Rodney Reed v. William Stephens, Director

KING, Circuit Judge:

Petitioner-Appellant Rodney Reed was convicted of capital murder in a jury trial in Texas and sentenced to death. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed his conviction and sentence on direct appeal. Reed unsuccessfully sought state habeas relief in six petitions. He also sought federal habeas relief in district court and now seeks a certificate of appeal-ability to challenge the district court’s denial of habeas relief. Reed argues that he should be granted a certificate of appeala-bility based on his assertions of actual innocence, ineffective assistance of trial,…