Albert Pitts v. James Cook, Warden and the Attorney General of the State of Alabama Mr. Don Siegelman

EDMONDSON, Circuit Judge:

In this appeal from the district court’s denial of his habeas petition, Albert Pitts challenges his state court conviction on Batson and ineffective assistance of counsel grounds. We agree with the district court that petitioner’s Batson claim was procedurally defaulted and that petitioner fails to show the cause and actual prejudice necessary to avoid the procedural default bar.1 We also agree that Pitts’ ineffective assistance of counsel claim is meritless. *1570The district court’s denial of Pitts' petition is therefore affirmed.

I

Albert Pitts, a black man, was convicted…