioner would become less aggressive after many years of aging and maturing would have possessed very little persuasive authority in the minds of rational jurors. Petitioner planned, collected the resources necessary (including the assistance of accomplices), and undertook a carefully calculated murder/robbery of someone petitioner himself described as an innocent, genuinely nice person after first taking advantage of his victim's largesse. There was no evidence presented during petitioner's trial or state habeas corpus proceeding suggesting petitioner was acting under the influence of intoxicants when he planned and executed his carefully crafted scheme to murder and rob David Alejandro.
This Court independently concludes petitioner's third claim fails to satisfy the prejudice prong of Strickland.
Petitioner's third claim fails to satisfy either prong of the Strickland test. Therefore, petitioner's complaint about his trial counsels' alleged failure to adequately prepare petitioner to testify at trial does not warrant federal habeas corpus relief.
Alternatively, for the reasons set forth above, insofar as petitioner's third claim can be construed as mirroring the claim presented by petitioner as his third assertion of ineffective assistance in petitioner's state habeas corpus application, the rejection by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals on the merits of that claim was neither contrary to, nor involved an unreasonable application of, clearly established federal law, as determined by the Supreme Court of the United States, nor an unreasonable determination of the facts in light of the evidence presented in the petitioner's trial and state habeas corpus proceeding. On the contrary, the state habeas court's conclusion that petitioner's trial counsel acted in an objectively reasonable manner in recalling petitioner to testify at the punishment phase of trial was itself an objectively reasonable application of the first prong of Strickland analysis.
In his fifth claim, petitioner argues his trial counsel failed to call unidentified available witnesses who could have furnished unspecified additional mitigating evidence.[170]
In his eighth assertion of ineffective assistance contained in his second claim for state habeas corpus relief, petitioner complained his trial counsel failed to present unidentified witnesses at the punishment phase of trial who could have furnished unspecified, additional mitigating evidence.[171]
During the evidentiary hearing held in petitioner's state habeas corpus proceeding, petitioner failed to call any new witnesses to testify about any mitigating evidence. Instead, petitioner elicited essentially the same testimony from petitioner's parents they had given during the punishment phase of petitioner's trial.
Specifically, petitioner's father testified during the state habeas corpus hearing: (1) he gave petitioner's trial counsel the names of several unidentified character witnesses who could have testified about unspecified information,[172] (2) he gave petitioner's trial counsel the names of several unidentified persons to whom Steven Russell had bragged about killing David Alejandro,[173] (3) his son, the petitioner, admitted cutting David Alejandro's throat,[174] (4) he and his wife furnished the jury with all the mitigating evidence they knew during their trial testimony,[175] and (5) had he been permitted to do so at trial, he would have told the jury the petitioner was not a murderer and it was a teacher's fault the petitioner dropped out of school at age sixteen.[176]
Petitioner's mother testified during the same state habeas corpus hearing: (1) petitioner was under stress at the time of David Alejandro's murder because petitioner's girlfriend was expecting a child and both of petitioner's parents were overseas,[177] (2) she knows in her heart the petitioner is not guilty of murder because he is "not that kind of person,"[178] and (3) had she been permitted to do so, she would have told the jury about an incident in which a stranger purchased shoes for petitioner once when the family could not afford to do so.[179]
Both of petitioner's trial counsel testified before the state habeas court they presented at trial every character witness of whom they were aware.[180]
The state habeas trial court expressly found: (1) while petitioner's father testified he was aware of additional character *868 witnesses, the substance of what they could have presented in terms of admissible evidence was never established, (2) it was never established petitioner's trial counsel were unaware of these other witnesses or the substance of any testimony they could have furnished at trial, (3) petitioner offered no testimony from any uncalled witnesses, (4) both of petitioner's trial counsel testified they presented all character witnesses they were aware of by petitioner or his family, and (5) petitioner himself denied under oath he was aware of any additional mitigating evidence his trial counsel failed to present.[181] The state habeas trial court also found the only potentially mitigating evidence not presented to petitioner's jury consisted of "the testimony of the applicant's parents to the effect that the applicant was a victim of a defective educational system ..., and that the applicant could not have committed the murder ...."[182] The state habeas trial court concluded petitioner's complaint about unidentified, uncalled witnesses failed to satisfy either prong of Strickland.
Complaints of uncalled witnesses are not favored, because the presentation of testimonial evidence is a matter of trial strategy and because allegations of what a witness would have testified are largely speculative. Day v. Quarterman, 566 F.3d 527, 538 (5th Cir.2009); Coble v. Quarterman, 496 F.3d 430, 436 (5th Cir. 2007); Miller v. Dretke, 420 F.3d 356, 362 (5th Cir.2005); United States v. Harris, 408 F.3d 186, 190 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 546 U.S. 919, 126 S. Ct. 297, 163 L. Ed. 2d 259 (2005); Graves v. Cockrell, 351 F.3d 143, 156 (5th Cir.2003). "Ordinarily, a defendant's failure to present some evidence from the uncalled witness regarding that witness's potential testimony and willingness to testify would be fatal to an ineffective assistance of counsel claim." Harrison v. Quarterman, 496 F.3d 419, 428 (5th Cir.2007) (Emphasis in original).
Petitioner's trial counsel presented the jury with the two persons best qualified to comment on petitioner's character, i.e., petitioner's parents. The only "new" or "additional" potentially mitigating testimony offered by petitioner's parents at the state habeas hearing consisted of an anecdote from petitioner's mother about a gift of shoes from an unknown benefactor and both of petitioner's parents' assertions the petitioner could not commit murder. These later assertions were tempered with their candid admissions they had no personal knowledge regarding the circumstances of petitioner's offense. One of petitioner's trial counsel testified without contradiction during the state habeas corpus proceeding that he interviewed petitioner's father extensively about petitioner's background.[183] There was no evidence presented to the state habeas court establishing that any substantial "additional" or "new" mitigating evidence was available to be presented to the jury at the punishment phase of petitioner's capital murder trial.
Petitioner presented the state habeas court with no testimony from any uncalled witnesses and no affidavits purporting to establish the substance of any admissible testimony these unidentified witnesses could have furnished at petitioner's trial. Petitioner thereby deprived the state habeas court of any evidentiary basis for concluding the strategic decision by petitioner's trial counsel not to call these witnesses was objectively unreasonable. Under *869 such circumstances, the state habeas court reasonably relied on the presumption of reasonableness afforded a trial counsel's strategic decisions to conclude petitioner's complaints of uncalled punishment phase witnesses failed to satisfy the deficient performance prong of Strickland. See Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687-91, 104 S. Ct. 2052, 2064-66, 80 L. Ed. 2d 674 (1984) (a convicted defendant must carry the burden of proof and overcome a strong presumption the conduct of his trial counsel falls within a wide range of reasonable professional assistance); Martinez v. Dretke, 426 F. Supp. 2d 403, 489 (W.D.Tex.2006) (holding the same).
For the foregoing reasons, the state habeas court's conclusion petitioner's complaint about his trial counsels' alleged failure to develop and present additional mitigating evidence failed to satisfy the deficient performance prong of Strickland was neither contrary to, nor involved an unreasonable application of, clearly established federal law, as determined by the Supreme Court of the United States. Nor was the state habeas court's conclusion based on an unreasonable determination of the facts in light of the evidence presented in the petitioner's state trial and state habeas corpus proceedings.
Without some showing a counsel's subjective decision-making was objectively unreasonable in view of the information and evidence then available to counsel, it is almost impossible for a habeas corpus petitioner to overcome the presumption of reasonableness afforded his counsel's strategic and tactical decisions under Strickland. See Gutierrez v. Dretke, 392 F. Supp. 2d 802, 875-76 (W.D.Tex.2005), CoA denied, 201 Fed.Appx. 196 (5th Cir.2006) (recognizing the burden on a habeas petitioner asserting a Wiggins claim includes demonstrating that, in light of the potentially mitigating evidence and information available at the time of trial, his trial counsel's efforts to investigate, develop, and present potentially mitigating evidence were objectively unreasonable), cert. denied, 549 U.S. 1227, 127 S. Ct. 1297, 167 L. Ed. 2d 112 (2007).
