Steven James v. Charles L. Ryan

OPINION ON REMAND

W. FLETCHER, Circuit Judge:

In James v. Ryan (James II), 679 F.3d 780 (9th Cir.2012), we granted Steven James habeas corpus relief from his death sentence, holding that his trial counsel had provided ineffective assistance at the penalty phase. The United States Supreme Court vacated that decision and remanded for us to consider whether Johnson v. Williams , — • U.S. -, 133 S.Ct. 1088, 185 L.Ed.2d 105 (2013), compels a different result. Ryan v. James, — U.S.-, 133 S.Ct. 1579, 185 L.Ed.2d 572 (2013). We conclude that it does not.

I. Background

A. State Proceedings

An Arizona jury…