Jesus Romero, Cross-Appellant v. James A. Lynaugh, Director, Texas Department of Corrections, Cross-Appellee

PATRICK E. HIGGINBOTHAM, Circuit Judge:

In this death penalty case, the State of Texas appeals from the grant of Jesus Romero’s application for writ of habeas corpus. The United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas concluded that Romero’s lawyer so abbreviated the closing argument and otherwise failed to offer mitigating circumstances in the sentencing phase of the trial that he failed to render constitutionally required assistance. The court ordered the death sentence commuted to life, persuaded that the ordered relief was within the broad remedial power of a federal court…