During his state habeas corpus hearing, petitioner's trial counsel testified they presented all the mitigating evidence of which they were aware. Petitioner's father may have furnished counsel with the names of additional character witnesses but, without some showing those alleged additional character witnesses actually possessed personal knowledge of admissible evidence, petitioner cannot show the failure of petitioner's trial counsel to call any such witness was objectively unreasonable. See Neal v. Puckett, 286 F.3d 230, 237 (5th Cir.2002) (recognizing that, in evaluating the performance of trial counsel against a claim that said counsel failed to investigate and present mitigating evidence, the relevant inquiry focuses on what counsel did to prepare for sentencing, what mitigating evidence counsel accumulated, what additional leads counsel had, and the results said counsel might reasonably have expected from those leads), cert. denied, 537 U.S. 1104, 123 S. Ct. 963, 154 L. Ed. 2d 772 (2003).
It is essential a habeas petitioner asserting a claim of ineffective assistance by his trial counsel arising from deficient performance not manifested on the face of the trial or appellate record develop and present the state habeas court with evidence regarding the objective unreasonableness of his trial counsel's performance in light of the circumstances as they existed at the time of the petitioner's trial. This requires inquiry into both the quality of trial counsel's subjective thought processes and the objective reasonableness of same. Moore v. Quarterman, 526 F. Supp. 2d 654, 695 (W.D.Tex.2007). More specifically, this means a habeas petitioner must place *870 each of the attorneys who represented the petitioner at trial under oath and inquire into precisely what information helpful to petitioner counsel knew at the time of petitioner's trial, the steps counsel took to obtain additional information which might have helped petitioner's cause at trial, and the reasons why counsel chose not to investigate the case against the petitioner or the petitioner's background further than they did. Bartee v. Quarterman, 574 F. Supp. 2d 624, 649-50 (W.D.Tex.2008), CoA denied, 339 Fed.Appx. 429 (5th Cir. 2009), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 130 S. Ct. 1882, 176 L. Ed. 2d 370 (2010); Moore v. Quarterman, 526 F.Supp.2d at 695. Petitioner failed to present the state habeas court with any evidence showing the conduct of petitioner's trial counsel in investigating, developing, and presenting mitigating evidence was objectively unreasonable in view of the information reasonably available to said counsel at that time.
The prosecution's punishment phase evidence, the details of petitioner's crime, as well as petitioner's performance during cross-examination at the punishment phase of his trial combined to ensure any rational jury would answer petitioner's capital sentencing special issues in a manner favorable to the prosecution. This does not change even when considering the weak, additional, mitigating evidence petitioner presented through his parents during petitioner's state habeas corpus proceeding. There is no reasonable probability that, but for the failure of petitioner's trial counsel to present the additional testimony from petitioner's parents offered during petitioner's state habeas corpus proceeding, the outcome of the punishment phase of petitioner's trial would have been any different.
Because petitioner failed to present the state habeas court with any evidence showing what any of the unidentified, uncalled, character witnesses to whom petitioner's father alluded could have furnished in terms of admissible testimony at the time of petitioner's capital murder trial, petitioner's complaint about these uncalled witnesses fails to satisfy the prejudice prong of Strickland. See Anderson v. Collins, 18 F.3d 1208, 1221 (5th Cir.1994) (holding absent a specific, affirmative showing of precisely what evidence or testimony was rendered unavailable due to a trial counsel's failure to investigate, develop, and present same, i.e., a showing of exactly what the missing evidence or testimony would have been, a court cannot even begin to apply the Strickland analysis because it is very difficult to determine whether the defendant was prejudiced by any such deficiencies in counsel's performance); Moore v. Quarterman, 526 F.Supp.2d at 696 (holding the same).
This Court independently concludes petitioner's complaints about his trial counsels' alleged failure to present additional mitigating evidence during the punishment phase of petitioner's capital murder trial fail to satisfy either prong of Strickland analysis.
The rejection by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals rejection on the merits of this ineffective assistance claim in the course of petitioner's state habeas corpus proceeding was neither contrary to, nor involved an unreasonable application of, clearly established federal law, as determined by the Supreme Court of the United States, nor an unreasonable determination of the facts in light of the evidence presented in the petitioner's trial and state habeas corpus proceedings.
In his seventh claim, petitioner argues his trial counsel should have objected to the punishment phase jury charge or requested supplemental instructions informing the jury it could give mitigating effect to petitioner's evidence of: (1) his youth and immaturity at the time of his offense, (2) his potential to improve his character and outgrow his youthful aggressiveness, (3) his record as a "model prisoner" during his pretrial detention, and (4) his personal spiritual growth and increasing maturity during his pretrial detention; petitioner argues the Texas capital sentencing special issues did not permit adequate consideration by petitioner's jury of the foregoing mitigating evidence because the statutory definition of "mitigating evidence" included in petitioner's punishment phase jury charge limited the jury's consideration of "mitigating evidence" to only such evidence which reduced petitioner's moral blameworthiness for his offense.[184]
Petitioner raised the same argument as his ninth claim for state habeas relief albeit in a different form.[185] The state habeas trial court concluded this complaint failed to satisfy either prong of Strickland analysis because petitioner's punishment phase jury charge complied with all constitutional requirements.[186]
As was explained in Section V subpart D above, the Supreme Court has established the constitutional standard for evaluating the propriety of a jury instruction at the punishment phase of a capital murder trial as "whether there is a reasonable likelihood that the jury has applied the challenged instruction in a way that prevents the consideration of constitutionally relevant evidence." Boyde v. California, 494 U.S. 370, 380, 110 S. Ct. 1190, 1198, 108 L. Ed. 2d 316 (1990).
The Supreme Court has consistently applied this standard to evaluate challenges to punishment phase jury instructions. See Abdul-Kabir v. Quarterman, 550 U.S. 233, 262-63, 127 S. Ct. 1654, 1674, 167 L. Ed. 2d 585 (2007) (holding the proper test is whether there is a reasonable likelihood the jury applied the challenged instruction in a way that prevented its consideration of constitutionally relevant evidence); Ayers v. Belmontes, 549 U.S. 7, 13, 127 S. Ct. 469, 473-74, 166 L. Ed. 2d 334 (2006) (holding the same); Weeks v. Angelone, 528 U.S. 225, 226, 120 S. Ct. 727, 729, 145 L. Ed. 2d 727 (2000) (emphasizing the Boyde test requires a showing of a reasonable likelihood, as opposed to a mere possibility, the jury construed the jury instructions to preclude its consideration of relevant mitigating evidence); Jones v. United States, 527 U.S. 373, 390 & n. 9, 119 S. Ct. 2090, 2102-03 & n. 9, 144 L. Ed. 2d 370 (1999) (holding the same); Calderon v. Coleman, 525 U.S. 141, 146, 119 S. Ct. 500, 503, 142 L. Ed. 2d 521 (1998) (holding the same); Buchanan v. Angelone, 522 U.S. 269, 276, 118 S. Ct. 757, 761, 139 L. Ed. 2d 702 (1998) (holding the same); Johnson v. Texas, 509 U.S. 350, 367, 113 S. Ct. 2658, 2669, 125 L. Ed. 2d 290 (1993) (holding Boyde requires a showing of a reasonable likelihood the jury interpreted *872 the jury instructions so as to preclude it from considering relevant mitigating evidence).
Thus, the Supreme Court has clearly established the principle that "sentencing juries must be able to give meaningful consideration and effect to all mitigating evidence that might provide a basis for refusing to impose the death penalty on a particular individual, notwithstanding the severity of his crime or his potential to commit similar offenses in the future." Abdul-Kabir v. Quarterman, 550 U.S. at 246, 127 S.Ct. at 1664.
The failure of petitioner's trial counsel to request a supplemental jury instruction addressing petitioner's mitigating evidence did not cause the performance of counsel to fall below an objective level of reasonableness. As was explained in Section V, subpart D above, there was nothing constitutionally deficient in petitioner's punishment phase jury instructions.
The failure of petitioner's trial counsel to raise a meritless objection to the punishment phase jury charge did not cause the performance of said counsel to fall below an objective level of reasonableness. See Paredes v. Quarterman, 574 F.3d 281, 291 (5th Cir.2009) (holding failure to raise a meritless objection does not satisfy the deficient performance prong of Strickland), cert. filed November 19, 2010 (no. 10-7650); Wood v. Quarterman, 503 F.3d 408, 413 (5th Cir.2007) (failure to raise futile or meritless objections is not ineffective lawyering), cert. denied, 552 U.S. 1314, 128 S. Ct. 1874, 170 L. Ed. 2d 752 (2008); Johnson v. Cockrell, 306 F.3d 249, 255 (5th Cir.2002) (holding there was nothing deficient in counsel's failure to object to the admission of psychiatric testimony that was admissible under then-existing precedent), cert. denied, 538 U.S. 926, 123 S. Ct. 1573, 155 L. Ed. 2d 319 (2003); Robison v. Johnson, 151 F.3d 256, 261 (5th Cir.1998) (nothing deficient regarding trial counsel's failure to seek admission of a document the state court concluded was inadmissible), cert. denied, 526 U.S. 1100, 119 S. Ct. 1578, 143 L. Ed. 2d 673 (1999); Emery v. Johnson, 139 F.3d 191, 198 (5th Cir.1997) (failure to assert a meritless objection cannot be the grounds for a finding of deficient performance), cert. denied, 525 U.S. 969, 119 S. Ct. 418, 142 L. Ed. 2d 339 (1998).
Moreover, petitioner has failed to show what type of supplemental jury instruction his trial counsel should have offered to ensure the jury's consideration of petitioner's mitigating evidence. By directing the jury to consider petitioner's character and background in connection with both the first and third special issues, i.e., the future dangerousness and mitigation issues, petitioner's punishment phase jury instructions afforded his jury multiple opportunities to give "mitigating" effect to all of petitioner's potentially mitigating evidence of his: (1) youth and immaturity at the time of his offense, (2) non-violent record during pretrial detention, (3) spiritual growth and maturation during pretrial detention, and (4) potential for further maturation and spiritual growth, with an accompanying reduction in impulsiveness and aggressiveness. Petitioner's narrow construction of his punishment phase jury charge is not reasonable given the extensive evidence of petitioner's background and character admitted into evidence, as well as petitioner's trial counsels' arguments calling the jury's attention to petitioner's youth, immaturity, recent spiritual development, non-violent jail record, and potential for further maturation and spiritual development.
Petitioner's trial counsels' failure to raise a meritless objection to petitioner's punishment phase jury instruction did not "prejudice" petitioner within the meaning *873 of Strickland. Paredes v. Quarterman, 574 F.3d at 291; United States v. Kimler, 167 F.3d 889, 893 (5th Cir.1999).
Petitioner's seventh claim fails to satisfy either prong of Strickland analysis. The rejection on the merits by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals during petitioner's state habeas corpus proceeding of this ineffective assistance claim was neither contrary to, nor involved an unreasonable application of, clearly established federal law, as determined by the Supreme Court of the United States, nor an unreasonable determination of the facts in light of the evidence presented in the petitioner's trial and state habeas corpus proceedings.
The AEDPA converted the "certificate of probable cause" previously required as a prerequisite to an appeal from the denial of a petition for federal habeas corpus relief into a "Certificate of Appealability" ("CoA"). See Hill v. Johnson, 114 F.3d 78, 80 (5th Cir.1997) (recognizing the "substantial showing" requirement for a CoA under the AEDPA is merely a change in nomenclature from the CPC standard); Muniz v. Johnson, 114 F.3d 43, 45 (5th Cir.1997) (holding the standard for obtaining a CoA is the same as for a CPC). The CoA requirement supersedes the previous requirement for a certificate of probable cause to appeal for federal habeas corpus petitions filed after the effective date of the AEDPA. Robison v. Johnson, 151 F.3d 256, 259 n. 2 (5th Cir.1998), cert. denied, 526 U.S. 1100, 119 S. Ct. 1578, 143 L. Ed. 2d 673 (1999); Hallmark v. Johnson, 118 F.3d 1073, 1076 (5th Cir.1997), cert. denied sub nom. Monroe v. Johnson, 523 U.S. 1041, 118 S. Ct. 1342, 140 L. Ed. 2d 502 (1998). Effective December 1, 2009, Rule 11(a) of the Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases in United States District Courts requires this Court to issue or deny a CoA when it enters an order adverse to a federal habeas corpus petitioner.
Under the AEDPA, before a petitioner may appeal the denial of a habeas corpus petition filed under Section 2254, the petitioner must obtain a CoA. Miller-El v. Cockrell, 537 U.S. 322, 335-36, 123 S. Ct. 1029, 1039, 154 L. Ed. 2d 931 (2003); 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2). Likewise, under the AEDPA, appellate review of a habeas petition is limited to the issues on which a CoA is granted. See Crutcher v. Cockrell, 301 F.3d 656, 658 n. 10 (5th Cir.2002) (holding a CoA is granted on an issue-by-issue basis, thereby limiting appellate review to those issues); Jones v. Cain, 227 F.3d 228, 230 n. 2 (5th Cir.2000) (holding the same); Lackey v. Johnson, 116 F.3d 149, 151 (5th Cir.1997) (holding the scope of appellate review of denial of a habeas petition limited to the issues on which CoA has been granted). In other words, a CoA is granted or denied on an issue-by-issue basis, thereby limiting appellate review to those issues on which CoA is granted alone. Crutcher v. Cockrell, 301 F.3d at 658 n. 10; Lackey v. Johnson, 116 F.3d at 151; Hill v. Johnson, 114 F.3d at 80; Muniz v. Johnson, 114 F.3d at 45; Murphy v. Johnson, 110 F.3d 10, 11 n. 1 (5th Cir.1997); 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(3).
A CoA will not be granted unless the petitioner makes a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right. Tennard v. Dretke, 542 U.S. 274, 282, 124 S. Ct. 2562, 2569, 159 L. Ed. 2d 384 (2004); Miller-El v. Cockrell, 537 U.S. at 336, 123 S.Ct. at 1039; Slack v. McDaniel, 529 U.S. 473, 483, 120 S. Ct. 1595, 1603, 146 L. Ed. 2d 542 (2000); Barefoot v. Estelle, 463 U.S. 880, 893, 103 S. Ct. 3383, 3394, 77 L. Ed. 2d 1090 (1983).
To make such a showing, the petitioner need not show he will prevail on the *874 merits but, rather, must demonstrate that reasonable jurists could debate whether (or, for that matter, agree) the petition should have been resolved in a different manner or that the issues presented are adequate to deserve encouragement to proceed further. Tennard v. Dretke, 542 U.S. at 282, 124 S.Ct. at 2569; Miller-El v. Cockrell, 537 U.S. at 336, 123 S.Ct. at 1039; Slack v. McDaniel, 529 U.S. at 484, 120 S.Ct. at 1604; Barefoot v. Estelle, 463 U.S. at 893 n. 4, 103 S.Ct. at 3394 n. 4. This Court is required to issue or deny a CoA when it enters a final Order such as this one adverse to a federal habeas petitioner. Rule 11(a), Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases in the United States District Courts.
The showing necessary to obtain a CoA on a particular claim is dependent upon the manner in which the District Court has disposed of a claim. If this Court rejects a prisoner's constitutional claim on the merits, the petitioner must demonstrate reasonable jurists could find the court's assessment of the constitutional claim to be debatable or wrong. "[W]here a district court has rejected the constitutional claims on the merits, the showing required to satisfy § 2253(c) is straightforward: The petitioner must demonstrate that reasonable jurists would find the district court's assessment of the constitutional claims debatable or wrong." Miller-El v. Cockrell, 537 U.S. at 338, 123 S.Ct. at 1040 (quoting Slack v. McDaniel, 529 U.S. at 484, 120 S.Ct. at 1604). Accord Tennard v. Dretke, 542 U.S. at 282, 124 S.Ct. at 2569. In a case in which the petitioner wishes to challenge on appeal this Court's dismissal of a claim for a reason not of constitutional dimension, such as procedural default, limitations, or lack of exhaustion, the petitioner must show jurists of reason would find it debatable whether the petition states a valid claim of the denial of a constitutional right and whether this Court was correct in its procedural ruling. See Slack v. McDaniel, 529 U.S. at 484, 120 S.Ct. at 1604 (holding when a district court denies a habeas claim on procedural grounds, without reaching the underlying constitutional claim, a CoA may issue only when the petitioner shows that reasonable jurists would find it debatable whether the claim is a valid assertion of the denial of a constitutional right and the district court's procedural ruling was correct).
In death penalty cases, any doubt as to whether a CoA should issue must be resolved in the petitioner's favor. Avila v. Quarterman, 560 F.3d 299, 304 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 130 S. Ct. 536, 175 L. Ed. 2d 350 (2009); Moore v. Quarterman, 534 F.3d 454, 460 (5th Cir.2008); Foster v. Quarterman, 466 F.3d 359, 364 (5th Cir.2006), cert. denied, 550 U.S. 906, 127 S. Ct. 2099, 167 L. Ed. 2d 817 (2007); Dickson v. Quarterman, 462 F.3d 470, 476 (5th Cir.2006); Pippin v. Dretke, 434 F.3d 782, 787 (5th Cir.2005), cert. denied, 549 U.S. 828, 127 S. Ct. 351, 166 L. Ed. 2d 49 (2006); Bridgers v. Dretke, 431 F.3d 853, 861 (5th Cir.2005), cert. denied, 548 U.S. 909, 126 S. Ct. 2961, 165 L. Ed. 2d 959 (2006).
Nonetheless, a CoA is not automatically granted in every death penalty habeas case. See Miller-El v. Cockrell, 537 U.S. at 337, 123 S.Ct. at 1040 ("It follows that issuance of a COA must not be pro forma or a matter of course."); Sonnier v. Quarterman, 476 F.3d 349, 364-69 (5th Cir.) (denying CoA on a wide variety of challenges to the Texas capital sentencing scheme, including some similar to petitioner Jasper's eighth through fourteenth claims presented in this case), cert. denied, 552 U.S. 948, 128 S. Ct. 374, 169 L. Ed. 2d 259 (2007).
With the exception of his Batson claim, none of petitioner's claims herein satisfy the standard for obtaining a CoA.
Petitioner's ineffective assistance claims all fail to satisfy either of the prongs of Strickland analysis. During his state habeas corpus proceeding, petitioner failed to present substantial evidence showing there was material mitigating evidence available at the time of his trial which his trial counsel failed to develop or present. Likewise, petitioner's own testimony during his state habeas corpus proceeding established petitioner undermined his trial counsels' efforts to obtain a life sentence for petitioner by "surprising" counsel with trial testimony in which petitioner refused to accept any responsibility for David Alejandro's murder. After petitioner gave that testimony, counsel had little practical choice left but to recall petitioner and attempt to limit the damage done by petitioner's initial refusal to accept responsibility. Petitioner only worsened his situation by once more refusing to accept any responsibility for David Alejandro's murder (despite admitting he planned and coordinated the robbery and murder and made the first assault on David Alejandro) and volunteering he had thought about grabbing a bailiff's gun and shooting people in the courtroom.
The evidence of petitioner's escalating propensity for violence combined with the facts of petitioner's offense and his refusal to accept any responsibility dwarf the meager mitigating evidence showing petitioner had become religious while awaiting trial and might grow less aggressive if allowed to mature for many years. At the punishment phase of trial, the jury had before it petitioner's detailed confession, in which he admitted planning David Alejandro's robbery and murder, recruiting others to assist in that endeavor, and initiating the fatal assault on David Alejandro with a particularly brutal act. Only days before David Alejandro's murder, petitioner assaulted a police officer who caught petitioner engaged in an attempted burglary. Given petitioner's refusal to accept responsibility for his crime, there was little petitioner's trial counsel could do to save petitioner's life. Petitioner's testimony during his state habeas corpus proceeding reveals there was nothing his trial counsel could have done to keep petitioner from taking the stand and eviscerating their trial strategy designed to gain petitioner a life sentence. Petitioner is not entitled to a CoA on his second, third, fifth, or seventh claims herein.
Petitioner's constitutional challenges to the Texas capital sentencing scheme present claims this Court and the Fifth Circuit have consistently rejected for more than half a decade. Petitioner made no effort to distinguish the rulings by this Court or the many opinions by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals rejecting those constitutional complaints on the merits. Petitioner's eighth through fourteenth claims herein have been denied on the merits repeatedly by this Court and the Fifth Circuit. This Court has also rejected those same claims as bases for a CoA. See, e.g., Bartee v. Quarterman, 574 F.Supp.2d at 712-14 (denying CoA on many of the same claims asserted by petitioner in his eighth through fourteenth claims herein); Moore v. Quarterman, 526 F.Supp.2d at 740 (denying CoA on many of the same constitutional challenges to the Texas capital sentencing scheme raised by petitioner herein). Petitioner is not entitled to a CoA on any of his eighth through fourteenth claims.
Petitioner's fourth and sixth claims herein are without factual or legal support in the record and do not warrant issuance of a CoA. There was no "conflict *876 of interest" between petitioner and his trial counsel within the meaning of Cuyler and Cronic. Instead, petitioner chose to "surprise" his trial counsel by making an informed decision to take the stand at the punishment phase of trial (against the advice of his trial counsel) and refusing to accept any responsibility for David Alejandro's murder. When viewed under the Jackson v. Virginia standard, the evidence supporting the jury's affirmative answer to the future dangerousness special issue was more than adequately supported by the evidence showing petitioner's history of escalating violence culminating in David Alejandro's robbery and murder, and petitioner's refusal to accept any responsibility for his involvement in David Alejandro's murder. Reasonable minds could not disagree on either of these two conclusions.
Petitioner's complaint about the prosecution's use of a peremptory strike against venire member Galloway lacks merit for several reasons, chief among them is petitioner's failure to present the state appellate and habeas courts, as well as this Court, with copies of the pertinent juror questionnaires that formed the bulk of the voir dire examination of petitioner's jury venire. Furthermore, contrary to the unsubstantiated suggestions contained in petitioner's pleadings, this Court's independent review of the voir dire examination of petitioner's jury venire did not reveal discriminatory questioning of Vernon Galloway by the prosecution. Mr. Galloway did far more than the other members of petitioner's jury venire who expressed reluctance to serve on a jury which could potentially be faced with the task of determining whether to sentence a criminal defendant to death. Mr. Galloway also answered more than a half-dozen other written questions in a manner suggesting he had serious doubts about the efficacy of the death penalty. He also volunteered he did not feel he could "act as God." Under such circumstances, it would have been unusual for the prosecution not to inquire about that declaration and those questionnaire answers. Petitioner has not identified any other member of his jury venire who, like Vernon Galloway, answered their juror questionnaire with as many "red flag" answers on questions inquiring about their views on the efficacy of the death penalty as did Mr. Galloway.
Moreover, unlike the situation in Snyder v. Louisiana, the prosecution did not offer one or two superficial reasons for rejecting Vernon Galloway as a juror but, rather, furnished the state trial court with a plethora of facially race-neutral reasons for striking Vernon Galloway ranging from Vernon Galloway's many questionnaire answers questioning the efficacy of the death penalty to Mr. Galloway's unwarranted subjective feeling that he had been "rushed" or "hurried" to answer his juror questionnaire (when no objective time constraint ever existed on that task) to Mr. Galloway's gold hoop earring. There was nothing implicitly implausible or questionable about any of the prosecution's proffered justifications for peremptorily striking Vernon Galloway. Viewed against the record now before this Court, the prosecution's reasoning appears not only sincere but compelling. This Court finds nothing inherently implausible or fantastic about any of the prosecution's proffered reasons for striking Vernon Galloway.
The Bexar County District Attorneys' Office does not have a demonstrated, long-standing record of overt racial discrimination in the selection of capital jurors.[187]*877 Under such circumstances, this Court has concluded the state trial judge, who had the opportunity to examine first hand Vernon Galloway's demeanor as well as the prosecuting attorney's demeanor, and the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, which was never furnished with copies of the venire members' questionnaire answers, acted in a reasonable manner when they rejected petitioner's Batson objection on the merits.
Nonetheless, the Supreme Court has noted that a CoA may issue on a debatable Batson claim even where there is no certainty of ultimate relief. Miller-El v. Cockrell, 537 U.S. at 337, 123 S.Ct. at 1039. There are several reasons why a CoA should issue with regard to petitioner's Batson claim herein. First, the state trial judge made no express factual findings regarding the credibility of the prosecution's proffered race-neutral reasons for striking Mr. Galloway. Second, neither the state appellate court nor this Court were furnished copies of the venire members' juror questionnaire answers. Third, Mr. Galloway's answers regarding his personal views of the efficacy of the death penalty given during individual oral voir dire differed so vastly from his written questionnaire answers on the same subject as to place particular significance on the trial court's favorable credibility determinations of the prosecution's race-neutral explanations for striking Vernon Galloway. Fourth, the prosecution accepted venire member Gloria Salazar after making an unsuccessful challenge for cause based on her consistent representations of reluctance to vote to impose the death penalty, which reluctance wavered only when she was interrogated by the state trial judge. Fifth, this Court and other federal habeas courts would benefit from any guidance the Fifth Circuit could furnish regarding whether petitioner's failure to present the state appellate court with copies of the relevant venire members' questionnaire answers effectively waived petitioner's Batson claim herein. Given the incomplete record from voir dire currently before this Court, i.e., the absence of the venire members' questionnaire answers, and the prosecution's unexplained acceptance of Gloria Salazar as a juror, the prudent course appears to be to grant petitioner a CoA on this Batson claim herein.
Granting petitioner a CoA on the Batson claim will also permit the Fifth Circuit to interrogate the respective parties' counsel at oral argument concerning the factual bases for their respective positions on the credibility of the prosecution's proffered race-neutral reasons for striking Vernon Galloway.[188]
*878 Therefore, this Court will grant petitioner a CoA on the Batson claim herein but concludes petitioner is not entitled to a Certificate of Appealability on any of his other claims for relief in this cause.
Accordingly, it is hereby ORDERED that:
1. All relief requested in petitioner's federal habeas corpus petition, filed July 31, 2009, docket entry no. 10, is DENIED.
2. Petitioner is granted a Certificate of Appealability on his first claim herein, i.e., the Batson claim arising from the prosecution's use of a peremptory strike against venire member Vernon Galloway.
3. Petitioner is DENIED a Certificate of Appealability on all other claims herein.
4. All other pending motions are DISMISSED AS MOOT.
5. The Clerk shall prepare and enter a Judgment in conformity with this Memorandum Opinion and Order.
It is SO ORDERED.
[1] Petitioner's six-page written statement, with petitioner's accompanying sketches of the crime scene, was admitted into evidence as State Exhibit no. 32 and appears at pages 29-36 in Volume 24 of the Statement of Facts from petitioner's trial (henceforth "S.F. Trial").
Petitioner's written statement was also read into the record in open court during petitioner's trial. S.F. Trial, Volume 16, testimony of Billy Rutland, at pp. 196-208.
[2] Petitioner testified during both proceedings that he approached David Alejandro and sliced the front of David Alejandro's neck with a knife and, immediately thereafter, Steven Russell stabbed David Alejandro many times with a different knife. S.F. Trial, Volume 21, testimony of Ray Jasper, III, at pp. 151-53; Statement of Facts from the evidentiary hearing held in petitioner's state habeas corpus proceeding on May 18, 2005 (henceforth "S.F. State Habeas Hearing"), testimony of Ray Jasper, III, at pp. 145-50 & 155. [In an attempt to avoid confusion, the Court will provide cross-references to the page numbers in the petitioner's state habeas corpus records of which the May 18, 2005 hearing transcript is a part. The portions of petitioner's state habeas hearing testimony referenced above appear at pages 250-55 & 260 of the records from petitioner's state habeas corpus proceeding (henceforth "State Habeas Transcript").]
Nonetheless, petitioner consistently asserted that he had not "personally" killed David Alejandro and was not "culpable" for David Alejandro's murder because: (1) the medical examiner testified David Alejandro was killed by multiple stab wounds and the wound to the front of David Alejandro's neck would not have been fatal by itself and (2) Steven Russell was the person who stabbed David Alejandro multiple times. S.F. Trial, Volume 21, testimony of Ray Jasper, III, at pp. 151-53; S.F. State Habeas Hearing, testimony of Ray Jasper, III, at pp. 138-40, 144-50, 155, 165-67 [State Habeas Transcript, at pp. 243-45, 249-55, 260, 270-72].
[3] S.F. Trial, Volume 15, testimony of Christina Breton, at pp. 130-32.
[4] S.F. Trial, Volume 15, testimony of Christina Breton, at p. 134. Petitioner corroborated Ms. Breton's account of this same conversation in his written statement to police. S.F. Trial, Volume 16, testimony of Billy Rutland, at p. 198; S.F. Trial, Volume 24, at p. 16.
[5] S.F. Trial, Volume 16, testimony of Billy Rutland, at pp. 198-99; S.F. Trial, Volume 24, at pp. 16-17.
Like petitioner, Steven Russell and Doug Williams both gave police written statements following their arrests. Their statements were presented to the state trial court during pretrial proceedings in petitioner's case but never introduced into evidence during petitioner's trial. Steven Russell admitted in his written statement (1) he and petitioner planned the robbery of David Alejandro, (2) he and the petitioner assaulted David Alejandro with knives and (3) immediately thereafter, he and petitioner loaded equipment from David Alejandro's studio into their vehicles. S.F. Trial, Volume 24, at pp. 39-45. Doug Williams admitted: (1) he was present on the night in question, (2) he knew in advance of petitioner's plan to rob David Alejandro, (3) he saw a knife in the van on the ride to David Alejandro's studio, (4) he saw petitioner and Steven Russell fighting with David Alejandro, but (5) he denied he participated in the assault upon David Alejandro. S.F. Trial, Volume 24, at pp. 47-49.
[6] S.F. Trial, Volume 16, testimony of Billy Rutland, at pp. 200-01; S.F. Trial, Volume 24, at pp. 17-18.
[7] S.F. Trial, Volume 16, testimony of Billy Rutland, at pp. 199-202; S.F. Trial, Volume 24, at pp. 17-18.
[8] S.F. Trial, Volume 16, testimony of Billy Rutland, at pp. 201-02; S.F. Trial, Volume 24, at p. 18.
[9] S.F. Trial, Volume 16, testimony of Billy Rutland, at p. 202; S.F. Trial, Volume 24, at p. 18.
[10] S.F. Trial, Volume 16, testimony of Billy Rutland, at pp. 202-03; S.F. Trial, Volume 24, at pp. 18-19.
[11] S.F. Trial, Volume 15, testimony of John Madrid, at pp. 198-207; testimony of Evelyn Trevino, at pp. 226-33; testimony of Michael Gonzales, at pp. 247-52.
[12] S.F. Trial, Volume 16, testimony of Billy Rutland, at pp. 203-05; S.F. Trial, Volume 24, at pp. 19-20.
An apartment maintenance contractor and an off-duty Sheriff's deputy working as an apartment security guard both recounted for the jury their unsuccessful efforts to pursue petitioner and his accomplices on the night in question. S.F. Trial, Volume 15, testimony of John Davidsmeyer, at pp. 265-73; Volume 16, testimony of Jesus Garza, at pp. 7-20.
[13] Transcript of pleadings, motions, and other documents filed in petitioner's state trial court proceeding (henceforth "Trial Transcript"), Volume 1, at p. 2.
[14] Police officers and other eyewitnesses presented the jury with numerous photographs of the electronic equipment that had been loaded into petitioner's and his accomplice's vehicles, as well as the equipment itself. S.F. Trial, Volume 16, testimony of Jason Wayne Rozacky, at pp. 40-59; testimony of Gary Martin Smith, at pp. 68-72; testimony of Elias Vidaurri, at p. 75-83; testimony of William Banfield, at pp. 84-91; testimony of Steve Holson, at pp. 93-101; testimony of Sean Walsh, at pp. 104-42; Volume 17, testimony of Deborah Wichlip, at pp. 10-43; testimony of Donna Marti, at pp. 98-102.
David Alejandro's brother and a former colleague each identified many of the items found inside the vehicles as belonging to David Alejandro. S.F. Trial, Volume 15, testimony of Steven Alejandro, at pp. 29-40; testimony of Michael Morales, at pp. 105-14. The owner of an equipment repair company identified one of the items of electronic equipment police found inside the minivans as an item he had repaired for David Alejandro and returned to David Alejandro in 1995. S.F. Trial, Volume 18, testimony of Mark Naziry, at pp. 25-29. A music equipment store manager testified that a multi-part invoice found inside one the duffel bags police discovered inside the minivans had been issued to David Alejandro in connection with David Alejandro's purchases of microphones and other equipment in 1997. S.F. Trial, Volume 18, testimony of Ernest Sanchez, at pp. 4-14.
[15] S.F. Trial, Volume 16, testimony of Belinda Luna, at pp. 143-49; testimony of Robert Moffitt, at pp. 157-61.
[16] S.F. Trial, Volume 15, testimony of Michelle Hildebrand, at pp. 156-61; testimony of Yvonne Cavazos, at pp. 161-66; testimony of Carmine Sanguedolce, at pp. 167-82. An invoice for one of the duffel bags was found inside a duffel bag the police found inside one of the minivans. S.F. Trial, Volume 17, testimony of Henry Huizar, at pp. 140-43.
[17] S.F. Trial, Volume 16, testimony of Steve Holson, at pp. 99-100.
[18] S.F. Trial, Volume 16, testimony of Sean Walsh, at pp. 113-14; Volume 17, testimony of Donna Marti, at pp. 99-101; testimony of Richard Contreras, at pp. 113-20; Volume 18, testimony of Jesse Garcia, at pp. 31-32.
[19] S.F. Trial, Volume 17, testimony of Thomas G. Blacklock, at pp. 123-27; testimony of Garon Foster, at pp. 148-64; Volume 18, testimony of Amy Yeatman, at pp. 59-60. David Alejandro could not be excluded as a possible source of either the mixed blood stain discovered on one of the knives found near his body or the blood on a towel found at the crime scene. S.F. Trial, Volume 18, testimony of Amy Yeatman, at pp. 62-63, 74-75.
[20] S.F. Trial, Volume 19, testimony of Dr. Robert C. Bux, at pp. 12-44. Dr. Bux also testified that, while David Alejandro suffered a "serious," "very significant," "potentially fatal," incised wound across the front of his neck, that wound was not the cause of David Alejandro's death. Id., at pp. 22-24, 33.
[21] S.F. Trial, Volume 19, testimony of Jesse Garcia, at pp. 47-51.
[22] S.F. Trial, Volume 19, at pp. 96-97; Trial Transcript, Volume 2, at p. 144.
The time stamps on the guilt-innocence phase jury charge and verdict form indicate the jury began its deliberations at 12:55 p.m. and returned its verdict at 2:20 p.m. Trial Transcript, Volume 2, at pp. 143-44. The official court reporter's verbatim transcription of trial court proceedings indicates the jury retired to deliberate at 1:50 p.m. and returned with its verdict at 2:22 p.m. S.F. Trial, Volume 19, at pp. 95-96.
[23] S.F. Trial, Volume 20, testimony of Arthur Garcia, at pp. 55-59.
[24] S.F. Trial, Volume 20, testimony of Steve Blackman, at pp. 60-62.
[25] S.F. Trial, Volume 20, testimony of Michael William Field, at pp. 64-71.
[26] S.F. Trial, Volume 21, testimony of James A. Smith, at pp. 28-38.
[27] S.F. Trial, Volume 21, testimony of Alan Dickinson, at pp. 26-28; testimony of Richard Contreras, at pp. 42-43.
[28] S.F. Trial, Volume 21, testimony of Steven Alejandro, at pp. 44-49. On cross-examination, the victim's brother testified that, while petitioner may only have been 18 years old on the date of the offense, David Alejandro's family believed the death penalty was warranted for murderers. Id., at pp. 47-49.
[29] S.F. Trial, Volume 21, testimony of Reverend Gary C. Patterson, at pp. 53-56.
[30] S.F. Trial, Volume 21, testimony of Ray Jasper, Jr., at pp. 57-59.
[31] Id. at pp. 59-61.
[32] Id. at p. 62.
[33] Id. at pp. 63-66.
[34] Id. at p. 63.
[35] S.F. Trial, Volume 21, testimony of Ronnie Sifuentes, at pp. 111-17.
[36] S.F. Trial, Volume 21, testimony of Juanita Jasper, at pp. 119-24.
[37] Id. at p. 126.
[38] Id. at pp. 128-29.
[39] Id. at pp. 135-36.
[40] Id. at p. 132.
[41] S.F. Trial, Volume 21, testimony of Dr. John C. Sparks, at pp. 73-93.
On cross-examination, Dr. Sparks reported petitioner had explained his assault upon a police officer as petitioner's attempt to resist an inappropriate arrest. Id. at p. 99. Dr. Sparks also testified that, despite petitioner's confession, petitioner insisted he was not guilty of murder. Id. at p. 102.
[42] S.F. Trial, Volume 21, testimony of Ray Jasper, III, at pp. 138-39.
[43] S.F. Trial, Volume 21, testimony of Ray Jasper, III, at pp. 148-55.
[44] Trial Transcript, Volume 2, at pp. 152-54; S.F. Trial, Volume 22, at pp. 39-40.
The court reporter's record and the date stamps on the punishment phase verdict form indicate petitioner's jury began its deliberations on the punishment phase of trial at approximately 10:41 a.m. on January 20, 2000, and returned its verdict at approximately 1:38 p.m. the same date.
[45] As points of error on direct appeal, petitioner argued: (1) the trial court erred in ruling Christina Breton was not petitioner's common law spouse, (2) the trial court's comments in front of the jury denied petitioner a fair trial, (3) there was insufficient evidence to support the jury's affirmative finding on the future dangerousness special issue, (4) the trial court erred in denying petitioner's Batson challenge to the prosecution's peremptory strike of venire member Vernon Galloway, and (5) the trial court erred in conducting a portion of the trial, i.e., the initial general voir dire, in the petitioner's absence.
[46] A copy of petitioner's state habeas corpus application appears at pp. 1-104 of the record from petitioner's state habeas corpus proceeding.
As grounds for relief, petitioner argued: (1) his trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance through a variety of unreasonable acts and omissions, (2) his state appellate counsel rendered ineffective assistance by failing to raise a point of error on direct appeal complaining about the prosecution contacting a member of the jury venire prior to voir dire, and (3) the punishment phase jury charge was defective because it (a) included a number of inadequately defined terms, (b) did not assign a burden of proof on the mitigating evidence special issue, (c) did not furnish the jury with a vehicle to give effect to petitioner's mitigating evidence, and (d) too narrowly defined the term "mitigating evidence." Petitioner also re-urged his Batson claim.
[47] Statement of Facts from petitioner's state habeas hearing, held May 18, 2005 (henceforth "S.F. State Habeas Hearing"), testimony of Kevin Collins, at pp. 14-16, 18-19, 22-23, 26-28, 32-33, 35; testimony of William Reece, Jr., at pp. 46-47, 54-55, 60-61, 67.
The petitioner's state habeas corpus records include a second set of page numbers for that entire volume, including the relevant portions of the hearing testimony from petitioner's trial counsel cited above, i.e., attorneys Collins and Reece. The corresponding citations to the State Habeas Record for that same testimony are as follows: State Habeas Record, testimony of Kevin Collins, at pp. 119-21, 123-24, 127-28, 131-32, 137-38, 140; testimony of William Reece, Jr., at pp. 151-52, 159-60, 165-66, 172.
[48] S.F. State Habeas Hearing, testimony of Ray Jasper, III, at pp. 138-40, 143-48, 155, 165-67, 168, 170; State Habeas Record, testimony of Ray Jasper, III, at pp. 243-45, 248-53, 260, 270-72, 273, 275.
[49] S.F. State Habeas Hearing, testimony of Ray Jasper, Jr., at pp. 91-96; testimony of Juanita Jasper, at pp. 115-17; State Habeas Record, testimony of Ray Jasper, Jr., at pp. 196-202; testimony of Juanita Jasper, at pp. 220-22.
[50] State Habeas Record, at pp. 280-329.
[51] Petitioner's Petition, filed July 31, 2009, docket entry no. 10 (henceforth "Petition"), at pp. 13-29.
[52] Trial Transcript, Volume 2 of 2, at pp. 204-06.
[53] Venire member Galloway's individual voir dire examination appears at S.F. Trial, Volume 7, at pp. 45-80.
Venire member Galloway's juror questionnaire was admitted into evidence during the Batson hearing on November 30, 1999. S.F. Trial, Volume 7, at pp. 78-79.
[54] S.F. Trial, Volume 7, Voir Dire examination of Vernon Galloway, at pp. 48-58.
[55] S.F. Trial, Volume 7, Voir Dire examination of Vernon Galloway, at pp. 58-61.
[56] S.F. Trial, Volume 7, Voir Dire examination of Vernon Galloway, at pp. 61-67.
[57] Id. at pp. 67-68.
[58] S.F. Trial, Volume 7, at pp. 68-80.
[59] Appellant's Brief, at pp. 27-29.
[60] Petitioner's Application for Writ of Habeas Corpus-11.071, found in State Habeas Record, at pp. 8-9.
[61] State Habeas Record, at pp. 317-18.
[62] Petition, at pp. 17-29. This Court's review of petitioner's Batson claim herein is circumscribed by the failure of petitioner to present this Court with the juror questionnaires completed by Mr. Galloway and the remaining members of the jury venire. A legitimate comparison of the prosecution's allegedly disparate treatment of the venire members would necessarily include review of the entire juror questionnaires to ascertain if, in fact, the venire members allegedly treated differently by the prosecution were, in fact, similarly situated. Such a review is not possible in this case because neither party has furnished this Court with the juror questionnaires. Likewise, none of the state appellate courts which reviewed petitioner's Batson claim were furnished with copies of the questionnaires.
[63] S.F. Trial, Volume 13, at pp. 46-47. Ms. Hagans' voir dire examination appears at S.F. Trial, Volume 13, at pp. 37-46. The ensuing Batson hearing followed immediately thereafter. Id., at pp. 46-51.
[64] S.F. Trial, Volume 13, voir dire examination of Natasha Hagans, at pp. 37-46.
[65] Id. at p. 46.
[66] Id. at pp. 48-51.
[67] Id. at pp. 49-51.
[68] S.F. Trial, Volume 7, voir dire examination of Felipe Flores, at pp. 39-40. The entirety of Mr. Flores' voir dire examination appears at S.F. Trial, Volume 7, at pp. 3-44. There is nothing in his voir dire examination to suggest Mr. Flores, unlike Mr. Galloway, gave multiple answers on his juror questionnaire doubting the efficacy of capital punishment or strongly indicating any reservations about his ability to impose the death penalty.
[69] S.F. Trial, Volume 7, voir dire examination of Felipe Flores, at p. 41.
[70] S.F. Trial, Volume 7, voir dire examination of Gloria Salazar, at pp. 81-90.
[71] Id. at pp. 90-101.
[72] Id. at p. 103.
[73] Id. at p. 110.
[74] S.F. Trial, Volume 8, voir dire examination of Jimmy Lazarin, at pp. 101-02, 109-10.
The entirety of Mr. Lazarin's voir dire examination appears at S.F. Trial, Volume 8, at pp. 83-112.
[75] Compare S.F. Trial, Volume 7, voir dire examination of Vernon Galloway, at p. 51 with S.F. Trial, Volume 8, voir dire examination of Jimmy Lazarin, at pp. 109-10.
[76] S.F. Trial, Volume 8, voir dire examination of Debra Lynn Uecker, at pp. 30-32.
[77] Id. at pp. 32-44.
[78] Id. at p. 57.
[79] S.F. Trial, Volume 13, voir dire examination of Diane Laramie, at pp. 75-76, 89-90. The entirety of Ms. Laramie's voir dire examination appears at S.F. Trial, Volume 13, at pp. 74-106.
[80] Id. at pp. 89-90.
[81] The entirety of Ms. Sauceda's voir dire examination appears at S.F. Trial, Volume 12, at pp. 4-23.
[82] S.F. Trial, Volume 12, voir dire examination of Teresa Sauceda, at pp. 16-17.
[83] Id. at pp. 18-19.
[84] Id. at pp. 19-21.
[85] S.F. Trial, Volume 7, at pp. 73-75.
[86] Petition, at pp. 49-54.
[87] Trial Transcript, Volume 2, at p. 152.
[88] Appellant's Brief, at pp. 23-27.
[89] Dr. Sparks testified the petitioner's jail disciplinary and medical records contained no indication petitioner had engaged in any violent activity during his pretrial incarceration. S.F. trial, Volume 21, testimony of Dr. John C. Sparks, at pp. 87-88.
[90] Dr. Sparks also opined petitioner was "a moderately immature young man" and while young adults tend to act impulsively and aggressively, those tendencies diminish as they grow older and mature. S.F. Trial, Volume 21, testimony of Dr. John C. Sparks, at pp. 80, 89.
[91] The pastor of petitioner's church testified petitioner was a very smart young man, a natural leader, who had been in frequent contact with his congregation during petitioner's pretrial detention and was now beginning to listen to spiritual things and to align himself with Christ. S.F. Trial, Volume 21, testimony of Rev. Gary C. Patterson, at pp. 54-55. Dr. Sparks also noted his finding that petitioner had become very religious since his arrest. S.F. Trial, Volume 21, testimony of Dr. John C. Sparks, at p. 83.
[92] S.F. Trial, Volume 20, testimony of Michael William Field, at pp. 64-70.
[93] S.F. Trial, Volume 21, testimony of James A. Smith, at pp. 29-38. Other evidence established petitioner's fingerprints were found on the back window inside the fenced-in backyard of the same residence where Officer Smith spotted petitioner behaving suspiciously. S.F. Trial, Volume 21, testimony of Richard Contreras, at pp. 42-43; testimony of Alan Dickinson, at pp. 26-27.
[94] S.F. Trial, Volume 15, testimony of Christina Breton, at pp. 126, 130-36. Petitioner also admitted to Ms. Breton after the murder that he had hurt David Alejandro, Id. at p. 146.
Employees of Academy and petitioner's parents' bank identified two checks used to purchase the duffel bags as having been drawn on petitioner's' parents checking account (at a time when petitioner's parents were both in Europe). S.F. Trial, Volume 15, testimony of Michelle Hildebrand, at pp. 157-61; testimony of Yvonne Cavazos, at pp. 162-63; testimony of Carmine Sanguedolce, at pp. 168-74.
[95] The San Antonio Police Detective who took petitioner's written statement read same to the jury in open court, including the portion in which petitioner described approaching David Alejandro from behind, grabbing him, and slicing David Alejandro's neck with a knife petitioner had brought from home. S.F. Trial, Volume 16, testimony of Billy Rutland, at pp. 199-201.
[96] S.F. Trial, Volume 16, testimony of Billy Rutland, at p. 202.
[97] See notes 42 and 43, supra, and accompanying text.
[98] S.F. Trial, Volume 20, testimony of Arthur Garcia, at pp. 55-57; testimony of Steve Blackman, at pp. 60-61.
[99] Petition, at pp. 55-61.
[100] Trial Transcript, Volume 2 of 2, at p. 146.
[101] Trial Transcript, Volume 2 of 2, at p. 148.
[102] Trial Transcript, Volume 2 of 2, at p. 149.
[103] S.F. Trial, Volume 22, at p. 3.
[104] State Habeas Record, at pp. 61-63.
[105] State Habeas Record, at pp. 323-24.
[106] S.F. Trial, Volume 22, at pp. 17-20, 24-26.
[107] Trial Transcript, Volume 2 of 2, at p. 148 (emphasis added).
[108] Petition, at pp. 62-65.
[109] State Habeas Record, at pp. 46-55.
[110] State Habeas Record, at pp. 321-22.
[111] Petition, at pp. 66-71.
[112] State Habeas Record, at pp. 55-58.
[113] State Habeas Record, at pp. 322-23.
[114] Petition, at pp. 66-71.
[115] State Habeas Record, at pp. 58-61.
[116] State Habeas Record, at p. 323.
[117] Petition, at pp. 72-74.
[118] State Habeas Record, at pp. 64-65.
[119] State Habeas Record, at p. 325.
[120] petition, at pp. 74-76.
[121] State Habeas Record, at pp. 65-67.
[122] State Habeas Record, at p. 326.
[123] Petition, at pp. 77-84.
[124] State Habeas Record, at pp. 82-100.
[125] State Habeas Record, at p. 328.
[126] Petition, at pp. 36-46.
[127] State Habeas Record, at p. 248 (S.F. State Habeas Hearing, testimony of Ray Jasper, III, at p. 143).
[128] Id.
[129] State Habeas Record, at p. 275 (S.F. State Habeas Hearing, testimony of Ray Jasper, III, at p. 170).
[130] See notes 42-43, supra, and accompanying text.
[131] State Habeas Record, at pp. 120-21, 137-38, 140 (S.F. State Habeas Hearing, testimony of Kevin Collins, at pp. 15-16, 32-33, 35); State Habeas Record, at pp. 151-52, 159, 165, 172 (S.F. State Habeas Hearing, testimony of William Reece, at pp. 46-47, 54, 60, 67); State Habeas Record, at pp. 248, 275 (S.F. State Habeas Hearing, testimony of Ray Jasper, III, at pp. 143, 170).
[132] See note 43, supra, and accompanying text.
[133] See note 42, supra, and accompanying text.
[134] See note 43, supra, and accompanying text.
[135] Petition, at pp. 29-36.
[136] State Habeas Record, at pp. 3-5. Respondent argues correctly that petitioner's assertion before the state habeas court was simply that his trial counsel failed to adequately urge petitioner's "youth" as a mitigating factor while petitioner's argument before this Court is that his trial counsel failed to argue petitioner's "immaturity" as a mitigating factor. This Court views "youth" and "immaturity" as the same. Petitioner's trial counsel did everything possible to urge a life sentence for petitioner based on petitioner's youth and immaturity. Therefore, this Court need not address respondent's contention petitioner's second claim herein is unexhausted.
[137] State Habeas Record, at p. 296.
[138] See notes 29-41, supra, and accompanying text.
[139] S.F. Trial, Volume 22, at p. 17.
[140] Id. at p. 18.
[141] Id. at pp. 19-20.
[142] Id., at p. 20.
[143] Id.
[144] Petition, at pp. 36-46.
[145] State Habeas Record, at pp. 2-5.
[146] State Habeas Record, at pp. 291-95.
[147] State Habeas Record, at p. 295 ("An accused cannot dictate a given trial strategy and compel its use by trial counsel and later assert a claim of ineffectiveness on the basis that counsel did what the accused insisted upon.").
[148] Respondent's Original Answer, filed November 19, 2009, docket entry no. 14, at p. 3 (requesting dismissal on procedural default grounds only on petitioner's claims two and four herein).
[149] State Habeas Record, at pp. 121, 131-32, 137-38 (S.F. State Habeas Hearing, testimony of Kevin Collins, at pp. 16, 26-27, 32-33); State Habeas Record, at pp. 159-60, 165 (S.F. State Habeas Hearing, testimony of William Reece, at pp. 54-55, 60).
[150] State Habeas Record, at pp. 119-21, 127-28, 130-32, 137-38, 141 (S.F. State Habeas Hearing, testimony of Kevin Collins, at pp. 14-16, 22-23, 25-27, 32-33, 36); State Habeas Record, at pp. 151-52, 159-60, 165 (S.F. State Habeas Hearing, testimony of William Reece, at pp. 46-47, 54-55, 60).
[151] State Habeas Record, at p. 151 (S.F. State Habeas Hearing, testimony of William Reece, at p. 46).
[152] State Habeas Record, at p. 172 (S.F. State Habeas Hearing, testimony of William Reece, at p. 67).
[153] State Habeas Record, at pp. 119-21, 127-28, 132-33, 140 (S.F. State Habeas Hearing, testimony of Kevin Collins, at pp. 14-16, 22-23, 27-28, 35).
[154] State Habeas Record, at pp. 247-53 (S.F. State Habeas Hearing, testimony of Ray Jasper, III, at pp. 142-48).
[155] State Habeas Record, at pp. 274-76 (S.F. State Habeas Hearing, testimony of Ray Jasper, III, at pp. 169-71).
[156] State Habeas Record, at pp. 127-28, 132-33 (S.F. State Habeas Hearing, testimony of Kevin Collins, at pp. 22-23, 27-28).
[157] State Habeas Record, at pp. 123-24, 130-32, 137-38 (S.F. State Habeas Hearing, testimony of Kevin Collins, at pp. 18-19, 25-27, 32-33); State Habeas record, at p. 165 (S.F. State Habeas Hearing, testimony of William Reece, at p. 60).
[158] State Habeas Record, at p. 248 (S.F. State Habeas Hearing, testimony of Ray Jasper, III, at p. 143).
[159] State Habeas Record, at pp. 274-76 (S.F. State Habeas Hearing, testimony of Ray Jasper, III, at pp. 169-71).
[160] State Habeas Record, at pp. 135-36 (S.F. State Habeas Hearing, testimony of Kevin Collins, at pp. 30-31).
[161] See note 42, supra, and accompanying text.
[162] State Habeas Record, at pp. 243-45, 250 (S.F. State Habeas Hearing, testimony of Ray Jasper, III, at pp. 138-40, 145).
[163] See note 43, supra, and accompanying text.
[164] State Habeas Record, at pp. 120-21, 140 (S.F. State Habeas Hearing, testimony of Kevin Collins, at pp. 15-16, 35); State Habeas Record, at pp. 151-52, 159-60, 172 (S.F. State Habeas Hearing, testimony of William Reece, at pp. 46-47, 545-55, 167).
[165] State Habeas Record, at p. 250 (S.F. State Habeas Hearing, testimony of Ray Jasper, III, at p. 145).
[166] S.F. Trial, Volume 19, testimony of Dr. Robert C. Bux, at pp. 22-24, 33.
[167] State Habeas Record, at pp. 137-38 (S.F. State Habeas Hearing, testimony of Kevin Collins, at pp. 32-33).
[168] See notes 3-7, supra, and accompanying text.
[169] See notes 8-10, supra, and accompanying text.
[170] Petition, at pp. 46-48.
[171] State Habeas Record, at pp. 2-5.
[172] State Habeas Record, at p. 183 (S.F. State Habeas Hearing, testimony of Ray Jasper, Jr., at p. 78).
[173] State Habeas Record, at p. 193 (S.F. State Habeas Hearing, testimony of Ray Jasper, Jr., at p. 88).
[174] State Habeas Record, at p. 199 (S.F. State Habeas Hearing, testimony of Ray Jasper, Jr., at p. 94).
[175] State Habeas Record, at p. 195 (S.F. State Habeas Hearing, testimony of Ray Jasper, Jr., at p. 90).
[176] State Habeas Record, at pp. 196-202 (S.F. State Habeas Hearing, testimony of Ray Jasper, Jr., at pp. 91-96).
[177] State Habeas Record, at pp. 217-18 (S.F. State Habeas Hearing, testimony of Juanita Jasper, at pp. 112-13).
[178] State Habeas Record, at pp. 220-21 (S.F. State Habeas Hearing, testimony of Juanita Jasper, at pp. 115-16).
[179] State Habeas Record, at pp. 223-24 (S.F. State Habeas Hearing, testimony of Juanita Jasper, at pp. 118-19).
[180] State Habeas Record, at pp. 136-37 (S.F. State Habeas hearing, testimony of Kevin Collins, at pp. 31-32); State Habeas Record, at pp. 171-72 (S.F. State Habeas Hearing, testimony of William Reece, at pp. 66-67).
[181] State Habeas Record, at pp. 302-06.
[182] State Habeas Record, at p. 307.
[183] State Habeas record, at p. 137 (S.F. State Habeas Hearing, testimony of Kevin Collins, at p. 32).
[184] Petition, at pp. 55-61.
[185] State Habeas Record, at pp. 7-8.
[186] State Habeas Record, at p. 317.
[187] Batson challenges were pursued on direct appeal in only seven of the last sixteen Bexar County capital murder trials involving black defendants this Court and other district courts in the San Antonio Division have been called upon to review, i.e., in the cases of Anthony Bartee, Reginald Blanton, Tai Chin Preyor, petitioner, Caruthers Alexander, John T. Satterwhite, and Dwight Dwayne Adanandus. During roughly the same time frame, at least nine black Bexar County capital murder defendants were tried and convicted and later appealed to the state appellate courts without complaining about the denial of a Batson objection, i.e., in the cases of. Mauriceo Brown, Kenneth Foster, Kevin Watts, Frank Moore, Timothy Cockrell, Kia Levoy Johnson, Miguel A. Richardson, Carl Brooks, Norman Evans Green.
[188] Petitioner's assertion in his pleadings the prosecution questioned members of petitioner's jury venire differently along racial lines is unsupported by any record references identifying the ethnicity of the members of petitioner's jury venire whom petitioner argues gave questionnaire answers similar to Vernon Galloway but whom petitioner claims were questioned in a different manner from Mr. Galloway by the prosecution during individual voir dire. This Court carefully reviewed the entire voir dire examination of each of the venire members identified in petitioner's pleadings herein and finds nothing suggesting the prosecution embarked on the type of radically different questioning of non-Black venire members discussed in the Supreme Court's Miller-El opinions. Likewise, as best this Court can tell from the incomplete state trial court record furnished herein, other than one or two questions reflecting a reluctance to sit in judgment of another human being's life, all but one of the other venire members identified by petitioner in his pleadings herein (i.e., venire member Gloria Salazar) apparently did not furnish questionnaire answers reflecting the same type of serious doubts about the efficacy of the death penalty as did Vernon Galloway in his questionnaire answers.
Likewise, respondent provided little briefing addressing the decision by the prosecution to accept venire member Gloria Salazar, whose reluctance to vote to impose the death penalty was displayed during her individual voir dire examination the state trial court probably could have granted the prosecution's challenge for cause to this member of the jury venire. Because her individual voir dire took place after Mr. Galloway's Batson hearing concluded, the prosecution was never asked to explain why it had accepted Ms. Salazar after it struck Mr. Galloway for giving many similar oral voir dire answers.
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